Do you remember your first love? I'm not talking your first true love as an adult, I'm talking your first love. I do. His name was David. Oh how I loved that boy. I loved that boy from 4th grade to 8th grade and probably even longer than that. I still love that boy - just not like I did back then. Like with every relationship, you get to know other parts of their lives, including their family. Thankfully, in this case, I got another mom that even now - 26 years later is still my other mom. I still call her mom. I still love her like my other mom. And thanks to facebook, I keep in better contact with her now than I did for many years.
This is my sister. Which one? The youngest one. She's just a baby. Just 21. She makes me feel old. She's also a runner - a kick ass runner. This girl runs marathons. Not only does she run marathons, she KICKS ASS! I love her.
It is entirely quite possible that I may be related to this girl, however, I am not certain since I see her only a few times per year. She MIGHT be a cousin.
This is sort of a cheat too, but since I can't actually physically go see him right now and I wanted a picture with him, this will have to do. This is my brand spanking new nephew. Isn't he beautiful?!?!?!
There are two very interesting people in this picture. One is my aunt and the other is Joanna Hernian. You might mistake Joanna for me, but I assure you, it is Joanna.
This is the other of the two nieces we inherited when my sister got married. Love this girl to pieces!!!!
I don't know what to say about this woman. There are so many people that have influenced my life but few have influenced me as much as this woman has. Please let me introduce my grandmother.
She is truly my other mother. I half jokingly refer to myself as her youngest child. I am, in fact, her eldest grandchild. I have caused so much havoc in her life it is not even relatively funny. She has held my hand when I needed her and even when I didn't. She has supported ever decision - stupid or not - I have ever made. She was one of the many who helped teach me how to read and shared with me the importance of education. She came to so many of my school events - choir and band concerts, cross country and track meets, endless dance recitals and disastrous gymnastics meets. I have a chosen few true heroes in my life. This woman is one of them. I don't think she understands just how important she is to me or how much I love her, but she is and I do!
This young lady is a former gym kid. She is not one that I coached, but was one that trained with my daughter. I love that I am able to keep in touch with so many of these kids. It's even better when I randomly run into them at the mall...
Oh dear, what can I say? This is another sister. This is the sister that is probably the most like me. Want to guess what that means? We're the emotional ones. We're the stubborn ones. We're the ones who don't back down. Translate that into - we're the ones who butt heads most often. Well, that's not true. We don't so much anymore. For the most part, I think we have grown out of our arguing. The really funny thing is that I am far closer to her now than I ever thought I would be. There were years where I didn't think we would ever be able to sit in a room together without arguing. I love her - probably more than she realizes.
So how many of you had "surrogate" grandparents as a kid? I know I did. I had the grandfather our classroom adopted in 3rd grade. I had the elderly couple that lived down the road from us and I had (and still have) this beautiful woman....
My mom went to school with her kids. I don't know how old I was when I met her, not that it matters. I just know that she has always been Grandma Mickey. She is still Grandma Mickey and I love her with all my heart and am extremely glad I had the opportunity to get this picture.
One of the great parts about having 4,509,987,873 siblings is that each of those siblings has friends and as we grow older and dynamics change, we end up making friends with our siblings friends. It's actually pretty fabulous. Like in this case, this young lady is the best friend of one of my sisters and because of that friendship, she became my friend as well.
I know not who this creature is....I have seen her never before.
Oooooor, she might be my cousin.
And then there's the trouble maker...
That would be my brother. Isn't he adorable?!?!? I know he is. He's so dang cute. Love this kid. I think whether we choose to admit it or not - he's always going to be all of our favorites. But then, with a face like that, how could he not be?!
I have a big family and therefore, many to choose from. Here's a niece....
Ok, away from family for a minute. How about those that might as well be family? I joke about my "hair magician" all the time. The thing is, we spent years being a part of a gym family and so while she and her family may not be family by blood, they will always hold a special place in my heart. Here's the hair magician's youngest daughter...
Of course, speaking of family, every family has to have the heckler. You know the one - he's the guy always cracking jokes and giving everybody grief. Basically, the one everybody loves but only admits it when forced. In all seriousness, I love this kid. He's the perfect guy for my sister and I am glad he is a part of our family.
I think sometimes the best and worst parts of weddings is the addition of family. In the case of my sister, it was a "the best" type of scenario. Our family was blessed with two new nieces when my sister got married and we love them both very much. Here's one...
Not sure how I missed this one. I thought I had gotten all of the gym girls, but obviously I hadn't. So, here's yet another...
My helper at work....I absolutely adore this girl and wish her all the best when she toodles off to college in the fall...
It's funny that I have a bazillion and ten siblings and nieces and nephews and yet very few of them have been in these pictures yet - weird, eh?! I finally got another one. This one and I have some lovely memories, but I think my favorite is getting pulled over because we were car dancing!
Funny the people you see when you're out shoe shopping, isn't it?!
I have a big family. I spent some time "away" from some of my family. We'll call it a hiatus. The unfortunate part of that is that not only did I miss important events in my siblings' lives, but I missed some important events in my niece's and nephew's lives as well. I'm so glad that things are better now - and that I get to have experiences like these...
Isn't she beautiful?!
Yet another fabulous young lady that I met through my daughter at track.
I first met this girl I think about 3 years ago. I'm almost positive that she surely did not like me even one bit. She and Meg played softball on the same team. Somehow over the next year or so, she decided not to dislike me anymore - and I realized what an amazing young lady she is. This year has been rough because I never get to see her, but hopefully next year will be better!!!!
I do not even know where to start with this one...
