Family

This weekend I went down to Hurricane to visit my Grandma and Grandpa Thorley. (I'll write more about this visit and show some pictures later.) While I was down there I started watching their digital picture frame that everyone in the extended family had given them for Christmas. I had planned on just a couple minutes but it was an hour later that I finally pulled myself away to go to bed. It was so fun watching those pictures of everyone and to think back on all of those times and memories. I know I have said it before, but I am truly so blessed with an incredible family and I love that it contains so many people. It is really quite amazing how close everyone is with each other on both my mom's side of the family (Bunkers) and my dad's (Thorleys). Cousins, aunts and uncles are all friends and enjoy being together so much.

It's fun to watch the friendship grow between all of my brothers and sisters as we have gotten older. My sister Emily is 7 years younger than me but now instead of locking her out of our shared bedroom I am calling her to come hang out with me.

I have been in the Barlow family for almost 2 1/2 years now and it feels like home. We went up there today for Mother's Day. I love going up there and visiting everyone. It is so relaxing and comfortable and always the good times. They are so generous too. I have to send a little shout out of love to everyone that came down last weekend to help get our home organized. Boxes were finally all unpacked, Grant's crib was put up and he is now sleeping in his own room, our cars were cleaned inside and out, we got rid of alot of junk (thanks for the encouragement to get rid of the chairs), decorating ideas were given, and things were organized. What a blessing. We needed that little boost to help us finish settling into our home.

And now I have a little family of my own. This week Grant will be 7 months old. Weren't we just blogging to say he had arrived. The time definitely does go so much faster with him here than inside my belly. I am trying to be better at enjoying the small moments with him especially since they seem to go by so fast. And who could ask for a better husband who is such a good father to Grant. I love you so much Chris. I am excited for the future. "Let the good times roll!"

Randy-Paula-Simon-Chris?

I'm not generally one to brag but since Simon is now being considered as a candidate to be knighted by her majesty, the Queen, I thought I should publicly put my name in the ring as a candidate for his spot as judge (being a knight is a full-time gig isn't it?). My credentials you ask?? My amazing ability to predict idols early on. I backed Carrie Underwood after her first tryout, and here's a quote from February's blog. "I, Chris Barlow, predict that David Archuleta will win American Idol Season 7...Some of my other favorites: Syesha Mercado, David Cook, & Asia’h Epperson." 3 out of 4 as the top contestants? Not bad. My track record will be even better when David wins. Although I don't know what happened to Asia'h. She even has a cool star name with a hyphen in it. So, Mr. Nigel Lythgoe, just so you know- I'm available.

Pulling a Brooke White

Today I played the organ for Sacrament Meeting. I was way nervous as I was filling in for someone and hadn't had that much time to practice. I began playing the introduction for the opening hymn and was stumbling on wrong notes all over the place. And then all of the sudden I seemed to just completely stop recognizing any of the notes. I was seeing them and had no idea what they were. It was weird. I have never really had that happen to me before. So I just stopped and decided the only way to get through this was to just try it again. So I started over. And this time it went just fine. Afterwards, I was sitting thinking to myself, "I just pulled a 'Brooke White'." You can tell Chris and I have been consumed with American Idol as he mentioned the same thing to me, that I had pulled a "Brooke White" as soon as I had a chance to talk to him. So thank you for your example and inspiration Brooke. You helped me through this one.