Make New Friends But Keep the Old

Remember that Girl Scouts song?

Well, I was super excited Wed. to meet up w/ an old friend whom I think I hadn't seen in over 12 years. Isn't that crazy?

I thought of Michelle often but had no way of getting in touch with her. I really didn't want to call her...I mean, what a shock, "Hi Michelle, this is Amy Perry...well, I mean, you don't know me as Perry... um..." She would've been too surprised to be happy.

So I did what any girl would do.
I joined Classmates.

And tracked down my old work pal. And she looks the same! Only with one more kid to the mix. And we promptly made plans to meet for lunch.

And I got to meet little Tori, who is as funny as she is cute. And my kids had a blast with her.

Our kids wouldn't have forgiven us, had we not made plans for our next meet-up in a couple of weeks. Can't wait Michelle!Flynn & Tori, instant friends

FINALLY agreeing to look at the camera & pose.

"What? We have to go home?"

Have a little Help from my Friends

A little shout out to my homeys (homies?)...

I blog all the time about the blessings of our family/families. And how we're nothing w/o them. How they bail us out, love on us, & help us with anything we need. And how they're funny & fun & make us proud.

But I'm also nothing without my friends. For reals. No-thing. My friends, all of them, couldn't be better. And are like my own little posse of angels.

My best friends, my friends from growing up, my friends who are like family, my church friends, my school friends, my neighbor friends, my bloggy friends, my kids' friend's moms!

I never have to feel like they are fair-weather. They don't love me because I have money (duh!). They don't love me because I can do something for them. They just love me.

And I love them.

Madamine's* Bday Party

We have the advantage of a blessing that not very many allergy-families get to experience: a MILK-FREE birthday party.

That's right... Flynn's BFF, "Mademine" (as Gabe refers to her...and also says she is HIS SISTER) & her wonferful family, blessed Flynn with enjoying a DAIRY FREE PARTY. SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.

As Amanda now knows, throwing a party that is completely milk-free is NOT easy. She even bought cake decoratives a la carte to be able to have the theme chosen by Madelyn in a dessert that she knew would be safe for Flynn. All the way down to ordering from Chic Fil A because she had heard me say that Flynn can eat there.

Now those my friends, those are good friends.

And what could be even nicer than that?? --- Letting a little brother join the festivities.

*Madamine = Madelyn

(Gabe Lingo)

Museum of Transportation

One Saturday the Frost family invited us to the Museum of Transport, to check out... none other than, TRAINS.

(how long do her legs look here?!!)

(Flynn & her good pal Delaney)

(Best of friends: Gabe, Flynn, Delaney, & Trey)

What's More Carefree Than Being at the Park?

Spending a day at the park with your friend,

walking the edge of the playground, in 70 degree weather.

(obviously a month ago)

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait

And Jenn, you will soon have to wait no more, for this orange box,

is on its way.
loaded up with goodies for the boys
and you.
Look closely here & see some photos of Jenn's "boys" (all of them)

that I stole off her myspace page & doctored up a bit on photoshop.

How cute is her boy??!!

And The WINNER Is...

BECAUSE 'TIS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE...AND BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP A SURPRISE FOR ANYTHING, I'M GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER BEFORE HER LOOT IS 'TOGETHER' & PHOTO'ED.





Here we go!





You ready?





Okay, here it is:











True Random Number Service




Random Integer Generator




Here are your random numbers:12




Timestamp: 2008-03-13 02:37:47 UTC

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#12, That's YOU, Jenn! My pal from my bible college days.







Let me tell you a little about Jenn...

• She has red hair, which is super cool because it's unique. Did you know that only 1-2 out of every 100 people have red hair?



• She has three boys. Lord help her.



• She grew up in Arkansas (altho, I'm not sure how long she lived there, I only knew she came from there & had an ArKansas accent).



• She played b'ball in college & was pretty dern good. She also played volleyball in college...with me...she was good, I was not.



