Happy Birthday Maren

Our little Maren turned 4! I can't believe it has been four years since I got my precious little girl. Maren was the sweetest baby. We tried so hard to get Maren after Matthew was born that I hadn't had a baby for 3 1/2 years, I remember staying up at her night feedings and just enjoying it! I never thought I would even have one child, let alone 2. Maren was just a dream! I have enjoyed dressing her and reliving my child all over again with her. Getting the dolls I always wanted, and the dress ups. Isn't that what parenting is really about, getting the cool toys you didn't get the first time around! lol But, really Maren is just the most fun child. She is SO smart! She remember everything and it seems like she knows everything, sometimes she is almost too "know it all" for her own good. But she loves to have fun, she loves to do activities, she loves to be a girly girl. She also loves being nuturing and she is so loving with her brother Will. She loves to be his second mommy. She also has a little of drama in her (where did she get that?) But for the most part she is just a happy and fun little girl. We love her so much and are so grateful that she came to our family! I have been more blessed than words can say!

I've Been Cured

So I got to go see The Cure this last weekend! How awesome is that! We dawned our black and channeled our goth. I think this was my 3rd or 4th time seeing them in concert. They are tied for the top spot with Sarah Mclachlan as my fav band/singers of all times! I was so psyched that I knew every song except maybe 3 or 4. They played for 3 hours! Their first set was really long and then they did 3 encores! The best part was that I got to go with my best friend Brooke and her husband Preston! Brooke has been the cheese to my macaroni for the last 19 years! Yes it has been that long! We were those 2 girls in high school that were inseperable. You know the ones that when you said one name you said another, like a couple, only not. lol Brooke has been there for me through thick and thin for the last 19 years. She has supportd me in everything and been through everything! She is one of the nicest, kindest people I have ever met. She rarely says a bad word about anyone, but she is down to earth too and totally hilarious! I can't believe we have been friends since 14 years old. But are we really 33? (Well Brooke isn't yet, not until the end of the week) But we still feel like we are 14. The proof is that we rocked it the entire concert. I don't think we ever stopped dancing. And Brooke dances exactly like when we were in high school and going to stomps! It brought back MANY a memory! We kind of ignored our husbands, but they get it. lol I think if Brooke and I could have rushed the stage we would have. And also there was a moment that our beloved Robert Smith we KNOW was looking right at us! I was trying to chanel him to get some security man to let us back stage. It didn't work. But wouldn't that have been awesome! We saw many a funny thing at the concert some examples, an interesting lady who liked to dance like Molly Ringwald, but was oh so much scarier. And a guy who was very drunk but he had floor seats and liked to think he was the crowd leader down there on the floor. Very strange! Also, the guitarist for The Cure had some interesting, patent leather black pants, see through black shirt and like 5 inch high heels. He was a bit scarey, but other than that The Cure is a good kind of scarey. Oh it was fun to pretend that I was a teenager again. Somehow letting life go for 3 hours can totally fill you up. Just had to share my pics and my love for The Cure! Robert Smith, we love you!







This is our favorite Molly Ringwald lady (just for you Brooke! Too bad I didn't get a pic of her air guitar playing boyfriend)

Aww Man !!

What is up with you 12 million who did not vote??!! I'm going to come and hunt you down! I knew that Archie wasn't well off when Simon started to apologize to David C. That was a MAJOR bad sign. Cause Simon can't look like an idiot, even though he did because he had it right the first time calling Archie the winner. Poor Mr. Archie! What a sweetie! I hope that his fate is not sealed like many a second runner up in the past, except for Clay Aiken, although he is questionable. Hopefully he can continue on to an awesome career cause he is a musical gem. But enough of the fact that the entire AI season 7 is now tainted cause "hungry like the wolf" won. Let's get on to the highlights of the show tonight. It was actually pretty good. Here are some things that I enjoyed/or thought were funny:
I really think it is funny and cheesy the way they make the contestants group sing. If you watch Amanda our favorite 2 toned hair lady, she doesn't even pretend to sing or dance during these numbers. That to me is hilarious! And I did NOT miss her voice whatsoever. I LOVED the Gladys and the Pips thing, totally funny! I thought David C's performance with ZZ Top was going to be cool but it was just minimal. I didn't even rock out to the usually rockable song. I thuroughly enjoyed Carrie Underwood, she is the bomb diggity dawgs. She rocks the country house and I don't even like country, but I like her. I also thought that Archie's performance with One Republic (Shout out to Annie who reminds me of this song! Holla!) to Apologize -or just "Pologize" as I like to call it -was so totally good!! I would like a recording of that one! And I love Seal, not Seal with Syesha, but just Seal for coming on the show. Then what was probably the all time bomb for me when they started the George Michael set and I said to Dave "PLEASE let George Michael come out" and then he did! And he sang that song, which I totally love. And that just made the entire show! I was impressed with the level of coolness that AI is pulling out the last couple of seasons. They are becoming almost like a real concert! Anyway, sad times dawg pound. But, hey we have another season to look forward to and if Archie ever does pull out a CD, I will go buy it! Sorry Archie, you should of won!!

