Today is the Day....

So last night we took the kids way out to the 'burbs to hang with some good friends and to play games.  

These friends are "long haul" friends, the kind who know all your secrets and can tell embarrassing stories like when you almost stiffed your boyfriend (to be husband later), but didn't mean to...

Yeah, that did happen..... Long story, good ending....

Anyway....  Friends like that forgive you and then make fun of you.  

They insult you in the "nicest possible way'...all in love, of course.  

These friends invited us to party with their new suburban friends they have met through their kids' school.  

I was beginning to think it might be a long night since we didn't know these people, 

when we discovered how hilarious and fun they were.  

When a friend brings over a beer tasting contest they created themselves, 

you know they are great to have around.  

We ate some tasty food and played the usual party games...Pictionary, etc. 

BTW, girls RULE at Pictionary.  

We are better drawers and our instincts are much quicker... 

 I'm just saying.....

So, then as we were basking in the glow of female Pictionary superiority, 

one of the ladies suggested a new game.  

She very enthusiastically explained that she just learned of this game last week and that it was SO FUN!  

Okay...so she explains that the premise of this relay game involves a small glass of beer on the floor 

and a quarter shoved between one's two cheeks, on the outside of one's jeans.  

Yep, jam a quarter in your butt, penquin walk a few feet to the cup, unclench your posterior 

and hope the quarter lands in the cup of beer.  

All jaws hung to floor as I wondered what frat party she snuck into.  

The communal reaction was "Are you kidding me???!"  

Needless to say, after a few beverages, everyone tried it 

(no, I am not kidding..) 

and there were some ringers in the group...

Yep, Tommy could be deadly at this game...

Not something to brag about, but it's a fact... 

The laughter and shouts could be heard in Cleveland....

 Later, the party turned to dancing as Shakira blasted on the stereo.  

 

The kids bounced in from the basement...  

 There were girls aged 4-14, with one 4 year old who was, I swear, Kate's twin.  

The boys could not be bothered, but the girls and moms tore up the dance floor.  

The quarter party mom was dancing the whole time and had fun with her 4 year old.  

This little one knew all the dance moves from her older siblings.  

She could boogie!  

Kate stared in awe at the big girls and tried to emulate their dancing.  

She and the other 4 year old started to break dance when all realized that she was going commando!  

She didn't care that her little white butt flashed on the dance floor and we laughed so hard.  

Her mom just laughed and kept on dancing.  Her eyes sparkled with delight.  

It was then that my friend told me that this same mom was headed in for a mastectomy next week.  

This sparkling mom of 4 little kids.  

Whose mother and aunt passed from breast cancer.  

And she was playing silly games and dancing the night away.....  

Bravo to her and a lesson to us. 

Make each day count as we jump into this fresh, new year.  

Show your fanny to your close friends, shove a quarter in your butt, laugh, share 

and dance the night away......