30 April 2008
I'm thinking about buying an SUV...
...because I'd like to do my part in warming my little section of the globe. It's snowing again today...
Quick Little AI Post
I didn't love American Idol tonight. Too fast paced, a little boring and really, I like Neil Diamond as much as the next guy, but 10 of his songs in one night? Meh.
So, today I'll just say which song of each contestants' 2 I preferred.
Jason: Definitely #1. Totally his style. Enjoyed it a lot.
David C: Totally #2. #1 was really super boring to me.
Brooke: Absolutely #3. #1 was uncomfortable until about 3/4 of the way through. #2 was the old Brooke that I love.
David A: Without a doubt #2. I didn't enjoy #1 much at all.
Syesha: Have to go with #1. She's really hit her stride all of a sudden, but I fear she'll be like Kimberly Locke (Season 2) and won't make it as far as she could have if she'd hit her stride earlier).
Oh, and was Paula high last night? I was totally blushing for her. I couldn't even look at the TV when she was giving her comments to Jason. Whoa. But kudos to Simon for taking the high road and not exploiting her for a quick laugh.
So, today I'll just say which song of each contestants' 2 I preferred.
Jason: Definitely #1. Totally his style. Enjoyed it a lot.
David C: Totally #2. #1 was really super boring to me.
Brooke: Absolutely #3. #1 was uncomfortable until about 3/4 of the way through. #2 was the old Brooke that I love.
David A: Without a doubt #2. I didn't enjoy #1 much at all.
Syesha: Have to go with #1. She's really hit her stride all of a sudden, but I fear she'll be like Kimberly Locke (Season 2) and won't make it as far as she could have if she'd hit her stride earlier).
Oh, and was Paula high last night? I was totally blushing for her. I couldn't even look at the TV when she was giving her comments to Jason. Whoa. But kudos to Simon for taking the high road and not exploiting her for a quick laugh.
28 April 2008
She's Listening...Part 2
Well, to be fair to Stanton I have to post this little moment from today...
Lily was outside playing with a magnifying glass this afternoon. She accidentally dropped the thing she was looking at and yelled out, "Oh, Crap!"
Learned this from her daddy? I'm afraid not. That's a saying made famous in this house by Yours Truly.
Note to self, Self, they're listening...
Lily was outside playing with a magnifying glass this afternoon. She accidentally dropped the thing she was looking at and yelled out, "Oh, Crap!"
Learned this from her daddy? I'm afraid not. That's a saying made famous in this house by Yours Truly.
Note to self, Self, they're listening...
Could Someone Please Get That Boy a Dump Truck?
The girls were napping this afternoon, so I sent Brigham outside to play by himself. A little while later, he came inside and found a box of toys he was just dying to take outside. I am not a fan of taking inside toys outside or vice versa, but he's just so darned cute, I couldn't say no.
A Fun Thing from My Favorite Blog
My favorite non-friend/family blog is A Feathered Nest. This gal has lots of easy, cute, crafty things for around the house. She gives great instructions for everything from cooking to hair bow-making to sewing to decorating (and lots more in between). I've enjoyed a lot of what she's done.
Abby is having an apron swap to kick off the summer. I signed up about a month ago and am almost done with my darling apron. The deadline for sign-up is next week, so if you want an easy, fun project that comes with a fun new friend, click here and sign up!
Also, she has some easy instructions for aprons right on her site. Click here for those!
Go ahead, sign up...it won't hurt!
Abby is having an apron swap to kick off the summer. I signed up about a month ago and am almost done with my darling apron. The deadline for sign-up is next week, so if you want an easy, fun project that comes with a fun new friend, click here and sign up!
Also, she has some easy instructions for aprons right on her site. Click here for those!
Go ahead, sign up...it won't hurt!
26 April 2008
Chloe's Great Memory
Chloe has always had a pretty incredible memory. Yesterday and today she reminded me just how good it is.
I was driving with just her in the van and asked her if she knew the way home from where we were (about 2 miles and a few turns away). She stopped for a second, got her bearings, and then led me the whole way home. What really surprised me, however, was just as we were about to turn onto the main road that leads to our house, she said, "Now, there are some bumps in the road here..." and sure enough, we drove over two sewer covers that made the car bump a little. I was pretty flabbergasted.
Today while we were in the garage, we had this conversation. About a place we haven't been since last summer. When she was 3. Notice the details she remembered.
Chloe: Mom, do you remember Tony's Grove?
Me: Yes.
Chloe: Who is Tony?
Me: He's the man who owns the store. What is Tony's Grove?
Chloe: It's the store where we went to get plants and flowers.
Me: That's right!
Chloe: And do you remember the popcorn we got there?
Me: You remember the popcorn?
Chloe: Yeah, it was really yummy.
Me: (awe-struck pause) Stanton, you have to hear this!!!
I was driving with just her in the van and asked her if she knew the way home from where we were (about 2 miles and a few turns away). She stopped for a second, got her bearings, and then led me the whole way home. What really surprised me, however, was just as we were about to turn onto the main road that leads to our house, she said, "Now, there are some bumps in the road here..." and sure enough, we drove over two sewer covers that made the car bump a little. I was pretty flabbergasted.
Today while we were in the garage, we had this conversation. About a place we haven't been since last summer. When she was 3. Notice the details she remembered.
Chloe: Mom, do you remember Tony's Grove?
Me: Yes.
Chloe: Who is Tony?
Me: He's the man who owns the store. What is Tony's Grove?
Chloe: It's the store where we went to get plants and flowers.
Me: That's right!
Chloe: And do you remember the popcorn we got there?
Me: You remember the popcorn?
Chloe: Yeah, it was really yummy.
Me: (awe-struck pause) Stanton, you have to hear this!!!
Saturday-ness
We've been outside working most of today...cleaning out and sweeping the garage, etc. The kids have played decently well together. Lily fell off of Stanton's car...and I mean off. It was pretty traumatic. And Brigham face-planted off a tricycle. Again, pretty un-fun. We've had more blood than usual today.
But there was a highlight! Lily is talking in a Southern accent today. She has been for most of the day. It's darn cute to hear a 3-year old saying, "I'm going to put on my shoes and go outside where I'll ride the tractor with my friends" in a southern belle voice. Go ahead, say that sentence in your head right now in Lily's voice and a southern accent! Pretty cute, huh?
And the kids made a blanket for Stanton out of bubble-wrap. They so originally called it his "bubble blanket" and then laid down under it for a nap with him. You can guess how long that lasted...
But there was a highlight! Lily is talking in a Southern accent today. She has been for most of the day. It's darn cute to hear a 3-year old saying, "I'm going to put on my shoes and go outside where I'll ride the tractor with my friends" in a southern belle voice. Go ahead, say that sentence in your head right now in Lily's voice and a southern accent! Pretty cute, huh?
And the kids made a blanket for Stanton out of bubble-wrap. They so originally called it his "bubble blanket" and then laid down under it for a nap with him. You can guess how long that lasted...
*"Asleep" under the bubble blanket
*Not from today, but a cute picture of Brig helping me roll out the pizza dough.
Luau Pictures....
If you're just DYING to see pictures of our fun Hawaii party, click here. Thanks, Emanate, for being official photographers that day!
Aren't all these grandkids just kissable?
Aren't all these grandkids just kissable?
23 April 2008
AI Vote-off
You get to enjoy my "blog-as-I-watch" recap toady!
Wasn't that funny to see ALW perform with the contestants?! He was totally in his own world. Kind of like Jason? Yes, they're more alike than Sir Andrew would like to think!
I totally totally totally enjoyed the interview with Sir ALW! I couldn't believe how honest he was right in front of the contestants! I noticed they did not pan over to Jason while he was commenting on his performance. Even though he bagged on my boy, I still loved that portion of the show.
The Davids-- yeah, that wasn't predictable at all, was it? Glad they did them first. And I told you the girls would fall for the hot guy gettin' it on!
