An outta sight Saturday night!

This weekend I was involved with a VERY special event! Even Saturday's rain was no match for the good times to be had.


For the second year, the local United Way put on a Prom for children with special needs in our community.

I wasn't able to go last year, and I was beyond excited when Marsha reminded me about the event a month or so ago. I was pumped for many reasons one of the main ones being that the theme of this particular event was a SOCK HOP!

Themed parties bring me great joy.

Marsha, who has worked with United Way and was the Southeast Regional Coordinator for Parent to Parent of GA for a long time, has been very involved with these types of events for many years. I am sure she has done a number of different jobs and many different events, but I am willing to bet her role as photographer is her favorite!

You can check out her blog to see her awesome photos, and click on Kalyn Moments for more of her story and why special needs children have a very special place in her heart. Needless to say being able to take pictures of these kids for their families is a dream come true for our crazy little Moesha!

Not to mention she is the bomb at it.

Tara and I were her assistants this weekend. Our jobs included bringing Sonic (a pivotal, pivotal assignment) and helping set up Friday night. We also got there early on Saturday to get the "picture area" ready.

Part of that included taking these....


...and making this 50's diner-esque floor for pics!


It was kind of amazing, if we do say so ourselves.

There were other cute decorations that we did not create (I only wish I was so creative) but they made the room look so awesome!



CUTE Centerpieces.


All of a sudden I have an intense need for a coke float and some quarters for a jukebox.


Speaking of a jukebox!


The kids and their families got there early to get ready. They had a room where girls could pick dresses and a lady from Clinique was there to do their make-up.

Everyone had a great time standing around and chatting and getting ready for the fun to begin.


As soon as kids started getting ready, Marsha and her camera started revving up. She took a bunch inside with the background and eventually we moved outside where this little number was waiting.

A local guy brought a REALLY cool 1934 Ford truck for the kids to pose with.


So neat, and the owner was so nice to let the kids lean all up on it for the sake of pictures! I tried not to touch it because Lord knows I'd go to open it and the whole door would fall off or something.


Marsha working that camera. She was a machine.


I loved this guy! I think it's safe to say this was not his first time in front of a lens.


He was so funny. Tara and I got onto him for having a girlfriend. "Your mama should be the only woman in your life!" His sweet mama who was about to bust with pride wholeheartedly agreed. :-)

TFran was also a machine. She is good to have around because she understands things like lighting.


I am more of a "stand behind Marsha and dance like an idiot to make the kids laugh" kind of helper.

Although I have to say, most of the kids need NO help smiling!


They were so excited and are just so naturally full of joy....it was hard to find a kid there who WASN'T smiling.




Please be aware that the pictures you are about to see contain 2 of the cutest children in the entire world.




This little honey is PRECIOUS. So cute and outgoing and just the best little model.


While we were busy outside, things were heating up inside. They had a DJ who was awesome. When I walked in they were playing "Apple Bottom Jeans" and this is what I saw...


This ain't your mama's sock hop.

All the sweet kids!


Many of the kids (and many of the volunteers/coordinators) dressed up in 50's attire. I had a deep need to wear a poodle skirt and my dreams almost came true (my co-worker had one, but it ended up being too small...very tragic).

So I went the pedal pusher/neck scarf direction instead.


It was such a fun night! I was so glad to be a part of it even in a small way.

Marsha's pictures are of course beautiful (I'm sure she'll post some on her blog in the next week or so) and judging by the faces of the children and their families - the night could not have been more or a success!


Can't wait until next year!

And so it begins!

Guess where I went last night?


If your guess is a Suburban/Tahoe car lot, then you are only halfway correct.

This was the parking lot to the local private school in town last night as they hosted their first Varsity football game of the season.

It was a "practice game" with a school from a town nearby, so it wasn't an "official" match-up.

Not that you could tell that from the crowds.


This picture really doesn't do justice to how many people where there. There were about as many people on the opposite bleachers - and about as many people on the sidelines as there were in the stands.

I am estimating anywhere between 800 and 1 million people came out. Because this game was strategically scheduled on a Thursday when no other high school teams were playing - it was definitely Statesboro's hot spot last night.

I think it's safe to say this town is ready for football season.

I stood on the sidelines with Marsha (and the rest of the world) as she and The Precious captured the night photographically speaking.

I kept my camera lens on the group of kids across the way. One in particular.


