That's right, no school tomorrow because of snow.
We danced in celebration--to "Vogue" and "Fame" and "You Can't Stop the Beat" (Hairspray.) And stayed up late playing Blink (Mama and Sis) and building mini-Lego buildings (Bud) and reading about the kitchens at Hampton Court (me, squealing "We'll be there in three months!")
And now, later than planned, the kiddos are off to bed, as the snow begins to blow and pile up outside.
(Gommie and Pop called to say they just got home and were glad to escape the weather.)
Showing posts with label dance party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dance party. Show all posts
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Dance Party!
Last night, after dinner, Mama turned on some 70s tunes; she's been trying to expand the kids' listening repertoire. So far, we've added some early 80s. Mama loves that she's gotten them into Debbie Gibson's "Electric Youth," "Walk Like an Egyptian," "Walk the Dinosaur," etc. My favorites--Wham!, Culture Club, and Duran Duran haven't stuck yet. We've also been listening to more classical--Handel's "Water Music" and Yo-Yo Ma--because of their new interest in strings.
But last night it was "Stayin' Alive," "I Will Survive," "Heart of Glass," "Boogie Oogie Oogie," "Play that Funky Music, White Boy," and, best of all, "YMCA." After the kids stared/laughed at us through a few songs, they were game to do the moves to the Village People. Sure, it got them a bit worked up, but it was a fun way to end the evening.
But last night it was "Stayin' Alive," "I Will Survive," "Heart of Glass," "Boogie Oogie Oogie," "Play that Funky Music, White Boy," and, best of all, "YMCA." After the kids stared/laughed at us through a few songs, they were game to do the moves to the Village People. Sure, it got them a bit worked up, but it was a fun way to end the evening.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
More Cake on My Plate
We are having the kiddos' birthday party early, before school is out (hoping it is easier to get RSVPs and guests.) They had considered an at-home party with just a few friends, but then decided on a bigger dance party at a local place. With a luau theme! They will greet their guests with leis, with some candy and a music CD in the favor bag. There are tiki centerpieces and even an inflatable Tiki pole (Mama took them to buy supplies, of course. It's reminiscent of Disney and the Polynesian; I try not to think of cultural appropriation!) They'll dance to all their favorite current pop hits--oh, how they love to dance right now, putting on shows for us almost nightly to "Gangnam Style" and "I Knew You Were Trouble"--and play games, then have pizza (and chicken fingers for Sis.) And, after much back and forth about the birthday dessert, the kiddos decided on vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting, to be decorated with crushed vanilla wafers for sand and little beach umbrellas. Today, they helped me make the cupcakes; tomorrow, I'll frost and decorate them. And then we'll party!
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Yellow Cake
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups milk
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter parchment, and dust with flour, tapping out excess; set aside. Into a medium bowl, sift together flours, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until combined after each addition.
Divide batter between the prepared pans, and smooth with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until cakes are golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 20 minutes. Invert cakes onto the rack; peel off the parchment. Reinvert cakes and let them cool completely, top sides up.
Chocolate Frosting
24 ounces best-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon boiling water
3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
Pinch of salt
Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Turn off heat; stir occasionally until chocolate has melted completely, about 15 minutes. Set bowl on countertop, and let chocolate cool to room temperature, 25 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine cocoa powder and boiling water in a small bowl; stir until cocoa is dissolved.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, confectioners' sugar, and salt on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add melted chocolate; beat on low speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in cocoa mixture.
Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes to make level; brush off crumbs. Place four strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate or lazy Susan. Place the first layer on the cake plate, and spread top with 3/4 cup of frosting. Place the second layer on top, bottom side up, and spread top with 3/4 cup of frosting; repeat process with the third layer. Place the remaining layer on top of the third layer, bottom-side up; insert a dowel into the center of cakes if necessary. Spread entire cake with remaining frosting. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.
Martha Stewart
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Yellow Cake
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups milk
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 9-by-2-inch round cake pans; line the bottoms with parchment paper. Butter parchment, and dust with flour, tapping out excess; set aside. Into a medium bowl, sift together flours, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and beginning and ending with the flour; beat until combined after each addition.
Divide batter between the prepared pans, and smooth with an offset spatula. Bake, rotating the pans halfway through, until cakes are golden brown and a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool 20 minutes. Invert cakes onto the rack; peel off the parchment. Reinvert cakes and let them cool completely, top sides up.
Martha Stewart
24 ounces best-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon boiling water
3 sticks (1 1/2 cups) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
Pinch of salt
Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Turn off heat; stir occasionally until chocolate has melted completely, about 15 minutes. Set bowl on countertop, and let chocolate cool to room temperature, 25 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, combine cocoa powder and boiling water in a small bowl; stir until cocoa is dissolved.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, confectioners' sugar, and salt on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add melted chocolate; beat on low speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in cocoa mixture.
Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes to make level; brush off crumbs. Place four strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate or lazy Susan. Place the first layer on the cake plate, and spread top with 3/4 cup of frosting. Place the second layer on top, bottom side up, and spread top with 3/4 cup of frosting; repeat process with the third layer. Place the remaining layer on top of the third layer, bottom-side up; insert a dowel into the center of cakes if necessary. Spread entire cake with remaining frosting. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired.
Martha Stewart
Friday, January 11, 2013
Stop!
"Mom, why does it say 'in the name of love' on the stop sign?" Sis asked recently.
I sang a bit of the song, but you could tell that wasn't quite enough.
Then, at Disney on Ice--or was it watching Cars with them the first time--we heard another Supremes song.
The next time we were downstairs, Mama searched the iPod and lo, and behold! we had a Supremes greatest hits collection. Soon we were playing "Stop in the Name of Love," "Baby Love," "Come See About Me," "Stoned Love," "You Can't Hurry Love," "You Keep Me Hanging On" (which they recognized from "Glee"), "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (though, that might me Diana Ross alone). And dancing all around the living room.
Now, Bud asks for "Stop in the Name of Love" every morning.
If only I could remember where we saw that stop sign so we could go back again . . . . (I bet Sis remembers!)
I sang a bit of the song, but you could tell that wasn't quite enough.
Then, at Disney on Ice--or was it watching Cars with them the first time--we heard another Supremes song.
The next time we were downstairs, Mama searched the iPod and lo, and behold! we had a Supremes greatest hits collection. Soon we were playing "Stop in the Name of Love," "Baby Love," "Come See About Me," "Stoned Love," "You Can't Hurry Love," "You Keep Me Hanging On" (which they recognized from "Glee"), "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (though, that might me Diana Ross alone). And dancing all around the living room.
Now, Bud asks for "Stop in the Name of Love" every morning.
If only I could remember where we saw that stop sign so we could go back again . . . . (I bet Sis remembers!)
Friday, May 18, 2012
Musical Interlude
Mama and I were cleaning out CDs yesterday and came across both Raffi and Laurie Berkner. Suddenly, the kids were just three-years old, dancing to "Baby Beluga" and laughing to "Willaby Wallaby Woo," stomping to "We are the Dinosaurs" (and curling up in the exact same positions--Bud on his tummy, butt up; Sis on her side sniffing Shirt) and running around to "I'm Gonna Catch You." So this evening, we played some of the music for them. They didn't remember the names of either artist but immediately recalled several of the songs. Soon, they were running around, giggling, falling on the floor, stomping . . . and there I was all weepy and laughing, too.
Tomorrow, Imagination Movers!
Tomorrow, Imagination Movers!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Kidbits
Reverberations of our Boston trip are frequently felt: Bud recreated the midnight ride of Paul Revere in Legos. And then Sis constructed her own colonial "chocolate" mud making system complete with metate, or stones to grind it. Then they spent all of dinner retelling the Aquarium's IMAX movie to me. So, of course, we're thinking of going back!
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We have a system for quelling some disagreements, particularly about tooth-brushing: Sis gets to go first on the even dates and Bud gets to go first on the odd dates. This works well, except when a month ends on an odd date and of course the next one starts on an odd date (like, well, today). Last night, upset by the fact that there were two odd days in a row, Sis declared, "I want to be odd!" And hearing this statement, we all burst out laughing and they both began dancing around the dinner table, trying to be as odd as possible!
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We had a dance party last night, each of us choosing a song (plus one for Mama, who worked late). Sis chose Justin Bieber's "Baby," Bud chose "Bad Romance." We picked "Dynamite" for Mama. and I like "Born this Way." All the "Glee" versions.
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We are reading The Borrowers now, one of my favorite childhood books, in advance of eventually seeing the new Studio Ghibli film. But Sis, having seen the movie commercials, keeps calling the book by the movie title, The Secret World of Arietty. Either way, we're really enjoying the story, them for the first time, and me 30+ years later.
-=-=-=-=-=-
We have a system for quelling some disagreements, particularly about tooth-brushing: Sis gets to go first on the even dates and Bud gets to go first on the odd dates. This works well, except when a month ends on an odd date and of course the next one starts on an odd date (like, well, today). Last night, upset by the fact that there were two odd days in a row, Sis declared, "I want to be odd!" And hearing this statement, we all burst out laughing and they both began dancing around the dinner table, trying to be as odd as possible!
-=-=-=-=-=-
We had a dance party last night, each of us choosing a song (plus one for Mama, who worked late). Sis chose Justin Bieber's "Baby," Bud chose "Bad Romance." We picked "Dynamite" for Mama. and I like "Born this Way." All the "Glee" versions.
-=-=-=-=-=-
We are reading The Borrowers now, one of my favorite childhood books, in advance of eventually seeing the new Studio Ghibli film. But Sis, having seen the movie commercials, keeps calling the book by the movie title, The Secret World of Arietty. Either way, we're really enjoying the story, them for the first time, and me 30+ years later.
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