We are a family like a giant tree branching out towards the sky...

Well what a weekend....good times...and bad...but overall an enjoyable time with the family. Jared and his crew came up for the weekend, which was awesome. It's so fun having the family so close...well except for mitch, but he promises me that someday he will be closer. We spent our time doing some jobs around the house for my mom, eating delicious foods (thanks lindsay for the yummy salads), hittin up spring fest for the kiddies, playing games, and visiting my mom in the hospital (which is a whole story in itself).

Here are some pictures from the weekend....


kaiya and elsie ate some goldfish crackers and watched the big kids put together the world's most frustrating table.

kimmie and jared trying to get the bolts and screws to fit properly.

aaron being the "gardener"

aaron had turned on the sprinklers for the lawn, which gave kaiya something to play in to keep cool

elsie is so self entertaining...she was sittin on this blanket just watching everything going on

but then mommy came and had some cuddle time (this wasn't posed...i just captured a moment)

carson decided to stay cool and play inside.

saturday we decided to hit up spring fest...man it was hot! but the sno cones we got before we went home, was well worth it.

kaiya used her tickets on a game where we won a pink snake....but for some reason she still wasn't that happy...i wish you could see the single tear coming down her cheek.

carson was so proud that he was a big enough kid to go on the rides by himself....first stop..the bumber cars...

the gang stood in the heat as carson did some amazing driving...

it took awhile for him to figure it all out, but once he got the hang of it he was able to bump a few cars out of his way and he was happy.


then jared and carson went on "the scrambler". jared said it was the worst ever, but he obviously did not see the humor of a grown man and little boy being tossed back and forth.

this kid thought i was taking pictures of him, and everytime he came towards me he would pose. I finally took a picture of him while he blew me a kiss



aaron decided to use the tickets that he bought for elsie (she was too small to ride anything) on a little basketball game....with one hand he made a basket and got this purple bouncy ball for elsie....nice job!

sunday evening we hung out, played some ticket to ride, watched tv, and hung some stuff for my mom.

doing a simple chore like hanging a picture frame with jared can take....for....ever...i now realize why he and lindsay have blank walls....he is wayyyyyy difficult. but it turned out nice.

elsie decided she wanted to help.

after out hard work we decided to treat ourselves to some strawberry shortcake! delicious.

elsie needed to relax a little after all her hard work

then she cracked herself up...

monday was a beautiful day so we got out the crochet set and bocce balls and headed over to grandma's yard for some outdoor time.

elsie loves the outdoors and loves watching the trees

aaron and jared doing a little bocce action

chloe is such an adorable little baby....just look at her.

she has now found her tongue and it is possibly the cutest thing to watch her stick it out


kimmie and elsie were extremely content sitting on the grass in the sun playing with the bubbles...although elsie just liked putting the stick in and out of the bottle.

i entertained myself and kaiya by doing a little sidewalk chalk. she would basically tell me what she wanted me to draw and I would try. My repertoire included flowers, trees, vines, fireworks, and butterflies.

here's the girls and kids chillin on the blanket with bubbles and snacks watching the guys play bocce ball.

it was a great weekend.

I am number one, no matter if you like it ....

Well another season of American Idol is over and I feel a wave of satisfaction. I think the finale show was amazing. With good performances, funny moments, and a deserving winner.

Congrats to David Cook!
I hope he becomes successful and is able to do great things. He has an amazing voice, adorable smile, and obviously I kind heart.
And to David Archuleta...I'm sure we haven't heard from the last of you either. I expect big things...

Two of my favorite moments of the night were the

1. Pip "audition" with the cast of the summer movie "Tropic Thunder"....if you missed it...here it is....get ready to laugh.



2. And The Love Guru mentoring....Mariska Hargitay!



Now it's time for So You Think You Can Dance...and you know there will be plenty of blogs about that in the future!! So excited.

Yeah, think (think, think), let your mind go, let yourself be free

My thoughts on last night's American idol and my prediction for the winner.

1. I'm not even going to talk about how RIDICULOUS the whole "boxing" analogy, along with film footage, boxing robes, and commentary was.....I had to fast forward through it.

2. I just wanted to make fun of Randy Jackson publicly when he said this was the "duel of 2007!"...Randy...dog...I thought Paula was the crazy one?

3. Song choices
--why did Clive Davis have David A. sing "Don't let the sun go down on me"? It's a great song, but Clay Aiken kind of already did it...was there no other "hits" Clive could come up with...really?...aren't you supposed to be the mega-producer with the golden ear?
--why did David Cook choose to sing a brand new song instead of one of his hits? Again, don't get me wrong I love that Collective Soul song and he did a great job but I would have loved to hear him to "hello" again


4. I kind of liked the new songs, yes they were a little cheesy, but I especially like the "in this moment" one that David A. sang...I totally pictured myself singing that one in the car...by myself of course.

