Sunday, December 30, 2007

Oh Christmas Tree


We pulled out our artificial pre-lite tree this year and it still looks great. We purchased it about 4 years ago after years and years of buying a real tree. I love the smell of the real tree but not the mess or the work of putting the lights on. Amy decorated most of the tree this year, I just did the top and a little rearranging. We put our tree up the week after Thanksgiving and it is actually still up. I will try to get it down in a couple of days.

Happy Birthday Amy!!




We celebrated Amy's birthday with a party at our home which include 15 of her closest friends. The girls decorated gingerbread Christmas trees, which took me 2 days to bake and put together. It was worth it though because the girls had a blast. She received lots of goodies including 4 new Webkinz and money...right up her alley.

Keith Urban Concert December 1, 2007


This was my 6th Keith Urban concert....I think. I sort of lost count. They just keep getting better and better. Marcia and I went and had 8th row tickets! We had a great view.


 I can't wait for my 7th concert hopefully in 2008. Below is a review of the concert by Mary Colurso.


Keith Urban belies his tabloid rep with stellar concert at BJCC Arena
Posted by Mary Colurso December 02, 2007 6:40 PM
Categories: Music, Reviews, Scene
Keith Urban played guitar vignettes from rock anthems -- including "Smoke on the Water," "Walk This Way" and "Life in the Fast Lane" -- Saturday night at the BJCC Arena.Review rating: Five out of five stars
Let's get a few things straight about Keith Urban.
Tabloid celebrity hasn't done him any favors, but his recent stint in rehab, his marriage to actress Nicole Kidman and his image as a NashVegas lightweight were eclipsed Saturday night at the BJCC Arena.
Urban's 9:35 p.m. concert was an electrifying experience -- surprisingly so, we must admit -- and skillful enough to rival other music superstars.
First of all, Urban's two-hour show was much more rock than country, heavy on guitar bravado and solos from the extremely adept frontman.
Urban led his five-member band with clear-eyed assurance, played to the crowd without seeming like an egotist and displayed genuine joy in the music.
The well-balanced set list included greatest hits and new material, including "Days Go By," "Where the Blacktop Ends," "You're My Better Half," "Tonight I Wanna Cry," "Making Memories of Us," "Somebody Like You," "Raining on Sunday," "Shine," "I Told You So" and "Faster Car."
Performed live, these songs had a dynamic quality -- a vibrant force and exciting authenticity -- that's missing from the radio versions.
Of course, Urban's scruffy good looks caused much screaming and sign waving from the audience's female contingent. Fan fever ran high and shrill in the arena, which was more than two-thirds full.
But Urban, 40, proved that talent is his most valuable commodity.
From the moment he walked on stage, greeting the crowd with a solo vocal, it was obvious that Urban needed no prerecorded help. His microphone was on -- no bogus lip-syncing or dishonest use of "guide vocals" -- and it stayed hot throughout the long, satisfying set.
Technically, Urban's team gave the audience a superior production, from the huge, crystal-clear images projected on a screen behind the stage to the amazingly good sound quality.
Although simple, the stage set worked extremely well; it included an extension that stretched more than halfway through the arena and ended in a circular mini-stage.
This catwalk provided ticketholders in the back with a much better view and allowed Urban to interact with the audience in an up-close and personal way. He and the band performed several songs there, in the round, as a camera on an overhead track captured every subtle move.
Final verdict: Urban has grown into an astonishingly polished and confident performer, capable of headlining an arena show and turning skeptics into believers.
Supermarket rags, you've done him wrong.


Tuesday, December 18, 2007

More Thanksgiving


On Thanksgiving day, we went to Sylacauga to visit the Robinson's. We all overate again! After we ate, we went to the rehab center to see Joey. We all gathered in a big room and brought Joey in there. We all told what we were thankful for, took pictures and eventually ended up singing...we are a singing family. It was a memorable Thanksgiving for sure.


Thanksgiving



The Sunday before Thanksgiving, we took our traditional trip to Decatur, Alabama to see the George's. We ate dressing, ham, turkey and all the trimmings. As usual, I ate way to much. January 1st I am going on a diet, I swear! We enjoyed our afternoon. Adam, Andrew and Amy threw the frisbie until it broke in half. It was a beautiful, warm day.