Fun and Flirty

As always, I am grateful for our amazing and extremely talented Relay Team. Not to mention, our loyal and helpful crowd. Our event raised just over $3000, to benefit the Cancer Centers of America. This week, I am again reminded of the crucial role, the centers play in my life.
Our team members are always happily willing and able to accept donations.
Thanks again... And see you next year!

Music in Movies:

While last year's 'dance number' continues to be dear to my heart.... I knew I would never get everyone to agree to another sweet and fully synchronized production. I dreamed up the idea of each team member choosing a musical scene from a movie and reinterpreting that scene to the best of their ability (or desired level). This was the result:




I really wish we had filmed the 'back stage' scene... because while everyone was a willing volunteer... the moments directly leading up to the number were filled with: Last second nervous peeing, hatred spewed in my direction for 'Making people do these stupid things', several declarations about tasting nervous puke in their mouths, shouts that they had completely forgotten every step of their dance and fears that their legs were unable to move. And let's not mention the Risky Business costume change... Ever. Please.
End Result: I totally and completely,
Love these people.
Hating on Cancer never looked so good.

The Posed and The Pretty

Masquerade Ball Recap Part One:













Tomorrow: The Fun and The Flirty

Planning, Planning, Planning..

Tomorrow is our Hollywood Masquerade Ball.
And things are frantic!!!

Last minute details are playing out.
Decorating and practicing our uhhh.. 'skit'.

Tickets are selling and selling...
It's really happening!

To those who have attended past dances:
We sincerely appreciate your attendance and donations to our Relay for Life Team. Your continued support benefits a very worthy cause, which is extremely close to my heart.

To those attending our Dance this year:
May you laugh, drink, dance and be seriously merry... may we not disappoint in showing you an amazing night! Oh... and remember to 'clap' for Warhol.

PS- Tickets are also for sale, at the door.
Really... Please Come to our Dance!

Jumbo Joe

It officially happened, I've have been an Aunt long enough to become emotional about a nephew's birthday. I can remember you as an itty bitty boy. The cutest ring bearer eva for Commish and Jackie's wedding. Tiny round face, with little H. Potter glasses, so darned cute they were practical a prop purchased for the wedding day.
And then...
you were this bigger boy. Sweet, quiet, sorta silly. Lovin your momma and super All The Time smiley. With your crazy early, self-imposed bedtimes and your complete ban of all clothing items not labeled Redbird Rowdies?? Worn like a second skin.
The Kid used to look up at you, like this:

(actually, he still does...)

And then BLINK!!
You turned into a teenager. High school royalty. My children and I followed you around like my van was your personal Fan Bus. Track meets, parades, football games, Homecoming dances (ummmm... again, sorry about that) basketball games...etc.



And now: You are 16. Yuck. Dislike Button.
Listen, if your mother wants to let you become an adult, man your own vehicle, totally grow up... that is her business. But I'm not gonna be happy about it. Cute little round boy faces turning into chiseled handsome man faces...? Not gonna hear this Aunt say anything nice about that! No sir.
I'm not gonna tell you that you're shaping into a pretty cool guy. The type of guy that can weave and dodge life's curve balls with a sly crooked smile, surprisingly sturdy spine and carefree ease.
I'm totally not gonna mention, you have maintained your sweet friendly innocence, as you venture further up and out on the open road.
Nor will I write about the huggable loving momma's boy, who continues to Heart his mother, while nurturing a keen protective instinct.
I certainly would never whisper to Flag Girl: You've done a fine job, of raising that little ring bearer into a kind and polite mini-man. Nope, I would never.
Just remember, you are never too big, for me to save you from a blizzard. My bathroom and chip cabinet... are always yours. (Unless The Kid turns into a teenager.. but I'm stronger and meaner than Flag Girl, I'm never gonna let that happen.)

Happy 16th!
We sure like you, in this house.
You're like the son, I've always wanted. Cool, athletic, kind, cute, sweet... and I never have to yell or make you clean your room!

