I Got Out Of IT!

Inquiring minds want to know: Did I have to perform a live concert on my front lawn or what?

For those of you who read my previous blog, "How Am I Going To Get Out Of This One?!" you know my daughter had the grand idea to have a concert on our front lawn where she and I would perform.  (See last entry for details).

Since then, I've had a lot of inquiries, especially from the ladies in my mom's office, as to how everything played out.  The day started out relatively hectic.  I had to sub a cycle class and teach my regular Pilates class at the gym first thing in the morning.  The kids went to our neighbors to play while I taught and I gave my neighbor very specific instructions that her job, besides watching my kids, was to convince Maddie that this concert was a bad idea.

After teaching, I was in a rotten mood because due to several technical difficulties my music for my cycle class had been a disaster.  If any of you who take spin or cycle classes, you know that good music is key and mine kept stopping and starting. On top of that, I hadn't notice that the charger for my iPhone wasn't plugged in at the wall when I plugged it in the night before and since I was constantly messing with my phone and sucking what battery I had left, it died halfway through class.  I had to sprint out of the room to find someone with a charger so I could continue to play my music, assuming I could get the applications I use on my iPhone to play my music to cooperate with me.  It occurred to me that I might have to sing to an audience after all, but instead of to my neighbors on the front lawn, it would be to my cycle participants.  Luckily I was able to eek out another half hour of music and got everything to work smoothly for my Pilates class without any major issues.

Colin using broom for his guitar solo!

When I got back to my neigbhors to picked the kids up, my neighbor informed me that some of our other friends from the neighborhood that we hang out with were coming over at 1:00 p.m. for the concert.  As luck would have it, our friend's 8 year old daughter, Marissa, is a Karaoke fanatic and was more than willing to sing with Maddie as long as she could have a solo.  I was ecstatic!  Not only would my daughter love to perform with one of her "swiends," I was off the hook!

Nick showing off his biking skills a la "America's Got Talent."

Marissa performing her solo-Call Me Maybe

At 1:00 we headed outside with our music and waited for the gang to gather.  We put Maddie's sign in the front lawn and Marissa brought some accessories and costumes for the show. The girls began planning for the show and ended up going inside to choreograph their routines and make more signs. Meanwhile the other two moms and I enjoyed some fresh air and a "cold beverage" on the front lawn.  Not something we normally do, but it was a concert and what kind of groupies would we be if we didn't party like rock stars? (and by that I mean having one vodka lemonade!)

The girls were finally finished practicing and came out to perform.  The boys wrapped up their XBox game and came out to participate as well.  The kids decided that the name of Maddie's group was the "Under Pencils Jumping Pencils."  They wrote it on the sidewalk and unfortunately every time I walked by it I thought it said, "Under Penis Jumping Penis." 

Maddie performing Life's A Happy Song

Colin decided to get in on the act and was the opening act.  He and Ethan, the boy next door, lined up several hardhats and used them as drums to perform "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne.  From there Maddie and Marissa performed "I Love You Like A Love Song" by Selena Gomez, Maddie did a solo to "Life's A Happy Song" from the Muppets and the grand finale was Marissa singing "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen.  Then Ethan and Nick (Marissa's brother) rode their bikes and scooters across the "stage" like the bikers on "America's Got Talent" do. The best part was all I had to do was play DJ. 

Maya-who also produced and directed the production!

Duelling helmets! Ethan and Colin

I don't think I've ever seen my daughter smile so big and I was so proud of her for having the creativity and bravery to perform in front of everyone.  I admired her ability to inspire others and do something out of the ordinary for a Wednesday afternoon.  I am also eternally grateful to my neighbor and our other friend for rallying the troops to make all my daughter's rock star dreams come true.  All-in-all a good time was had by all. Maddie's only complaint was that more people didn't show up. I told her that next time I would do a better job of publicizing her event. Jeez, what a DIVA!

Marissa and Maddie performing I Love You Like A Love Song

Grand Finale!