All Amazing Babies

Some people have a more difficult time with the first day of school than others. I remember when I started preschool and kindergarten, I was terrified to be dropped off with complete strangers. However, I tried my best to keep my fears to myself. Then as I got to my middle school and high school years, I would vomit every day as the first day of school would inch closer. I would overthink everything. Would if I had a mean teacher? Would if my classes were too difficult? Would if I didn’t know anybody in any of my classes? The “would ifs” would go on forever.

Little Axel is one student who could probably understand how I feel about the first day of school. But it wasn’t just his first day of school that he was worried about; it was his first, first day of school. Although he was all smiles when he was waiting for the school bus to pick him up, once the bus had arrived, he immediately became anxious.

“He was all smiles when he saw me around the corner. And then I started to slow down. And that’s when you could see his face kind of start to change,” said Bus Driver Isabel Lane.

Although Isabel gave the little boy a welcoming smile, he froze in place instead of walking up the bus’s steps. So, his mother, Amy Johnson, picked him up and placed him on an available seat directly behind the driver.

But as his mother began to walk away, Axel clung onto her. That’s when Isabel decided to step in to comfort the worried boy by holding his hand as his mother walked off the bus.

A photo of the incident was taken by Amy and posted online, which then got reposted by the local police department. It eventually gained traction on the Web, and next thing you know, Bus Driver Isabel was at a loss for words when she started receiving praise from strangers online.

“I didn’t think it was like that big of a deal personally. I guess this is something that I would do,” she said humbly.

The wonderful thing about dance is that it’s so versatile. No matter how old a specific type of dance is, you can partake in it during any decade. Want to modernize a style of dance or put your own twist on it? Go for it! Want to engage in a particular dance but don’t want to wear the traditional attire you’re supposed to or move to the original song? That’s okay, too. Nobody will bat an eye because, well, dance is art, and art isn’t stagnant. It can be altered, combined with different styles, or even made to fit the current era. Or, one can stick to the traditional route.

The Junior Shag Dance Team is one group that aims to preserve an older dance that may otherwise eventually be lost: the Carolina Shag. The non-profit dance group that was born July 2008 teaches youngsters all there is to know about engaging in the quick dance and then having them perform during various dance competitions.

One of their most recent performances was at the 2019 US Open Swing Dance Championships that took place late last year.

At the competition, the dance team composed of 14 individuals aged 12 to 17 appeared on stage in hot pink jumpsuits (the girls) and black suits with black vests (the boys).

In their modest attire, the group did the shag to Rickie Lee Jones’s “Danny’s All-Star Joint.”

They first walk out in boy-girl order, shoulder-to-shoulder, one couple behind the other. Then when it’s their cue, the young dancers do a little London Bridges-inspired move as a group before each individual couple joins hands to synchronically engage in the step dance.

About mid-way through the show, the group lines up facing the audience. They all link together as they kick their legs and step to the beat of the music. When they all drop to the floor at the same time before getting back up with a little zig-zag move of their legs, the crowd roars!

Throughout the remainder of the dance performance, the Junior Shag Dance Team continues to beautifully alternate from partner to group dancing. The team ends their routine with the seven partners individually dancing. After a few spins, all 14 dancers end up on their knees before the audience busts out with claps and cheers. Due to how loved the performance was, the Junior Shag Dance Team were named the champions!

But winning a competition is only part of the fun. Founder Brennar Goree knows just how important it is to keep the Carolina Shag alive.

According to the organization’s website, “[Our dance team] highlights a dance most viewers at home will have never even seen or heard of…Carolina Shag is a dance founded in the 50s on a beach somewhere close to the Carolina Grand Strand…at its core, it is a family-oriented community with dancers ranging from 4 to 94 with an emphasis on supporting the youth, while paying the utmost respect to the Hall of Fame elders that founded our great dance.”

Living on the west coast, I can tell you that I’ve never heard of the dance until I found the video of the team’s routine! It was a pleasure to watch the great group of teens put on a fabulous show.

Make sure to watch the dancers’ routine below for yourself. And if you know anyone aged 8 to 20 in North or South Carolina interested in learning the Carolina Shag, they can try out for the Junior Shag Dance Team on February 22, 2020. Click here for more details.

