If anyone has seen Pulp Fiction you know my title is the punchline to the joke Uma Therman tells John Travolta. It's about a tomato that lags behind the mother and father too much...
Anyway! This is what I'm doing because my mother has been on me for almost a YEAR to post pictures. I have been meaning to do the ones from mine and John's party as well and those were taken WELL into the night! I wrote all about this in my older post. Holy cow, I get tired just thinking about it all! So this is all a medley of everything.
So here you go Mom!!! I have caught up! (sort of)...
This group is sooooo SICK! I love the JabbawockeeZ! If anyone has been following America's Best Dance Crew on MTV, you will totally agree with me.
The live auditions started when I was not feeling well from this past pregnancy, and it was John that turned the TV on for me while I was in bed. This show (as funny as it may sound) is one of the reasons I started getting out of bed. By week 4 of the show I was just feeling happy for Thursdays. Then I would DVR it, and Jalen would watch it with me. She was fascinated with it all and made me think of the days my sisters and I would see a new video for the first time, or being out on the playground in NewYork watching everyone breakdancing, popping, just learning the new moves. It was awesome.
I got to speak with the executive producer a couple years ago about a project I am working on. And I got to brainstorm with him throughout the past year and to see this come to fruition...oh my gosh, I get even bigger chills! I love the ending of this clip, I swear I get chills everytime I watch it. This is what made me fall in love with dance and hip hop. All the groups were awesome, and I know I will be posting more clips even though the finale is this Thursday!!! Watch IT!!! The video below is not that great, so click here and love it!
Well, took a break for a while, thanks to all our friends and family who helped cheer us up and help me get back on my feet. A part of me felt I should be more accepting since this is the fourth time, but in all reality...
I must say I am so thankful for my family, my girls, and John. He took care of me and the girls all this time and still so very supportive. John, I tend to forget this was hard on you too, and promise to be a better friend to you. I shut everyone out for the longest time and you were so patient with me, thank you for that. We wanted our little boy so much! I know when it is time we will be even more grateful.
My dear sweet spirit, someday I will hold you in my arms and you will complete our family. I had this poem framed for you and it will hang in your room when you arrive.
My day old child in my arms with my lips against his ear I whispered strongly "How I wish, I wish that you could hear,
"I've a hundred wonderful things to say (A tiny cough and nod) Hurry, hurry, hurry and grow so I can tell you about God."
My day old baby's mouth was still and my words only tickled his ear, but a kind of light passed through his eyes, and I saw this thought appear,
"How I wish I had a voice and words, I've a hundred things to say, Before I forget, I'd tell you of God, I left Him yesterday."
Okay, I'm not a die-hard American Idol fan or anything. I watch it when I can catch it...that sort of thing.
But you can totally bet that I'll be watching this season! Brooke White is IN!!!! Her family has been in the same ward my family was in when I lived in AZ and her mom is very close friends with mine!
Kaylene (Brooke's Mom) actually had a party at her house and my mom went to watch Brooke sing for Randy, Paula, and Simon. And she sang beautifully!
We are all rooting for you girl. Good luck! Keep your eyes peeled for her everyone!!
I've had about 3 or 4 friends that I can pick up the phone at any time, be it 2 months or 2 years, and totally pick up where we left off. They are awesome!
I knew from the start we would be the greatest of friends because she came into work talking about the Beastie Boys the very first day I met her.
I have some major catching up to do on this blog but I had to post something for one of my all time coolest, funniest, sweetest friends.
(I don't have a lot of pictures to post right now, all the older ones are packed since we are moving, but SOMEDAY! I will put them on another post!)
Happy Birthday Sheba!!!! HOLLA!!!! This post is a little long, but I had to write as many things possible about my sister because I love her to death!
On Sunday, November 25, 2007 my sister turned………
WELL!... it was her birthday!
Our family LOVES birthdays, and we tend to go overboard sometimes. But without those celebrations, it would be a plain ol’ life!
NOT growing up in our house though. With three strong-minded sisters and two little brothers later on…NOTHING was boring!
