Team KA

I'm sticking on Team Kris Allen. No doubts any longer. My 2nd fav is Allison. I read an article saying next to Adam, Kris was the 2nd highest iTunes download, so I'm not too far off the beaten path.

I have heard Obama doesn't think we've heard enough of him lately and he will be preempting t.v. tonight..again...I've personally heard more than enough from him. He did tickle my funny bone this week when he told his best pal 'Teleprompter' to speed things up as he had already introduced the people being shown on the screen. Smooth.

Likening the Scriptures

In an effort to liken the scriptures unto himself, Nate fell into a deep sleep. We've determined he was channeling Alma the Younger. Do you think Alma snored while he was brought to repentance?

And while Nate slept:

















Our bathing Tess, whom always decides scripture time is the best time to chatter and is therefore placed in the tub to soak, was toooooo quiet for our taste. This is what we found. She too must have been feeling the spirit and seeing angels. Both children were promptly put to bed (at 6:30!) and slept all night. Mark and Livvy were mentally kicking themselves for not being as 'wise' as the 2 and 4 year old, as we proceeded to finish our chapter.

Where've You Been Em?

It's funny how at even the ripe ol' age of 33 I still need my mom and dad to pat me on the back and tell me they're my #1 fans. Last Saturday we took a quick trip to Pocatello. With Stake Conference the next day, a huge disinterest in sitting through another 2 hr. meeting with the little ones and no 'responsibilities', we figured "Why not?" For those of you interested and worried about our eternal salvation, we did still attend church with my parents...

Come time to head home Sunday I just couldn't make myself do it. I used some enticing words on my ever loving husband and he and the older 2 kids headed home while I stayed on with Tess and Nate. I needed to forget school, primary, household duties and everything else for a few days. Some people head to a spa or Hawaii for such a break, I head to my parents. They have this magical ability to make you feel like you are their favorite and you are the most smart, most capable, most beautiful, best there is person. The boys, Whitney and I all know the others get the same treatment on an individual basis and deep inside we have come to terms with this fact, but it's fun to pretend we really are their best and most favorite. It's the best mental massage out there and doesn't cost a dime.

My dad, bless his BIG heart, would greet me in the morning just as I had emerged from a groggy sleep, heavy with child, hair askew and a face to scare even the strongest of people with a sincere, "You're cute." Who doesn't want to hear those words in the morning? I can still hear him telling me as a child I was the cutest one at church that day...in fact he told me that last Sunday too. He's timeless.

My mom is the cheerleader, literally. She listened to me talk and talk and talk for 3 days straight, I had a lot to get off my chest. Poor James can only handle so much rehashing of the going ons of my days. Like most men I personally know he figures if it's a new day the problem, concern or latest project was left in the hours of the day before. I admire him for that.

I'm afraid I am of that unique species of human beings who has to talk a subject to death. This part of my personality even bothers me. I know I've said too much when at the end of the night James is doing the "Uh huh" as he drifts off to sleep. I like to think he knew what he was getting when he married me. I am however, lucky enough though that my mother is of the same variety as me and after each Dear Abby session my mom would tell me, "You are smart. You can figure it out," or "You always do such a fabulous job with stuff like that. Quit worrying," or my favorite, "Have you prayed about it yet?" I'm embarrassed to admit the answer to the last one is sometimes 'No' as I'm afraid to hear the answer.

After 3 days I was talked out, bolstered up and came home feeling like the cutest pregnant girl ever to grace this earth. My somewhat delusional father kept telling me I was, so I decided to believe him. He looked past the puffy face and gimpy walk and saw me. I'm sure it's just like recognizing a diamond in the rough. As a side note: James tells me the same stuff too on a daily basis, but he has too as he has me for eternity and is required to do so. I'm the one helping him to create that mansion in heaven. He can't do it alone.

I also came home with a desire to get LOTS of stuff done...extra bonus for everyone. That natural nesting instinct has set in. I want to paint, scrub, plant, bake, prepare and craft everything I come across.

This week I:

Had the garden roto tilled by a nice young man from our ward who's parent's main goal is to keep him busy. Hooray for hardworking boys and the parents who offer their services. Now we just need to decide how, when and what to plant. This is our very first garden ever and only James and I would decide that 6 1/2 mos. pregnant is the best time to do a tester garden. I really want to show up at the Fall Harvest dinner this year with bounty from our own efforts and not the efforts of the Walmart produce department. Good luck to us.














Made my very first loaves of whole wheat bread with wheat we ground ourselves. Very pioneering don't you think? This has been a goal of mine for ages and I finally did it. In "Little Red Hen" fashion, we all helped grind the wheat and the kids have gorged themselves for 2 days straight on warm, thick bread. They have however requested that I get my hands on an electric wheat grinder so we can stop using our 'Just in case there is an emergency, it's the end of the world, there is no power and we live by the sweat of our brow' hand grinder. I promised to look into it.