A baby’s first words are one of those adorable (hopefully!) memories that parents will forever cherish. Babies may begin communicating words such as “mama” and “dada” as early as 7 months old. Of course, that’s not always the case as it’s perfectly normal for babies to not say anything recognizable until about 18 months.

Still, I think parents await the day very keenly when their little one will start having sweet and innocent conversations with them. I know some parents who are way too eager and feel that their child should be speaking at three months. I think they need to be just a little more patient and even enjoy the peace and quiet. The time before your baby starts talking is literally like the calm before the storm. Trust me!

Until the day they do talk though, babies will happily discover their ability to make unintelligible noises. Something to think about though is that babies will take language cues from their surroundings and try to mimic them as they learn how to communicate. So indeed, we can influence the noises our babies make, sometimes with hilariously unexpected results. What do I mean? Tune in below to understand what I’m talking about.

A video has gone viral of a little girl sitting in a car with her dad. The chatty girl may not be able to form actual words yet but that’s not stopping her from trying to have an immersive conversation with Dad. At times, it even sounds like dad may be in some trouble because it sounds like she’s giving him an earful!

Dad listens very intently to what is clearly a very important message but it pretty much sounds like a strange alien language. He tries his very best to keep a straight face but it doesn’t take long before he cracks up into a fit of laughter. But, who can blame him? One has to wonder who influenced this young lady to come up with this hilarious diction!

Do you have any funny stories of your children or grandchildren speaking in gibberish? What did you make of that conversation? We’d love to hear about these encounters in the comments!

In the meantime, watch the hilarious video below. Let us know what you think and brighten someone’s day by sharing this story with your family and friends. I can guarantee that everyone can relate to this, and it’ll put a smile on everyone’s faces!

Here is another example of why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover! You never know someone’s talent and expertise until they open their mouth. That’s all part of the fun, isn’t it? It’s fun to be greeted with a pleasant surprise that exceeds expectations! Just look at the judge’s faces when 16-year-old Michael Rice steps up to the plate to sing!

When Michael walked into the room, the judges looked at him and asked where he worked, to which he replies a fish and chips shop in his hometown of Hartlepool, UK. He and the judges go back and forth discussing how they like their fish and chips until they ask what Michael will be performing. His response raises their eyebrows. The teen reveals he will be singing Whitney Houston’s “I Look To You” and Simon says, “Are you really?” as the other judges look skeptical. Even an audience member’s face expresses doubt and concern!

But nothing phases Michael. He’s not even nervous! That’s how confident he is in his craft and choice of song. He knows what he was brought here to do, and he’s ready to deliver, regardless of what anyone thinks. The judges wish him luck, and they sit back and relax, but appear puzzled and curious as to what Michael has in store. After all, he’s a teen taking on a Whitney ballad. That’s a little ambitious, no?

Michael delivers his performance flawlessly. From the second the instrumental version starts to play, he knows he’s got them from his first note. His voice has a wide range but sounds different than Whitney’s vocals. He’s got his own sound and takes on the song with confidence. This is exactly what you’re supposed to do with a rendition — make it your own, someone has already sung the original, so there’s no point in just copying what’s already been done, right?

He wows the judges from the get-go, too. Simon and Cheryl’s faces give expressions of fascination!

Michael takes them on a musical journey that surprises and delights them all, flexing his vocals in a way that no one saw coming. The teen finishes his song, and is met with very positive feedback about the power of his voice, agreeing that he’s the “fish and chip shop diva with a bit of gravy on top!” Simon ends the clip by saying, “Just when you think you can’t be surprised…” He’s a star in the making!!

Click below to watch this powerful audition gone very well!

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To have unbridled talent is both a good and a bad thing. For one, it’s great because you have no bad habits. You’re a blank canvas with so much potential just waiting to be polished before you can shine. On the other hand, you are untrained which means you may not know how to present yourself in the best light for the right people to really see how good you are.

For 21-year-old Brendan Murray from Ireland, he’s made his way to the X-Factor to give it all he’s got in front of the panel of judges. When the young man opens his mouth to release an incredibly unique voice, he’s greeted with a mixed reaction from the judges. But that’s not all, the plot thickens as Simon pulls a fast one.