Ha! Jason was yawning back there! He's just so funny. He's like my Jack Johnson, Sondre Lerche love affair right now!
Oh, Clay! Please please please fix that hair! And Simon, thank you for fixing that hair!
Am I the only one who's never heard of that girl Simon discovered? I guess that's what happens when you only listen to talk radio and iTunes. Okay, the girl can sing -- she's not singing my favorite kind of music, but she can sing! And I must say that Simon has a gift for finding the talent.
Wow, poor Brooke! First off, I think she was hoping to be in the bottom 2. Second, she thought it was her fault that Syesha was in the bottom 2. We all know that's not true--Syesha is just the least unique in her genre this year. She could have won or been in the top 2-3 in previous seasons, but not this season, unfortunately. And sweet Syesha. This was her week and it has to be tough to be in the bottom on a week like that.
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jason is safe! I love that he just totally said, "I don't want to sing tonight." It's his way of saying I am totally serious about this competition. Oh, and Simon's comments about Brooke and Jason are exactly right. And those are qualities that make for long, successful careers.
We just changed the channel for Carly's song. Sorry, don't want to hear that again. But I am really glad she's in the bottom 2. She has not lived up to the hype. Period. I so hope Syesha gets to stay another week, if only because she was the shining star of last night's performances.
Well, that's just rude. Why are Carly and Ryan gabbing with each other during Syesha's performance? You can tell Syesha is pretty bummed. But she really does have a great voice.
Does anyone else love the Mac commercials as much as us? Even with DVR we stop to watch them.
And now...here comes the drama... let it be Carly...WooHoo! If I was in the audience, I'd be cheering out loud!!! But she'll live in Idol legend now as one who went home too early. Not for me, but she's gotten enough hype that that'll be the case.
This is the best top 6 of any season. I wish her luck and hope she gets braces and a recording contract. There is a market for her style.
Wasn't that funny to see ALW perform with the contestants?! He was totally in his own world. Kind of like Jason? Yes, they're more alike than Sir Andrew would like to think!
I totally totally totally enjoyed the interview with Sir ALW! I couldn't believe how honest he was right in front of the contestants! I noticed they did not pan over to Jason while he was commenting on his performance. Even though he bagged on my boy, I still loved that portion of the show.
The Davids-- yeah, that wasn't predictable at all, was it? Glad they did them first. And I told you the girls would fall for the hot guy gettin' it on!
Ha! Jason was yawning back there! He's just so funny. He's like my Jack Johnson, Sondre Lerche love affair right now!
Oh, Clay! Please please please fix that hair! And Simon, thank you for fixing that hair!
Am I the only one who's never heard of that girl Simon discovered? I guess that's what happens when you only listen to talk radio and iTunes. Okay, the girl can sing -- she's not singing my favorite kind of music, but she can sing! And I must say that Simon has a gift for finding the talent.
Wow, poor Brooke! First off, I think she was hoping to be in the bottom 2. Second, she thought it was her fault that Syesha was in the bottom 2. We all know that's not true--Syesha is just the least unique in her genre this year. She could have won or been in the top 2-3 in previous seasons, but not this season, unfortunately. And sweet Syesha. This was her week and it has to be tough to be in the bottom on a week like that.
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jason is safe! I love that he just totally said, "I don't want to sing tonight." It's his way of saying I am totally serious about this competition. Oh, and Simon's comments about Brooke and Jason are exactly right. And those are qualities that make for long, successful careers.
We just changed the channel for Carly's song. Sorry, don't want to hear that again. But I am really glad she's in the bottom 2. She has not lived up to the hype. Period. I so hope Syesha gets to stay another week, if only because she was the shining star of last night's performances.
Well, that's just rude. Why are Carly and Ryan gabbing with each other during Syesha's performance? You can tell Syesha is pretty bummed. But she really does have a great voice.
Does anyone else love the Mac commercials as much as us? Even with DVR we stop to watch them.
And now...here comes the drama... let it be Carly...WooHoo! If I was in the audience, I'd be cheering out loud!!! But she'll live in Idol legend now as one who went home too early. Not for me, but she's gotten enough hype that that'll be the case.
This is the best top 6 of any season. I wish her luck and hope she gets braces and a recording contract. There is a market for her style.
Happy Birthday, Lily Love!
It's true, our little LilyLove turned 3 on Monday! Lily is such a joy to have in our family. She is a constant source of entertainment and love.
Some things I love about Lily:
*Her voice. She has this great deep voice that is so animated! And she also has a great little singing voice. She really has a knack for music, it's almost like it's inside of her. She loves to sing and does it A LOT!
*Her humor. There is hardly a day that goes by when Lily doesn't say or do something that has all of us rolling with laughter. I love the jokes she comes up with and the things she thinks of.
*She says exactly what she's thinking. Always. I think that she thinks out loud -- and it's a lot of fun to hear what's going on in that mind!
*Her tender heart. If Lily hurts someone, she cries more than they do. She is very sensitive. I just hope we don't harden her over time!
*Her, in general! She is really a fun child and makes everyone who meets her feel like they have a connection! And really, they do! She's that kind of kid!
Love you, Lily!
Fun at the party? Of course! Grandma & Grandpa Rose came with Grandma Johnson. Grandma Judy & Grandpa Dave came with Grandma Barb and Grandma Allen. And Miss Jen from Stanton's office came, too! Lily got lots of fun presents: A new book and coloring book from Grandma J, a pizza set, her favorite book: The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and a new outfit from us, clothes for her Bitty Baby from Chloe, an art desk from Dave & Judy, and a Bitty Baby from G&G Rose, as well as a jump rope from Jen and money from the greats. She was so cute and excited over every gift and was good to let Brigham and Chloe help her open everything. One of her other highlights was the Three Billy Goats Gruff cake I made for her. She ed about it for weeks before hand and while it didn't turn out how I wanted it to, she was thrilled. That makes a mama happy...
Some things I love about Lily:
*Her voice. She has this great deep voice that is so animated! And she also has a great little singing voice. She really has a knack for music, it's almost like it's inside of her. She loves to sing and does it A LOT!
*Her humor. There is hardly a day that goes by when Lily doesn't say or do something that has all of us rolling with laughter. I love the jokes she comes up with and the things she thinks of.
*She says exactly what she's thinking. Always. I think that she thinks out loud -- and it's a lot of fun to hear what's going on in that mind!
*Her tender heart. If Lily hurts someone, she cries more than they do. She is very sensitive. I just hope we don't harden her over time!
*Her, in general! She is really a fun child and makes everyone who meets her feel like they have a connection! And really, they do! She's that kind of kid!
Love you, Lily!
Fun at the party? Of course! Grandma & Grandpa Rose came with Grandma Johnson. Grandma Judy & Grandpa Dave came with Grandma Barb and Grandma Allen. And Miss Jen from Stanton's office came, too! Lily got lots of fun presents: A new book and coloring book from Grandma J, a pizza set, her favorite book: The Three Billy Goats Gruff, and a new outfit from us, clothes for her Bitty Baby from Chloe, an art desk from Dave & Judy, and a Bitty Baby from G&G Rose, as well as a jump rope from Jen and money from the greats. She was so cute and excited over every gift and was good to let Brigham and Chloe help her open everything. One of her other highlights was the Three Billy Goats Gruff cake I made for her. She ed about it for weeks before hand and while it didn't turn out how I wanted it to, she was thrilled. That makes a mama happy...
Here are some fun pics of the party.
*After the party we caught Chloe & Lily putting their babies to bed and reading them stories.
*Lily has The Three Billy Goats Gruff memorized word for word. It's pretty incredible. Each of the characters has its own voice and animations. She did a reading for us at her party. I have a video of it, just need to figure out how to compress it so it'll load on here...
And just for my personal record, a conversation with Chloe while frosting Lily's cake...
Chloe: Mom, your birthday is next!
Me: Yep, do you know how old I'll be?
Chloe: Um, sixty?
Me: Sixteen?
Chloe: No, I said sixty.
