AI top 24 night 2

Todrick Hall - I'm not much of an R&B fan, but this kid has a way of rearranging a song like none other. I like him. He's brilliant. I think the judges were totally wrong. In one breath they are telling contestants that they have to make the song their own, and the next breath they are saying it was too much. Where is the happy medium? I agree the runs were a bit much, but I can overlook that.

Aaron Kelly - didn't blow me away, and if you wear braces or a retainer or whatever, you really need to have it removed during competition. That slight wet, smacky sound I hear is like nails on a chalkboard to me.

Jermaine Sellars - this kid is cocky and needs to watch it. He didn't impress me much either. The beginning was weak. The rest he screamed. No thanks. He definitely thought he did better than he did.

Tim Urban - who got cut? Hmm. I'm going to have to look into that. He's a cute kid. He'll have to do a lot better if he really wants to go further. I think he may get cut tomorrow though. And there is something weird he does when he's singing to the camera.

Kara ~ honey, somebody overdid it with the bronzer tonight. I'm just saying.

Joe Munoz - ok, when he started singing I thought he was singing in another language. He could probably do well, but he was verrrry nervous and you could hear it.

Tyler Grady - he's a little different, but I think I like him. I like that he brings a retro taste. Vocally probably not the best, but I want to see more...just cause.

Lee Dewyze - oh yeah, I remember him. Props to those who can play an instrument and sing at the same time. Needs work on the vocals. He fell flat a lot when he was holding a note. I don't think it's time for him to go home yet. Be careful about sounding like Daughtry and Nickelback, Chasing Cars and all those bands that kind of sound the same.

John Park - didn't hear anything special from this performance. His runs were all over the place and he wins the prize for worst song choice of the night. He's cute though. Maybe he needs another chance.

Michael Lynche - he's still here. Gotta love the media blowing things out of proportion. I truly think they make things up sometimes just to see how far it will go. Anyway, I want to like Michael. He sings okay but it's a little too much in his nose. He also has really weird song choices. Not wrong necessarily, but not anything I'd expect him to be singing.

Alex Lambert - a mullet? Please don't bring that back. The plastic sunglasses are bad enough. I didn't hate it (the performance). He seemed a little terrified. He also looks way older than 19 to me.

Casey James - no fair trying to make him laugh Kara. I think it could very well have been the best of the boys. I wish my hair looked like that.

Andrew Garcia - I've heard better from him, but he might be my favorite male performer.

-- Post From My iPhone

AI Top 24 night one

Paige Miles - I don't remember anything about thus girl in auditions. Did they even show her? Well, don't get used to it, I think she's going home. I think the nerves got to her. Here's a hint; don't clap on the mic, it drives the sound guys nuts. And I think if the judges heard it back, they'd change all their minds. I thought it sounded terrible.

Ashley Rodriguez - she could be a Jordin Sparks look-a-like. She's got an amazing voice. And nit nearly as annoying as Jordin was. Not sure it was a great song choice...but I think the sound was off too. She also doesn't take criticism very well. I think she's going to be fine.

Janell Wheeler - wasn't great, but she's good. I think these first few weeks are the worst because they really tone back the band so all you're hearing is voice and that's hard.

Lilly Scott - how do you get your hair that color? The song seemed slow at first, but she really showed herself, which the others haven't done yet. She stays true to herself so it's a matter of whether America is going to like her since she's so different. I think she's one of my faves.

Katelyn Epperly - good performance, maybe best of the night, but this is not the kind of song she'll be singing, so I feel like it was a safe choice just to keep her in the game. She's smart.

Haeley Vaughn - oMG!!!!! Make it stop, please. Lay off the glitter too. Please. She's precocious. Please put me out of my misery.

Lacey Brown - not many people can pull off "Landslide" and I'm not sure she did. It was okay and got better as she went along, but as far as originality, I think Lilly did better. She's cute though. I'd like to see her again.