She's a friend of Megan's. A good friend - probably ranks up there in the best friend department. Honestly, I couldn't ask for a better friend. That's not to say that they don't have their typical teenage girl bull shit arguments, however, the bottom line is that this girl has my girl's back and the reverse is the same as well. I think one of my favorite things about this one, aside from the fact that she's beautiful and athletic (two of my favorite qualities) is that she is real. She tells it like it is and she's not afraid to say anything. She's a strong one - and a young lady that I absolutely love....except when she eats all my KFC...
As always, it is through my children that I meet the most amazing people. For example...
I met this young lady through her mom and then her sister. She's (obviously) a dancer, but she's not just a dancer. She's a frickin bad ass! And, she's beautiful. While jumping on the trampoline the night before your senior year dance recital is probably not the best idea, dancing in a bazillion dances the next day with stretched, torn, and basically just effed up tendons in your leg is amazing. I love this girl to pieces and wish her the best!
Another of those fabulous track girls...
Ok, most kids don't run screaming from me. They might not love me to pieces, but this was a lovely new experience for me. Makes for a great picture though!
OMG - Ok, I love this kid. I've never coached her. I've never even spent a lot of time with her. I know her primarily from the dance studio and secondarily because of gymnastics. Although she did not do gymnastics this year. (Maybe she'll come back next year?!)
All right, that aside, WTF. First off my face looks like a mother lovin' watermelon all big and fat and round and I look like I have no boobs - or that I'm not wearing a shirt, just a vest. For the record, I did have a strapless shirt on.
For as long as I can remember, I have loved dance. I danced as a little girl. I danced as a teenager, and I danced as an adult. I'm pretty picky about dance studios because I danced in such a fabulous one as a kid. The one I danced in as a teenager was - well, less than spectacular. As an adult - best studio yet....GREAT people, GREAT kids, and GREAT teachers.
It's crazy how your kids help you meet people....for example...
I met this lovely young lady because of my children - well indirectly. I met her through people that I became friends with because of my children.
Some of the kids I meet because of my children I could do without. I'm sure people say the same thing about my kids...whatever. On the flip side, there are some kids that I am insanely glad I met. Like this one...
We call her and Megan "twins." They were born on the same day in the same hospital apparently about 12 hours apart. I love this young lady with all my heart!
Ok, so first of all, please get past the hideousness. Yes, I know I look foul...sorry. Second, I thought I was being funny. We were at breakfast and these men were sitting behind us and the guy here....
talked the whole time. No, seriously, he NEVER shut up. So, I thought it would be funny to take a picture with him without him knowing.
Right, so then he and his friend had to go to the bathroom. Wait, what? Men are not suppose to do that - DON'T go to the bathroom with your friend...it just looks creepy. Anyway, he stopped by our table on the way and said, "Couldn't tell you all are related." Uh, WTF? It must have been because we all ordered basically the same thing for breakfast? He must have been creepin on our order?? Idk, cuz we weren't dressed alike. Whatever, he creeped us out.
I love track season. I love the meets - even the ones that take HOURS. I love the kids and the races and the goofy things that happen at the meets. This is one of those kids that just "loves" it when I take pictures...
I love this girl to pieces. I think sometimes the best (and worst) part of getting married is getting additional family. I was blessed - my in-laws are great people. This young lady is my niece and a fabulous girl.
You'll have to pardon my hideous appearance. As one might be able to tell by the clouds behind us - the weather was slightly less than cooperative today. As a matter of fact, at this point we had already been through torrential downpours AND hail. Awesomesauce.
Anyhoo, this here is my girl Adri :)
I LOVE the people I've met through the dance studio! Definitely a great decision on my part to step foot inside the doors of Dance Fusion!
LOOK! I'm winning the race....
And again, the sibling of one of Meg's friends to the rescue! I was so exhausted after my graduation celebrations that I almost forgot to get a picture! Many thanks to Julia for helping me out!
Yet another "crew" friend. This young lady has helped me out a couple times and I greatly appreciate it!!!!!!!
So, my college education has been slightly less than traditional. Ok, that's a stretch - it's totally and completely non-traditional. Most of the people I have been in class with I will never meet. A chosen few of them I am friends with on facebook. Yesterday I had one of the greatest experiences of my life - I walked at graduation. That was a huge milestone. It was a bit scary as I was walking with a bunch of people that I did not know nor had I ever spoken to.
Somewhere along the lines - probably about a year ago, I became friends on facebook with a girl from one of my classes. I found out that she lives near me. Over the past year, I've gotten to know her through facebook. Yesterday, I got to meet her - in person - for the first time. I got to share my graduation experience with her and I have to tell you - IT WAS A BLAST!!!!!! Many thanks to the University of Phoenix, not only for helping me achieve a goal, but for giving me the opportunity to make friends along the way.
Bend and Snap - that's all I'm gonna say...
Yet another example of a mother of a child who became a friend somewhere along the way....
Everyone say hi to Cooper :) I've been waiting FOR-EVER for this picture. You actually met him once before on day 26. He was a bit smaller then. Here he is now all big and perfect...
He looks a lot like his dad but he looks like his mom too and his big sister who has thus far been to shy to take a picture. Congratulations to all!!! Glad he's finally here!!!
I would like to introduce you to the newest "member" of the gymnastics team. *giggle* "Her" name is Bobette. Isn't she pretty?!?!?!?
This poor kid - he's a friend of Jason's and I pretty much forced him into this picture. He figured it's because he's just that famous :)
This here is another one of those people that I met through my daughter. I am so insanely glad that Megan started dancing - not just because I love dance or because I love watching her dance or because I think her dance teacher is amazing or because I love the dance studio, BUT....because of the amazing mom's I get to meet.
