An Answer to Prayers

Yes, I have not heard the end of it from James. HE is the answer to many prayers and he was certainly the answer to prayers yesterday. He got off work early and came home and saved me from these 2 darling, but needy rug rats. Anyone who wants to know why I'm exhausted at the end of the day only need see this picture, it tells a thousand words. Any attempt to breath or rest or work is met by these two foes who share the same purpose...stall all attempts at progression. Take a nap? No way!

I'm not too proud to admit, that yes dear, you are an answer to prayers.

The American Idol According to Emily

I really enjoyed AI last night. On the opposite end of the Beatles spectrum, my mother owned a large dose of Diana Ross and the Supreme's records. Whits and I used to dress up in my mom's slips and lip sync (for the whole family) songs like "Baby Love" and "A Lover's Concerto". I'm sure they enjoyed it, especially Ryan.

Motown offers such a wide variety of song selections that are great to listen to and work well to showcase talent and this was the case last night.

My Favorite:

Kris Allen-Favorite of the night. His twist on "How Sweet it Is" is my type of music and he is my type of guy. Low key, laid back, talented.

Matt Giraud-Besides always loving the song "Let's Get it On", he sang his little heart out and I LOVED it.

Everyone else: Fine. I do have to say I couldn't understand a single thing Allison sang. Her words all ran together and yet she was praised. I must be turning into my dad and need some closed captions going on while I watch. My guess for bottom 3 this week will be Michael, Megan (boohoo) and possibly Anoop. I'm hoping its Michael, as I would like to hear more good from Megan. She is stunningly beautiful...too bad about the bruise on her arm.

A word on Adam (*Warning* opinion coming. Please respect my constitutional rights and I will respect yours): Yeah, last night he sang great, but he also proved why I'm having a hard time with the guy. While I do like musical theater and own quite a bit of Broadway stuff, I don't think there is a place for it in American Idol. He is ALL theater and last night he was wearing a costume by golly! I wish he would have just come out normal like, without the throwback suit, hair do and blech makeup and sang his song. Even though he just sat there on a stool, he is always over the top, even in small things like wardrobe choice. Yes I'm being hard on him, but I think it's my own hardheaded frustration with everyone being in LOVE with him. My apologies.

Showing Off

Here are our creations. Pretty good if I do say so myself. We've got us some darling little girls.

Could Have Been Bad to the Bone

Today the fam gathered to listen to Brant report on his mission. Good times. Good people. Always a nice chance to see extended family you don't get to see often enough. I talked AI with a cousin as geeky as me about the whole thing. We didn't agree on some of the contestants, but his baby is cute enough to consume, so I gave him a pass. My favorite comment of the day comes in from my dear grandma. She pulled James in real close and told him, "James I'm glad you are here. You are an answer to our prayers." She must not understand the force that is James. This just provides more fodder for him to use against me. Tonight on the drive home I told him I loved him (and I do most times) and he replied earnestly, "I know. I'm an answer to prayers."

It's a good thing he came along. Instead of seeing my little family happily rolling around, you could all be asking my mother, "What's Emily up too these days? Has she made the jump from stripper at Seamless to cast member in Celine Dion's show yet?" My mother would reply, "No. She is still trying to master the pole. We're praying for her."

Home Sweet Home

We moved to Utah when I was 11 years old. Within just a few short months my parents sat us down and told us my mom had been drinking too much of the 'Utah water' and she was expecting another baby. My oldest brother's reaction was to look at my dad and ask, "How did that happen?" My sister Whitney and I just exchanged knowing looks. We had made a joint effort to pray extra hard for a new baby to come to our home. Prayer answered. That December the cutest, fattest headed baby was born and we immediately all adopted him as our own. From my Dad on down the line to Cole...he is Our Boy Brant. The poor thing is a mish mash of all 4 of his older brothers and sisters as we all had a part in raising him. This is a mixed blessing I'm sure. The next kid in age is Cole, who is 7 years older and the next brother Ryan is 7 years older than Cole. My FAVORITE thing about my brothers is that age has not mattered a drop. They are not just brothers in arm, but friends for life. Oh the stories I could tell...

We are beyond proud of the youngest of our Neider clan. He went and did what he was commanded to do. No question. No doubt. He watched his brothers leave and serve and he did the same. As a mother of (almost) 3 boys it is something I will appreciate forever. The standard has been set by a faithful father and 4 faithful uncles. The theme this month in primary is "Family members have important responsibilities." Thanks men for fulfilling one of those responsibilities by setting a stellar example for those to come behind you.

Picture collage of a great day in Neider History.












This tie has a history! My oldest brother Ryan wore it on his mission to Chile and came off the plane wearing it. He handed it down to Cole who wore it during his 2 year sojourn in Arkansas and stepped off the plane also wearing it. Cole handed it down to Brant. He too stepped off the plane in the brothers' tie. It is worn and frayed, but has served it's wearers well. It is being retired as it has lived a good life.

Drive By Thoughts

As tomorrow is ALL about dental appointments for Mark and I and doctor's visits for Liv and Tess, I'm giving a quick volley of thoughts on tonight's AI performances.

Lil Rounds: Liked it-not loved it.