AI-Finale

Well I don't think it was the barn burner that we all hoped for. I think tonight there was a clear winner. And if it turns out like I hope, our sweet 17 David ArchuLOTTA will be the big winner of the season! Interestingly though, I heard that David Cook was favored to win in Vegas, so who knows! But, I was so proud of David A. that you would think I could be his mom, he did awesome! And as we speak, I am still sitting here dialing re-dial for our little Archie. A good sign, his number is frequently busy. Yes, I know some of you are thinking I need a life, because why I am I voting for AI like a 13 year old girl. And I say, isn't that what life is about, the simple funny little things that give us joy and over time all the funny little exerpiences make up for one big happy life. (Oh good now Dave is going to do redial for me so that I can type this! Good times!)

Okay, okay, I'll get to my critique. Let's start with the coin toss, way to go Archie on winning it and picking spot #2, because #1 is rarely remembered (a fact sorely passed on to Syesha many a time that put her in the bottom). So David Cook.... alright I did like his U2 rendition and kudos to Clive Davis who picked that song for him because it was the perfect choice. For me that was one of his better performances throughout the season. It wasn't as pretentious as usual. Although, no worries, he did strut his stuff later on. Oh, quickly, because you know I love to critique the clothing, did anyone else notice that the David's had somewhat twin hair? When they did those spinning boxing clips of them, I noticed that their spikes were basically identical. They need a new hair person! Okay song #2, Dave (wow this is confusing, too many Dave's! lol My Dave, Dave S!) liked it but I did not. It was okay but I could tell that he was really straining his voice on that one. His last song, Collective Soul (which I love and was from my era) I thought was not good the first time I watched it, and then watching it back I would give it maybe a 7 out of 10. I thought he should have rocked the song more. Although I did feel that he showed his passionate self in that song. I thought he did a good job at actually protraying real emotion rather than "I am sexy and you love me" emotion. And did anyone else think that the 180 weight category that they quoted him was being generous!lol He looks like a bit of a puny little man to me.

David ArchuLOTTA, I'm so glad that we have gotten here Archie! I wasn't sure about you in the beginning, but you have come a long way! He proved tonight that his voice was basically flawless and like smooth buttah. I have a theory that you are either born with it or you ain't. David A. was born with it! His voice is so clear and on pitch. LOVE IT! His first song, "Don't Let the Sun" is actually one of my all time favorites. I like both the Elton John version and the George Michael version. Again, Clive Davis, MAJOR kudos for song choice. Where was Clive the rest of the season? David A. BLEW me away on that song! I think that was probably his best performance thus far. Awesome! Okay his second song was very cheesy, but those contest written ones always are. I actually thought it wasn't that bad and really showed off his range. He also blew me away on that song as well! But you know I can't have endless hugs and kisses for David A. I have to make fun of his jacket he wore in the second performance. Who comes up with these things?? A jacket with anchors on it? That's like something I would put Will in on Easter. LOL But moving on to singing.. the third song was of course awesome as well. It was his previous best performance. But I was a little bit put back that he would do a song he has already done. I kind of agreed with David C. on the fact that he should have done a different one. Shocking I know that I would ever side with David C., but he was right. It would have been nice to hear him do something different. But again, it was just a totally molten hot lava moment. I noticed that I watched back every single one of his performances cause they all gave me chills. That kid just rocks the house and I don't think it could happen for a better sweeter person. Way to go Archie! Should be interesting to see if the rest of non-Utah America percieve David A. and if he can indeed win it for the home team! But we are still voting so who knows... And just on a sad note, I will miss AI and all my posts. It has been really fun for me to do this and I have gotten so much feedback from people on my thoughts and their thoughts and have enjoyed many an AI conversation with folks. I really have enjoyed making stronger ties with people even if it is through AI. Thanks for reading. And of course I will right a small ditty tomorrow about the winner and either I'll be totally mad and disgusted by our "hungry like the wolf man" or I'll be totally thrilled. Either way, it's been fun. PEACE OUT DAWGS!