Brendan chose to sing a slowed down version of the R&B classic “We Don’t Have To Take Our Clothes Off,” redone by Ella Eyre. The crowd applauds the young man, but the judges aren’t sold. He carries on, unaware until Simon raises his arm to stop the music. It’s heartbreaking for Brendan, the look of disappointment written all across his face. This is where Simon becomes less of a judge, and more of a coach, saying, “I think lyrically that song didn’t suit your voice.” Simon wants to push him in another direction to give him the chance he deserves

The judges agree–Brendan absolutely has that “je ne sais quois,” but made a poor song choice. To add a whole new level of challenge and excitement, Simon decided to switch gears with another better-suited song choice for Brendan to tackle with only a few hours to tackle it! They chose to give him Maxwell’s “This Woman’s Work,” not only a vocally diverse choice, but Brendan isn’t familiar with it. He’s never heard it, and now he’s got to know it inside out and wow Simon.

Brendan gets a pretty good pep talk from all the judges, but it doesn’t prepare him for what happens next. He’s got some big shoes to fill and bigwigs to impress. The video skips ahead through the other contestants until we see Brendan. When he returns to the stage, he comes on strong but then chokes at the second line! He apologizes, steps back and is ready to throw in the towel. It’s only after one more push that he’s able to muster every last ounce of strength to wow every single soul in the audience–judges and Simon included. You want to watch this one from start to finish.

Click here to see this dramatic audition take an incredible turn.

Let me take you back to your childhood by asking you this one question: What were you doing at the age of five? If I were to answer that question, it would be that I had just started school and karate lessons. I was learning how to tie my laces properly and moving up from velcro shoes to lace-ups. I was figuring out what my new afterschool show would be, and what I wanted for lunch the next day. Life was simple for me.

Perhaps I can’t say the same about the little boy in the video below. Meet five-year-old Evan Le, he is a piano genius. His birthday is May 31, 2011, and he was born in Torrance, CA. He had his first ever piano lesson when he was three-years-old, but I don’t know if he knew he was going to be a prodigy one day.

In the clip we’re sharing, Evan is rehearsing for his recital and playing Chopin’s “Minute Waltz.” This version is just perfect, it almost sounds like the music maestro is playing it himself.

After watching the clip, one might think that Evan is nervous or reluctant to start playing — he sits in front of the piano, for several moments, in silence. He doesn’t start playing until a little bit later into the video, but I don’t think he was nervous — judging by the way he played the number, his nerves were at bay, that’s for sure!

I think what he was really doing in that moment of silence before he began, was getting into his element. He was getting a feel for his atmosphere, bringing on a certain energy right before he begins to channel his inner Chopin. Then, before he was ready to start, he takes his hand and slides it over the keys and jumps right into one of the best versions of “Minute Waltz” that I’ve ever heard.

I don’t know of many people, let alone children, who have attempted this number and nailed it. It takes a great amount of practice and a lot of precision with the keys to get this piece bang on! I would love to see Evan compete on a talent show and do live shows — I think the audience would love him!

Have you heard someone play the “Minute Waltz” like this before? Tell us what you think of Evan’s performance in the comments!

But first, click below to watch this little pianist blow everyone out of the water!

Although this young star didn’t go on to win the show, his still scored a deal of a lifetime. Shortly after his appearance on “Britain’s Got Talent,” he signed a record deal with Sony Music and continued to sing. Apart from gaining fame and a record deal off the show, Ronan was also stuck in a little controversy.

I think it’s fair to assume that no reality show is complete without a little bit of controversy right? So, it was only a matter of time when someone started something in season 5 of “Britain’s Got Talent.”

It just so happened that someone spread a rumor about Ronan and BGT judge Simon Cowell. The story goes that Simon had conditioned and trained Ronan for two years before he entered the show. Of course, these allegations were baseless and Simon cleared the air on the show one night. He mentioned that Ronan got into the show on his own merit and there was no connection or contact between himself and the child star prior to him entering the show. Simon admits that the first time the two met was on the sets of the show.

We hope that this was enough to stop anyone else from spreading baseless rumors!

And now, let’s move on to the ballad that had everyone gushing over the then 12-year-old.