5. And now for my winner prediction......
This has been an amazing season of American Idol. I have thoroughly enjoyed the addition of musical instruments, and have marveled at the talent that the contestants have possessed.

From the beginning I have been a big fan of little David A.

I remember watching him on Star Search and thought he was just destined for stardom even at that age. My heart tugs for little Archuleta sometimes, cause I just see him on the verge of nervous breakdown after every performance...and I blame his dad. I can't imagine the intense amount of pressure that kid is under to succeed. I think he has amazing talent, but lacks personality and charisma...something I think that can be fixed if he loses the overbearing stage-dad and loosens up a little. He has a smile that just lights up the stage, and with that golden voice he can really make it big. Plus David A. would be so huge with the Miley Cyrus, Jonas Brothers, High School Musical crowd and would probably get mobbed in a mall somewhere by thousands of screaming girls....and of course sell tons of records.

I was not a clear fan of David Cook until he turned one of my favorite pop songs, "hello" by lionel richie, into an amazing rock ballad.

After that moment I was hooked. I think he has an amazing ear, amazing voice range, and a stage presence that completely rocks my world. I think his older age and maturity give him a slight edge over little David in regards to personality and star quality and his music style is "so hot right now". My concern for David lies not in his talent or star potential but in the fact that i am afraid if he wins his creativity might be stifled a bit by the big-wigs in corporate. It would be awesome to see a rocker win american idol, especially after the disaster of season 5 when Chris Daughtry was voted out and the insufferable and obnoxious Taylor Hicks ended up winning, but I would be afraid that David wouldn't be able to make the kind of record he wants to make and would thus suffer in record sales, and eventually fall under the "where are they now" rock.


Unlike the judges I did not think there was a "knockout" (oh gag with the sports analogy) or clear winner. I think they both gave it their all and both deserve the title. But nonetheless here is my bold prediction...

David Archuleta will win American Idol.

His teen idol status will be cemented.

let's go to the movies....let's go see the stars...

A few posts ago I talked about some movies that I watched over and over as a child and have loved ever since. well after I completed that list I realized that there was some more, and thus I am making it an ongoing list. Little reminders of movies that I love.

1. Summer School: the whole concept of the this film is amazing. A bunch of misfit high schoolers stuck in summer school and a fun loving, playful, irresponsible, gym teacher stuck teaching them. My favorite character: chainsaw. Seriously one of the best movie characters of all time. "you stay here, you come with me" "they're somewhere in this room"


2. Troop Beverly Hills: one of Shelley Long's greatest movies, this film puts a self-centered rich woman in charge of a bunch of wilderness girls from the beverly hills as they try and beat the "red feathers" in selling cookies and becoming real wilderness girls. favorite scene: when the token rich black girl with attitude puts on a concert to sell cookies..."it's cookie time!"


3. Muppets Take Manhattan: I love the muppets. Love the muppet show, love the muppet movies. This movie was amazing. The muppet characters take their little singing and dancing show to new york to try and get signed on broadway. Star cameos all of the place. Laughter, tears, dancing, and singing. Good times. Favorite character: forever and always.....Miss Piggy. The muppet baby scene is probably one of the greatest of all time. "gonna be a movie star...and i'm gonna learn to drive a car...."


4. Shelley Duvall's "Faerie Tale Theater": I don't even know how we found these, but our local video rental place had the whole series growing up and we watched them all...over and over...my brother Jared even owns them on dvd now. They are non-animated adaptations of classic faerie tales with famous (80's) actors/actresses playing the roles, and of course Shelley Duvall ("as you can see my collection has grown") is in all of them. Favorite tales: the frog prince with Robin Williams, and the Nightingale with Mick Jagger (not kidding)


5. 1980's children sci-fi fantasy movies: I had to put all of these together in one category mostly because it's so funny to me that I liked these movies, since this is not the genre I usually go for as an adult....but as a child I guess i couldn't get enough.
Cloak and Dagger: about a boy who's arcade game hero comes to life and they engage in a real life fight for their lives. (starring the kid from E.T.)

Flight of the Navigator: about a boy who finds a spaceship and is transported to the future. Instead of being a lab rat he enlists the help of a glorified candy striper (sarah jessica parker) and escapes the lab and tries to get back to the past.


D.A.R.Y.L: which stands for "Data Analyzing Robot Youth Lifeform" is a movie about a boy who was created by the US government as an experiment in artificial intelligence, but is freed by one of the scientists and adopted by a regular family. Daryl shows uncanny skills at many things such as baseball and video games, but one day the government finds him and returns him to the lab....and of course he tries to escape.