Michelle Delamor - she looks like Leona Lewis and Alicia Keys. I'm not sure that was a good song choice just because she seems more of an Alicia clone. She did awesome though.

Didi Benami - good song choice for her. She knows what to sing. She's original, and has a great voice. Reminds me of a certain blonde haired girl from a previous year that I was pulling for, only better.

Siobhan Magnus - I hate this song. I hated it a little less, but it was terribly dull and slow. I hope she makes it through. She won't win the whole competition I don't think, but she's got potential to make it far.

Crystal Bowersox - I love her, but I question whether she can appeal to the masses. She's committed to music, you can tell that, but is not committed much to the show and I have to wonder if she can handle the stupid tours and commercials and stuff. I love her voice. She does seem a bit out of place here.

Katie Stevens - she's mature for her age. I'd never know she was 17. I like her. She'll be hard to beat. She's the whole package.

-- Post From My iPhone

American Idol picks Top 24 part two

Janell Wheeler - You know, everyone says "this means so much to me" "this means the world to me" "this is what I'm meant to do" or "this is my life" etc. etc.  I wonder if people really think they are the only one who believes that.  Whatever.  This girl really needs to step it up.  She did really well at the beginning, but got worse as it went along.  I hope we see better from her.

Tyler Grady - He's quirky.  Acts cool.  Weird look about him.  I dunno.  We'll see.  Frankly, I'm a little surprised he made it through.

Lacey Brown - she's cute.  A little different.  I don't remember her singing though.  I don't remember her from last season either.

Ashley Rodriguez

Alex Lambert

Joe Munoz

Crystal Bowersox - I really, really really like her.  She definitely needs to do something about her teeth though.  I can't wait to see more from her.  I think she might be my favorite.

Katie Stevens - Another of my favorites.

I'm kind of glad that chick with the super weird glasses didn't get through because she would totally grate on my nerves with those things.  Who thinks that's cool?  Bleh.

Lilly Scott - I really really like her too.  She has a unique sound and I think she'll do well.  I'd like to see her go far.

Paige Miles

Shioban Magness

Michelle Delamore

Jermaine Sellars

John Park

Tim Urban

Haley Vaughn - Oh, holy hell.  What are they thinking?  What are they doing?  For everyone's sake, I hope she doesn't last long because I find her even more annoying than Jordan Sparks.  She makes my brain hurt.  I can't watch her, I can't listen to her.  Oh please please please make her go soon.  Unfortunately she's too young and pure to to have any kind of hidden pending convictions or surprise dismissals, so JUDGES, I BEG you - get rid of her before my brain starts melting.  Anyone who has to wear that much glitter and sparkle is too young and not ready for this competition.  And STOP SMILING!

Thaddeus - even though he didn't make it, we may just see him again since BIG MIKE's (from yesterday) dad couldn't keep his mouth shut and may have gotten him eliminated.  But, I'm not sure I can take his weeping again.

Andrew Garcia - Yay! 

American Idol Top 24 picks part one

Here's my breakdown of the top 24.

Michael Lynch - big guy. He's a good pick. Don't see him making it to the top 12, but he's alright for now. Oh, and he looks kind of funny with a guitar cause he's so huge.

DiDi Benami - I like her. She's got a good voice, good potential. So far shes picked perfect songs and i think thats part of the challenge. She can go pretty far, but again, I don't think she'll take it all.

Katelyn Epperly - she doesn't stick out for me. Her hair is cool, but that's about all I ever remember.

Casey James - he reminds me a little of Jason Castro only not quite so airheaded. I kind of like him. Let's see what he brings.

Aaron Kelly - meh...I'm not impressed yet. He's a kid.

Lee Dewyze - again, not impressed. He sounds like every other deep throated singer on the radio right now.

Todrick Hall - he must be good if he was on Broadway, right? Was it broadway? I haven't seen much of him, but he's a'ight.

Okay, I likes the Jessica chick t the end - until the end. Wow. That was uncomfortable.