I was just making sure none of those crazy little middle school girls were acting the fool around my child, Jake. If that had been the case you better believe I would have been jumping on the back of one of those players running by me - and hitching a ride right over there to that end zone to bust some heads.

Sorry, football makes me aggressive.

Woohoo! Go team!!!


Guess who else I stood with on the sidelines??


Kayla and Becca made an appearance and kept me laughing the entire game. (That is not an exaggeration.)

I love these girls so much!


Our Honduran hottie Marco and his cute/fun crew were also present. Here he is with his state-side mama.


Marco, we're still on to go to the court house to get married on my lunch break today right? Just checking.

After the game we did the only thing we know how to do.


Funny story.

So we pull up to the little ordering board and Marsha starts telling the guy what we would like to drink. As she is telling him, a few things are happening.

First of all, the Sonic man was the most enthusiastic server you have ever met in your entire life. I was stunned actually. So loud, so happy - blaring over the intercom like Mary Poppins about diet cokes and cranberry cream slushes.

While taking time to laugh hysterically under our breath, I am also trying to text/field calls from Becca and Kayla to let them know which Sonic we are currently residing.

Meanwhile, as all this is happening, I notice Marsha is getting out of the car and searching around on the other side of the intercom (which is still rattling off with the voice of the happiest man in the world).

Honestly I really don't think much about it because I am so distracted by all that is happening around me.

Marsha gets back in the car holding what appears to be a crumpled dollar in her hand. She shuts the door, turns to the intercom, and answers "yes" to the Sonic man who has just done a pretty convincing sales pitch about the 99 cent sundaes.

Later I would come to know that Marsha answered yes because she thought she had just found a dollar. Makes sense.

But as we were about to find out she could have ordered ONE HUNDRED sundaes because when she unraveled the bill it was all about the benjamins, baby!

She had found a $100 bill on the ground!

I wish I had a picture of our faces. Marsha screamed, my mouth dropped to the floor.

I actually did take a picture of Marsha all excited, but I forgot to upload it.

It probably better this way anyway because it would have just added insult to injury. You see, before our party could even really get started, a big group of men walked over from the hotel next door hooping and hollering about how they lost $100.

It was very traumatic. Being rich felt so good.

Marsh did the right thing (though it pained her GREATLY) and gave it back to him. We both felt he should have given us a cut for our good deed - apparently he was not a fan of this plan.

I told Marsha I was really sorry (especially since I spent the 2 minutes she did have the money trying to talk her into splitting it 3 ways between her, Jake, and me.)

Greed is crazy, ya'll.

A few minutes after the money shenanigan, Becca and Kayla showed up.


We were happy to see them and very happy when our other guests of honor arrived.


We talked and talked for a good forever. I think we ended up leaving at about 11:30pm.

Poor Jake. He kept saying, "Oh my gosh we have to go home! It's a school night!"


This picture was actually taken after he said, "Stop taking pictures of me for your blog!" Hater. I forgive him because I know it was 11:30 and he was talking crazy out of his head.

Kayla helped us end the night with a special little number.




She has moves I've never seen.




It was such a fun night from start to finish.

And while we may have not left $100 richer (or $33.33 richer as my plan proposed), I think it's safe to say we all profited from all the laughs and hilarity shared!

Thirty two

Last week...

"Mama, what year were ya'll married?" I asked.

[long pause]


"Mama! Are you having to think??"

"Just give me a minute honey...that was a long time ago!"


She did quickly figure out the answer to my question. It was 1978.

August 26, 1978 to be exact!


That's right, Big Al and the Debster are old.

Old, cute, funny, and happily married for 32 years today!


Last year Mama sent me a letter she wrote to Matthew and me. I don't think I ever posted it, but I thought about it this morning as I contemplated what it must be like to be married for 32 years. As someone who has been married for 0 years it is hard to imagine.


I loved the letter then and loved reading back over it today. I know that because of my parents 32 year example and the life they have together, my brother and I both have a solid grasp on what we want in a spouse. Matthew has definitely found someone who fits this description...and I know won't settle for anything less than what my sweet mama listed here. :-)

******

REFLECTIONS FOR MY CHILDREN ON MY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

FOR MATTHEW AND JENNA


I wish for you to marry someone who is your soulmate….

I wish for you to marry someone who is your best friend….

I wish for you to marry someone who shares your faith in God….

I wish for you to marry someone you can love… and be in love with… your whole life….

I wish for you to marry someone who loves your children as much as you do….

I wish for you to marry someone who loves you for who you are….

