Things I'm Thinking About Today

Some are random, silly things.  Some, not so much.  And a few pics thrown in just because.

--My 5 year old (as of yesterday!) was talking about a little boy who threw dirt at him and spit at him last night at Becca's softball practice.  He said, "I wasn't mad.  I just had on my regular face." 
At first, of course, I laughed.  How funny is that?  My regular face.  Then the lesson started to come.  We'd just been doing a devotion using Resurrection Eggs.  Today was the dice, signifying the Roman soldiers gambling for Jesus' robe.  The devotion talked about Jesus praying for and forgiving the men who were making fun of him, beating him, and killing him. 
So we talked about what you do when people are mean to you.  And how like God to give us a real life situation the night before! 
Hayes had on his regular face when a boy was mean to him.  He didn't hit back, apparently didn't even get mad.  Wish I could say the same for my reaction when I found out. (I wasn't there.) 
                  

--Can't stop thinking about a neighborhood kid who was here when we were sitting down for dinner tonight.  With a very surprised look on her face, she said, "You all eat dinner TOGETHER?"  Yes.  "We don't.  Some of us eat at the table, some in the living room, some upstairs."  No judgement here.  I just can't help think of what they might be missing.

--I didn't watch Idol yet and I'm not sure I will.  I read BooMama's recap and it didn't seem like I missed much.  Should I watch or just skip it?
                

--Beth Moore's book So Long, Insecurity is rocking my world.  Anybody else?
                      

--Eight days until girl's weekend at the beach with my bestie and our moms.  CAN. NOT. WAIT.  I need a vacation in the worst way.
               

--Sometimes happiness is a Star Wars tent and a Darth Vader candle.
               
               
**Edited to add: I have no idea why this video is so big.  I tried to fix it but couldn't.  You get the idea. ha!
--Sometimes it's THIS:

American Idol - Top 11

Billboard's number 1 songs is the theme this week. 

Lee - The Letter  Totally agree with the reviews I've seen of Lee, he needs to show more personality.  He can sing for sure.  I like this jazzy version of the song and he could be in danger of the brass section overpowering him on stage.  But I think he's showing more personality tonight.  Probably his best performance so far.

Paige -  Against All Odds  Don't know if it's her voice problems or what but she's seems really pitchy.  Awww man, the whole thing was just off.  I hate that for her. Can't believe Lacey went home instead of her. (Is that mean?)

Tim - Crazy Little Thing Called Love  Bless him, he's trying to show more personality tonight, but Simon's going to go OFF on the sliding around on the stage.  The vocals were ok for me.  I'm glad he was moving around more, so performance-wise it was better.  But vocally it was just, eh.  Whoa, he got slammed.  I feel bad for him but it really was kind of uncomfortable. 

Aaron - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing  I can tell his voice is not as strong as usual, but I think he's doing great.  Not his best performance, but pretty solid. 

Crystal - Me & Bobby McGee  Have no idea if she took Miley's advice or not, but it sounded crazy good.  I don't know that song but I could totally hear her recording it.  Do I sound like a broken record yet?  Winner.

Michael - When A Man Loves A Woman   Great song for him, although predictable.  He's in it to win it, as they say.  Homeboy can flat out sang.  Outstanding.  Seriously, Kara and Simon are just nit-picking now. 

Andrew - I Heard It Through the Grapevine  Didn't love it.  I think Simon may be onto something.  Maybe the Straight Up performance was just overrated. 

Katie - Big Girls Don't Cry  I like her voice, but I kind of think it fell apart a little at the end.  Not her best performance.  She does look better, younger.  And a better song for her. 

Casey - The Power of Love   Back to the Future, anyone?  I always think of that movie when I hear this song.  The other guitarists are showing more personality than he is.  He needs to work on that.  Vocals are great as always. 

Didi - You're No Good   I don't get the judges.  I liked this a lot.  I totally disagree with them.  I thought it was great and she looked comfortable on stage.  But what do I know?