-- Post From My iPhone

Pre-school

Addison started in the pre-school class at her daycare when we returned from Walt Disney World last week. The first day (as expected) was rough for drop off since she'd been out for 3 weeks because of her hospital stay, then we kept her out the following week because of holiday and leaving for vacation and then we were in Florida for the week after that. She worked herself up into a frenzy of nerves and anticipation about going back to daycare. We were greeted with a new routine when we arrived: new room, new place to put her coat and shoes, etc., but her teacher came over with her as well as a few girls from her toddler class so I think there was enough familiarity to not be so overwhelming. Since she couldn't see me after I left the room she stopped crying almost immediately.


So, she liked pre-school class except for the fact that she keeps saying she doesn't want to go back to the pre-school class. Trust me, she likes it. She practically leaps into the center now and is excited to turn in her homework. Yes, she has homework. The first day wasn't so bad and seemed age appropriate to me. The other days it seemed way too advanced and she didn't have fun with it. In fact, it was frustrating to her because she didn't know the answers we were trying to help her come up with and we were frustrated because we're not teachers and don't know how to help her. To me, that does not make a good homework assignment for a 3 year old. It should be fun, not like homework. She's just 3. I get the whole concept of getting the parents involved in the whole learning process of a child, but I think we all felt it was a little too much. At this stage learning should be fun.

The other thing is they make them wear uniforms. We got 1 long sleeved black shirt to last the whole week. She has to wear solid black pants too. It's quite boring and dull and it makes me think that they look like an urban militia or gang or something. I try to liven it up a little with bright hair bows and crazy socks, but in reality it's just a drab black uniform. They're not even going anywhere, so I'm not sure why they have to wear the uniform. Maybe it's my fault. Maybe Addison was looking too darn cute for everyone else in her cute outfits that they had to tame everyone down and make them all look the same. This seriously stifles our creativity...hers and mine and limits her decision making about her appearance in the mornings. I think it's time to find a new daycare. We need choices and we need to look CUTE! Black is not flattering. Even Clinton and Stacy would agree that head to toe black looks terrible.

NEW American Idol season

How excited am I that Ellen DeGeneres is the new American Idol judge? I can't even tell you. What could be better than my favorite comedian and my favorite show all wrapped up in one? I think she's going to be awesome and bring an element that has been missing. With Simon leaving (allegedly) next year, I think this will be a welcome change - if Ellen decides to do it again next year. I was afraid she'd be funny all the time and wondered how she would be able to give honest feedback when she's such a "nice" person, but I think (I hope) we'll all be surprised. I've watched her show for years now and I know that she can bring a serious note when it's necessary. She has a great reputation among her peers, so I think with her connections and all the other judges connections, we'll see more celebrities making appearances on the show. I suspect that all the celebrity judges at the beginning of the show was a precursor to Simon leaving anyway. I like that part and hope to see more of it. This show needed re-vamped and that's what they're doing. So far, so good.




Just a side note, I can already tell which people are going to drive me nuts this year. :) Hopefully most of them won't make it past Hollywood week.

Addison's New Mickey Sunglasses

These were Addison's new flip out Mickey sunglasses that we got at WDW.  She was so cute, but didn't want her picture taken, so I had to take her by surprise.

This is Addison's 3 year picture. She's looking so much older now!

ECard Picture from Disney

First Season 9 American Idol blog

Not much to say about it yet, but SKII BO SKI?!?! Are you kidding me? Why do they do this to me? And the big, black, angry "la la" guy---might have been the funniest thing I've seen. I loved all the big bald guys swarming in from the woodworks to chest-bump him out and down the elevator. Nice. And "Pants on the Ground" will haunt my brain. Props to a 62 year old dropping to the floor in near splits. How many of you can do that AND get back up? Yeah.


-- Post From My iPhone

Addison getting her breathing treatment

Addison's first hospital admission...