AI Week-Who knows!

Well, one bright shining light on this day for me when I have had 4 wisdom teeth yanked from my head, is AI! Forgive me if I mess up because I have been on pain killer narcotics today, but I sobered up just in time for AI and my sister Cathi to bring me a much needed chocolate shake! But let's get started...no one blew me away tonight, but of course I still have comments!

David ArcuLOTTA first up. I thought he did an awesome job on the song Paula picked for him. I was NOT into the microphone echo thingie. That just detracted. And I agreed with Randy either him playing the song or someone else on the piano with him would have been killer on that song! Next up, his song choice..hmm..I had never heard that song before. And actually I liked him singing it! I didn't think it was that far of a fetch for him, although agreeing once again with Randy, maybe he could have left out the word "boo". Since I wasn't quite sure on what that word meant and neither was Dave, no worries, here is the meaning out of the :"Online Slang dictionary" for all of us really albastar white folks! Boo: "boyfriend of girlfriend. Example-Me and my boo are going to the movies tonight." So there you have it! lol Now onto the 3rd and possibly worst song choice of the night and that would be Longer. I think with this song the producers were trying to get ArchuLOTTA kicked. Either 1- kicked off the show or 2- getting his butt kicked when he goes back to high school! Either way that was NOT a good choice. Poor kid! But he sang the heck out of it. Way to go ARCH! I'm still crossing my fingers for your win and loved watching your homecoming to good ole UT this week!

Syesha, okay, her first song was probably the best of the night that Randy choose. I thought she did a good job singing, although I always find myself thinking "we have enough singers like her" and doing her genre that I just can't see how she can win. Her second song was VERY sketchy. Don't get me wrong, I like Broadway, and was doing a broadwayesque performance, but it is on a singing show! I just CANNOT stand performances like this when off of broadway. Not my cup of tea at all! Her 3rd being not her fault but one picked for her was really not good at all. It wasn't that I didn't like the song or could her sing it. I just KNEW she couldn't sing it because she was WAY out of tune in my opinion. To me she was off kilter the entire song. Not good at all! I felt bad for her when Paula said she couldn't make it tonight, but that was the truth dawg. I'm afraid she is out, although I think she is one talented little lady. Let's hope if she gets out she will be allowed to cut off her extensions and get her cute style back!

David Cook, what to say. His first song is actually one of my favorite songs of all times and in my mind is me and Dave's "song". It is totally like our love story. So I was excited to hear it, but not from David Cook. Although I was pleasantly surprised and was actually shocked by his good singing skills. I didn't like his arrangement,but I'm glad he showed off his vocal skills. His second song choice, I have no idea the name, was good and definately his genre. He seemed a bit pitchy though for sure Dawg (way to go Randy, I guess I'm on your side this week). And Paula was also right that it just kind of left you hangin at the end. His 3rd song was of course totally him. It didn't blow me away like as to give him a standing ovation (Paula looking in your direction!) But it was a good song for his rocking and singing abilities. Overall he did do a good job. And it will be good against evil if he and Arch are in the top 2, which I'm hoping they are. A totally cool showdown of 2 totally different talents! I look forward to next week! But then what will I write about on my blog after that? Maybe my wisdom teeth pulling and other mundane things! lol But that is the very life of life isn't it! And so is AI, love it!