Siobhan - Superstition  That girl is so different when she is on stage.  When she talks, she's so soft-spoken and almost childlike.  Then she gets on stage and starts channeling Adam Lambert with all the screaming.  I really like her but the crazy screaming is getting on my nerves.  Does she have to do it in every song now?

In my opinion, Tim and Paige are in trouble.  But the teeny bopper vote will probably save Tim.  Time for Lost!

Blog post ideas from an NBA game

                            

We took the kids to a Bobcats game tonight.  We actually won the tickets at another game a few weeks ago.  The seats were supposed to be in the upper level, but hey they were free.  When we got there, we found out they were lower level, 10th row from the floor, right behind the Bobcats bench.  Sweet!  With new owner Michael Jordan sitting on the end of the bench!

So I'm sitting there, taking it all in.  I admit I'm not a big NBA fan.  I'd much rather watch a pro baseball game or even football.  And would always rather watch a college game of any kind.  

Two and a half hours later there are all kinds of blog post topics running around in my head.  Here's some insight into my mind.

--The Lady Cats.  From the spandex to the knee-high boots.  To the not so great dancing.  And I know good dancing.  I've seen Making the Team.  These girls are not DCC material. 

--A grown man (a father, no less) who took a T-shirt out of my daughter's hands. (Oh yes he did.  Holdmeback. HOLD ME BACK.)

--People watching vs. Game watching (guess what I did)

--How excited my kids get over a basketball game.  Very into it!  Learning the players names and asking questions. So fun.

--So cotton candy.  How can they charge $4 for basically sugar and air?

--What is it about St. Patrick's Day that can make an otherwise sane and sober 20-something woman break out the green short shorts, skin-tight tank top, green and white striped knee socks, some green Mardi Gras beads, and a rub-on shamrock tattoo and go out IN PUBLIC? 

--Michael Jordan: How do you look the exact same as when you played at UNC? How?

--Beer in cups should have lids.  That way it wouldn't get spilled on my shoes.  Is it the 5 beers they had before they walked to their seat with the 6th one, overflowing and spilling on everyone they pass?  Or are all beer drinkers just clumsy and inconsiderate?  I don't walk around with my Coke sloshing out all over the floor and whoever happens to be in my path.  Just wondering.  Maybe a lid would help.  Or a sippy cup. 

Bobcats won by the way.  I do know that.  Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 100-92.  Who even knew OKC had a team?

American Idol - Top 12!!

It's Top 12, people!  And they're on the big stage.  What up with the new announcer?  Is that the Kodak Theater?  Where are they?  What in heaven's name does Lacey have on?  I still can't believe Lilly's gone.

Wow, the Stones.  This could get interesting.

Michael - Miss You  Good to see him with his little baby.  Since he missed the birth and all.  That still bugs me. Ok, I'll let it go.  He's great.  He definitely looked comfortable on the big stage.  (Is it me or is Kara totally making sense this year?  Whaat?)

Didi - Play With Fire  Not crazy about this song, but she did a fantastic job.  A little mess up on the words maybe?  I thought something sounded weird and Ellen confirmed.  She covered well.  She'll be here next week.

Casey - It's All Over Now  Loved his video clip.  How sweet is his mom with her Casey James shirt?  Love this song for him.  It fits.  I thought the judges might give him a hard time for the guitar too because he was almost focusing on that more. 

Lacey - Ruby Tuesday   Awww, her dad's so cute talking about her.  Not my favorite performance but I liked it.  I just like her.

Andrew - Gimme Shelter  Andrew as a little boy looks like my friend Traci's little boy. (Right?) I liked this.  Randy says he was pitchy.  Ah, what does he know? 

Katie - Wild Horses  Great vocals.  Good choice.  Don't love the dress.

Tim - Under My Thumb  I don't think the reggae thing was "crazy."  His vocals were good.  The teeny bopper vote will keep him around.

Siobhan - Paint It Black  Whoa with the note near the end.  Wow.  She's crazy good.  Just as much emphasis on "crazy" as "good."  She definitely knows who she is. 