I get by with a little help from my friends...

I wanted to give a little shout-out to all the people who wrote me with advice and answers to all my questions...thank you so much. And for everybody else who may still be working on it...thanks and just send it when you want. I love ya all!

But my plan is to show you that I understand...You are appreciated

Dear Mama's:

I know there is no set formula to being a good mother, but being a first time and single mom I need to up my odds a little bit so I am sending out an S.O.S. to all the mothers out there for a little advice. I have had some wonderful mothers surround me throughout my life and I think I have learned so much from all of them but there is always more to learn. Things change all the time, what we once thought was the "solution" has now become obsolete and a new technique or "must-have" gadget has graced the market....so please fill me in on everything I need to know.

1. The worst thing about pregnancy is….

But I have found that this helps….

2. One thing I wish I would have done before the baby came was….

3. One thing I wish I would have know about childbirth is….

4. One thing every mother should know about newborns is….

5. One of the greatest inventions/toy/gadget, in regards to babies, is….

6. One invention/toy/gadget that you can do without is….

7. In soothing a baby, I have found that___________works best.

8. A new mother can never buy enough….

9. The best piece of advice I got about raising children is….

10. Anything else?....

Please email me your responses. Thank you.
bates_angie@hotmail.com

What I like about you.....

So I have been tagged by Myhre so here it goes...


Here are the rules:

1. Answer questions from your blog list of friends and family.
2. If you don’t have 18 names on your list, just pick one for the last question.
3. Tag 3 other people.

When did you meet the 1st person on your list?

I first met Kimmie on Oct. 7 1978. I was so excited to have a little sister and she has never let me down. She was my partner is dances and playtime as a child and my friend and confidant as an adult.

What do you like about the 3rd person on your list?

What don't I like about Em k Dub. I think I have sung her praises on many occasion on my blog...but seriously guys....she rocks!

What do you like best about the 5th and 6th people on your list?

K dizz is kind, funny, adventurous, and creative. She loves her family and is loyal to her friends. And even though she never let me in free to a movie when she worked at the local theater I still love her.

Melanie just makes me happy. She has an infectious smile, that I miss seeing on a regular basis. She is an awesome friend and great "dish" partner and always laughs at my stories.

How long have you known the 9th person on your list?

I have known Justin since the day I was born, and he has entertained me on several occasions. He is just a smart and talented kid I am so proud that he's related to me.

What impresses you about the 11th and 12th people on your list?

My cousin Sammy is probably the nicest person I know....seriously...she always says nice things about people, was willing to go on dates with anyone who asked, and was always willing to help out when needed.

I have always been jealous of Ashley's ability to change. Throughout her life she has gone through so many stages, and through each one she remained cool. Don't know how anyone can be cool while eating terra cotta plants or wearing really tight wrangler jeans, but she did. Even now she is a wonderful and very cool mom and I dig that about her.

What is a memory of the 16th?

I have known Myca since the day she was born but my most vivid memories of her are from the summer of 96'. My sister kim and I had moved over to Moses Lake and were living with my grandparents but basically spent a majority of our time over at tom and gail's hanging with myca. We would watch movie after movie (mostly just "clueless" over and over...."you could be a farmer in those clothes") and just hang out. I loved it. One time kim and I even got grounded from myca for a night by my grandma who said that she was too young to be hanging out with us all the time....funny right? But we just loved being together.

Something nice about the 18th?

Corbin aka Boo Boo has turned into such a funny and nice guy. I just love him. And i love spending time with him. His personality is such a great combination of all of his older siblings that have obviously influenced him alot.

Meanwhile....

I tag...

Em K Dub, Annie, and K Dizz and whomever else wants to do it...

Friends forever...with you everywhere...

Me and my friend Emily have a very interesting relationship....but it works. See.... I keep a running list of money she owes me and she keeps a list of things she will have to buy me when she gets famous. Since we became friends I have pretty much been banking on her as my future meal ticket. She will be famous someday, and when that day comes I will come calling with this list.

THE LIST (so far) OF THINGS EMILY WILL BUY ME WHEN SHE BECOMES FAMOUS:

1. A villa in Tuscany.


2. A pimped out RV.


3. A tv that fills a whole wall in my entertainment room.

lookin back...on the memories of...

I've been inspired by my friend Mitch Poth's blog and his take on the #5 underrated but awesome movies. I have decided to make my own list. A list of movies that I have seen thousands of times throughout my childhood and thus have a certain attachment to them regardless of their faults. These are the movies that I love, but I'm pretty sure if any adult tried watching them for the 1st time now, would not appreciate the beauty and awesomeness of these films. They are my childhood films, the go-to rentals when we were young, the ones we have watched millions of times, have memorized, and will love forever...no matter how ridiculous they are.

here are my....