And a quick shout out to TaLaisa & Monica -- thanks for your helpful ideas on the cake!
Mitch's Homecoming
I've posted about Mitch before, so I'll just note that his Sacrament Meeting talk was really nice. And having all those cousins around actually made it possible to hear about 42% of the meeting! Amazing!
The party afterward was great, as usual. Amazing food (a Rose Family tradition!), and great company. It's always nice to see the extended family -- love you guys!
I forgot my camera...ugh.
The party afterward was great, as usual. Amazing food (a Rose Family tradition!), and great company. It's always nice to see the extended family -- love you guys!
I forgot my camera...ugh.
Happy Birthday Grandma Barbara!
Saturday we had a fun time with all the extended family. We celebrated Grandma Barbara's birthday at the HP Civic Center.
She was so thrilled to see everyone there and that always makes for a fun time.
Grandma has a beautiful singing voice and is also a fantastic cook, so the events of the day? Talent show and dinner! Both were great.
The grandkids stood up and told things they loved/remembered, etc. about Grandma and Emily & Nate put together an awesome slideshow of her life. In it were pictures of Judy (Stanton's mom) as a child - it was cooky how alike she and Lily look! Lucky Lily!
Happy Birthday, Grandma, you're like a grandma to me! :)
*Grandma Barb
*Linda, Rick, Monica, Chloe, Lily, Brigham, & me
Monica is giving Chloe a pooping chicken. When you squeeze its belly, it lays an egg in a nasty sac of water. The gross-out factor increased ten-fold when the chicken's water broke by accident. You can just imagine the potty jokes that were unleashed in that moment...
*Nate & Emily
*Lily singing "I am a Child of God"
She was so thrilled to see everyone there and that always makes for a fun time.
Grandma has a beautiful singing voice and is also a fantastic cook, so the events of the day? Talent show and dinner! Both were great.
The grandkids stood up and told things they loved/remembered, etc. about Grandma and Emily & Nate put together an awesome slideshow of her life. In it were pictures of Judy (Stanton's mom) as a child - it was cooky how alike she and Lily look! Lucky Lily!
Happy Birthday, Grandma, you're like a grandma to me! :)
*Grandma Barb
*Linda, Rick, Monica, Chloe, Lily, Brigham, & me
Monica is giving Chloe a pooping chicken. When you squeeze its belly, it lays an egg in a nasty sac of water. The gross-out factor increased ten-fold when the chicken's water broke by accident. You can just imagine the potty jokes that were unleashed in that moment...
*Nate & Emily
*Lily singing "I am a Child of God"
Playing Catch-up from a FUN Weekend!
This was a party weekend! We had our Hawaii Reunion Party on Friday, Grandma Barbara's birthday party on Saturday, Mitch's homecoming on Sunday, and Lily's birthday on Monday! Whew, what a weekend! For the sake of organization, I'm going to do each one as a separate post. Browse at your leisure...
Aloha!
We had a party at our house for all the family and friends who went to Hawaii in February.
We first played Hawaiian Pictionary. So fun to play pictionary with the Allens! They are all competitive (yes, I fit right in!) and it makes for a very entertaining show!
We ate Kalua Pork, tons of great fruit, salads, and desserts.
We had a flip-flop pinata for the kids (my first pinata of my whole life!). It was so fun to see them get into to smacking it! It was made of cardboard, so we didn't bother with blindfolds. The challenge was just getting into the darn thing! Chloe was particularly excited about this part of the day's events...she asked me several times a day if it was time for the "pinyathta" (I'm trying to figure out how to phonetically type out a perfect Spanish accent. Anyway, she was saying it with a perfect accent). The kids (and some of the grown-ups) had a great time smashing into the flip flop and enjoyed all the junk inside, too.
After the games, we went down to the basement and watched everyone's pictures and movies from the trip. It was a lot of fun to relive the perfect vacation and a lot of fun to just be together.
Unfortunately, I didn't take a ton of pictures, as I was hosting the party. Hopefully I can get a few of the pinata smashing from Jim & Rachel and post them on here. For now, these will have to do!
First, Some American Idol Yumminess
Well, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber? Interesting choice for American Idol, but it seemed to me like he watches the show and really knows the contestants styles, etc. It was a pretty decent night. I wish they would have broadened the genre to include all Broadway music, though.
Syesha: Wow! She's totally found her niche, right? I thought she was really spectacular. She has a great Broadway-style voice, and is a natural with the acting part of it, too. It helped that I didn't recognize that song...made it easier for me to love her doing it. She got an A tonight.
Jason: So, I love this boy, that's no secret! While this was not his strongest night, I think he did MUCH better than the judges gave him credit for. I totally agreed with Paula's assessment that this performance was akin to Joe Cocker You are So Beautiful. It's the cracks and imperfections that make it beautiful and heartfelt. I thought Jason captured that. And really, I'd rather hear a dreadlocked dude sing that song than an "old glamour-puss" cat any day. I always thought the whole premise of that musical was odd. So, I thought it was a good choice for Jason. He could have been a lot more confident (his nervousness during the interview set him up for critical viewing of the performance), and he could have been a little stronger, vocally, but I thought it was enjoyable, overall.
Brooke: Dear Dear Brooke. I am afraid this could be her last week. It made me uncomfortable when she stopped and started, yet I don't know what else I would have done. I thought it was interesting that Paula praised her a few weeks ago for starting over and then got after her this week. But she shouldn't be doing this more than once...she's got to get that confidence back. As for the song, she was pleasant. I thought she felt the emotion of the song, but she's just not that "style" of singer. I wish she would have done something with it that made it Brooke-esque. But she didn't and she still did a fine job, just not outstanding. I am not necessarily ready to see her go, but I sort of wonder if this will be her week.
David A: Well, I thought Simon was WAY off on his critique of David! This was such a smart move for him! I thought he did what no other contestant did this week: take a risk and make the song unique. Sure, I love the original and nothing can take its place, but David made me think this was a new song, yet familiar. I think this week solidified his standing as the contestant to beat. That's not to say he's my favorite, but I do think he will absolutely win this season. I enjoyed this performance a lot. One of the best of the night, in my book. The interesting thing about David is that he could have shone in this genre without changing it up -- he has a strong enough voice to do Broadway, but he impressed me in that he didn't go for the easy choice. He took a risk and it paid off.
Carly: Well, how can I judge her fairly? I do not like this song at all. I find it sacreligious. So, I can't be fair here. I am ready for her to go home, but I'm not thrilled about hearing this song again for the sing-out, so I'm torn here.
David C: Man, I'm sorry. I really like this guy, but I did not enjoy this performance one little bit. I thought he came off as that hot guy who doesn't really care about you, but totally wants to get some action so he'll do whatever it takes to get you with him. No sincerity, no emotion, just fake sincerity and fake emotion. I really did not enjoy it. But, just like that hot guy gets a lot of girls, David will get a lot of votes this week. Some people just dig that. Not me, though. I'm hoping for something much better next week from David.
Predictions: Bottom 2 (that's how many it will be now, right?)--Carly and Brooke
Going Home--Brooke
Syesha: Wow! She's totally found her niche, right? I thought she was really spectacular. She has a great Broadway-style voice, and is a natural with the acting part of it, too. It helped that I didn't recognize that song...made it easier for me to love her doing it. She got an A tonight.
Jason: So, I love this boy, that's no secret! While this was not his strongest night, I think he did MUCH better than the judges gave him credit for. I totally agreed with Paula's assessment that this performance was akin to Joe Cocker You are So Beautiful. It's the cracks and imperfections that make it beautiful and heartfelt. I thought Jason captured that. And really, I'd rather hear a dreadlocked dude sing that song than an "old glamour-puss" cat any day. I always thought the whole premise of that musical was odd. So, I thought it was a good choice for Jason. He could have been a lot more confident (his nervousness during the interview set him up for critical viewing of the performance), and he could have been a little stronger, vocally, but I thought it was enjoyable, overall.
