So You Think You Can Dance....

has started up for the summer. It is one of my favorite reality shows. It's going to be on Wednesday and Thursday nights at 7 p.m. on FOX. I just love this show---the dancers, the music, the costumes and the choreography---just great---not "old timey" like Dancing with the Stars.

Tonight's show introduced us to the top 20 dancers. The dances were great. I just love the contemporary ones that tell a story. I'm finding that any dances that include props like doors tend to be my favorites.

Another fun thing they are going to do this year is to pair 10 of our past favorites when this year's dancers are reduced to 10.

I must warn you---that obnoxious Mary Murphy is back this year. Her voice and especially that annoying laugh just grate on my nerves. When she screams about a dancer being on the "hot tamale train", I really want to derail her! In fact, when she wasn't on the show last year, I totally took credit for that. I wrote sent an email to the network complaining about her ridiculous, screaming behavior. I was very happy when she was off the show and felt certain that it was due to my complaint. Now she's back. Sheesh. I just hope I can bear her in order to enjoy my show.

Off to cruise Alaska tomorrow. We'll be in Seattle until we board the ship on Sunday. I'll report from there---it's going to be cold! But the best part??? When I get home, the cicadas should be gone!!
Later...

A Tasty Find

Okay, I have to admit, I haven't made or even had these yet, but they sure do sound and look good. Just thought I'd share.

Carmelita Bars

1 jar Mrs. Richardson’s Butterscotch (has to be this kind!)


1 pkg. milk chocolate chips


2 cups flour


2 cups oats


1 1/2 cups brown sugar


1/2 tsp. salt


1 1/2 cups butter


1 tsp. baking soda

Combine flour, oats, melted butter, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Grease 9×13 pan. Put 2/3 mixture in a greased 9×13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 17 minutes. Sprinkle chocolate chips, then butterscotch sauce over the top, then crumble remaining mixture on top. Bake at 350 degrees for another 17 minutes. Let cool, then serve.

Idina Menzel and the Nashville Symphony

I took Mindy and Stephanie to see Idina Menzel. I saw her in St. Louis in January---it was the best show! Idina has the most amazing voice. I am always blown away by her. Near the end, she sings another song from Wicked---For Good---a cappella---without a microphone. Unbelievable.

Click on the link below for Defying Gravity---also from Wicked. Idina originated the role of Elphaba---the green witch.

Idina Menzel---Amazing!!!

Enjoy!

Victoria Runs her First 5K!!

And are we proud of her! She participated in a program through her school called "Girls on the Run." It's sponsored by New Balance and is all about building self-esteem. Victoria loved it---especially the pink and green running shoes. It's a commitment---you get the shoes, but then you can't quit. At each meeting, they have a snack, self-esteem discussion and then some sort of activity leading up to the 5K. 

When they actually worked up to the 5K, Victoria felt like it was too hard. By the next meeting, she admitted that it got easier. What an accomplishment for an almost 10 year old. Her grandpa is working up to a 5K himself. Maybe they can eventually do one together. As for me---I'll cheer them on---although I could be all over the pink and green shoes!

Elizabeth Graduates

There was a lot of excitement for Elizabeth leading up to graduation. On Wednesday, Sandy and I went to pick her up at 11:15 so she could come home early since we were visiting. Her teacher asked if she wanted to take her grammy to see her room. I asked her which chair was hers. When she pointed it out, I plopped myself down, saying---"just my size." All her little kindergarten friends started laughing. Elizabeth thought that was so funny and retold the story to everyone. 

 On Thursday, Sandy and I went shopping. Elizabeth was excited to have her grandpa picking her up. She wanted to go to the Rootbeer Stand for lunch---an old A&W that now sells hotdogs and root beer floats. Butch said the food wasn't all that great, but it was something that E was really looking forward to. Afterwards, they went geo-caching. Mitchell was along too, but he doesn't get "in" to it the Elizabeth does.

She also told me that one of the songs they were going to sing at graduation was "Mackarena Math" and that we were supposed to do the dance with it. Turns out, no one did the dance (except me from my seated position). I didn't let her down. Seems she told her little class mates that her grammy would do it. I'm glad she could count on me!

We had front row seats at both graduations. I told Sandy that I didn't care what it cost---it was a fundraiser anyway. We got the 8th grade seats for $500 and then only paid $50 for the kindergarten seats. Sandy said that the kindergarten parents didn't realize what it was all about. Worked out really good for us. Front row seats are "gold." No rush to get there an hour ahead of time.