We ended up taking Addison to Urgent Care all the way out in Springboro on Monday night because they took the UC out of Dayton Children's (which is about 5 minutes from our house). We thought she had the flu or something, but her breathing was bothering me and the fact that she hadn't eaten for 2 whole days and was barely drinking. Well, they ended up transporting her over to Dayton Children's because it turns out she's got RSV.  She was admitted Monday night and we're here to stay for awhile. She's hooked up to oxygen and IV's, still not eating and barely drinking. She sleeps all day and when she's not, she is barely alert. She has (infrequent) bouts of wanting to tear everything off - who wouldn't?, but for the most part she's taking it all like a trooper. She has come to hate all the people touching and staring at her and she looks pathetic. She may have a touch of pneumonia which may contribute to her rapid breathing and we're teetering on having to admit her to ICU. They are trying everything to avoid that. Greg got a touch of it too, but it reared it's ugly head as the flu. Now he just has laryngitis to my surprise and delight! He's sore from coughing and - well, all the stuff that came before that, but he's a big boy.

Anyway, here we remain in our single occupant room. Yay for being contagious, right? And because of her severity we got to move to a nicer room. Gotta find the good in it I guess. The other good thing is that the oxygen makes a sound like the bubbling pond outside her bedroom window at home and her new antibiotic pump has a whistling like a windy day. That must bring some comfort, although I find myself having to pee more often.

Hopefully, tomorrow will be a better day and she'll perk up a bit.  We're all a little tired of this scene.  The staff here at Children's has been nothing but stellar (although when a 2 year says she has to pee, we don't have 5 minutes to wait for a nurse to disconnect her from everything - poor thing, she's still giving it a good effort).  That's my only complaint.

Christmas 2009 slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Christmas with Addison

This year's Christmas season has been quite fun to see in Addison's eyes. The day after Thanksgiving we went downtown to the Grande Illumination. They had carnival rides, a scavenger hunt, the lighting of the tree and the Children's Parade. We started off with hot dogs, french fries and fried pretzels, of course. Then we went on the scavenger hunt. This starts out with a map of all the participating businesses and a bag to carry your goods you get along the way. It was a clever way to get us to visit places we probably wouldn't know about. Also, it's about the only way anyone would EVER get me to go to the RTA bus depot downtown. After we collected (most of) our loot - we went to ride the carousel which is one of Addison's favorite rides. Because of that, she ended up briefly on the news! It was quite exciting to see her face on tv. After the carousel she wanted to ride Dizzy Dragons which is essentially a Tea Cup type ride that you control the spinning with a wheel in the middle. She wanted to do this over seeing the tree lighting up. The downside to this was a group of little kids who kind of weaseled their way in front of us even after I told them at some point that they actually came after us. The little punks still ended up in front and we had to catch the next round of rides which actually worked out better because I think I might have caused a scene if I were stuck in the same dragon as them. So, here I am...the mom who has to ride with her kid (she was way to little to ride alone and the ride was very spinny). I'm in a dragon's belly with a crew of sisters ranging from 6 to 9, I think. And they spun. They spun FAST. I don't normally get queasy on a ride, but I glanced out the door for a second and lost my bearings for a moment and for the seconds after that, I had to convince myself that I wouldn't get sick on a bunch of little girls. How embarrassing would that have been? Even after the ride stopped, I thought Addison was looking a little green as well, but she held it like a trooper and quickly got over it. I was glad the camera wasn't around for that. She had a blast and laughed the entire time, so it made it all worthwhile. After the ride, we were a little late for the parade, so Greg had to hold her up on his shoulders. She's not good at this. She lets her arms fly wildly around and throws off the balance by dipping her butt down too far. Always an inch away from peril - this little daredevil. Overall, kind of a dull parade, but it lasted forever. We learned that Addison likes loud, big black men and the drum corps. Not sure what that will bring for us in the future, but she enjoyed it immensely.