Brooke: Dear Dear Brooke. I am afraid this could be her last week. It made me uncomfortable when she stopped and started, yet I don't know what else I would have done. I thought it was interesting that Paula praised her a few weeks ago for starting over and then got after her this week. But she shouldn't be doing this more than once...she's got to get that confidence back. As for the song, she was pleasant. I thought she felt the emotion of the song, but she's just not that "style" of singer. I wish she would have done something with it that made it Brooke-esque. But she didn't and she still did a fine job, just not outstanding. I am not necessarily ready to see her go, but I sort of wonder if this will be her week.
David A: Well, I thought Simon was WAY off on his critique of David! This was such a smart move for him! I thought he did what no other contestant did this week: take a risk and make the song unique. Sure, I love the original and nothing can take its place, but David made me think this was a new song, yet familiar. I think this week solidified his standing as the contestant to beat. That's not to say he's my favorite, but I do think he will absolutely win this season. I enjoyed this performance a lot. One of the best of the night, in my book. The interesting thing about David is that he could have shone in this genre without changing it up -- he has a strong enough voice to do Broadway, but he impressed me in that he didn't go for the easy choice. He took a risk and it paid off.
Carly: Well, how can I judge her fairly? I do not like this song at all. I find it sacreligious. So, I can't be fair here. I am ready for her to go home, but I'm not thrilled about hearing this song again for the sing-out, so I'm torn here.
David C: Man, I'm sorry. I really like this guy, but I did not enjoy this performance one little bit. I thought he came off as that hot guy who doesn't really care about you, but totally wants to get some action so he'll do whatever it takes to get you with him. No sincerity, no emotion, just fake sincerity and fake emotion. I really did not enjoy it. But, just like that hot guy gets a lot of girls, David will get a lot of votes this week. Some people just dig that. Not me, though. I'm hoping for something much better next week from David.
Predictions: Bottom 2 (that's how many it will be now, right?)--Carly and Brooke
Going Home--Brooke
16 April 2008
I'm Just Sayin' ... I'm not sad!
Well, my predictions were WAY off! But I'm so happy to be wrong this week. Good luck, Kristy. And I really do hope you get your horse back!
Other notes:
*What is that thing on Paula's neck?
*Carly made me darn mad when she said Simon had been "too hard" on her. Give me a break.
*I really don't love when they make the #1 guy choose a side. Seriously, this isn't 5th grade.
*Funny how they had to put Jason and David C. in separate groups at first so it wouldn't be a dead giveaway who was safe. Ha Ha.
*Again, Mariah, with the clothes. Ugh. I thought they really affected her ability to have good breath control tonight.
*Elliot, sweet Elliot. You could tell he misses his mama. She was always so cute. Good luck to him. He really does have an awesome voice. And if you haven't downloaded his This Christmas from iTunes, you should. It's great.
Looking forward to showtunes next week. It'll be interesting to hear what everybody does with those...
Other notes:
*What is that thing on Paula's neck?
*Carly made me darn mad when she said Simon had been "too hard" on her. Give me a break.
*I really don't love when they make the #1 guy choose a side. Seriously, this isn't 5th grade.
*Funny how they had to put Jason and David C. in separate groups at first so it wouldn't be a dead giveaway who was safe. Ha Ha.
*Again, Mariah, with the clothes. Ugh. I thought they really affected her ability to have good breath control tonight.
*Elliot, sweet Elliot. You could tell he misses his mama. She was always so cute. Good luck to him. He really does have an awesome voice. And if you haven't downloaded his This Christmas from iTunes, you should. It's great.
Looking forward to showtunes next week. It'll be interesting to hear what everybody does with those...
¡ʇno sıɥʇ ʞɔǝɥɔ
¡.o ɹǝʇsıs sʞuɐɥʇ ¡uʍop ǝpısdn ʇxǝʇ ɹnoʎ dı1ɟ 11ıʍ ʇɐɥʇ ǝʇıs unɟ sıɥʇ ʇnoqɐ ǝɯ p1oʇ ɯoɯ s,puǝıɹɟ ʎɯ
Get it here!
Get it here!
15 April 2008
Mariah Looks Uncomfortable in those Clothes...
So, I couldn't get over how uncomfortable Mariah Carey looked! I would be too if I were wearing skin tight clothes and 4 inch hells (that's supposed to say "heels," but I think the typo is more appropriate...). She did seem nice, though, and I thought gave the contestants good pointers and suggestions. That being said, here's the review:
David A.: Very very good. He does seem to sing the same song every week, which I think is cute, but a little boring. Thank goodness he has a heck of a voice, because that makes him still great to listen to.
Carly: Well, I was totally disappointed in her performance. I seem to say this every week, but she just bores me. to. death. She didn't step up on the bridge of that song. And her verses were weak. I was glad that Simon called her on it. I really do wish I liked her more! She disappoints me every week! Ugh! One note, though, even though that dress was way down there, this is definitely the best she's looked. Ever. Good job.
Syesha: I am continuing my crush on this girl. I don't think she's necessarily unique in her genre, but, darn, that girl is gorgeous. Gorgeous. And gorgeous teeth. And she's a sweet girl. As for the performance, well this was a shining night for her. I thought she did a fantastic job! That was a beautiful vocal. Good job this week.
Brooke: Like Simon said, Brooke really didn't have much of a choice but to sing this acoustically. And I was really impressed with it. I loved that she didn't have the band come in at all. She sounded genuine and lovely and I really do love this girl's voice. A pleasant walk in the park. In a flowering springtime. Loved it.
Kristy: Well, I'll say this -- this was her best week yet. I thought she'd crash and burn on Mariah Carey week, but she did ah-ight. I think the judges have gone pretty easy on her lately, and I was glad that at least Simon really judged her this week. I still don't think she's top 10 material, but this was a good week for her.
David C.: Wow. I really actually loved this performance. It was totally unique and really great vocally. I thought he stumbled at the end, but he really was great. A couple of gripes: I don't like when he goes for the high notes and makes that grunting face. He's going to have to work on that one. And the crying sort of threw me off tonight. Where did that come from? It was somewhat endearing, but I really didn't understand what it was all about. Now, all complaints aside, this boy is really amazing. And I thought this was a fantastic song arrangement and performance.
Jason: I loved him again this week! Hallelujah , Travelin', and Somewhere Over the Rainbow have been his show stoppers and this wasn't necessarily up there with those, but it was pretty darn close. Seriously, I loved his performance. He really does have that unique, distinct, fantastic quality that will take him far. Not just in this competition, either. I want to buy a Jason Castro album right. now. You know I hold him to a high standard, too, so I really mean it when I say he had a great night. Loved the band beside him with that sort of calypso sound. Great choice. Yay Jason!
With all of that said, I have to just say again that I MISS MICHAEL! I really really missed him this week and wish I was writing a review for him right now.
Overall, a very enjoyable week. Simon hit it right on, too, this night belonged to the boys. I think I'll look forward to another MC night next season.
Predictions
Bottom 3: Carly, Kristy, Brooke (not because I want her to be!)
Going home: Carly (Again, not because I think she should, just my prediction)
Oh, and I voted, so things ought to go as planned!
David A.: Very very good. He does seem to sing the same song every week, which I think is cute, but a little boring. Thank goodness he has a heck of a voice, because that makes him still great to listen to.
Carly: Well, I was totally disappointed in her performance. I seem to say this every week, but she just bores me. to. death. She didn't step up on the bridge of that song. And her verses were weak. I was glad that Simon called her on it. I really do wish I liked her more! She disappoints me every week! Ugh! One note, though, even though that dress was way down there, this is definitely the best she's looked. Ever. Good job.
Syesha: I am continuing my crush on this girl. I don't think she's necessarily unique in her genre, but, darn, that girl is gorgeous. Gorgeous. And gorgeous teeth. And she's a sweet girl. As for the performance, well this was a shining night for her. I thought she did a fantastic job! That was a beautiful vocal. Good job this week.
