"watch your chin, buddy."

I can only hope that Ezra will be as helpful and encouraging if he ever has a younger sibling.

adorable duo.

What could be cuter than one kid singing the Lazy Song...um, twins singing it.
 

Passover, kids' edition.

We shared a Seder meal with friends last night.  Years ago, I'd participated in a Passover Seder in a synagogue that opened up a meal to non-Jewish people interested in learning about this traditional meal.  Last night's Seder dinner was much more lax, yet still full of symbol and meaning.  It ushered us into remembering the story of Passover and the deliverance of the Jews from Egyptian slavery.

But here's a not-so-accurate, yet amusing version told by some kids.  I wouldn't quote them on it, but hopefully you'll enjoy their take on Moses and the Passover...alien included.

teddy bear.

After last Tuesday's Matty the Sloth video, I decided to attempt to do a weekly Too Cute Tuesday post.  I say attempt because if you know me, you know that committing to be consistent with something is a bit of a challenge for me, like new year's resolutions or this blog.  Why cute things?  Cause there are a lot of cute things out there and "too cute Tuesday" is nice alliteration.

So here's another 'ugly' but cute animal video, with a nod to St. Patty's Day.  Porcupines may not be the cuddliest of animals, but the cute factor comes from the sounds it makes while chomping down on his corny treats.


via Cute Overload

matty the baby sloth.

This is one of the cutest things I've seen in a while.  We love sloths.  Actually, my husband loves sloths, so it's fun that this little guy is named Matty, too.  I've grown fond of them because of his affinity for them.  They're pretty up there in the 'ugly but cute' animals category...along with French Bulldogs.

I'd like to say that we've been to this sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica and, unfortunately, did not get the same treatment by any sloth.  Matt felt a little shafted that he wasn't able to hold a sloth but he did sneak a little touch with some baby sloths in a box while the staff wasn't looking.

And if you just can't get enough sloth adorableness, there's a Sloth Appreciation Society.

danny & annie.

"Being married is like having a coloured television set. You never want to go back to black and white."

This is a couple of years old but it's a beautiful and touching example of deep love and commitment.  Their story makes me cry every time I watch this.


Danny & Annie from StoryCorps on Vimeo.

Happy Heart Day.

I don't intend for this blog to become all about the baby, although there will be a considerable amount of photos showing off his cuteness...cause let's face it...he's cute:

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

...But here are a couple of videos that have nothing to do with babies, but a lot to do with funny.

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

&

7 Minutes in Heaven

Enjoy.

There's a part of me that loves working with my hands.  That's why I loved my undergrad in technical and design theatre, where I spent hours painting plywood to look like a brick wall, or shaping modeling clay into hands in yoga positions (to be attached to the arms of a ganesh costume), or painting details on a tribal mask, or making sausages out of nylons and stuffing.  I love getting my hands creatively dirty. Plus I love the theatre.

For a while now, I've been craving a creative outlet of some sort.  Sure, I can snap some photos, but there's something about getting my hands on a project that involves manipulating, shaping, forming a lump of nothing into something.  I'd love to take a pottery class or learn how to knit.  But I make excuses, and in the end, I'm just lazy.  So when I saw this video, I felt a bit of a kick in the bum.  But I was also inspired.  Hope you are too.

This is Sentayehu Teshale, a craftsman at work, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Stools from Mark Morgan on Vimeo.

via andrew and carissa

50+.

Lauren Fleishman shares the love stories of couples who have been married for at least 50 years. Inspired by a letter her grandfather wrote to her grandmother during World War II (and rediscovered after he passed away in 2007), she began photographing and interviewing couples in the New York area as a way to preserve their stories and to illuminate our universal experience of love. 

Love Ever After
the photo project

via a cup of jo.

p.s. happy love day.  may your day be filled with receiving and giving warm fuzzies to those whose paths you cross.

meeting a white dude for the first time

I grew up with dreams of being a missionary to some crazy tribe in the middle of the jungle, and being the first Westerner ever to contact them. These un-contacted tribes are nearly all gone now.  Many people think its abhorrent for missionaries, or any Westerners, to interrupt these peoples pristine existence and to let them continue living as they have for hundreds of year. On the other hand, some people say that these people are going to get in contact with the rest of the world eventually, and better a missionary or someone looking out for their rights, then a government or corporation looking to exploit them (as has happened countless times in the past). It will be interesting to see how humans deal with these last remaining un-contacted tribes in these last few years.

I don't know the background to this clip, what profession this white man has or the purpose of contacting this tribe. I'm also not sure how I feel about their choice, and how they so frivolously keep blowing apart these people's worlds by continually showing them "new" trinkets and gadgets. There are some huge responsibilities that come with introducing a culture and people to the outside world, one that I'm not sure I would want. Regardless, it is a fascinating video and interesting to think about. The music makes it all the more magical. Enjoy.

greatest video.

Do yourself a favour and watch this video, it will blow you away. If I could do half of what these guys can, I'd die happy.


enjoy.

uph: the genesis project.

Our friend Duane Forrest is undertaking a new project in collaboration with Urban Promise Honduras, the organization Matt was involved with for the past two years.  We wanted to give Duane a shout out and show the video he made featuring what the pilot program is about.  The Genesis Project is a school for the arts providing local children, youth, and adults the opportunity to explore visual arts, music, drama, and dance.



If you'd like more information about The Genesis Project, contact Duane - duaneintheforrest@gmail.com
If you'd like to contribute financially to The Genesis Project , go here.

(trailer for the short film "Las Palmas" by Johannes Nyholm).

Is it just me or is the toddler wearing a padded bra?

via yewknee

choose more adventure.

ps. don't you think his voice is what Holden Caulfield's would sound like?

via a cup of jo

auto-tuned.

I know auto-tuning is a big thing in the music world right now, but I think its full potential is seen on the internet. For the life of me, I don't know why someone would think that taking videos, already funny with ridiculous or mentally unstable people, and putting the speech into perfect pitch and song would be a good idea...but it turns out it is. Here are some of my favourites.

Of course, there's "Backin Up Lady":

The classic "Charlie Bit Me":

 

 And the list wouldn't be complete without Antoine Dodson:

Comedy genius, and I challenge anyone to say otherwise.

Okay, this is my first shout out ever. I don't know if there are any more of these videos out there, but if there is let me know, tell me your favourites, and I'll post the best one on here.

"one day I'm going to whistle."

Wanted to share this cause we danced to this song at our wedding and I'm a sucker for kids who do covers.  Too cute how she yawns in the middle of singing.



What's your favourite cover done by a kiddo?


via max wanger

end of an era.

Matt had his final day with the AfterSchool Program last Friday.  He has passed the baton on to Katie, the  new Camp Hope Director.  He'll be wrapping up his time with UPH with a few fun fieldtrips with the kids.  It's bitter sweet, of course.  It always is, having invested so much of your life into something special, investing into people's lives.

Everyday at the end of camp, everyone participates in a cheer which is a verse from the bible.  Accompanied with actions, the kids and leaders belt out the words with joy and conviction.  It's crazy and super all together.  Here is a little video of the cheer, on the last day of Camp Hope of this year.

¡Sé fuerte y valiente! ¡No tengas miedo ni te desanimes!
Porque el SEÑOR tu Dios te acompañará dondequiera que vayas.

(Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged,
for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. ~Joshua 1:9).