I wish for you to marry someone with a kind heart….

I wish for you to marry someone who makes you laugh….

I wish for you to marry someone who is the first to hug you when you cry….

I wish for you to marry someone who is not afraid to cry….

I wish for you to marry someone whose voice still makes your heart skip a beat every day….

I wish for you to marry someone who can forgive you for your weaknesses and mistakes….

I wish for you to marry someone you can forgive for their weaknesses and mistakes….

I wish for you to marry someone you can love even more through the hardships of life....

I wish for you to marry someone who is thankful for all the many blessings in life….

I wish for you to marry someone who is the last person you want to see at night and the first person you want to see when you wake up in the morning….

~~~~~I wish for you to marry someone just like I married 31 years ago today….who is still the love of my life…. and together…. who love our children more than life….~~~~~

I Love You,

Mama


**********

Happy Anniversary to my favorite parents!

The randomist of Tuesdays

It all began with a text convo between me and Marsha as I was leaving work yesterday.

J - "Sonic?"

M - "Indeed"

J - "Ok, see you in a few"

M - "If you're lucky"

A few minutes later a follow-up text from Moesha - "Come prepared to cook for Jake."

J - "Uhhhh, can I cook him something from town?" (You know, like Sonic.)

M - "Ha ha no it will be fun"

J - "Must I remind you about the Halloween chili incident?"

No response. She's trying to pretend like that never happened. Aren't we all?

When I got to the house Jake and Marsha were upstairs in the TV room, and Marsha was on the computer playing the old throw-back computer game, Snood.


"Ok, this is how this is going to go down," she said slyly.

"Oh goodness," I said, knowing whatever was about to come out of her smiling mouth was going to be ridiculous.

"If I win Snood, you have to be in charge of dinner..."

"Woman! I cannot cook!"

Jake chimed in, "It's time for you to learn, ya goon."

Marsha continued, "If YOU win, then I will be in charge of dinner. It really is time for you to learn, Jenayay. You gotta be ready for when that fella comes along."

I didn't go into how I actually CAN cook, I just DON'T cook. We've had the convo thrice too many times, and I knew it would have fallen on deaf ears.

So we proceeded with the Ultimate Snood Challenge.

I lost terribly. It was embarrassing really. Marsha got the high score and I didn't even make it on the scoreboard. This is quite disappointing as I used to be able to smoke that woman out of the water on Snood.

But this little plan - well, it was a trap. Moesha knows that since I stopped playing Snood regularly (like, you know, in the 9th grade), I have not been my normal Snood dominating self. Marsha on the other hand has excelled over time.

After the challenge we made no moves to the downstairs kitchen area.

Time passed on and eventually Greg came upstairs to see what was for dinner.

"Jenna's cooking supper," Jake told him.

I looked at him and rolled my eyes thinking, It's your funeral.

In the end I got out of it - only assisting Marsha with tacos - and we all ate happily ever after.

After dinner it was time to open Marsha's birthday present!


Honestly, I have never really understood the iPad. Is it a computer? Is it a just a big iTouch? Is it weird to type on it? These are the questions I wrestle with.

Well, I still haven't figured out exactly what it is, but I'm here to say - I love it.

Marsha played on it for a few minutes, and then for some reason I randomly mentioned how NOT pretty Hillary Clinton's dress was for Chelsea's wedding.

I have no point of reference for where this statement came from but before I knew it, Marsha was asking, "Well, what did it look like?"

"It was like purple, and had these flowers...I don't know. Why don't you look it up on your IPAD???"

So that was the iPad's inaugural google search.

Later, we tested out it's Farmville capabilities.


Jake remained unimpressed.


Phoebe was VERY interested. She loves technology. Actually I think she thought the iPad was a treat.


And speaking of Phoebe, when I was uploading these pictures I found a picture of Phoebes from one year ago to the day. Awwwww.


Crazy little kujo pup. Also: I had brown hair? Who knew?

Now look at the Phoebster.


With a wink and a smile.

After a little while we did the most exciting thing of the night....Skype'd with the Marlee girl!


How cute is this child? We got caught up on all the important goings-on at college. Eventually we bored Marlee to tears, and she went back to studying.


Before we clicked off Skype, we noticed Marlee's friend Paul (who is at another college) was on. So we video called him to shake up his night.


After we caught up on his life and helped him write a paper, we bid him farewell with a medley of rap music (complete with costumes)....


My life is kinda weird.

But I kinda like it. :-)