Scott MacIntyre: Novelty (sorry people with visual impairments). He has talent, but not enough to keep me keepin' up with him. His brother sure has a hard job getting him across the stage every week and looking excited while doing it. Do you think we'll see him in some of the group performances?

Adam Lambert: I'm not trying to pull a David Cook here, but I just don't like him. Glam Band. I really hate it when the judges peg contestants as the winner or in the finale so early on in the game. It does a disservice to the other contestants and I think jades the minds of the voters. What's the fun of watching if we already know who will be in the finale? I hope all of these contestants pick up their game BIG time and kick Adam and Danny in the booty. It will make the competition that much more exciting.

Alexis Grace: One of my top picks for girls. Not my favorite performance.

Allison Iraheta: Not my cup of tea, yet deserves to be in top 13.

Anoop Desai: I actually really like this guy and wish he would have chosen a different song. I agree with the judges, Beat It did nothing for what we all know he can do vocally.

Danny Gokey: So glad the producers didn't invoke thoughts of his dead wife. I get it...he's a widower. He is very good and fun to watch, I just hope he has a wider variety of song abilities, as I can't listen to Michael McDonald type songs over and over. For a good time : Justin Timberlake does John Mayer and Michael McDonald.

Jasmine Murray: Talented, beautiful, in over her head.

Jorge Nunez: Don't you love how last week Tatiana suddenly had a heavy Hispanic accent 'just like Jorge'? I wonder what she was trying to do there. Jorge is the most sincere contestant. He can stay for awhile, not to the end mind you, but for awhile.

Kris Allen: I was a little confused when he made it to the top 13, but I completely changed my mind tonight. He was most definetly my favorite of the night. I liked his twist and style on his song choice and as one of my favorite all time songs is currenlty "I'm Yours", I was digging the Jasan Mraz feel of it. Did you see his angry wife when Simon said he shouldn't have brought out the whole 'wife thing'? Them's fighten' words.

Matt Giraud: My 2nd favorite of the night. Like him, like his piano skills.

Megan Joy: I LOVE her quirky voice and style. I HATE her tattoo as it ruins every cute outfit she puts on. I WISH she would have chosen a different song. When the night started I thought to meself, "Megan is going to choose Rockin' Robin. I sure wish she wouldn't." Can I peg it or what? With the right song choice she could give Adam and Danny a run for that finale (or so I think.) She is my favorite girl. LOVE her.

Michael Sarver: Nice guy, forgettable and I'm with Simon, what does he do for a living?

P.S. In response to your question Whits (sorry about the late reply)...I thought it was painful to go through 4 judges opionions. It took tooooo long and while Kara never bugged me before, she did tonight. Just let me hear Simon and the performances. Period.
P.P.S. Why do we ALWAYS have to see Paula dancing? It could be a penguin on stage singing his love song to his forever companion and she would still be wiggling around clapping her hands like a baby still trying to get it's motor skills in sync. (I'm channeling my inner Simon.)
P.P.P. S. Ryan Seacrest has a teeny tiny noggin.

Sellick. Out.

Scandalous

Olivia wanted to use our camera today. I told her she could, but I needed to delete a couple of pictures off the memory and save a few to our computer's hard drive just in case she pushed the wrong button one too many times. Her reply?

"Why? Do you have some naughty pictures on there?"

I was stumped. What does naughty mean in an innocent 9 year old's mind? So I asked her and she got really quiet and shy and said,

"Like pictures of you and Dad kissing."

I felt happy that her idea of naughty was an innocent kiss. I have to admit I also felt really boring when I had to tell her no, there were no 'naughty' pictures of me and daddy kissing.

Afterthought: I'm going to take some naughty pictures.

Homerun

I was woken up this morning to the words, "Mom today is picture day." In the back recesses of my mind I think I knew this, no I know I knew this. Not only is today picture day, it is also laundry day and wouldn't you know it...Mark's entire collection of 'good' pants is waiting to be fluffed and folded. You know you're on top of you game (and getting ready to add ANOTHER kid to the mix) when you go to the laundry basket, dig through the pile of pants, find the least offensive pair, clean off the bad spots and hand them over to an unsuspecting boy.

Mark lessened the load I bare by telling me, "These will be perfect Mom. Thanks."

One day when he's in his 30's he'll be plugging along at work and remember this morning. He'll call me on the phone and say in an incredulous voice, "Mom did you really send me to picture day in 2 day old pants you cleaned the mud off of?"

"Yes," I'll reply "and your lucky you made it to your 30's. Consider yourself blessed."

Last Night's Picks

My favorite three last night were:

Lil Rounds:Effortless

















Ju'Not Joyner: Smooth

















Felecia Barton: Fun


















Gotta Go: Nathaniel Marshall. I loved Paula's comment about him doing George Michael's version of "I'd Do Anything for Love". The entire time he was singing I was thinking, "Wake me up before you go-go. Don't leave me hanging on like a yo-yo." I'm totally in sync with Paula on that one. I also enjoyed Simon telling him he probably would do anything for love. Slam!

I'd be fine with any of these:








P.S. I saw Brett Michaels on Ellen yesterday. Adam Lambert + Blond Wig=Brett Michaels=Twins