Sunday Funday

The most amusing thing on the Internet right now, is the series of pics posted to The Twins Mamas facebook page. I have copied only a handful of pictures from her series and it was the highlite of my Sunday.
Apparently, the twins parents have recently purchased new 'big boy beds' to encourage the boys to sleep separately. Now... each nap time/bedtime has become a game of Where Will End Up Next?
And... I'm totally diggin it.
First, a pic of the bedroom (post twin tornado):



Followed by an Abbreviated Series:













Why is that basket on him??!!

Lovin every minute.
No fair..! I want cute and amusing twins!
Coach never gives me anything fun.

PS- No one tell The Twins Mama, she could probably start her own blog with these pictures. Stealing her material, is helping keep this blog afloat!!

And closing out the week...

Previously, the best text message I had received, was authored by Munchkin. Her crown has been passed. (without her written consent, of course) Recently, The Commissioner and I were texting back and forth about signing up for the Warrior Dash again. I actually saved the texts. This is a snippet of that convo:

Me: How many races are you signing up for?

Commish: 3

Me: I figured more before your big crazy race (the Extreme Death Defying Electro-Iron-Man March or named something equally as stupid) Coach is confused we are wasting good money to do this again.

Commish: He's dumb. I'm gonna look like a marine before the end of the summer. Try not to fall in love.

Me: That is now the best text I have ever read.

Commish: I was thinking that when I typed it.

Happy Birthday Commish!
I hope this year brings you Marine-like skills, Michele Obama's arms and Jillian Michaels' stomach. If not... keep your funny. It suits you.

Here Comes My Girl

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRU STORIES!!!



I really tried to think of a clever or interesting way to write this birthday post. Last year, I obviously stole Tru Stories ideas, trying to copy her style of writing because I definitely do not have my own style. I was thinking about using only Beatles lyrics to describe her. I also thought about using lyrics of a song that always makes me think about her. While lyrics can be clever, which Tru Stories does very well, I couldn't describe her like that. This year I am going to let you know about the girl, I know in my own words.

When I first met Tru Stories, I wouldn't say I was headed in the right direction. Not saying I was headed in the wrong one, it was more like an angle instead of a straight line. Some might say that I was here to save her but that is the total opposite, Tru Stories and The Kid swooped in and swept me off my feet.

Some of the reasons why Tru Stories is my one.

-She has great taste in music. Yes, obviously Madonna and The Beatles but her range is almost endless. She can go from Snoop, Eminem, East Coast, West Coast, new music, classic rock. I did say 'almost' but country music is sort of a long stretch (sorry country fans).

-She knows sports. I realize she grew up in a sport background family, but she really knows what she is talking about. Sometimes we talk back and forth about sport topics for a while, afterwards I think, how lucky was I to find her, I can not believe she is not totally bored with this.

-She is a beer drinker. Nothing against girls that don't drink beer, it is just easier for me. It seems simple to me, I like simple. I also like the way she drinks her beer. I get it, it sounds weird but there is something about it that is hard to explain.

-She is a great writer. When I read her blogs, it is almost like I am there in the story. Wait a minute, a lot of the time I am. She makes it seem so easy and effortless to do, I am on my tenth hour right now.

-She loves our kids. I also love our children with everything I have but she finds things to love about them I would never think of. Different expressions on their faces or how they pronounce a word, things I might not notice without her. And not because I was also not pronouncing the word correctly.

Fine, maybe just one song to take up some space.

You know, sometimes, I don't know why,
But this old town just seems so hopeless
I ain't really sure,
but it seems I remember the good times
Were just a little bit more in focus

But when she puts her arms around me,
I can, somehow, rise above it
Yeah man,
when I got that girl standing right by my side,
You know,
I can tell the whole wide world, and shout it,

Hey, here comes my girl,
here comes my girl,
Yeah, she looks so right,
she's all I need tonight

Just for the record, it's still stupid and always will be.

HOLLA, Coach