Can you say long winded? Remember that talk a topic to death trait of mine? You've just witnessed it firsthand. I've decided sometimes my sister hates to call me because she knows she's in for a long winded explanation about the simplest of topics. "What's for dinner?" Well let me tell you.................

Can I Get a Ride to the Convention?

I feel so critical and grumpy about AI I'm surprised anyone gets on here and reads my thoughts. I'm simply a downer. Please continue to love me though...my spirits picked up a few moments after AI was over as I was able to enjoy an hour of Fringe. While I have yet to attach myself to any Star Trek chapters here in Idaho, my dad did instill an inkling of Sci-Fi love in me. I will forever hate Star Trek though because as a child my sister and I would get all set up to watch Fraggle Rock, be about 5 minutes into it and then my Dad would come and without warning or a polite question change the channel to Star Trek. We missed many fabulous episodes down at Fraggle Rock due to this mean habit. While Star Trek has never 'done it' for me, Fringe has managed to scratch that itch. I can hear you all laughing from across the fruited plains. I laugh about it too. Wanna talk Lost? Ring my bell.

*I want to hear Simon EVERY time after a performance. Get rid of the 4th judge! You know he was dying to jump in on some of those performances last night and I was dying for him to jump in too. I think it was that one element that ruined the hour for me. Don't mess with the formula folks.

*Too much Brian Adams.

*Quentin Tarintino?

*I actually liked Allison last night and am predicting (place your bets) that she and Adam are in the final 2. Yes, I've been known to be wrong. I'm just as surprised as you are. I still prefer Kris, but tend to be fair weathered and feel the need to jump behind a winning team. I'm contemplating a jump off the Kris ship and onto the Allison ship. I'll decide next week. I have to take issue with Simon (or was it Paula?) saying how it was Adam and Allison who were the authentic ones. I don't think there is a drop of authentic in Adam. He is a product of years of stage training, a good make up artist and an on-call hairstylist. Allison is coming across more authentic to me. Also, what does this say about the rest of the contestants? Is Matt just a guy pretending he can sing and play the piano? Is Kris just a wannabe who also happens to have a mellow, melodic voice and the ability to strum the guitar as he does it? Why does being a 'rocker' make the contestant more 'authentic' than anyone else? If I wear no make up, a pony tail and high, elastic waisted jeans does that make me a more authentic mom? I take issue.

*A prize to the contestant who can tell me how many sentences in this post start with the word, "I".

*Live Long and Prosper.

A Success?

The powers that be in our valley have decided that Easter is the perfect time to have only an hour of primary and then gather the entire ward membership in the chapel for a special hour long Easter program and then an hour of Sacrament meeting. I will absolutely LOVE this special meeting day when I no longer have children under 10...as for now I've been dreading this day, knowing I would not only get to enjoy 1 hour of toe stepping, snack searching, book fighting and other miscellaneous Sacrament meeting fun, but I would get to experience 2 full hours of such heart warming behavior. Yes it comes with the gig as a parent, this I know and accept whole heartedly, but with babe in belly, 2 hrs. puts me teetering on the edge. I did get to sing the closing song, I Know That My Redeemer Lives, always a favorite and I am happy to report I was able to reflect for a small moment on the Savior. I've decided the hymns are sung for people like me who rarely get to actually hear the speakers, but can listen to the spirit of the music being sung and have their testimony strengthened regardless. Anywho- I really can't confess to hearing much else from the opening to the closing prayers.

After it was all said and done the lovely brother sitting in back of us (No sarcasm I promise. I do now LOVE this brother.) mentioned kindly to James how well behaved our kids had been. James queried, "That was well behaved?" Brother Lovely then responded, "No one is walking out bleeding."

I am now gauging my success as a parent on that one stipulation. Is anyone bleeding? Nope? Stellar day for one all...Happy Easter Brother L. You made my day.

What's In a Name?

Without fail, and as predictable as Idaho wind, every time my family is gathered together we end up talking about names. Names of kids in our wards, names of the kids in our kids' classes at school, names we read in the paper, names, names, names. My sister-in-law Colleen works in the nursery at the her hospital, a job I would LOVE, and we get to hear regularly about all of the doozies that come through there. She has mentioned rocking a brand new little baby and aching to thump the parents on the back of the head for the moniker they have placed upon the unknowing victim in her arms.

I love names and what they can mean to a person. My brother Cole for instance has a great name. I think my mom got his name from some 'love' novel she had read ages ago and regardless of that funny fact, I've always loved the manly simplicity of it. His middle name is Hobson, which is my mother's maiden name and represents her father who had 4 daughters, no sons and whom she loved very much. Cole Hobson...love it. The interesting thing about this combination of name and person, is that my mother says Cole is very much like her father was, quiet, observant, gentle (he'll love that) and athletic. This is very much rewarding for my mother. Cole swore all of us off from using it a long time ago and we who have had children have kept to that promise, as hard as it was. Now it's all his and Tristan's to use at their discretion.

