Rock n roll!

I have Christmas pictures to share.
I also have New Year's camping pictures to share.
But THIS, I had to share first. Because it cracks me up.

A little back story: on a particular testy part of our driving home from New Year's camping, I asked Steve to turn up the music in the van, hoping it might help Stella calm down from the incessant "I want to get out" refrain that had just started. Bruce Springsteen's "Live in New York City" album came on... and Stella started rocking out in her car seat. "More drums!" she shouted with glee. It was pretty awesome.

When we got home from the trip, as Steve and I were in a flurry of unpacking the van and simultaneously getting dinner ready, Stella asked for "more drums." So I explained to her what we had listened to in the car was a musician named Bruce Springsteen and the music was called "rock and roll." "More rock and roll!" she yelled. So I put it on. And this is what she did.

Her last sentence is to Steve, who was bringing in another load of stuff. "Daddy! Look a me, I'm dancing!"

For my mom and dad, this might have more connotations that the rest of you will get. See, my brother got a plastic red guitar when he was 4. He loved to put on my mom's walkman and play a tape of Springsteen's "Born in the USA" over and over again. He would sing at the top of his lungs, "Bawn in the USA, I was, Bawn...." I think the image I most remember is him wearing neon footie pajamas, a crazy wig, and the guitar singing this over and over again.

Uncle Mike, this one is for you.