But great minds think alike, because Sheba did a post for my birthday and I was planning to do the same for her. So I had to go back and re-vamp my stories a little so they weren’t repetitive.
So SHEBA!!!!
This is to you, my AWESOME (yes we’re sisters, REAL sisters ~ yes she’s lighter than me, no she’s not younger than me ~ sure it’s strange that we don’t look ALIKE…yes, from the same mom and dad, go watch the discovery channel, grab a map or something) SISTER!!! My Cute, little – big sister! So cute you could fit her in your pocket, cute! (She hates when I say that!) I have nick-named her Mighty Mouse, because she’s so cute and small, but she packs a MEAN punch!...Literally folks, I have the scar from her nails to prove it! Just kidding….it’s really from her curling iron.
To my BIG sister:
With whom the ORIGINAL ‘Fight Club’ started….NOT on the mean streets of NY.
I have learned to throw that mean punch (which, in 8th grade got me suspended) and tell people off like “none of their business!” No wonder we started the ‘gobble gobble’ craze!
Even though we went to a private Catholic school… you still knew how to accessorize that uniform like NO OTHER!
The original fashionista, who taught me the right shoes meant everything.
Years ago:
Me – “I just bought my first pair of Steve Madden shoes! Do you know who he is?”
Sheba – “Yes, Ish, I have like, 11 pairs from him, why?”
C-L-I-C-K!
Note to self: Don’t waste time asking trivial questions.
****
Dressed up like Boy George when you were 11 for Halloween and ROCKED it.
And the following year we were Nikki and Appalonia from Prince. (a modest version, of course).
Who taught me how to get my dancing groove on, and let me hang out with your cooler, older friends. Learning how to pop and lock, stomp, and a little break dancing in the playground of St. Mark’s.
Cheering for me in my first swim race in the good ol’ swimming pool where Poppo would constantly tell me he would throw me if I didn’t listen to you.
Helped me dress and choreograph my first solo to P.Y.T. by Michael Jackson, and tore it up with Billy Jean! You had the hat and everything! Remember that oh-so-80’s glittery necklace mom let you wear?
Taught me that MTV was AWESOME and had Prince, Eurythmics, Madonna, U2, Michael Jackson and all the Culture Club records….and YES! Can’t forget Menudo! We LOVED them, don’t deny it!
You took me with you and your friends to the Staten Island Mall on Saturdays and shared your favorite lip gloss and food with me. You even told your friends they had to wait so I could pick out a new outfit for my Barbie.
All our trips to Coney Island (CYCLONE!!!), and Great Adventure. The boardwalks, the icee’s. Summer in the Cat-skills where we all fearlessly did the end of summer talent show!
The jersey shore beach house with the Santangelos’. Ferry rides, fashion school with mom and Sophie in the city. Pizza in Brooklyn….LAUNDRY in Brooklyn!
South Street Seaport.
Windows of the World in the TwinTowers.
Junior’s Cheesecakes where we religiously got the strawberry one.
You and Mandy fighting over ‘the bowl’ at Shaffie’s. Showing me how to spray the Redi-Whip perfectly on my hot chocolate.
Playing that ORGAN!! “Hey, did you hear this beat yet?”
Look at the TV! It’s moving with the songs!!! (At Shaffie's)
The FIRST time we saw THRILLER! We were so scared! We huddled together on the floor next to the couch, screamed so loud…and then asked to watch it again!
(We got the girl’s scream down, and then would re-enact the whole thing!)
A little later down the road; you got me out of my Tomboy stage and dressed me up for one of the mighty 7th grade Taylor Jr. High dances.
You showed me how to use curlers, apply eyeliner, and how you would kill me if I took your clothes. You took the Young Women’s camping skills literally and had to fashion numerous booby traps so I couldn’t get into your room, and CLOSET!
It wasn’t till you came home from college that we started having more fun, and the phrases: ‘I hate you’, ‘go away’, ‘leave me alone’ etc., etc. were used less between us.
…And yes, we started having more fun. Staying up late and making up hilarious videos, and lip syncing to the songs we couldn’t stand!