Brooke: Like Simon said, Brooke really didn't have much of a choice but to sing this acoustically. And I was really impressed with it. I loved that she didn't have the band come in at all. She sounded genuine and lovely and I really do love this girl's voice. A pleasant walk in the park. In a flowering springtime. Loved it.
Kristy: Well, I'll say this -- this was her best week yet. I thought she'd crash and burn on Mariah Carey week, but she did ah-ight. I think the judges have gone pretty easy on her lately, and I was glad that at least Simon really judged her this week. I still don't think she's top 10 material, but this was a good week for her.
David C.: Wow. I really actually loved this performance. It was totally unique and really great vocally. I thought he stumbled at the end, but he really was great. A couple of gripes: I don't like when he goes for the high notes and makes that grunting face. He's going to have to work on that one. And the crying sort of threw me off tonight. Where did that come from? It was somewhat endearing, but I really didn't understand what it was all about. Now, all complaints aside, this boy is really amazing. And I thought this was a fantastic song arrangement and performance.
Jason: I loved him again this week! Hallelujah , Travelin', and Somewhere Over the Rainbow have been his show stoppers and this wasn't necessarily up there with those, but it was pretty darn close. Seriously, I loved his performance. He really does have that unique, distinct, fantastic quality that will take him far. Not just in this competition, either. I want to buy a Jason Castro album right. now. You know I hold him to a high standard, too, so I really mean it when I say he had a great night. Loved the band beside him with that sort of calypso sound. Great choice. Yay Jason!
With all of that said, I have to just say again that I MISS MICHAEL! I really really missed him this week and wish I was writing a review for him right now.
Overall, a very enjoyable week. Simon hit it right on, too, this night belonged to the boys. I think I'll look forward to another MC night next season.
Predictions
Bottom 3: Carly, Kristy, Brooke (not because I want her to be!)
Going home: Carly (Again, not because I think she should, just my prediction)
Oh, and I voted, so things ought to go as planned!
Card Projects
I recently discovered the website Split Coast Stampers. Last night I stayed up way too late browsing through and trying some of their card challenges. Every week day, they have a new challenge to fulfill (colors, shapes, materials used, etc.). I was really needing some inspiration for my cards, as they were becoming pretty boring to look at, so last night I went through the archives and did some of the challenges. I'm happy with how the cards turned out and will definitely be checking back often to do more! Here are the cards. And to those of you who will be receiving these soon, my apologies. Try to act surprised when they come!
13 April 2008
What a way to spend a Sunday Afternoon
We skipped out on choir practice this afternoon to go on a walk at the university. We met Dave & Judy, Jim & Rachel, Grandma Barbara, & Grandma Allen and enjoyed the most beautiful day we've had this year.
We did this most Sunday afternoons last summer and fall and while the girls were very little then, they remembered so much! Chloe told us about the giant's footprints on the sidewalk and the big white bear -- things we hadn't even mentioned since the last walk we went on. It was so fun to see that they actually had a memory of doing those walks.
The weather was gorgeous, the kids were so well behaved, and it was a fun afternoon. And Chloe showed her very competetive streak while walking with Jim. She had to be in front the whole time and if he teased her by getting in front, she'd start whining and push him out of the way so she could get ahead again. She's a little stinker.
The kids also loved the playground up by the Edith Bowen school. Brigham went down the twisty slide over and over and over, squeeling with glee every time.
Here are a few fun pictures to highlight the events:
*Yes, that's our Lily of the Jungle this was at her request--why is it always Lily doing these crazy things? I guess she is the daughter of a man who lit the hill on fire by his house as a boy...
*Grandma Allen, Grandma Barbara, and Grandma Judy
*Chasing a duck at the university. I love seeing those two sisters walking together.
*Chloe
*Lily
*A very excited Brigham! (I think this is one of my cutest pictures of him)
*Stanton & Brigham (Does anyone else love this picture as much as me?!)
*Grandma Allen & Chloe -- it's just amazing to me that Chloe will have good, distinct memories of all 4 of her great-grandmothers. That's a real treat. And I love this photo.
We did this most Sunday afternoons last summer and fall and while the girls were very little then, they remembered so much! Chloe told us about the giant's footprints on the sidewalk and the big white bear -- things we hadn't even mentioned since the last walk we went on. It was so fun to see that they actually had a memory of doing those walks.
The weather was gorgeous, the kids were so well behaved, and it was a fun afternoon. And Chloe showed her very competetive streak while walking with Jim. She had to be in front the whole time and if he teased her by getting in front, she'd start whining and push him out of the way so she could get ahead again. She's a little stinker.
The kids also loved the playground up by the Edith Bowen school. Brigham went down the twisty slide over and over and over, squeeling with glee every time.
Here are a few fun pictures to highlight the events:
*Yes, that's our Lily of the Jungle this was at her request--why is it always Lily doing these crazy things? I guess she is the daughter of a man who lit the hill on fire by his house as a boy...
*Grandma Allen, Grandma Barbara, and Grandma Judy
*Chasing a duck at the university. I love seeing those two sisters walking together.
*Chloe
*Lily
*A very excited Brigham! (I think this is one of my cutest pictures of him)
*Stanton & Brigham (Does anyone else love this picture as much as me?!)
*Grandma Allen & Chloe -- it's just amazing to me that Chloe will have good, distinct memories of all 4 of her great-grandmothers. That's a real treat. And I love this photo.
Pics from Friday & Saturday
12 April 2008
Things I Accomplished Today
Today my accomplishments really pleased me, so I'm recording them for posterity...
*Made breakfast
*Cleaned kitchen
*Tidied house
*Got ready, did my hair (on a Saturday!)
*Got kids ready, did their hair (on a Saturday!)
*Cleaned up perrennials outside
*Hauled wood & moved swingset with Stanton
*Got lunch for family, grocery shopped (strawberries on sale $5.99/case!)
*Painted pictures for the bathroom
*Set up trampoline (with a little help from Stanton)
*Made 24 jars of strawberry freezer jam
*Fed kids dinner
*Grocery shopped (yes, again)
One of those days where I just don't feel bad about sitting down in front of the new big screen and watching Dan in Real Life with Stanton and Jim & Rachel. Love those days!
*Made breakfast
*Cleaned kitchen
*Tidied house
*Got ready, did my hair (on a Saturday!)
*Got kids ready, did their hair (on a Saturday!)
*Cleaned up perrennials outside
*Hauled wood & moved swingset with Stanton
*Got lunch for family, grocery shopped (strawberries on sale $5.99/case!)
*Painted pictures for the bathroom
*Set up trampoline (with a little help from Stanton)
*Made 24 jars of strawberry freezer jam
*Fed kids dinner
*Grocery shopped (yes, again)
One of those days where I just don't feel bad about sitting down in front of the new big screen and watching Dan in Real Life with Stanton and Jim & Rachel. Love those days!
10 April 2008
Are You Even Kidding Me??????
Well, I didn't vote, but come on, America! Michael Johns? Now? Ever? What were you thinking? I'm just mad and sad. He better get a recording contract. And Kristy Lee Cook better BE HOME NEXT WEEK. She knows she is the spoiler this season and that's a pretty tough spot to be in. I'm going to miss Michael every single week till the finale. And that was an awesome send-off performance there. He is awesome.
Well, Michael Johns fans, we have a great album to look forward to, I hope! And I'll be first in line to buy it.
Well, Michael Johns fans, we have a great album to look forward to, I hope! And I'll be first in line to buy it.
09 April 2008
BOO!
I was typing the last post when I turned around and saw this. I won't lie, it scared the crap out of me. Lily is always coming up with something...
Fun Goings On
So this weekend was General Conference and it was the most enjoyable in recent memory. The kids were just a little better than the last time and I got to hear a good bit of it! I missed Elder Ballard's talk while I was getting food for the kids. Ce'st la vie. (sp) I'll have to listen to it on the internet. Thank goodness for that!