TOP 5 FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MOVIES:

1. Girls Just Want to Have Fun: The story of a young girl who is afraid to betray her strict military parents and pursue her dreams of becoming a dancer on Dance TV. I love this movie. I own this movie. I have seen this movie too many times to count, and each time I find new things to appreciate about it. I'm pretty sure that if I ever met Helen Hunt or Sarah Jessica Parker in real life I would be forced to ask them about this little gem, because they need to know that even if they didn't think it was that awesome....I did, and it shaped my childhood.
"slow, slow, quick, quick , slow"


2. The Neverending Story: The story of a young boy, Bastian, being pulled into the story of Fantasia and the people that live in it, and the "nothing" that is threatening to destroy it. I don't like this genre of movies usually. Even now, I try to avoid these sci-fi fantasy movies like the plague. And as a child, forget it....the "Labrynth" scared me. I didn't get "the dark crystal". and honestly "Willow" well we all know my issues with that one. But this movie, this little diamond in the rough won me over and continues to give me delight. There are so many little things I love about this movie. The "child-like empress", the freaky creature that rides the flying animal and his friend with the fast snail, the rock monster with "such strong hands" that couldn't stop the nothing, Artex the horse that sunk in the swamp of sorrow, the scientist who built the telescope, and of course the two main characters Bastian the whiny kid from D.A.R.R.Y.L. who helped save Fantasia by calling out his mother's name (so inaudibly that I still don't know what he said after all these years) and Atreyu the boy warrior who travels through Fantasia to try and stop the nothing.
"No, not too much, we still have a long way to go"


3. Breakin': The story of a classically trained dancer who teams up with a couple street dancers (turbo and ozone) to create a new dance sensation. The soundtrack is amazing, the dancing is awesome and terrible all at one time, the outfits are completely 80's and therefore incredible...but the movie stands the test of time. I still get excited each time I watch Turbo and Ozone teach Special K breakin' moves and they try them out dance battling at the club. I still get a creepy feeling every time Kelly is dancing for her jazz teacher and he seems to get a little "too excited" with her movements and almost attacks her. And even after all these years I still don't understand how Ozone could consider himself manly wearing a half shirt and bone earring.
"Special K...what....Special K...that's your street name...all good dancers have one"


4. Back to the Beach: The musical comedy featuring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello in a story about two parents who travel back to California with their troubled son to surprise their daughter and of course hijinx and shenanigans transpire. With cameos from Pee Wee Herman, Skipper and Gilligan, Stevie ray Vaughn, Wally and the Beav, and Don Adams this movie is a winner! I couldn't get enough of it as a child, and it still makes me smile today. The music and dance numbers are awesome, the over-acting is perfect, and Frankie and Annette are still just as adorable, plus watching Frankie surf the "humunga cowabunga from downunda" is pretty much the most amazing special effect you will ever see in your lifetime.
"You can tell the men from the boys by the price of their toys"


5. Big Business: The story of two sets of twins switched at birth, one from a wealthy city family and one from a small town poor family and what happens with the twins meet up as adults. Starring Bette Midler and Lily Tomlin in one of their best performances ever (my personal opinion) this movie has both laughs and tears and is sure to entertain.
"I have a right to my own feelings Sadie and I am not a twit. I may be pre-periodic and I may be hysterical. So what?"




What are some of your favorite, but perhaps not widely appreciated, childhood movies? And don't be ashamed....my friend Emily loves "Drop Dead Fred"...nothing can be worse than that.

baby love my baby love...

well it's official... I am having a GIRL. The lady was pretty darn sure but i guess there's always room for surprises. but for now i am going with girl. now i can finally start making plans and i'm so excited.

say my name, say my name...

1.YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car)
Misty Ford (you can catch my new album hitting stores soon!)

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
Rocky Road Samoa (i'm pretty sure I would not be afraid of any "gangsta" with this name)

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name)
A-Bat

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Orange Pig (I don't really get this one)

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
(I don't have a middle name so I will go with the name I always wanted it to be)
Corinne Bellevue

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) Batan

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
The Green Fresca (i'll be appearing on "smallville" any day now...)

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
Owen Chester

9. STRIPPER NAME: (the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy) Eternity Bliss (yeah this name kind of rocks)

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names )
Earl Leroy (again my mom doesn't have a middle name so I had to use her last name)

11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
Bernabe Baltimore (I'm Bernabe Baltimore and here are today's top stories...)

12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
Spring Tulip (spy name?)

13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Peach Skirty

14. HIPPIE NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
Fruit Loop Cherry Blossom

15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, weather element+ Tour") The sleeping tsunami tour (tour dates announced soon)

just try it...it's kind of fun...