In the video shared below, Ronan chose the song “Because of You,” an interesting musical choice considering that the original singer was Kelly Clarkson. Kelly appeared on “American Idol,” judged by Simon. He was also judging “Britain’s Got Talent” when Ronan took the stage.

Simon is a notoriously critical and difficult-to-please judge, but Ronan’s risky song choice paid off. He blew everyone away with his rendition of the song and delivered a poised and unforgettable performance. He was calm and collective, hitting all the notes in just the right way. As an audience, you can tell that the motive for this young man was to advance to the next round and he knew his voice would be his only ticket through!

I’ve always believed it’s the little things that count. Just give a child a gift wrapped in fancy wrapping paper and bows, and watch how he or she will give more attention to the ripped paper than the gift itself! It’s those small defining moments in time that stick to memory, leaving an everlasting impression. Sometimes those moments are nothing more than a minute or two spent doing something silly or daring with someone you love, or stumbling upon something that momentarily moves you, and yet they stick around forever! You may not remember the exact words someone said, but you’ll always remember the way they made you feel.

It’s beautiful moments like this that forge a bond, and add love and light to a child’s memory bank when they’re all grown up. These become some of the fondest memories for both parent and child. Not to mention how much it makes mom swoon when she gets to walk in on this!!

Mom Laura Caperton Richardson made sure she had her camera ready when she opened the door to the bathroom and saw this scene unfold. Dad’s got their sweet little daughter sitting on the bathroom sink in front of the mirror. He’s holding her hands while standing behind her. She looks all washed up and ready for bed, wearing quite possibly the cutest onesie I’ve ever seen in my life (now, if only it came in my size…), and the two start their show.

Dad cues his daughter in with the beginning of The Temptations’ “My Girl” by singing, “I got sunshine.” She jumps right in, mirroring what daddy’s singing. He goes on to start the lyric, and she finishes it off with her tiny, little squeaky voice! But the girl knows it! He starts, “I got sunshine…..” and then she comes in, “…on a cloudy day….”

Then it’s mostly just her, singing along and totally owning the rest of the song as she whips through the lyrics; she even pulls off a few dance moves thanks to dad! They are definitely a dynamic duo. This is such a sweet moment for her to look back on, and it just goes to show how close they are as a family. She is daddy’s little girl and always will be.

Click the video below to watch this little impromptu bedtime dance-off in the mirror. Could there be a better send off to dreamland?!

Whitney Houston is still a force to be reckoned with. Her songs are timeless, and she’ll always be revered. People are constantly covering her songs, especially in talent competitions—the classic being “I Have Nothing.”

The problem is that “I Have Nothing” is just about one of the toughest songs to cover. Very few people can sing that song and cover it amazingly. In the video down below, 11-year-old Arisxandra Libantino, a Filipino-English singer, is one of the people who sang it exceptionally, especially for somebody of her age!

However, she didn’t just cover it in a random video that she uploaded to YouTube. She sang this at “Britain’s Got Talent” in front of millions of people watching and judging her every note. She sang it at the moment where one has to risk it all and perform something that defines whether or not they stand a chance at winning. She sang this risky song during the semi-finals of the competition!

The video begins and Arisxandra starts, the lyrics pouring out of her voice with confidence. “Share my life, take me for what I am.” The young girl doesn’t have an ounce of fear in her body, and her passion comes through clearly as she continues singing.

“Can’t run from myself, there’s nowhere to hide,” she sings, sounding even stronger. Then, she gets to the chorus, the moment that everybody waits for when hearing this song.

“Don’t make me close one more door

I don’t want to hurt anymore

Stay in my arms if you dare

Or must I imagine you there

Don’t walk away from me

I have nothing, nothing, nothing…”

She hits every note, singing her lungs out. Then comes the next exciting part. She’s about to sing even higher, and you hold onto her every word in anticipation. BOOM!

“Don’t make me close one more door!” she sings, hitting the notes and belting them with her arms wide open and eyes closed. The audience in front of her cheers, screaming and applauding for the little girl with the big voice.

By the end of the song, the judges are clapping, and she even gets a standing ovation from judge David Edward Williams. He looks proud of her for being able to sing such a difficult song.

If you’d like to hear Arisxandra cover this Whitney Houston classic, watch the video down below!