We spent Saturday dedicated to ballet. Olivia had to dance a solo in front of a judge that her teacher brought in from New York City (hoity toity!). Each girl was judged and graded on their performance. She achieved a silver medal and was quite proud of herself. I was proud she felt like she could do a solo in front of an audience. I wish the video quality was better, but it is what it is...
Her dance was called "A Day at the Beach":
Today is the last day of school...
*2 Full bags of popsicles waiting to be devoured in freezer: Yep
*Fridge full of water bottles for hot summer days: Yep
*Shorts and t-shirts brought out of hibernation: Yep
*Summer movie schedule posted on fridge for all to see: Yep
*Cupboards full of snack items for 4: Yep
*Chore chart displayed for ALL to see: Yep
*Anticipation of no homework: Yep
*Scheduled cousin visits and events: Yep
*Plans for backyard camping in motion: Yep
*Readiness on Mom's part to keep 4 little personages busy all day whilst cooking her 5th: Nope
*Inner desire to enjoy the next 3 months and her energetic children: Always and forever
*Kris Allen is my American Idol, funny faces and all. The 'King' of funny AI faces was Clay Aiken and Kris doesn't come close. His face has never bothered me. Now, Adams tongue when he screeches is another story all together. I really liked Kris' 1st and 2nd songs. Too bad he was criticized for song choice #2. This has happened 2x now where he's had no control over a song he had to sing and both were not "Big enough". Remember the scene in Princess Bride where Buttercup is imaging being greeted by the people and that old lady emerges and loudly says over and over "Boo! Boo!"? Well that's me.
*The song Kara co-wrote and will be released as a single was dismal at best. It was choppy, tuneless and hokey. Too bad both contestants had to be judged singing it. My heart actually went out to Adam. I was surprised myself. I would like to hear Kara, who can sing very well, belt it out and see if she can do it any better. I think the producers had to be apologizing over and over to Kris and Adam when they handed the music over, "Sorry. It's the best we got."
*I really don't see Adam having lasting value in the long run, say like Steven Tyler or Mick Jagger. He is still a Bret Michaels in my mind and will be making an infomercial in about 15 yrs. touting "The Best of American Idol: Adam Style" for us all to purchase for the low, low price of 9.99.
*If I had a dime for EVERY TIME we have heard Kara and Paula, especially Kara, say the word 'artist' we would all be quite wealthy peoples and headed to Disneyland tomorrow. Man o' man. For that one reason alone she should hit the trail. Her main crusade this season was to inform the entire world we needed to 'find an artist'.
*I'm really looking forward to tonight's finale. I love the entire night of 'artists' presented to us for a musical feast. We have to shove a ball game and practice in just before it starts, so I'll be sweating it out until my rump is seated safely on the couch where my indentation is already firmly implanted.
*Directly after AI last night the new show Glee was on. LOVED IT! It was funny and the music was awesome. I can listen anytime, anywhere for hours to Journey and be a happy girl. 'Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' ranks in my Top 10 Favs ever. Haven't listened to it lately? Get on it and experience it for yourself. Anywho- Glee is like High School Musical for adults. Fox is kicking back side with their round up of shows. It doesn't look like that rump print will be going anywhere in the near future. I'm starting to think my couch is made up of memory foam.
These pictures are being posted simply for self indulgence sake. I just think he is too cute.
I'm only putting one foot down off my 'Know it All' stool. I've decided I'm allowed to retain a tad bit of nonsensical knowledge. It makes me feel good about being me.
Who else cheered their lungs out last night when Kris made it to the finale? YEAH! I'm holding a sliver of hope in the announcement that Ryan Seacrest made about there being only 1,000,000 votes between the top 2 contestants. Let's hope my Auntie Andrea is correct and people are getting burnt out on the vocal stylings of Adam Lambert. Let's all get our fingers cracked and pumped to vote and vote and vote and vote for Kris (those who have expressed an anti-Adamphi-Lambert-hi dislike). Kris needs us.
Side note: Time for Kara to go. I was offended on Kris' behalf as she cried and mouthed the words, "No, no, no" while Danny sang his swan song. Some of us do know what we're talking about and like every now and then.
I'm sure to be in trouble with a select few...
Mark had his first baseball game and hit of the season last night. He looked so stinking cute in his uniform...now if we can get his aggression to match the look we're golden. During the whole game I was thinking about how cute he looked and James was wishing he would actually use the mitt to field the balls. How's that for the difference between male and female? First game...what can you say? The other team spanked us 13 to 4. Mark was just happy he got a hit. I don't think he even realized the score was being kept. We'll clue him in by his next game this Friday.