Laughing so hard that Mom would come in and yell at us to go to bed.
Helping me get ready for my H.S. dances.
Taking me to school when I was running late. Letting me know I could call you anytime if I didn’t have a ride home from anywhere.
Going shopping together!
Making my Sweet 16 birthday so special aside from the fact I was grounded for a month for sneaking out of the house! (Which is an ENTIRELY different story involving you too)! You got me the V.S. robe I TOTALLY wanted, and all the shower gels and lotions too!
Took me to get my first ‘styled’ haircut. “You hair is so pretty! It’s like a horse’s MANE!!” I wanted to kill her as you busted out laughing behind me.
Got into my first car accident with you…the day AFTER homecoming on our way to the airport. (It wasn’t Sheba’s fault though). Nothing says “Bonding” like a good smash of a car.
You have the BEST sense of humor! Or we’re both just crazy and laugh at the silliest things. “Do you know how to put that CD in?” “Umm, I think I know how to use a radio thank you!....Wait, how do you put this on?”
“Hey, let’s go sit in the back”…meaning the fire escape at Shaffie’s.
“Okay, which key goes in which lock? Did you lock all three? Or do we lock two and leave the other open to mess with robbers if they come?” I swear if anything was going to happen, it would’ve happened while we were trying to figure the freaking locks out!!!
You are one of the most talented and creative people I know. You could take a bag of lemons and make lemonade, lemon pie, lemon meringue, and somehow make a necklace and something to go into a scrapbook with whatever’s left over!
In-n-Out Burger has banned us from coming in after 11, but it was totally worth it! :)
I could hear Sherry now: “Indian Girls Gone Wild!” (Just kidding!) “Skooter Boy!”
Going dancing without you is NEVER the same! “Hey! Chinese fire drill!” Sorry….Debbie Downer said NO!! WOMP- WOOOOOMMMP.
You do SUCH charity work when I come to visit. You get me out of my beach –laid back wear and put me back together with new make-up and clothes. Call it feeling sorry for me, if you will, but I will take it!
Our trips to Nordstrom’s together and sharing a delicious strawberry-vanilla shake!
Sitting down with our little ones in the middle of the mall eating cheese and fruit saying “This is nice.”
Seeing a cute guy walk by and still being able to appreciate that by saying “That is nice!”(Our husbands are very secure) [I’m a married spud, I’m a married spud!”] :)
All our sayings that we only get, and get weird looks by everyone else! ~ Heed! Move now!, Oh shut-up you’re so annoying!...HE, HE!, IIIIII TELLLL YOUUUU!, What DE Hell! (that’s Caribbean), She’s so cooley!, I ‘m feelin’ Irie! (that’s NOT Jamaican!), Well, Good luck with that!”, Who da hey!...WHIP THAT MANE!!
The list goes on and gets sillier so I will spare the rest!
You are the BEST hostess, and I love coming to visit you because it is SERIOUSLY like the best B&B!
You still make MY Birthday special even though I’m so far away!
You don’t follow trends, you MAKE them!
****
…To my sister:
You were there for me when I didn’t have a soul to lean on.
You let me stay with you numerous times when I didn’t want to live at home.
You stuck up for me when I didn’t have a voice. And taught me to not to put up with anybody’s…you know what! (It took a while, but I’ve gotten better!)
You were there when I had to study for chemistry tests, work on dance, break up with boys, and when I left for college.
You have the best recipes, ideas…the best everything!!!. You’re the most loving mother, sister, and daughter I know! You balance so much that, besides mom, you are truly my role model and inspiration to be a better person. Your love for our Heavenly Father, and the faith you have portrayed after all the good and the definite bad we have gone through in our lives is a testimony to me that we were meant to be sisters. You were probably the one TELLING me to be proponent of Heavenly Father’s plan! :)
You have shown me to be myself even if that has meant it wasn’t the same path as others. You have accepted me with my own ideas and views (though some have not come without a fight) and I wouldn’t want it any other way! I love you!
So Happy Belated Birthday to the one and only SHEBA!