The absolute highlight of the conference for me was the Solemn Assembly. I was about 13 or 14 when President Hinckley was sustained, but I don't remember an assembly like that. It was so incredible to see Stanton and James (his brother) stand together and sustain our new prophet, then to stand with Rachel (sister-in-law) and raise our hands together, and then to stand with Chloe and all of us make that choice together. It was confirmed at that moment that this great man was God's chosen prophet and I was glad to share that with people I love.
Jim & Rachel were over so Rach could give haircuts to Stanton and Brigham (thank you!). This haircut experience was a huge improvement over Brigham's last where I had to restrain his head so Rachel could finish the job. It was so traumatic. This time Stanton was there and was able to entertain Brig while I held him. He still whimpered and whined, but he held mostly still and there were no headlocks. That's a huge relief! He looks so cute, too. Although it's always sad to see his little curls fall on the floor and his hair isn't as red when it's short. Worth it, though. Here's a fun pic of he and Rachel.
Also, yesterday I got to spend the day with Jessica, our niece. For her 12th birthday she asked all of the aunts to go to lunch and the mall with her. No kids allowed. So Judy, Rachel, Julie, Ann, Emily, Patricia, and I met at Applebee's and had a great lunch then most of us headed to the mall. It was so much fun! Jessica got jewelry, lip gloss, clothes, and other fun things at the mall. Thanks for inviting us, Jess! We all had a fun fun time! Happy Birthday!
I loved that for her 12th birthday, she wanted to spend the day with us. I thought it was really great.
While we were in the area, Judy, Rachel, and I made some other fun stops: Dilly Dally's (the best dollar store ever! I got a sweet flip-flop pinata for our Hawaii party), Hobby Lobby (hooray for one in CV soon!), and Tai Pan (got a fun "inspiration piece" for my bathroom upstairs. I'll post pics when I get everything done). It was a fun day spent with girls that I love.
Rose girls, let's do this sometime! Maybe after Mom retires???
And thanks to Liz for tending all day. And thank you Stanton for sparing her from the office! It made the day even funner to not have to worry about the kids.
Great Job, Jason!
Well, I'm not going to go into detail this week on AI, just want to say that I appreciated the variety last night!
Michael Johns was excellent. Although not as excellent as last week.
Who was next? Maybe Syesha? I liked her version of this song SO much better than Fantasia's! Probably Syesha's best in several weeks.
Jason Castro: can I just say that he had another "Hallelujah" night?! I was so so excited to hear him sing this version of this song! PERFECT song choice! And I loved the ukelele and the orchestra together. I was thrilled thrilled thrilled with his performance last night! That's two great weeks in a row for him and I couldn't be happier! Paula was right on him, too, that he has the absolute most distinct sound -- more than any other conestant. That's one of the things I love about him. Awesome.
Kristy -- well the judges hold her to a much lower standard than any other contestant and it drives me nuts! Just admit that she has serious pitch issues and move on. This was a decent night for her, but she is notches below any other contestant. We'll see what happens with her this week. I do think it would be a nice song for her to sing out on "sing anyway." I can hear it now....hope she wears a cute outfit.
David Cook was disappointing for me this week. I didn't enjoy his Kermit the Frog impersonation on the verses. Just wasn't great, but it's nice to see he's got some flaws to work on!
Carly Smithson -- I almost forgot to write about her. I guess that's what her performance was for me, forgettable. And it was from the start. She has made very poor song choices through this whole competition. I'm just bored with her. And her outfit was hideous this week! That gold belt and high waisted pants were bad. Just bad!
David Archuletta was also just okay this week. He was very weak in the low register, which was maybe because of the sitting down. But he really picked it up for the refrain and was excellent. He's still great, but not the great-est for me...
Brooke White. I loved what Simon said about her performance "it was like a pleasant walk in the park." I thought to myself, "those are the things I really remember from day to day, the pleasant moments." She was just classy and charming and on pitch tonight. I really enjoyed it. I am missing her with her guitar, though. Maybe next week.
I'm happy for 3 nights of Idol this week! Tonight will just be fun. Oh, shoot, I didn't vote again! That's the one problem with DVR, right? Well, I can't be mad at the results, can I?
But for predictions:
Bottom 3: Carly, Kristy, Syesha. Going Home: Kristy
And my fave for the night was, you guessed it, Jason Castro. By far and away.
Michael Johns was excellent. Although not as excellent as last week.
Who was next? Maybe Syesha? I liked her version of this song SO much better than Fantasia's! Probably Syesha's best in several weeks.
Jason Castro: can I just say that he had another "Hallelujah" night?! I was so so excited to hear him sing this version of this song! PERFECT song choice! And I loved the ukelele and the orchestra together. I was thrilled thrilled thrilled with his performance last night! That's two great weeks in a row for him and I couldn't be happier! Paula was right on him, too, that he has the absolute most distinct sound -- more than any other conestant. That's one of the things I love about him. Awesome.
Kristy -- well the judges hold her to a much lower standard than any other contestant and it drives me nuts! Just admit that she has serious pitch issues and move on. This was a decent night for her, but she is notches below any other contestant. We'll see what happens with her this week. I do think it would be a nice song for her to sing out on "sing anyway." I can hear it now....hope she wears a cute outfit.
David Cook was disappointing for me this week. I didn't enjoy his Kermit the Frog impersonation on the verses. Just wasn't great, but it's nice to see he's got some flaws to work on!
Carly Smithson -- I almost forgot to write about her. I guess that's what her performance was for me, forgettable. And it was from the start. She has made very poor song choices through this whole competition. I'm just bored with her. And her outfit was hideous this week! That gold belt and high waisted pants were bad. Just bad!
David Archuletta was also just okay this week. He was very weak in the low register, which was maybe because of the sitting down. But he really picked it up for the refrain and was excellent. He's still great, but not the great-est for me...
Brooke White. I loved what Simon said about her performance "it was like a pleasant walk in the park." I thought to myself, "those are the things I really remember from day to day, the pleasant moments." She was just classy and charming and on pitch tonight. I really enjoyed it. I am missing her with her guitar, though. Maybe next week.
I'm happy for 3 nights of Idol this week! Tonight will just be fun. Oh, shoot, I didn't vote again! That's the one problem with DVR, right? Well, I can't be mad at the results, can I?
But for predictions:
Bottom 3: Carly, Kristy, Syesha. Going Home: Kristy
And my fave for the night was, you guessed it, Jason Castro. By far and away.
03 April 2008
The Prophet Said to Plant a Garden...
...So that's what we did! Well, the first round of freeze-hardy crops, anyway. And can I just say this was the perfect afternoon? It was the perfect afternoon. The sun was shining, it was warm enough that no one had to wear a jacket, and it was productive! Perfect! 
*Things to notice and love in this picture-- Brig following Stanton, Chloe in her Cinderella dress-up and cowboy hat, Stanton's cowboy hat is back out for the season!, the beautiful garden!
*Chloe was so careful to get just one pea in each hole!
Chloe took this adorable picture of Brigham! And yes, that's another wound on his face! What can I say? He's a rambuncious little kid!
The highlight of the day was being outside as a family. So so fun.
Some favorite moments:
A few favorite pictures from today:
*Things to notice and love in this picture-- Brig following Stanton, Chloe in her Cinderella dress-up and cowboy hat, Stanton's cowboy hat is back out for the season!, the beautiful garden!
*Chloe was so careful to get just one pea in each hole!
*Brigham loved playing in the dirt!
*Lily was the official waterer! She did a great job.
Chloe took this adorable picture of Brigham! And yes, that's another wound on his face! What can I say? He's a rambuncious little kid!
The highlight of the day was being outside as a family. So so fun.Some favorite moments:
* Chloe planting the peas and onions, being so careful to get just one in each hole.
* Lily handing each onion transplant to Chloe and saying, "Here ya go, Chloe."
* Brigham playing in the dirt, scooping it in a cup and dumping it out, pouring handsful into the watering can and dumping it out.