In true pregnant brain, harried mother style I forgot to hit record on the VCR (no TiVo or DVR here folks). Although along with pregnant brain I'm going to give a little bit of credit to the new prescription I started for my wicked acid reflux. Who knew drowsiness would be a side effect of anti-acid meds? Maybe the manufacturers are hoping the sufferers will sleep their way through their symptoms. Ta Da! The drug works! We got home mid-show and my poor children were frozen to the bone and plopped into the tub to warm up. In between the tears, towels, fights, catching a quick bite to eat and the need to close my eyes, I only caught Danny's last song and Adam's 'One', so you are all going to have to school me on how last night went. I will say this, and it will totally surprise you, I hated Adam's version of 'One'. Rock opera just doesn't cut it for that song, regardless of whether or not "You play back the song and listen to the lyrics. They are beautiful." I just can't win my AI comrades or should I say Adam just can't win with me?
Final two: Danny and Adam and we ALL know who will win. The real test is whether or not YOU will purchase Adam's music. If he sells records beyond what I would ever expect I will be stepping down as any kind of expert on any and all topics. Maybe I've been listening to my parents far too long (33 1/2 years) and I am not as smart as I think I am...
I think we could all pretty much guess that Rock n' Roll would favor Adam and Allison last night. Of course with Adam's training he can pretty much morph himself into any genre available. Last night was a no 'Big Deal' to me, which reminds me of my Aunt Julie who taught hearing impaired children long ago. She was a funny little gal with a quick wit and wicked sense of humor. If she would hear her kids (or even a teenage me) making a fuss about something she would fan her hands in front of her face and up over her head to sign 'Big' and then in an animated manner deal out a deck of cards to sign 'deal'. It usually put you in your spot quick fast and then made you laugh at the notion that the 'problem' really was not a Big Deal. Ahh- I miss that aunt of mine.
Anywho-after every song I kept seeing her doing the 'Big Deal' sign in my head over and over.
Adam: Yes he kicked it out on 'Whole Lot of Love', but stumbled in his 'Rockitude' as he gushed and swooned about how much he 'LOVED' Led Zeppelin. Don't we all? My problem: A true, cool, honest to goodness rocker would simply state, "Yeah, Zeppelin's cool." Would they really state in a high pitched love fest manner how much they 'love' Zeppelin in the same way a girl from the 70's LOVED David Cassidy? Maybe he was swooning over the tight pants and teased hair of Robert Plant. I again question his rockness.
P.S. Does he really need to screech in every song? We got the idea already Adam...you can belt (scream) a note.
P.P.S. My dedication to Zeppelin, I will remind you, came in the form of me playing 'Stairway to Heaven on the flute for a devotional in seminary. I'm still laughing.
Allison: Bad song choice. I'm with the judges. There was not much flavor and listening to her sing "Cry Baby Cry" over and over got a little old. I do still count her as my 2nd favorite. She has a cool, rockin' voice.
Kris: He still be my number one guy (shout out to the pigeon bible Brant brought home from Hawaii). I was really concerned about what he would choose for this genre and having to follow Adam. I thought he did fine with this. He put his twist and voice to it, which is what I like. Remember, I'm still listening to "I'm Yours" 50 times a day. I'm afraid for his status tonight.
Danny: I've been over Danny for a long time now. I thought he was completely loony for choosing "Dream On". Brave? Possibly. Loony? Definitely. A soul man will never, ever, ever, ever, ever be able to hit those last notes like Steven Tyler. Do you think he had bad dreams the night before? Even in my own head I can hit those last notes and have even tried a few times as I vacuumed the house, but I certainly wouldn't go on AI and give it a go. Yikes.
Being the sassy, independent individual that she is, Tess gets herself ready, by herself, most mornings. Today produced the following combination:
Hair bow neatly placed in slept on hair: Check
Pink, fashion forward bracelet: Check
Pink dress and yellow sweater worn on the previous day to church...still clean: Check
Classic sock/sandal combination (how could one go wrong?): Check
Dear Grammy Renee,
In regards to your worried mind about Tess sitting in the tub while we obeyed the commandments and read our scriptures, but did not obey the cardinal rule: never leave a child unattended in the tub (see evidence in post below). There was only 2 in. of water in the tub and about 5 in. of bubbles. We were only 10 yds. away from her the entire time and made a conscious effort to listen for any gurgling sounds. And lastly, we're lucky those little twigs she calls arms can hold her up even while she slumbers.
Much love and thanks for all you taught me-
Emily Rae
Mother/Daughter Extraordinaire