Okay, I have been way busy and a little under the weather, but needed to update a few things!
I had an awesome30th birthday. It was seriously a month long full of celebrations that actually ended with John's surprise 30th birthday party! His birthday is 11/13, (lucky 13!) and the past month has been nonstop!
It started out with my mom coming to visit with her best friend that's known me since I was 3. I was so excited to have them here and we had so much fun! I am way into history, and we went to a bunch of museums and historical sites, ate good food, and laughed a lot! My mom is SO fun! And Ursula is so hilarious. She had us going non-stop!
John was totally wonderful and took care of the girls for four days so I could go to VA with them and finish the "colonial tour" and eat more good food. I must admit I cried my eyes out when it was time to say good-bye. I rarely get to see my mom, and I enjoyed having her all to myself (motherly kitchen inspection and all!) My girls loved having Nana here, and we all LOVED her cooking too! My mom is such a good cook, I hope I could be half as good as her some day!
After she left, John and I celebrated 5 years of being married and 12 years of being together (the dates are within a week of each other). Then came Jalen's Birthday, and the official day of my birthday. John watched the girls again for me so I could go shopping and have time for myself. Lovely!
Later on in the month, I celebrated with some girlfriends with a magical (and absolutely fun) night of dinner and dancing! In between it all came boxes full of delicious and wonderful surprises from family and friends. The best one came from my mom after she left...it was filled with home-made potpourri for the holidays, poems, cakes, tassies, bread, chocolate...just all of my favorite things!
In between all this, John had to leave twice for a week at a time for business. On top of taking care of the girls, being sick, teaching, and running my business; I had a surprise birthday party to plan!
With the help of some of the girls from work, I pulled it off and the night was SOOOO much fun! I think the best part was pulling off the surprise, and getting to spend the night out with my guy. It was hilarious trying to get him out of the house though, he almost didn't want to go; then he was fighting with our friends that were in charge of bringing him to the party b/c he didn't want to go to the club without me...awww sweet! But I was getting irritated b/c I wanted him there already! He stalled so much, he ended being 20 minutes late! But "The GOOD Surprise" was not wasted!
We are way into cars, I think that was something that I absolutely loved when we first started dating was the love we had for all kinds of automobiles. We both have vehicles we're restoring, and 'Shae' decorated this chocolate sensation of a cake into the front of his '72 C10. (Yes Tera, Pop's truck!)
~~~~~~~~
Ever since John and I have entered parenthood, there have only been 3 babysitters we have called on so we could go out. They were all in the family of my best friends (shout out to the Jones/Keim gals) and all when Jalen was no more than 6-7 months.
Besides turning 30, John and I hit another milestone and actually found an AWESOME babysitter in our ward! I love this family, and felt SO blessed to finally have a reliable, beautiful and responsible girl to call on if we need to. She was laughing at me the night of the party b/c John left so late and I was running around like crazy trying to get ready to leave! Thanks Sienna for all your help!
This may sound like no big deal to some, but for me, (and those of you who know me best) this was BIG. I don't leave my girls with A-N-Y-O-N-E!!! We have had our family watch them for us, so we get to go out (don't think I'm kidding) about 4-5 times a year when his parents visit, or we go to AZ...which is rare. The 'Over-Protected Duo' is taking a break!!
Okay, so after the shock wore off, John had a GREAT time and everyone said they had a blast as well. I had it in the VIP room of a club here in the OBX and they catered the whole thing. The food was great, the band was totally awesome, and the DJ ROCKED the house! And you know the dance floor is my home! John was called up on stage by the lead singer and the whole club sang happy birthday to him! We had a few friends from VA surprise him and come down, and it was so good to be with old friends (and new ones) for the night.
Everyone that came from out-of-town stayed with us, so it was a full house. We had a great "after-party" staying up till about 3:30-4 just talking and hanging out, catching up and talking about different parts of the night.
I'm leaving so much out, but this is long enough, and I gotta go to bed! Peace Out "ya'll"!