* Lily pouring her watering can water carefully onto the "baby onion seeds"
* The gorgeous weather.
* The fact that our kids were helpful, really helpful this year!
* This conversation with Lily while she was holding the onion transplants...
Lily: Mom, are these beans?
Me: No, sweetie, they're onions.
Lily: But are these beans?
Me: No, they're onions.
Lily: Mom, will these onions grow into beans?
And just for history's sake:
Brigham climbed up on the bar for the first time today. That's not a milestone I was holding my breath for. Now I find myself holding my breath regularly. Yippee!
And Chloe & Lily played with Little People in the toy room for 1 1/2 hours this morning! UNprecedented! Did I mention this was the perfect day?!
Well, Someone Listened to Me!
Finally, Ramielle was voted off! Poor kid, I think she was shocked after avoiding the bottom 3 for so long! And it was awkward seeing Ryan have to comfort her. I guess he earns his pay...
Kristy is becoming more and more awkward with every week. I get that she's trying to be funny and cool about the whole elimination process, but whoa, she is seriously making it weird for all of us to watch! I'm getting the feeling that she's as ready to go home as we are all ready to see her go home. Don't know if that last sentance read right, but you get my drift.
I was surprised that Brooke was in the bottom 3, but sort of glad, too, for 3 reasons:
1: She hasn't been as amazing the past couple of weeks, so she needed a wake up call.
2: I enjoyed her demand for an apology to the violin player. Nice that she was more concerned for him than herself.
3: It was neat to hear her thoughts on the elimination/idol gives back/dolly parton song. It showed real depth and was nice to hear before Ramielle mourned the end of her world. I just think maybe it was nice for America to hear that someone realizes how rich and blessed we are in this nation.
I totally enjoyed Dolly's performance. Yes, there were pitch issues, but she's not being judged, she's a full-fledged entertainer! And she has a gift for writing songs. I don't think that can be disputed. I thought the word play and message of her song were really neat and she has such a sweet way of sending it out. She's a genuine person, judging from the limited exposure we've had to her in the last couple of days.
I loved Michael Johns' t-shirt! Did anyone else notice it?
Didn't love the Ford commercial as much, but it was fun to see more of the contestants.
Simon was very funny and endearing last night, especially with his "sorrys."
Finally, for the next couple of weeks there are obvious "next in line for elimination" contestants. Kristy next week, then Syesha. But after that, I think the votes will almost have to be based completely on that week's performance. The six (David A., David C., Jason, Michael, Brooke, and Carly) are so talented that it will be really interesting to see what happens. Carly is not a personal favorite, but her talent is pretty obvious. I would say her after Syesha, but I know that that would be a classic AI shocker! So, I'm enjoying this year because there are 5 or 6 contestants who really have a chance at winning the show! How crazy is that? I don't think in previous seasons there've even been 3 contestants we could really say that about. Awesome. Good job, judges, for bringing a more talented and diverse group of contestants to us to vote on!
Kristy is becoming more and more awkward with every week. I get that she's trying to be funny and cool about the whole elimination process, but whoa, she is seriously making it weird for all of us to watch! I'm getting the feeling that she's as ready to go home as we are all ready to see her go home. Don't know if that last sentance read right, but you get my drift.
I was surprised that Brooke was in the bottom 3, but sort of glad, too, for 3 reasons:
1: She hasn't been as amazing the past couple of weeks, so she needed a wake up call.
2: I enjoyed her demand for an apology to the violin player. Nice that she was more concerned for him than herself.
3: It was neat to hear her thoughts on the elimination/idol gives back/dolly parton song. It showed real depth and was nice to hear before Ramielle mourned the end of her world. I just think maybe it was nice for America to hear that someone realizes how rich and blessed we are in this nation.
I totally enjoyed Dolly's performance. Yes, there were pitch issues, but she's not being judged, she's a full-fledged entertainer! And she has a gift for writing songs. I don't think that can be disputed. I thought the word play and message of her song were really neat and she has such a sweet way of sending it out. She's a genuine person, judging from the limited exposure we've had to her in the last couple of days.
I loved Michael Johns' t-shirt! Did anyone else notice it?
Didn't love the Ford commercial as much, but it was fun to see more of the contestants.
Simon was very funny and endearing last night, especially with his "sorrys."
Finally, for the next couple of weeks there are obvious "next in line for elimination" contestants. Kristy next week, then Syesha. But after that, I think the votes will almost have to be based completely on that week's performance. The six (David A., David C., Jason, Michael, Brooke, and Carly) are so talented that it will be really interesting to see what happens. Carly is not a personal favorite, but her talent is pretty obvious. I would say her after Syesha, but I know that that would be a classic AI shocker! So, I'm enjoying this year because there are 5 or 6 contestants who really have a chance at winning the show! How crazy is that? I don't think in previous seasons there've even been 3 contestants we could really say that about. Awesome. Good job, judges, for bringing a more talented and diverse group of contestants to us to vote on!
02 April 2008
Happenings Today
We drove to Tretown to visit Mitch. He looks awesome and is just as awkward as a returned missionary should be! Fun to be with all the family. Brigham was scared to death of Daisy (Sandall's dog), Chloe was super cautious around her, and Lily wanted to ride her. Chloe warmed up in the couple of hours we were there, but Brigham got worse as he got more tired! It was a fun little trip and always a success when the movie doesn't have to be turned on in the car!
While we were driving over, I had a funny conversation with Chloe. It went like this...
Chloe: Mom, I'm really thirsty.
Me: Sorry, sweetie, I didn't bring any water.
Chloe: Hey, I have an idea. I'll eat my grapes!
Me: Great idea!
Chloe: Yeah, because japes are gruicy (giggle giggle), oh, I mean grapes are juicy!
New things Brigham is saying:
Outdide (outside)
A woof (a dog)
Iwannabiteabiteabite (I want a bite)
Oouch! (well, ouch. But it's from the Charlie Bit Me clip on YouTube--so cute!)
While we were driving over, I had a funny conversation with Chloe. It went like this...
Chloe: Mom, I'm really thirsty.
Me: Sorry, sweetie, I didn't bring any water.
Chloe: Hey, I have an idea. I'll eat my grapes!
Me: Great idea!
Chloe: Yeah, because japes are gruicy (giggle giggle), oh, I mean grapes are juicy!
New things Brigham is saying:
Outdide (outside)
A woof (a dog)
Iwannabiteabiteabite (I want a bite)
Oouch! (well, ouch. But it's from the Charlie Bit Me clip on YouTube--so cute!)
01 April 2008
Welcome Home, Mitch!
My cousin Mitch gets home from his mission tomorrow! I have loved reading his weekly emails to the family. He was a good, obedient, hard working missionary -- the best kind! Can't wait to see him tomorrow! Welcome home!
Loved the Songs, Didn't Love the Performances
Well, I was pretty disappointed overall tonight. There were a few standouts, though, thankfully! I was surprised that so many contestants struggled. Dolly's songs are all melody and so fun to sing. I looked forward to tonight and was pretty bummed it turned out the way it did. Simon was right, I am expecting amazing performances at this point.
And it was so uncomfortable how they were hurrying for time from the very start, our DVR didn't even record the whole thing because they went over. It was frustrating!
So, here we go:
Brooke: She was lovely tonight, I was glad to see her back with her guitar and folksy. She has a voice suited for Dolly-style music, I wish she had sung Coat of Many Colors. I felt like she did a fine job, but it wasn't amazing by any means. I think she'll be around next week, and I hope she does better then! She's so sweet with the judges, too, but sometimes I want her to show that sassy little confidence she did in her audition. Just wanting more from her.
David C: Great arrangement. It was fun to hear what he could do on his own -- I was impressed. I really liked some of his change-ups on the melody, but his soft high notes were lacking. His haircut looked SO MUCH better! I was happy to see that. He's still awesome and right now seems to be the most consistent of all the contestants. And what is it with Simon and songs about birds?