• Her husband has a trillion degrees - he must be smart. I did not know this about him when we attended school together. I did know that he was a maniac, and in the 'MOST LIKE TO...' series, he & I were voted, "Most Likely to be on America's Most Wanted." That could've really scarred me for life that my classmates felt that way.



• She moved from AR to go to school in MO, where I met her. Then got married & Jenn, did you move to CA then? Now, she lives in MA, home of the Volleyball Hall of Fame.



• She is a sports buff.



• She has lost 12 lbs in a month.



• She & I last talked probably 11-12 years ago. We were reconnected about two months ago & now she has a blog & I'm so glad - we won't lose touch now!

Congrats Jenn. You & I weren't like BFF in college, but I think I know a little about you & so it's been big fun to put together a basket for you. One thing was ordered last night, to be picked up tonight -- so photos will be blogged tomorrow.

I'm sorry to those of you who did not win the drawing. BUT, you actually are a winner, because you get to see these photos of Jenn & I from our '95 Messenger College days. You'll be disappointed no longer, because Lord, look at our hair. And Jenn, sheesh, we were skinny! I don't about you, but I lierally weighed 70 lbs less then. Of course, I was in volleyball & cheerleading, which seasons' practices overlapped a bit, so for a few weeks, I had a practice at 5 a.m. & one at 6 p.m.. I was running about 3 miles a day & jumproping (for cheering) a LOT each day. I was also broke & could only afford cafeteria food, which I didn't eat much of. O yah, and that metabolism thing. Ah, to be 21 again. But that's a whole 'nother post.

Meanwhile, feast your eyes:

Jenn isn't in this photo, but her hubby is (front row, leather jacket) & I'm the first white oxford from the left.

Jen's hubby Alex, posing for the famed MOST LIKELY award, along with myself & a girl named Angela (who must've tied with us?). Apparently Alex was going through a cowboy phase? Altho, it was spirit week, so maybe it was western day? I don't know, I was in my cheerleading polo. With toothpic arms.

I was excited this day because I won most spirited for hippie (how do you spell that anyway??) day. My belly button held a carnation. Yes, that's me in the reflective lenses, Jenn is on my left.

Jenn is #8, I'm #14.

This worked perfectly that our photos were aligned like they were. Like the editor on the yearbook staff said, "In 13 years, Jenn will win a drawing on Amy's blog. Then Amy, who should realize she's too busy to put so much time & effort into the things she does, will blog a bunch about Jenn & their MC days. It will make it easier on Amy who is too lazy to scan these photos & chooses to photo them instead, for us to align their photos so that they're one atop the other."

Jenn, this photo should be incentive for us to drop some weight! (which you are working on, me-not so much).

Congrats again Jenn. Check back tomorrow to see what you should expect in your mailbox!

Remember How I Said That Only Certain Things Happen To Me?

I mean it. I am such a dork (circa 1993).

My BFF Heather got married in '93 - so I was 20 & dorky then too. She picked out these really pretty dresses - they were super elegant, black velvet bodice, sleeves with a slight puff (if I remember correctly), & a high waist that started a fuchsia a-line skirt. Complete with a big bow in the back (if I remember correctly). To help me get ready, my mom ironed the skirt part, which was wrinkled pretty badly.

The church was equally as beautiful. Old, stone walls...high cathedral ceilings which echoed every sound. The plan was for me to go down alone, as I was the Maid of Honor, where I would meet the Best Man at the first pew -- which led us to the two stairs leading to a raised level (platform, whatever).

I had on some sassy black bow heels, which made me all that more nervous - as I've never been a high heeled girl; especially when I'm walking down a lllllong aisle, with everyone staring at me.

So it's 'my turn' to walk down. I probably walked really fast, didn't smile, didn't look at anyone, my pits were probably sweaty, & I probably had to pee.

As I ended the aisle, I breathed a big sigh of relief, what with me not falling & all.
I took the Best Man's arm & took that first step.

Then.