Lee - Beast of Burden  I really like his voice.  That gravely, sand paper quality is cool.  Yay!

Paige - Honky Tonk Women  She does have a great voice, laryngitis or not.  Don't know how much longer she'll be around though.

Aaron - Angie  He's looking more comfortable on stage.  Good song choice for him.  Didn't blow me away but I think it was good.

Crystal - You Can't Always Get What You Want  I'd say Siobhan was my favorite tonight, but Crystal is my favorite overall.  I've said it before (I think), she's in a league of her own.

No time to read over this again.  I've left my kids to their own devices while I watch this.  Who wants to bet they haven't been doing school? ha!

Blogaversary!!

I just realized that today is my Second Blogaversary!  Oh my how life has changed in 2 years!

Now I know I haven't been the best blogger in the last, well, ever really.  I mean, I've got 14 posts this year and it's March 15! ha!

But this blog has never been about getting lots of readers. (Obviously!) It started as an online journal of our lives, a fun and different way to record the exciting and the mundane events of this little family.  And as happens with my own personal written journal, it has it's season of neglect.  Times when I just don't want to write anything, either because there's nothing to write or too much to write.  Make sense?

I am, however, interested in who is reading the blog.  I know people read and don't comment all the time. (Hello Kettle, my name is Pot!)  Will you satisfy my curiosity and comment? Thanks!!

And in totally unrelated news, seriously, how cute is this?

                     

The Many Faces of Hayes

Hayes likes to fool around with the camera, so to keep him occupied at Becca's basketball game last week I started snapping pictures while he was sitting on my lap.  

Here's my little goofball:

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                   

                  

I'd show you the ones he took by himself, but they were either the back of people's heads or straight up my nose.  And no one wants to see that.

Happy Friday!

American Idol - Top 16 - Guys

Lee - Fireflies  I liked it.  Good performance from him.  Good grief with all the "moment" comments.  Everybody has to have a "moment" this week.  How many times did we hear that last night?

Alex - Trouble  Ok it's time for him to just step up and shake off the nerves and get on with it.  He still looks uncomfortable but not like he's going to throw up, so I guess that's progress.  It didn't blow me away, but I thought it was pretty good. 

Tim - Hallelujah  I'm liking the acoustic guitar and I think he did a good job.  I love that Ellen went up to hug him.  Maybe it was his moment. 

Andrew - Genie in a Bottle  Ok, right off the bat I'm thinking this is a weird choice for him and a guitar.  But he killed it with Straight Up, so who knows?  I seriously didn't hate it!  ha!  I kind of liked it.  I think I need to hear it again to say I loved it, but I definitely liked it.

Casey - You'll Think of Me  Good choice for him.  Not his best performance but he sounded great.  He's in it for the long haul.

Aaron - I'm Already There   Yikes, it's starting out rough.  Definitely not as good as last week.  Might have been too big for him.  The end was a lot better than the beginning for sure. 

Todrick -  Somebody To Love  Well, right off I'll just say nothing beats the Glee version of this.  I'm a teeny bit obsessed.  That said, I'm not crazy about this.  I don't know why but there's something I don't like about him.  It was better than anything else I've seen him do though.

Michael - This Woman's Work   Best of the night.  By far. The end. Amen.

I think Alex and Aaron are in trouble.  What did you think?

American Idol - Top 16 - Girls

Let's get right to it. 

Katie - Breakaway  Don't know if this was the right song choice for her or not.  She seemed flat? sharp? something to me.  Not crazy about this.

Siobhan - House of the Rising Sun  Girl's got pipes.  I love that you never know what she'll wear or sing.  Such an original, that girl.

Can you tell they're trying to cram this into an hour show? No video clips and Ryan and Siobhan barely got off the stage before Lacey started singing. 

Lacey - The Story  I really like her voice.  I don't think this will be the best performance of the night, but I liked it a lot.  She seemed relaxed and in her element with this song.

