SHE WON, SHE WON, SHE WON......

OH, WHAT A NIGHT. Chelsea started out with 12 finalists and sang "Popular" from the Broadway play Wicked. The judges said she should pack her bags and head to Broadway! After all 12 sangs, they narrowed it down to 6. Of the 6, the judges picked 2 contestants who were the "judges choice" and Chelsea was one of them, the remaining 4 were picked by the audience votes.

So then Chelsea begins Round 2 with 6 contestants and sings "Black Velvet" which is playing now. The judges then picked 1 contestant who was their choice and Chelsea WON AGAIN, the remaining 2 were picked by audience votes. So now, we have the top 3 contestants. The energy in that place was unbelieveable. There were over 500 in attendance. Chelsea ended the night singing "My Way" by Frank Sinatra. But right before she sang, she said to the audience, this song is for my "Nana". (that's my mom who just passed away 7 weeks ago). Well needless to say, our entire table broke down, including my father and we all just balled. The final three then stood on stage and they were voted on solely by buying $1 votes and putting them in a bucket. Chelsea came in 2nd place and won $500. The winner was Morgan Laughlin who is an incredible singer. She sang "My heart will go on" by Celine Dion. What a night! We are all still on such a high.

Thank you everyone who came and supported Chelsea. You are awesome!

Mom is so proud, she could burst!

Pit Bull Attack

My sister, Gina, while trying to rescue her golden retriever from two pit bulls yesterday, was severly injured. Gina heard a bump at the front door and thought there was a delivery. She opened the door only to find her dog on its back on the ground with 2 pit bulls at its throat. She instintively grapped for its collar to pull it away from the pit bulls, and then they turned on her, severly biting her free hand. This enabled her dog , Noel to get free from their jaws and run. Meanwhile, her other dog, Opie, a weimereiner (sp) who was inside the house began barking and this distracted them from Gina, (thank God!) and they ran inside to get him. (He was just recovery from surgery) Now Gina is inside her kitchen with 2 pit bulls circling her other dog and bleeding profusely. She is absolutely terrified and began screaming and luckily a neighbor heard her and came running. (Mind you, she lives on a 20 acre parcel and that was some screaming to get a neighbors attention. ) Turns out this was the owner of the pit bulls and he was absoluted horrified upon arriving at the scene to see what had happened. Luckily, he was able to get his frenzied dogs out of her house and attend to Gina's severly lacerated hand.
After treatment at the hospital, she now needs to see a hand specialist to repair the damage. All I can say is she had someone watching over her, because the outcome could have been horiffic and I know exactly what angel that was. Animal Control has taken the pit bulls away and I feel they should be destroyed. How can anyone think these animals can be pets? We are just so thankful the outcome was not worse and that all three of them survived. Her dogs are ok. I'll keep you posted on her recovery.

The braces had only been off five days, and then.......................fill in the blank!

Fab Flamingos

The Scrappin buds at the first annual Scrappin Gathering at my home. Three days and nights filled with girl talk, food and laughs.

One of these flamingos is not like the other, can you spot which one?

After today,

Let's just pop a few dozen yards of bubble wrap, and call it a day!

To one of my oldest and dearest friends....

Happy Birthday, Susie Crandell!
How many birthdays have we known each other? Let's see, we met in 5th grade, enjoyed "adventures in babysitting", all day bike rides, cheese crisps at Matta's, slumber parties, TP'g, survived training bras, boyfriends, ward dances, hair styles, Donny Osmond, High School, my move to another state, engagements, marriages, and then were blessed with children, plus your 4 beautiful grandchildren and most recently topped it off with our adventure with Donny & Marie! Whew, that's a lot of birthdays in between, I've lost count! You are one in a million my friend! Love ya always!

(2008 ~ Donny & Marie Show, Las Vegas)

Braces Be Gone.............

Meet Gary Davirro, my orthodontist.

It was just shy of 2 years, but worth every day!.

I can't stop smiling!

American Idol, Meet Valley Idol

Chelsea auditioned for the Valley Idol Singing Contest this weekend, singing this Jazz favorite "Orange Colored Sky" at her audition and GUESS WHO is now one of the TWELVE finalists in the Show in 2 weeks? You only get one guess!
In the next competition, she will have 3 songs to sing. They begin with the 12 finalists, then cut to 6, then down to the remaining 3. First prize is $1000. It's done in the same format as the TV show with 3 judges, only they don't have a Simon! The judges and the audience vote.
So, if you are in Solvang, Saturday, March 28th, I've got a show for you!!

Children of the Corn

Chel having fun in one of the many corn fields here in the Sunny Santa Ynez Valley.

And they're off......

AND I CAN'T STOP SMILING!

pictures soon............

My Babies Are Growing Up So Fast!

Chelsea, 15

Carly, 27 & Kyle, 25

Twenty Four Hours and Counting

Would you believe my Orthodontist's office just called to remind me of my appointment tomorrow to have my braces removed?

Like I would forget that???