RRrrrrrrrrip......(imagine the echo through that old church)

No way. That did NOT just happen.
I looked down to see the toe of my shoe TOTALLY THROUGH the bottom of the dress. Like ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
You know how sometimes a few seconds seem like AN ETERNITY?
That was one of those times.

I had to REALLY quickly figure out how to get my toe back through my dress -- and completely out of the hole, so that I could - you know - go ahead AND WALK(!).
I kinda looked at the Best Man - he looked at me (admiringly I might add, as he had a weird crush on me). I thing I muttered something like
OH LORD HELP ME.

So, I got it out & looked down at this gaping hole hanging down.

Heather comes down the aisle, in all her glory, & the minister begins the Lord's Prayer. Not one of my most reverent moments - I'll admit, but I had to point it out to her & that seemed like the perfect time.

So she busted out laughing. Then, the bridesmaid to my left started laughing AGAIN (but this time she peeed her pants).
Thy Kingdom Come... and three heads of curly up-do's were bobbing up & down in laughter.

One of my many VERY EMBARRASSING moments - that I now can laugh (& laugh & laugh) at.

Maybe if you're REALLY good, I'll track down a photo of this, scan it, & share.

Some Princesses & A Couple of Princes

Once upon a time, a little girl was turning four. She believed she was a princess. So she asked her mom to throw her a princess party.

But she wanted to invite her friend & cousin who were very much not princesses... so they were princes.

So she did, and they all came to her royal party, and had a royal ball.

They played 'Kiss the Frog'.

They enjoyed White CASTLES (get it?!)...

They enjoyed dairy-free 2 bite brownies.

And made crowns, fabulous enough to be worn in a castle.

They had a time of dress up....

And found MAGIC dragon eggs....jewels in sand....and played Princess & The Pea.

The Queen & The Princess were very happy (& tired) after the wonderful party.

High Tea with Friends

This should've been posted a couple of months ago, but if you don't tell, I won't....

Flynn had a playdate with some friends of ours who were moving. So they were able to spend the morning with us. And what better to do when you have a few girls together, but a tea party!

We flipped over the train table, threw on a sissy tablecloth & voila! instant tea party.

They thought I was bizarre, but I had them each choose a hat. And I talked in an English accent.

So basically, the tea party was all about me. Then one of Flynn's friends said, "Do we have to keep having the tea party?" So I started to cry & stomp my foot & said that I wouldn't be her friend.

Then we played with something else.

Can't Keep a Straight Face

My family is & has always been silly, like to the point that others don't appreciate or understand us. We can't just pose normally in photos. In serious venues, we crack jokes.

No one is safe from being poked fun at by us.

So, why should I not be suprised when Flynn made these faces recently, while I tried to snap a pic of her & her friend Isabelle.

Isabelle is looking at her like, "I don't think I'm coming back over here....this girl is crazy."

Check out Bubby, he's nobody's fool.

Then, it just wasn't enough to make a face...she had to hurl herself backwards.

BFF & other people

We recently went to a wedding of BFF Elizabeth's baby brother. When we were in third grade, her mom had her baby brother, which seemed so cool. I wanted a baby brother. But that wasn't an option. So I thought she was even cooler.

Anyway, here are some of the photos from the reception...

Could my husband be ANY HOTTER? My gosh.

This Charlie's Angels pose was long overdue.... after 20-something years of friendship, why hadn't we thought of it sooner? Too bad my egg-shaped dress makes me look pregnant... NO!, I'm not pregnant (I'd have some "serious 'splainin to do to Jeff." Altho -- look at him! -- I'd love to have another one of his babies.

In third grade, E invited me to her b'day party, that's when we started becoming good friends, but she moved in 5th grade to Arkansas.

Heather & I became BFF in 4th grade, while in girl scouts together.

E moved back from AR our sophomore year. Things were a little rocky, we got a little competitive, a little like the Heathers movie.

But here it is 15+ years later...

I think we've worked out our differences.