Our Olivia Renee is named for my mother, Mark James for my father and James, Nate Richard for his Grandpa Jim and Tess Alayna for my sister. Alayna is somewhat of a stretch as Whitney is Whitney Layne and I didn't like Tess Whitney or Tess Layne, so I twisted it slightly and it suits me just fine. The point being-I like for my children to be connected to their heritage through their names and the added bonus is middle names do work really well for when it's time to scold. "Mark James" sounds so much sterner than plain old "Mark" when trying to get a certain point across. Although I have found that every time I use the combination "Mark James" I am told, "You don't have to yell Mom." Oops.

To get to the idea of this long narrative...we are naming this newest little tyke Clint Ryan. James and I have never been fussy with boy names. We like them short and to the point. We also try them out loud as if they had just made a great 3 point shot on the basketball court, "Way to go Clint!" Of course we could also yell the same name after a fabulous flute solo if they choose to go my route and be in band...as long as they direct their energies somewhere other than sitting on a couch vegging out we'll be pleased.

There are 3 questions a pregnant gal will get asked on a consistent basis, "When are you due?" "Do you know what it is?" and "What are you going to name him?" Of the 5 names we've put out into the world of opinions, Clint Ryan has received the most mixed reviews. At this I am perplexed. A dear family member recently gave us the long, inflected, drawn out, "OhhhHHHhhh", which left me stumped. She then proceeding to ask, "Like as in Eastwood?"Again, stumped. Why yes there happens to be an actor/director/conservative leaning guy named Clint, but that's not where we grabbed the name from, although if it were, would that be a bad thing? It's not like I said Dweezle, Zuma or Tiger Lily. The next question that followed was, "And I'm assuming the Ryan is for your brother." Since we were on a Hollywood vein of thought I desperately wanted to shoot back, "No, we got Ryan from Meg Ryan. We're trying to stick with a theme." Yes the Ryan is for my older brother Ryan who has tortured me my entire life, but if Clint turns out to be half the grand man this brother of mine is I will be one pleased mother.

So in an attempt to keep things simple and honorable, we've still managed to have some haters out there. Would Colleen and her nurse comrades have the desire to thump James and I on the back of the head after hearing Clint Ryan? My mother recently talked to a girl who was naming their soon to be born baby Wrecker. Head thump. Clint Ryan...a name to stand the tests of time.

S L O W M O T I O N

Sorry about the slow report on AI. This little boy cooking inside is kickin' my backside. I don't know if it's him or the fact that I have 4 other little people to keep up on that is slowing me down, but my body mechanics keep hitting pause every 2 min. I'm not sick mind you....just super, super tired and slowmoed and I still have a lovely, summer filled 15 weeks ahead of me. Yikes! I get ultra jealous when I hear about other babies ending their hibernation. Yeah-the commandment breaking kind of jealous. I hope Heavenly Father is merciful to his expectant daughters. I'm only human. I also have to admit directly after having a baby and within the first 6 mos. every time I see a pregnant girl I have to fight the urge to run up to her, giggle and state triumphantly, "I'm sooooo glad I'm not you right now. Been there, done that, taking a break." Anywho....

AI last night was no big deal for me. No stand out greats. I felt like the song choices were TERRIBLE as a whole. I did enjoy Matt G.'s performance and I'm digging his whole Justin Timberlake vibe. I do enjoy me some "Sexyback" every now and then and even have James listed on my phone as such. He's so proud. Allison I. was also noteworthy, although she is still not my fav. Scott proved last night he is just a talented guy who also happens to be blind. He is certainly not Stevie Wonder and was quite lackluster behind the guiter...even more...incredibly awkward. Adam is still not tickling my fancy. Did anyone else notice his massive amounts of freckles as a child? Thus the blech make up to cover them up. That's what's been bugging me about his face. STAGE MAKEUP! I've done a few searches on the guy and was relieved to see I'm not alone in my dislike of his persona as a performer. It will be interesting to see who ends up in the bottom 3. I'm not even gonna speculate who will win the whole thing. It's obviously already written in stone with a standing O from Simon. My guesses for bottom 3 tonight are Scott, Kris (sigh) and Lil.

There's my late opinion and I'm sticking to it.

I *HEART* Kris Allen

I've finally found my American Idol in the form of Kris Allen. Last night's "Ain't No Sunshine" sealed the deal for me. He's my guy and he will be getting my votes from here on out. Where is everyone else and their opinions falling? It is generally at this point in the competition that I have chosen a side and fight to the end...All Hail Kris!