Katelyn - I Feel the Earth Move  Karaoke comments?  Any bets?  Not as good as last week by far but I think the vocals were good.  They should be since she's top 16 and all but I totally agree with the judges.  Too safe and she didn't seem like she was competing.  Bummer.  And I think Simon's restaurant comment counts as karaoke.

Didi - Rhiannon  I SO love her voice. WAY better the Lean on Me last week.  Great song for her.  I loved it.  Loved it.  Love the bag, love the shoes, love everything. (Movie?)

Paige - Smile  This was a little rough.  Shaky and pitchy, right?  Yikes. 

Crystal - Give Me One Reason  HOW does this girl not already have a contract?  I like this better than the original.  Killed it.  And love her earrings. 

Lily - I Fall To Pieces  Seriously just go ahead and put her and Crystal in the finals.  Do not pass GO, do not collect $200.  Straight to the finals. 

Paige and Katie should go.  Maybe Katelyn.  And after that, seeing any of these girls go will be a tragedy.  Ok, maybe tragedy is a little dramatic.  But sad, it will be sad.

Time to get Lost!

American Idol - Top 20

Couldn't watch the guys last night so I decided not to blog.  I watched this afternoon, so here are a few thoughts. 

Loved Michael and Casey (Hayes asked "Is that a boy or a girl?").

Liked Alex, Aaron, Lee, and Kara's dress.

Did NOT like Jermaine calling God his "Homeboy." 

And seriously with Alex and his made-up language? And the TMI about throwing up.  Oh bless.

Jermaine's onesie?  No. Words.

-----------------------------------

Let's just get right to the girls.

Crystal - Long As I Can See The Light - So you'd never know she was sick yesterday.  Somebody sign her NOW.  If I didn't have this laptop on my lap, I'd stand up and clap.  BRAVO.  (Is 'misunderestimate' a word, Simon?  My spell check says No.)

Haeley - The Climb - Good call on a younger song (haha I typed younger smile the first time).  My husband is going off on her short skirt and her mom for letting her wear it.  I tend to agree.  I think the song was kind of rough.  Not good.  Maybe she has a career in making hair accessories?

Lacey - Kiss Me - Way better than last week.  She's working out her nerves.  I like her voice a lot.  Loved. It.

Side note:  The judges (Randy, I'm looking at you.) are driving me crazy with their comments.  Change up the song too much, they get slammed.  Don't change it up enough, they get slammed.  I don't have a solution to that or anything.  It just gets on my nerves.

Katie - Put Your Records On - I think this was a great song choice.  I liked it immensely.  Boo for the judges.

Didi - Lean On Me - Am I the only one who rolled her eyes at this song?  Next week, Friends are Friends Forever.  Song choice aside, I LOVE her voice. 

Dang, Kara is harsh tonight.  She needs to quit sitting beside Simon.  I definitely do not think she was screeching.  Is the sound so different in the studio?

Michelle - With Arms Wide Open - Um, Madonna circa 1984 called and she wants her outfit back.  Not crazy about this.  I liked the song and the way it was arranged but not so much the vocals.  There were some good parts, but mostly I didn't like it as much as others tonight.

Lilly - A Change is Gonna Come - I agree with Ellen, she has IT.  Whatever IT is, Lilly has it.  Awesome, awesome.

Katelyn - The Scientist - A little boring to me, but her vocals are great tonight.  And I love somebody who can play the piano, so points for that.  I liked it mucho much.

Paige - Walk Away - I did not know that Kara wrote that song.  I liked it.  Good performance and she looked like she was having fun.  Hey, Ellen said the same thing!  Randy is so grouchy tonight.  This song has too many words.  The last song was so slow.  I know they are judges and are supposed to critique but he's such a Negative Nelly. 

Siobhan - Think - I keep forgetting how to say her name.  She really is an interesting person, isn't she?  Of COURSE she had a mohawk!  She's screaming a little, but overall I like it.  Ellen's Snuggie comment had me laughing out loud. 

To sum it up: The girls KILLED it.  They redeemed themselves this week. 

Crystal and Siobhan were my favorites.  I think Haeley and Michelle are in trouble.