Our Annual Thanksgiving Dinner was fantastic, and now it's back to the grind! Will have to write about that Oh, and Halloween!...another time! Pictures to come as well!
THINGS TO DO IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS:
Finish packing to move in Dec.
Shop for dessert menu for Progressive Dinner (homemade: cannoli's, choc. cupcakes, gingerbread snowflakes, pumpkin cake, truffles.)
Today was such a surprise. After church me and the fam went for a ride and met my Relief Society President at the stables to feed her Arabian horse. She's beautiful!
Jalen had a BLAST sitting on her, and Brooklyn was too busy playing with her dogs. We were walking around the property looking at the other horses, and the breeze was so cool and crisp.
We've had such warm weather lately, and believe me I've loved it. But in the blink of an eye, it was Autumn.
Today reminded me of when I was going to school in Pennsylvania. There, in September~ early October the weather jumps into Fall. Before you know it, the leaves are changing and the shades of pink don't linger in the sky as much. I used to LOVE days like these when I lived there. It wasn't too cold yet, and (when I moved out of my step-mother's house) I spent a lot of time outside running, going ATV riding, or just hanging out with friends. It's the time (for me) to pull out an extra blanket and make hot chocolate. Well...anytime is good for hot chocolate!
Pear Tree & Pink Sky
I took this picture on my cell phone so it's not that great, but I wanted to remember this day. Our girls were running in the fields, laughing, playing with horses...just being little girls. I caught the last of the pink in the sky today, savored memories made years ago and made a new one that will happily remain in my thoughts as well.
I am lame b/c I haven't updated October at all. There's been a whirlwind of things going on, but I'm also out of commission right now.
Thanks to my lovely girlfriends for the fabulous weekend. Will be posting those pic.'s soon. But for now...
"This goes out to that special person in my life that I couldn't live without all these years."
Yes, someday I will forgive you for taking my camera all those times!!! Hope you're dancing in your car when you hear this on the radio. You know you'll always be one of my best friends. I know you're not a blogger, I barely count as one. SO as soon as you read this, you can tell me to "blog off" and I won't be mad. Love ya!
...And John - my all time # 1, I love you with all my heart! See you soon.
A few years ago, Sheba's friend Missy made a CD for me and it had a couple of Natasha Bedingfield's songs on it.
I fell in love with her voice and also b/c to me, she had so much feeling that came through in her songs.
I hear certain songs, and like second nature, I'm choreographing a dance in my head.
I finished teaching my classes last night, and played this song while I laid on the floor with my eyes closed. Flashes of memories like a picture book danced through my head.
Music has always been like a best friend to me. It has been there for my ups and downs; getting through the good and the bad. An instant time machine for episodes in your life. Divorce, re-marriages, sisterhood, moving, parties, heartbreak, happiness, friends, boyfriends, summertime, per chance meetings, disappointments, final goodbyes...the list goes on.
I hear the word 'soul mate' and I think of friends that I have the greatest connection with. Friends and family who are not with me anymore. My sisters who, even though we don't always see eye to eye, I have learned to admire them for their beautiful talents; and that they will be there for me through and through ('not for nothing').
My daughters, who teach me something everyday, and pray that they will know I am there for them today and forever. My husband, who, from our first kiss knew we were instant soul mates; through the good and the bad. He keeps me in check, tells me 'like it is', and loves me through all my stubbornness. He supports me and makes me laugh.
I am grateful for all my soul mates. I am grateful I am here on this earth to appreciate them all.
U2, Cranberries, Beyonce, Weezer, Jimmy Eat World, R.H.C.P., Sean Paul, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani - No Doubt, Incubus...anything that has a good beat, anything I can dance to!
Cinema 20
Gone With The Wind, The Notebook, Fast & Furious 1 & 3, Accepted, Big Daddy, Gone In 60 Seconds, Breakfast at Tiffany's, High Fidelity, Pretty in Pink, Tommy Boy, Dirty Dancing, Legends of the Fall, Clueless, 13 Going on 30, To Catch a Thief, Just Friends, School of Rock, Madagascar, Emporer's New Groove