 Elizabeth got Strawberry Shortcake dolls from her mom and dad. These dolls are quite a bit different than the ones from the 1980's. These are larger with longer legs. The only thing that has stayed the same is the smell. They're still cute.

This little girl is getting "big." Too fast if you ask me.

Entertaining Eads Style

Stephanie and Mindy were both out-of-town for Memorial weekend. Saturday was a work day for us. So, we decided to have the Potter's and Black's for a barbecue and poker game on Sunday night. 

Connie had a rehearsal dinner at her house on Friday night, so she has a lot of food leftover. She brought one of Virginia's famous (and fabulous) cheese balls, corn casserole, baked beans and a dessert tray. I did pork steaks and corn bread. Pam made potato salad. Everything was delicious.

It may sound like Connie provided the lion's share of the dinner, and she did, but technically, she owed me. Way back in the early 90's, after one of our walks, she invited the girls and I to dinner for omelets. Then she had to have me bring the eggs, cheese and I think the milk and mushrooms. When I arrived, I asked her what she planned to have for dinner if we hadn't come! I have a long memory! I've had a lot of fun kidding her about that for years.

 I got these cute little leaf plates from mom's "stuff." I don't think anyone else wanted them, so I took them. Now I'm glad I did. I've already used them several times.

 It was a nice evening---despite the noise of the cicadas---so we ate outside.

 How's this for a centerpiece?

 The poinsettias are left from Christmas. Usually, I keep them in the sun room, but decided to put them outside this year.

The other side of the patio. We did re-stock our fish. We'll see how many are left when we get home.

Did anybody else do anything fun?

Mitchell Graduates!

The boy's got it going on----brains---his report card was all A's and one B+---he has his sights set on Vanderbilt, but will also apply to Notre Dame (his dad's alma mater)---athletic---he loves and excels at baseball and basketball. He's done with football and has no desire to play that in high school. He's starting to play golf. Butch says he definitely has potential---he's just a natural athelete. And handsome to boot. Plus, he's just really a nice kid.

 Mitchell is getting so tall. Greg is 6' 2". Looks like it won't be much longer and Mitchell will top that. He can already wear his dad's shoes.

The girls have not been all that happy about how many times they've had to go to Mass this week. I told them that I didn't feel sorry for them because I had to go EVERY DAY growing up. Saturday was our only day off, but since we lived so close to Church, on Monday mornings, the nuns would ask where we were. Thus we had to go on our only day off. Plus all the extra time spent in Church---stations of the Cross, the rosary, benedictions, confessions, etc. The girls weren't "buying" it. I guess it's the type of story our parents told us---"I had to walk 5 miles to school and then one day I forgot my lunch..." Those were the "olden" days kids don't relate to.  

All this Church has caused Elizabeth to say that she hates this school, "It's all about God." Kind of a sad commentary if the Church is already losing them at 5 years old.

Unfortunately for them, they have to go to the end of the school year Mass tomorrow and then Confirmation this weekend.

One interesting thing---while going through the graduation program, I noticed that one of Mitchell's classmates was named Jaqueline Rose---same as our Jackie---what a coincidence. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. Have you ever googled yourself? Try it. There are lots of people who share your same name. 

During the graduation Mass, the eighth graders give flowers to their mothers. It reminded me of when Sandy brought me my flower when she was graduating. She remembered it too as she leaned over and said, "Mom, do you remember what happened when I gave you your rose?" How could I forget? Mindy was 17 months old and on my hip. As soon as I took the rose from Sandy, Mindy reached out and snapped the bud off. Sandy burst in to tears and said, "she ruins everything!" I wouldn't say she ruined everything, but she always wanted to be the center of attention! Luckily, everyone in the family loves Mindy---she can pretty much get away with anything.

One good looking kid.

Here you have to look really close to see the smudged fingerprints on the moldings over the doorways of the Lapps house. Sandy can't reach them to clean. She says that Mitchell and ALL of his friends cannot walk through the house without jumping up and touching the molding. They have 9ft. ceilings, so it's a challenge to these basketball playing boys who are all now towering over Sandy.

Mitchell says that his goal by the end of summer is to be able to reach the molding at the bottom of the upper rail---about 10 ft. He says that when he can reach that, that means he'll be able to dunk the ball in the basket. Although you can't tell by this picture, he's only about 2" short of reaching. I'm sure he'll make it by the end of summer. 

The amount of food he consumes is UNBELIEVABLE!! The t-bone steak he had for dinner last night filled his 10" dinner plate. It was a steak that would have served our whole family!

It's a whole different world with boys! Sandy is trying to adjust.