New House Update

We got all excited this morning when we got updated pictures of how our house is coming along in Texas, but then this afternoon we got some bad news. We thought the house would be done by the end of May, which was pretty good timing for us to start school (Brian teaching classes and me taking them) June 1st. But as it turns out, the house will not be done until the end of June.

Ugh.

We move out of our townhouse here Thursday. That means 2 months living out of suitcases. Lovely.

Can you buy sanity at Wal-Mart? I think we're going to need a couple crates of it.

Goodbye Kristy Lee

This week we said goodbye to Kristy Lee Cook. I have been waiting for this moment for awhile now. I think Kristy was a sweet girl and she had a good voice, but she didn't have star quality. She wasn't natural on stage. But I have to give her props for hanging in there and giving it her all when she knew she was on the chopping block every week.

Welcome to the World, Conor Warren!

I had the privilege last night of meeting Conor Reid William Warren, the beautiful son of one of my best friends in the whole wide world, Nicole (and her husband Bart)! He was born yesterday afternoon and was 6lbs 4oz, 19" long. He is such a sweetie! I am so thrilled because this means I will get to spend time with him before we move to Texas!! Nicole and I were both so afraid I wouldn't get to meet him if he came late. Thanks, Conor, for being 3 weeks early!!

Bart took a picture of Conor and me at the hospital yesterday, so whenever he gets around to sending it to me I'll post it here.

Goodbye Michael

Sorry I'm late in this posting. I'm finally back to work after the flu bug took its toll on our house. Phew! We're still not at 100% but doing much better.

So last week we said goodbye to Michael Johns. I was totally shocked. I mean, I didn't think he'd win the thing but I thought he'd go further than this! I liked his voice and you have to agree he's a cutie, but he was a little awkward to watch for me. He didn't move well on stage so I always watched him with my brows furrowed and my head cocked. Though he did provide entertainment watching him try to master the simple "step touch" moves during the group number's choreography. Ha ha!

Bit by the Flu Bug

When I got back from Raleigh I was met with the news Brian's dad was hospitalized for chest pains while he was up in Chicago last weekend (don't worry, he's fine... they didn't find anything major wrong with him and he's home now), and Brian said Chase had been coughing all weekend. I picked the little guy up from the hospital after my plane got in and by Monday morning he had a fever and was a big ol' snotty mess! I took him in to the doctor and he was diagnosed with the flu. They couldn't believe it... they thought the flu season was over! Lucky us. The next day Brian came down with it and today it's my turn. It's NO FUN... especially since we move 2 weeks from tomorrow and have not started packing! We cannot afford to be sick right now! Ugh.

I'm off to bed....

Fun Weekend in Raleigh!

I spent the weekend in Raleigh catching up with old friends! I'm the Matron of Honor in my dear friend Amanda's wedding next month and I had a shower and bachelorette party to get to! It was SO wonderful catching up with Amanda and her adorable daughter (my "pseudo-niece") Kathleen! It had been way too long. Here is a photo of the two beauties at the hair salon where Amanda was playing with bridal hairstyles:

We had a great time at the shower, where I got to meet Amanda's fiance briefly as he worked his way through the guests! After the shower we started the bachelorette party at The Melting Pot:

The girl in the back row on the far left is another one of my dear friends, Shannon. It was wonderful getting a chance to catch up with her again, too! And, as always, she provided some of the evening's entertainment! Here she is trying to confiscate what was left of our desserts after we were too stuffed to dip them in chocolate anymore:

After The Melting Pot we had a good old-fashioned slumber party, complete with games and teen magazines. We marveled at how little we knew of teen pop-culture (!), but are now proud to say we are experts. Ask us about Miley Cyrus (who we now know IS Hannah Montana... we were so confused!) or the Jonas Brothers... we know it all.

Well, not really. But at least we know their names now.

Goodbye Ramiele

I have been ready for Ramiele to go home for a few weeks now. That girl has amazing pipes but she has had trouble picking good song choices for her voice the whole time she's been on the big stage... and she lacked that "star quality" / stage presence. However, I give her mad props for singing her final song (after she was voted off) as well as she did. In the state she was in I couldn't have done it. She went out with style. Good for her. She seemed like a sweetheart and I'm sure she'll have fun on tour.