The next day we decided to take a chance with our pictures with Santa. We stood in line at The Greene and finally it was her turn. We missed out on Mrs. Clause which may have helped, but she tried to be brave anyway. She got choked up as soon as it was her turn to see the big guy. I did a drop-and-run which was probably the first mistake. Her lip was trembling before I even let go and then we were both standing about 5 feet away from her just staring at her and talking to her while she tried very hard to keep a straight face. She fell apart for a few moments, regained her composure and wiped her eyes and tried to keep her lip from trembling again. I'm convinced once you get the trembly lip it's nearly impossible to stop tears from flowing, so she didn't have much chance. Finally, a pseudo- non-weeping picture was captured...but we were done and I officially became the worst mom ever for that minute. We're over it now, until the next time.










Next was our trek to cut down our Christmas tree at the tree farm. She wanted to help like no one's business, so she pulled the sled and helped pick out the tree. Once we got it home she even helped decorate it (until she saw the Barbie ornaments, then she was off to create scenarios with them while I was left to decorate the rest).















Later that evening, we decided to chance a Santa again. This time we went to the Mall at Fairfield Commons. It was a much better set-up and not many people. I had hopes that it would be much better this time. Addison even brought a card for Santa. I thought that was a great idea (her own) and it would give her a reason to approach him. Her card was actually the cardboard part of a pack of stickers you get, but it was a prize to her anyway. So, finally our turn arose. Immediately she buried her head into my leg. This was not a good start. I picked her up and we slowly approached the man in red. I've never experienced a child so glued to me ever. I knelt down and Santa and I gave each other high-fives and he held my hand. No go. She flat out refused to cave and look at him. She was the ostrich. We stepped aside so she could see a few more kids go through. I think I remember the first kid crying, which just feeds into her doubt. Not a good method. A few more went through unscathed, so we tried again. This time she still wouldn't look, but was half-way willing to stand in front of him. The photographer grabbed a rocking horse and after peeling her off of Greg we got her to sit through a few quick pictures before she had enough and got up. I'm surprised she didn't flip us off and storm out. Anyway, that ended up being our Christmas picture. Not horrible and no tears were shed that time. As a reward we let her ride a quarter ride (more like 3 quarter ride) and then she played in the play area upstairs until Greg and I got fed up with the dropped-off-too-big-and-too-old-to-be-running-around-in-a-little-kids-playarea kids. I think it's really just a test to see how long parents can withstand the bad kids knocking over all the small ones while they chase each other around. Can't say anything though, cause I could be arrested for harrassing a child. I'd rather just get up and leave.



She's been able to open a few gifts already and is on her way to mastering the art of unwrapping. At mom and dad's house she meticulously ripped 1X1 inch squares of paper and handed them to my dad. Eventually she realized that she could rip bigger sheets of paper, but she still has to get every single little piece off before she can open the box to see what's inside. I hope no one uses a lot of tape in the future. I almost can't bear the anticipation myself of seeing what's inside. It seems that she's nearly forgotten that there is a gift inside underneath all the paper and wants to go off and do something else. Her joy is simply unwrapping and the gift is just a bonus I guess. She's in her stage of apathy right now too, and she, being who she is lays it out sometimes that she doesn't care about her gifts. We know differently though. She has announced already that she "doesn't want" something that she's gotten and an hour later it's her "favorite thing". Once in awhile you might see the truly amazed gasp of delight escape from her, but it's not often.



Christmas carols have been fun to hear her sing as well. One day we heard her singing along to a song in the backseat "Fleece Nobbynob". She'll ask to sing "Frosty the Snowman was a Jolly Happy Soul" and occasionally she won't know all the words to a carol, but you can hear the last word of the sentence quite loudly as she belts out the parts she knows. "Watch out" "not pout" "Telling you why".



Yes, this Christmas has been a joy so far in the eyes of my child and how she's starting to recognize the magic of the season.

Here's the second part of the video

This is a video of Addison seeing for the first time a dollhouse a friend had given us.

Merry Christmas!!

Such a face

This was a no-you-can't-have-a-Funyon moment.

This is a video of Addison and Greg playing in the leaves

Addison playing in the leaves