Mom

Dear Mom-
Today I miss you so incredibly badly. I wonder where you are, what you ar doing. Will you be with me today as I lead the primary kids in singing? Will you give each one of us a quiet hug? I just wish that I could know for sure if you are there. But I guess that is the big plan in all of this. That we don't know, that we have to have faith that you do live, that you see us, know us and still care about us. That the love we have never goes away, but keeps living and growing. Although I can't wait until the day that we see each other again. I have been blessed since you have been gone in many ways to gain "other" mothers. I have found solace in my sisters who love, guide me, stengthen me and are there for me. I turn to them in all times of need. As well I have found true motherhood in Helen who has taken me under her wing as if I was her own. For these blessings I am truly grateful and I know Mom, you must have had a part in sending these things to me with your pleadings with Heavenly Father. I like to think you still watch out for me! I miss you Mom and love you Mom more than you will ever know. I can hardly wait for the day we meet again. Until we do, know I think of you EVERY day. You are my example, who I strive to be. Thank you for all you have given me. I love you!
Margaret

AI- Week 12

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, sounds harmless enough, but let me assure you that on American Idol, you will never be disappointed for jaw dropping weird performances! Interesting night. I think the night proved basically one thing, that David ArchuLOTTA is most likely taking the competition.

First up, David Cook. I will give him props for one thing dawg, he sang an 80's song, and if you know me, you know I am down with that! But please David Cook, don't hunt us! He was really scaring me when he was pretending to actually BE the wolf in his performance! Youch! He is in fact no Simon Lebon! And is anyone else a bit scared of his tight neckless? That perhaps it is indeed too tight and is what is causing his strange "come hither" like faces during his performances?;-) And the second song, The Who song (which I have no idea what is called but I have heard it several times before, and let me just go on record as saying I hate The Who)was a much better song for him. He actually looked somewhat humbled after the performance. I think he definately should make it to a face off with David Archuletta, wouldn't that be an interesting thing to watch.

Syesha...well..the first thing I thought when she said she was singing "Proud Mary" was OH NO. And sorry, but I was right! Her dancing actually made me really uncomfortable (some of those moves were a bit Las Vegasesque in my opinion) and you know, I thought "Proud Mary" was supposed to be fast. I think that Syesha spoke too soon to herself in the mirror on that one. I really missed Tina Turner on that song! Also, I really miss Syesha's hair. I'm not likin her new look at all dawgs. She was so cute before! The second song was okay. Sorry, I know she is trying to pull on heartstrings with "the meaning" of the song and all that, but the truth is, I ageed with Randy, her vocals just weren't as good. I think the song was too low for her range. She is a good singer, but it probably wasn't the best song choice for her.

Jason Castro, I'm not really sure what can be said about him. OH, but let me start with a few things. I think he may be actually TRYING to get himself voted OFF the show!? It is perplexing, but I think true! I have never seen someone actually go anti-good in their performances, completely backwards! I think he was trying to actually NOT be good! There were indeed several points throughout "I Shot the Sheriff" where I hid my face in my hands. THAT was unbearable! At first I was thinking, COOL- reggae on the show might be a nice twist-but then when I realized he was going to do any better than dancing with his friends around a drum circle in the park good, I was stunned! If you watched carefully, I think you can actually see the guys playing the brass instruments, particularly the sax dude, trying hard NOT to laugh! That was just...well...really there are no words! And did anyone scream out when he said he was doing "The Bob's" on the show tonight because you thought he was daft enough to pick another Bob Marley song! But Bob Dylan my friend wasn't much better dawg! And the whole forgetting the lyrics, I didn't even buy it. It was again his conspiracy to be even worse than he would have already naturally been. PLEASE America, let's not keep Jason on just cause we like his hair (and this pains me to say because I think I would like him in person- with his earthiness and all, and yes his man-lady hair) because the other 3 actually have some talent dawg! And we will put us ALL (including him) out of our misery!

David ArchuLOTTA... APPLAUSE...APPLAUSE...APPLAUSE! He was the molten hot lava tonight! It was kind of sad in a way he didn't show us that he COULD rock if he wanted to. BUT I still thought his vocals were THE BOMB! He blew EVERYONE out of the water. Not to mention that Randy used the word "caress" in his critique of his performance, now that is hot dawg! But really David ArchuLOTTA should win for mere humanities sake. He just seems like the most humble, likeable, nice, talented guy! I think those type of people are hard to come by these days. So if I could choose, I would hand a guy like ArchuLOTTA with the talent that he has a nice big fat recording contract and a lot of money and probably not the one that wants to hunt me like a wolf with his eyes!lol David ArchuLOTTA, our Utah native.. YOU GO BOY!!!