SYTYCD

I'm hooked on So You Think You Can Dance!  This is the first season I've actually watched from the beginning.  I'm so in love with Chelsie H. and Mark that I had to hop on the Apple at friggin' midnight just to blog about them.  I absolutely loved them from day one when they did a contemporary dance choreographed by Mia Michaels.  It was sooo Tim Burton getting married.  Tim Burton anything reminds me of Johnny Depp so that's already got me interested.

Tonight they did a hip hop dance choreographed by Tabitha and Napoleon and it was SOOO good!!!  I love love love it!!  Makes me want to try harder at cardio hip hop.  Look out!!  I'm gonna turn it up tonight!!

My shadow

Wherever I am and anywhere I go, there HE is asking, "wat you doing? wat you doing? wat you doing?"  No matter what my answer is, his response is always, "Ooooh."  As if he totally understands.  If I'm not in view of his surroundings, all I hear is, "Mah-ee where are you?  Mah-ee where are you?"  Momma's boy you think?  Yes, I think.  Ryland is so attached to me and it's a love/hate thing.  I hate that it's hard for me to get things done around the house because he just won't leave me alone, but I just love that he loves being with me all day everyday.  He won't be this little for long and then the day will come when hanging out with mom won't be the coolest thing to do.  So, I'll take the constant, "Mah-ee where are you?"  and the "wat you doing?"  any day and everyday.

Mini-Ryan

DFC

My niece, Loreal, graduated from high school yesterday.  I can't believe Loreal's all grown up now.  She was the same age as my son when I graduated high school.  Dang!!  It's been THAT long??  Oh-me-oh-my!

Seeing Loreal with all her friends, hugging... laughing... smiling... posing for pictures...  I started to reminisce about my graduation and my friends.  We called ourselves the "Dope Female Crew."  I can't believe I just said that out loud!!  Sorry girls...  I had to mention DFC. 

DFC: Me, Liza, Apple, Sherry & Abby

Back then I didn't know what the future held for any of us.  Would we still be friends in 5, 10, 20 years?  It's been 16 years and I'm so happy to say, DFC lives on!!  We're still the best of friends.  We've supported one another through the good and bad, been bridesmaids for each other, godmothers to each other's kids, etc.  I can honestly say that most of my fondest memories in life have been with these girls.  I don't remember any of the speeches from my graduation, but I do remember the feeling of that day.  Up until then, that was THE best day of my life.  Remembering that feeling gets me excited for Loreal and what the future holds for her.  Because my sister and I are very close, Loreal's always been like a daughter to me.  I have so many hopes and dreams for her.  I want to guide her and protect her, but still let her explore and live life to the fullest.  It's exciting and scary all at the same time.  I know that I won't be that person she goes to when she needs advice or support because I think I am like a mom to her.  So, I wish her a DFC of her own to lean on, laugh with and make the best memories of her life with.  Exciting times lies ahead...

Becoming pretty

Everyone says "all babies are cute," EXCEPT my mom.  The other day as she was carrying my  daughter, she says, "oh, she's becoming pretty."  Uhh, thanks mom!  Was she not the cutest thing ever before?  Ok, I admit, Joss was not an immediate cutie patootie unlike Ryland who was born looking soo adorable with a dimple to boot!  Joss was a preemie for goodness sake.  All skinny, wrinkled and hairy.  Kinda like a baby monkey.  I knew she would fill out and lose the hairy back, but I still didn't know if after that she would be undeniably cute.  Yes, I was a little worried when or if she would become cute, so my mom wasn't alone.  My mom starts to tell me about how when I was a baby, I was really ugly.  Yes, she did say that and no, I wasn't mad.  My mom says "un-mother-like" and inappropriate things all the time.  She continues with her story...  In a worried tone she says, "how can I take this baby home to my parents?"  May, my older sister, came out of the womb looking as cute as a button, so having me looking not just "so-so," but "ugly" made her worry.  The day comes and her parents and 8 siblings come out to greet her, my dad, my sister and me.  They gathered our bags and brought us inside.  In all the commotion of exchanging hellos, hugs and kisses, my mom asks, "where's the baby?"  Everyone looks around trying to find me.  Low and behold my aunt put my carrier, with me still strapped in, underneath the kitchen table.  She didn't know I was a real baby!  My mom jokes that I was there for a while because I was all dusty when they finally found me.  ha-ha-ha...  very funny mom... (I say sarcastically)  Anyhoo...  in case you don't believe I was an unattractive baby, here's a pic of me and my sister.

I'd like to think I've become pretty and Joss is becoming too.  =)