Dancing

I've written about our love of the Imagination Movers before.  It's still a big hit around here.  And I still don't find it too annoying, so needless to say, that's the show of choice most of the time when I let the boys watch t.v.  This is a little video of them dancing to one of the songs.  It's probably only entertaining to those who already love my kids.  So if you don't know us in "real" life, please don't feel obligated to watch.  If you do know us, well, it's pretty cute.  Luke has just started dancing and I'm pretty sure he has more rhythm than Mark does!

What year is it?

I feel like I need to ask that question today.  I've been reading The Time Traveler's Wife for a book club I am in over the last week or so.  And then last night we watched our favorite show.  (There are a number of shows I watch and enjoy.  Among my favorites are Chuck, CSI:Miami, NCIS, The Mentalist, How I Met Your Mother.)  But LOST takes the cake.  It is hands-down our most loved t.v. show.  

That being said, it is also the single most frustrating and confusing show around.  Most Wednesday evenings end with us sitting on the couch, looking at each other completely bewildered.  Last night was no different.  For those of you who don't watch, there are two story lines occurring on the island in 1977 and also in the present day - involving the same people who were originally on the island in real time the first 3 seasons.  So weird and confusing!

And my book is about a man who is chronologically-challenged and is constantly disappearing from the "present" and showing up in the past.  He even meets his wife when she is 6 and spends the next 16 years visiting her periodically before he actually "meets" her in real time.  The book is an account of all these hops through time from different points of view.  

So, I kinda feel the need to ask, is it really 2009?  Have I lost a year or so somewhere?  Or maybe am I losing my mind instead?  Just checking.

American Idol

I've never been a huge American Idol fan.  I usually follow the show once it gets down to the top 10 or so.  Some seasons I really haven't even watched at all.  But this season is different.  It's so good.  I am convinced that any one of the contestants left could have been in the finals on almost any other previous season.  I really do think they are all incredibly talented in their own way.  And I love that each of them is so very different.  It's making each week's show very entertaining to watch what the individuals will do with the theme.  Last nights show was fantastic with the Rat Pack music.  

I've got to wonder though, am I the only one in America who isn't a Danny Gokey fan?  Seriously.  I know he can sing, but that guy just doesn't do it for me.  I like the other four much better than him.  Adam's my favorite at this point, but I love Kris too.  He's just adorable and I love the way he and his young wife look at each other.  So cute!  I don't think he'll be in the finals, but I wish he'd make it another week or two.

Who are you rooting for?  Am I crazy for not liking Danny? Who do you think is going tonight?

The Stuff Musical Dreams are Made of...

Apparently we are behind the times.  The boys don't watch a lot of television so we really aren't aware when new shows come on.  The boys watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Bob the Builder, but I just DVR them and we watch them at our convenience.  So, when my friend, Sandra, mentioned the Imagination Movers on her blog not too long ago I paid attention.  She has two boys who are very close in age to mine.  And, most importantly, she has excellent taste in music.  I knew that if she recommended something it couldn't be too annoying.  

So I finally remembered to DVR it this week and Mark has been asking to watch it non-stop.  It's definitely his new favorite.  Luke even seems to like it.  There's lots of singing and they are always solving problems.  I also like that the guys aren't portrayed in a wimpy way like a lot of kids shows.  If you have preschoolers I'd definitely check it out one morning on Playhouse Disney.  

I have always wondered one thing though.  Do guys like these dream of being a children's band?  Or does it just sort of happen?  Or maybe they just see it as the best way to make some good money?  Seriously though.  Do you think as 15 year old musicians they thought they'd be performing to 4 year olds in blue jumpsuits?  It must pay well or They Might Be Giants and Barenaked Ladies wouldn't have made the leap to this genre too, I guess.  What do you think?  

A Little of This and That...

This week at Today's Housewife we are writing "15 Things" about ourselves. You can read all about me here.

One more thing you may not know about me is that I love "reality television." I know, it's not really "real" but I still love watching it. I've written about The Bachelor before, but I'd like to take just a moment to publicly say last night might have been the most painful 3 hours of television I've ever seen. I can't believe anyone with a soul would break up with their fiancee on national tv and that any producer or television executive with a conscience would air it. Nice job ABC. Very classy. I hope I never run into Jason Mesnick on the street. I just might go "crazy submarine lady" on him...

On a completely unrelated note we took Luke back to the allergist yesterday. We tested him for chocolate and tomatoes. He had an allergic reaction to something when we were home in January and I thought I'd narrowed it down to one of those two things. But thankfully he was negative for both. That means he must have reacted to one of his other known allergens and I just didn't know he'd come into contact with one them. (Milk, eggs, peanuts and cashews.) We did not test his levels on any of his other allergens but will do that when we go back in June. Hopefully he will start outgrowing them soon. We also are going to start him on Zyrtec to try and control his environmental allergies. He is allergic to dogs but we are hoping to control it enough to be able to keep Lonestar and not have to replace the carpet with other flooring. Please remember to pray for his safety with these foods and for an improvement in his environmental allergies.

Miss America...

I love the Miss America pageant. I really do. Apparently viewership has been declining over the last 5-10 years, but I still love watching it every year. I even watch the TLC show Countdown to the Crown that was on all month leading up to last night's show. This time I totally agreed with the judges. Miss Georgia the first runner-up was wonderful, but Miss Indiana was my favorite from the start. Not only was she beautiful, but she gave thoughtful poised answers in her interview and performed a beautiful rendition of "Via Dolorosa." And no one could have had a more genuine stunned reaction. Congratulations Katie Stam! Anyone else watch it?

Real Love...

So, I'm going to admit something tonight. I watch "The Bachelor". Not only do I watch it, but I really love watching it. Tim hates it and won't watch it with me. (I don't really blame him for this. He is a guy. ) Since he's at sea I'm actually getting to watch it on the night that it originally airs instead of a few days later from my DVR. And I'm thoroughly enjoying this particular season. So much drama! As far as the show concept goes, I don't know that it's the world's best way to find a mate (especially considering the show's record of long-term matches) but it makes for great television for me.

As much as I love this show though I have to vent. These silly little girls are already talking about how they are falling "in love" with Jason. They gush about how much they care about him and want to spend the rest of their life with him after only knowing him a few weeks. Most of them have only been on group dates! And while I'm sure that riding in a helicopter over LA or Vegas is fun and magical and dancing during a private concert is romantic, it's not love.

What is love then? Love is my Mamaw and Papaw still holding hands 56 years into their marriage. Love is my Grandaddy caring for my Granny as she declines with Alzheimer's. Love is doing Tim's stinky boat laundry. Love is Tim holding my hand as I give birth to our two boys. (Love is also giving birth while watching football because it's Texas/OU weekend.) Love is taking your family to church each week. Love is cooking dinner for your husband. Love is leaving your wife a card for each week you are at sea. Love is caring for your children together. Love is so much more than a romantic kiss or a feeling of butterflies in your stomach. Love is a choice to forgive and see the other person as Jesus does - redeemed.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm still going to be watching The Bachelor every Monday night. I'm not bothered by the misunderstanding of "love" that much! I even have a favorite I'm rooting for. (If you'd like a hint her name rhymes with "Menefanie".) I just wanted to clear a few things up about love...

Anyone else have a favorite?