Top Ten

Tonight you get a double Whammy! Joan is here visiting, so this is OUR review. We went the rounds on the winner, well, top three( they are really close), but decided . . . .(drum roll, please)

1. Lee- Definitely most improved and a great performance tonight. A close . . .

2. Michael- Like Joan said, "How do you criticize that?" She's right. It was perfect, from the heart, gorgeous.

3. Crystal- Man, she's good. Would have been better without the backup singers.

4. Andrew- So much improved. I didn't see the performance from the Hollywood week they keep talking about (Joan said it was good), but this is by far the best I've seen him.

5. Casey- we both like Casey and his mad guitar. I wanted him to crescendo into the chorus more. Don't hold back; let 'er rip!

6. Katie- didn't love the Chain song on her( a little too serious), but she is good, you have to admit.

7. Aaron- Ah, sweet Aaron. He seemed nervous at first, but it got better.

8. Didi- Not her genre, but we still like her. She didn't sound great on all her tones, but they really should have given her some credit. The arrangement changed keys at least three times, and she was right there. That's tough stuff.

9. Siobhan- Dear, dear, stop the screaming. You can sing, so sing. This is the worst we've seen her. Joan doesn't think she's all that.

10. Tim- He's not bad. But probably time for him to go. So glad he's having fun. Like Joan said, he belongs in "High School Musical"

Spring Has Sprung!

Wedding Belles

Wedding Belles by Haywood Smith

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I admit, I did it! I did what I've been told since childhood not to do. I just couldn't help it. I was in the bookstore and saw this colorful book with a piece of cake on the cover that made me want to stick my finger in the frosting and take a big lick. So I did it. I judged a book by it's cover- and bought it. Wedding Belles is not going to win any literary awards, but it was a fun, easy airplane read that kept me interested. There was much in it that wasn't too believable, but I enjoyed the characters and have sort of missed them since finishing the book. If you're 50 -ish and headed on a vacation and need an easy read- this one's for you.

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I finally meet Caleb!

I went to Ohio last week to be with the Camerons and to finally meet baby Caleb. I arrived on Friday night . . .and fell in love with this beautiful baby boy. It was Brian and Michelle's spring break, so they had also come to help, so we were all there together through Sunday. It was wonderful to get to see them and Gabbi, too. They were such a big help to Blake and Shonna: cleaning, cooking, encouraging, feeding, diapering, etc. With a preemie, the routine is much more involved, and Michelle had learned the ropes and taught me. It was a great tag team. Shonna and Blake are on a Crazy schedule. They are amazing. They handle it all with such patience and grace. What amazing people. I thought Michelle expressed how I felt so well. When I told her what a huge help she was and how impressed I was, her response was, "It was so nice to be able to DO something to help instead of just praying SOMEONE would DO something to help." Well said. I got some great pictures of my week+ there, but there are some other snapshots in my mind that are even better: Mind Photo #1: Watching Michelle help Blake change and dress baby Caleb. It's always a challenge to change and dress a newborn, but with Caleb's sensitive skin, triple that. Michelle had learned the process and it was just such a sweet experience to watch them work together. Tears sprang to my eyes. Mind Photo #2: Watching Blake comfort Shonna after a particularly trying few hours. Mind Photo #3: (I have real photos that kind of captured this, too) Shonna's delight at getting out with the baby on a walk in the fresh air. It did us all a lot of good. Mind Photo #4: Watching Blake and Shonna care for and love that precious baby. What a sweet family. I so enjoyed my week with this precious family. PS If you haven't seen Shonna's fabulous new haircut- check out her blog! So cute!!!

When Will I Ever Learn?

Oh, how I hope I’m not muttering these words tonight with my head in my hands . . .as I’ve done for the last several years. Every year, when filling out my March Madness brackets, I have BYU winning in the first round, and every year, it’s the same thing: muttering and promising myself I won’t do it again. I even get people to promise me they won’t let me do it next year. But then it’s next year, and I have fresh hope, and I just can’t help myself. My loyalty and hope are just too strong. Sports commentators promise, “This is BYU’s year.” and “I’m going out on a limb to predict BYU will beat Kansas State.” Kansas State??? Aren't you ignoring the fact that we have to beat Florida first and we don’t win first rounds?. . . at least we haven’t for a very long time. I love you, Commentator Man. My sister Joan’s philosophy is to predict that we’ll lose, then she’s happy either way. But I think that’s only half happy either way. I prefer to have complete, ultimate elation and glory. Or if and when that proverbial limb breaks, that commentator and I will ride it down to crash in the fiery flames of loss. And when you find me in a pool of blood, you’ll see that my blood runs blue, and you’ll know I was true to my Cougars to the very end! Go Cougars!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Ken!!!

Even though it comes in the middle of "busy season", I hope you have a wonderful birthday, Ken! I love you!!!

Abracadabra!!!

Nathan is an amazing magician. Just watch . . .