Ramielle: Can someone tell America it's time for her to go home? The band totally drowned her out! But I didn't feel like the band was even playing very loudly, she just couldn't get the sound out in any convincing way. The other thing that drives me nuts about Ramielle is her Whitney Houston lip smack while she sings. I don't know how else to describe it, but it is a total imitation! It drives me nutso! I wish I had great things to say about her except that she's very cute, but wow, she is just not good lately.
Jason: For me, this was one of my top 3 performances of the night. I couldn't believe the judges comments! I am, admittedly, a huge fan of Jason, but I have been critical of him over the last couple of weeks. This week, I felt like he absolutely hit a homerun! I loved the guitar, I loved his arrangement and interpretation of that great gospel song, I loved the folksy yet totally modern sound. I was thrilled during his entire performance and was sad when it was over. I couldn't have disagreed more with the judges tonight on Jason.
Carly: Beautiful. One of her best performances, absolutely. She still bores me, though. I feel like the era of the big voice is just over. She doesn't have that "real" thing that connects with me. There is no doubt whatsoever that she is talented. No doubt. She could sing circles around me, but I just don't feel a connection with her voice at all. And I agreed with Simon about her stylist, which I always feel bad doing.
David A: This was a beautiful song! David did a great job with it, I felt like he was thinking about his heavenly home while he was singing, which was weird. He has this way of making the song he sings seem like hymns, which is very cool, but will it sell records? I hope so because he is so cute and innocent and I do want to dangle him from my rear view mirror.
Kristy: Well, this was a good week for her, which it should have been. But I don't think she's even strong enough to have a country career. This was a totally safe choice for her and I was bored bored bored. I so wish Brooke would have chosen this song. PS, Kristy is slightly more enjoyable when I close my eyes. The faces she makes while she sings are so distracting and annoying!
Syesha: I loved the first part of her song -- the subdued, controlled Syesha is so brilliant. But then she Whitneyed the last part of the song, and I was disappointed. First of all, you don't even pretend to be Whitney on I Will Always Love You. I mean, come on! Syesha is better when she doesn't belt. Oh, and although I liked that last "love," it went on just that much too long. It seemed a little indulgent. I wish she'd just had a bit more control and cut off maybe 2 0r 3 beats earlier. It would have been marvelous if she had. And I was distracted by her hair tonight, even though she looked gorgeous in that dress. If you're noticing a pattern here, yes, I do have a strange obsession with her gorgeousness.
Michael: Yay! A totally Michael performance! I lvoed that he was able to do this song without it seeming like a cover and he did it! There were a couple of moments in the song where I didn't love what he did with the arrangement, but overall, I loved tonight for him. I was so so happy to hear him choose this song and even happier to hear him sing it.
The performances I'd pay money for tonight: David C., Jason, & Michael. And David A. & Brooke if I had a two for one coupon.
Contestants I love: Brooke, David C., Jason, David A., & Michael.
Contestants I like: Syesha & Carly.
Contestants I'm ready to say goodbye to: Ramielle & Kristy.
Predictions? Well, my predictions have stunk lately (although I did call Chikezie in the bottom 3 last week), so I'll just tell you what the bottom 3 would be if I was the only one voting.
Syesha (I'm so sorry, Syesha, I really really like you!), Ramielle, Kristy.
Going home: Kristy, because it's always nice to go out on a song you did well. But really, I enjoy her slightly more than Ramielle, so here's hoping we've seen the last of the karaoke. But probably not, because I didn't vote. I was busy making some cute cards (I need to take pictures of and post) and didn't start watching the show until almost 9 pm. So David Archuletta will probably go home just because I didn't vote.
And it was so uncomfortable how they were hurrying for time from the very start, our DVR didn't even record the whole thing because they went over. It was frustrating!
So, here we go:
Brooke: She was lovely tonight, I was glad to see her back with her guitar and folksy. She has a voice suited for Dolly-style music, I wish she had sung Coat of Many Colors. I felt like she did a fine job, but it wasn't amazing by any means. I think she'll be around next week, and I hope she does better then! She's so sweet with the judges, too, but sometimes I want her to show that sassy little confidence she did in her audition. Just wanting more from her.
David C: Great arrangement. It was fun to hear what he could do on his own -- I was impressed. I really liked some of his change-ups on the melody, but his soft high notes were lacking. His haircut looked SO MUCH better! I was happy to see that. He's still awesome and right now seems to be the most consistent of all the contestants. And what is it with Simon and songs about birds?
Ramielle: Can someone tell America it's time for her to go home? The band totally drowned her out! But I didn't feel like the band was even playing very loudly, she just couldn't get the sound out in any convincing way. The other thing that drives me nuts about Ramielle is her Whitney Houston lip smack while she sings. I don't know how else to describe it, but it is a total imitation! It drives me nutso! I wish I had great things to say about her except that she's very cute, but wow, she is just not good lately.
Jason: For me, this was one of my top 3 performances of the night. I couldn't believe the judges comments! I am, admittedly, a huge fan of Jason, but I have been critical of him over the last couple of weeks. This week, I felt like he absolutely hit a homerun! I loved the guitar, I loved his arrangement and interpretation of that great gospel song, I loved the folksy yet totally modern sound. I was thrilled during his entire performance and was sad when it was over. I couldn't have disagreed more with the judges tonight on Jason.
Carly: Beautiful. One of her best performances, absolutely. She still bores me, though. I feel like the era of the big voice is just over. She doesn't have that "real" thing that connects with me. There is no doubt whatsoever that she is talented. No doubt. She could sing circles around me, but I just don't feel a connection with her voice at all. And I agreed with Simon about her stylist, which I always feel bad doing.
David A: This was a beautiful song! David did a great job with it, I felt like he was thinking about his heavenly home while he was singing, which was weird. He has this way of making the song he sings seem like hymns, which is very cool, but will it sell records? I hope so because he is so cute and innocent and I do want to dangle him from my rear view mirror.
Kristy: Well, this was a good week for her, which it should have been. But I don't think she's even strong enough to have a country career. This was a totally safe choice for her and I was bored bored bored. I so wish Brooke would have chosen this song. PS, Kristy is slightly more enjoyable when I close my eyes. The faces she makes while she sings are so distracting and annoying!
Syesha: I loved the first part of her song -- the subdued, controlled Syesha is so brilliant. But then she Whitneyed the last part of the song, and I was disappointed. First of all, you don't even pretend to be Whitney on I Will Always Love You. I mean, come on! Syesha is better when she doesn't belt. Oh, and although I liked that last "love," it went on just that much too long. It seemed a little indulgent. I wish she'd just had a bit more control and cut off maybe 2 0r 3 beats earlier. It would have been marvelous if she had. And I was distracted by her hair tonight, even though she looked gorgeous in that dress. If you're noticing a pattern here, yes, I do have a strange obsession with her gorgeousness.
Michael: Yay! A totally Michael performance! I lvoed that he was able to do this song without it seeming like a cover and he did it! There were a couple of moments in the song where I didn't love what he did with the arrangement, but overall, I loved tonight for him. I was so so happy to hear him choose this song and even happier to hear him sing it.
The performances I'd pay money for tonight: David C., Jason, & Michael. And David A. & Brooke if I had a two for one coupon.
Contestants I love: Brooke, David C., Jason, David A., & Michael.
Contestants I like: Syesha & Carly.
Contestants I'm ready to say goodbye to: Ramielle & Kristy.
Predictions? Well, my predictions have stunk lately (although I did call Chikezie in the bottom 3 last week), so I'll just tell you what the bottom 3 would be if I was the only one voting.
Syesha (I'm so sorry, Syesha, I really really like you!), Ramielle, Kristy.
Going home: Kristy, because it's always nice to go out on a song you did well. But really, I enjoy her slightly more than Ramielle, so here's hoping we've seen the last of the karaoke. But probably not, because I didn't vote. I was busy making some cute cards (I need to take pictures of and post) and didn't start watching the show until almost 9 pm. So David Archuletta will probably go home just because I didn't vote.
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