Sean's Sumo Career

 A local church held an event designed to draw youth in the community into the youth group. Several faculty members from the school, including Sean, were asked to Sumo wrestle against each other. Word spread of who all would be taking part, and the turnout was huge. Hundreds of kids filled that gym to see their favorite teachers, coaches, and administrators act a fool.

 

 Of the 9 fights featured on the lineup, Sean's was next to last. He would be up against Coach Clay, the head basketball coach he works with. 

 {Clay}

 {Gray}

 

I can't tell you how much I laughed before he ever even made a move. It was hilarious in person!

  

The slippery socks were a must. All for entertainment value. 

  

Sean ran and jumped to bounce off of him. 

 

 Coach Clay threw him...

 ...to the ground into the crowd of kids.

 

 In the end, Sean won by count of 3-1, although I'm not sure it matters.
But I am sure he would say it does.
Either way, it was so much fun and all the participants were such great sports for putting on the show for the kids.

Til Next Time!
~The Grays

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2013. Let's do this.

I'm a planner. 

So is he. 

We like to research, analyze, and make the best possible plan for any situation. The right move, the right decision, the right timing.

It's a good characteristic, most of the time. But this New Year's Eve, I was reminded that only so much can be controlled. Some things; some nights, have to just happen as they may.

I'm working on trusting that there is a reason that every moment unfolds the way it does. Even if I don't play all my cards just right. 

Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans

-John Lennon

 

I bought my sparkly New Year's Eve shorts months ago. I checked with all our friends and scoped out plans  a month in advance. We were ready.

Then,

Plan a fell through.

Plan b fell through.

c...d...

Nothing went as planned. 

The day before, Sean's practice was scheduled for 8 am New Year's Day, so too long of a night was out of the question.

We were so bummed. And felt lame.

We watched a lifetime movie at home in the dark, and when it ended, started discussing plan e...Ordering a pizza and staying home. Sean drifted off to sleep. A new low.

Then Meghan called and said their plans fell through too. The rejects decided to join forces and turn the night around. They called Blue Fin to see if there were any (very) last minute open reservations and we got a spot for 4 a couple hours later. 

Me: "But what's the plan after dinner?"

Meghan: "We're not making any more plans. Plans haven't been working. Let's just go."

Ok, this is new to me.

 Let's do this.

{How delicious is that picture!?}

We went to dinner in the pouring rain, but it slacked off just in time for us to walk onto Main St. 

We donned party hats and had sushi and drinks.

  

 

We walked to Flying Saucer and met up with Adam and Courtney, but we couldn't tolerate it long.

This makes us sound so, so old, but the band's volume was too unbearably loud. Like a knife stabbing in my ears with every high pitched blare of the horns. It's not good when the music sounds better outside, a room away, or in the bathroom stall. Old, we may be, but none of us could stand it longer than an hour. 

We made the move to Mulligans and Erin joined us for the night. 

 

 

We danced to the band playing an enjoyably volume.

 

 

 Taylor drummed.

 

And we rang in 2013 with champagne and kisses. 

 

  

Everyone kept saying how glad they were that we all ended up coming out. We had so much fun.

 

 More than I could have "planned" for. 

“And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been”
― Rainer Maria Rilke

Here's to 2013. May it be;

 Unplanned. Unafraid. Unforgettable!

Happy New Year!

The Grays

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Halloween on Beale 2012

Happy Halloween 2012!!

We always have a blast dressing up for Halloween and tend to get pretty creative with our costumes. But for the past 2 years, we didn't celebrate with costumes and parties so we were really anticipating this Halloween.

After I came home from a hair appointment with blunt bangs, Sean said I looked like a little doll. The ideas snowballed from there and we eventually landed on being a ventriloquist and a ventriloquist's doll.

We rounded up our group of friends for a Saturday night Halloween bash on Beale.

 

I turned a polka-dot silky tube top into a skirt by just tying it around my waist. I made the bow-ties from glittery fabric. I pulled everything else from my closet except the shoes, that I found last minute on clearance for $10!

 

I created the doll-face with the help of youtube videos, facial contouring, chin-lines for the "dummy" mouth and over-the-top lashes. 

  

 

 

 

 Logan and Sara were adorable burglars, Devin was Popeye, and Tommy and his plus-one for the night, "Julianne", were caught in bed...hilarious.

 

 "Oops! Was it something I said?"

We met up with Taylor across the bridge, who set us up with rooftop access downtown to pre-game before going to Beale.

The view was awesome. The weather was cold. 

Thank goodness we could enjoy it from the warmth of the party room inside the glass walls!

 

We knew Taylor was going as Peter Pan. We knew Erin was going as Tinkerbell.

...But we didn't tell.

Sneaky Sneaky...

 

I always thought Tinkerbell was a bitch, so I told her to act like it.

Erin manned wo-manned up on  a half marathon in Conway (2 hours away) went to a family event, then drove back here just in time to celebrate Halloween with us. That's a woman right there!

Since she would be gone friday and saturday, I whipped her costume up out of a $3 sequined tank I found, elastic and tulle for the tutu, and slippers.

Sean, Tommy, and "Julianne"

Popeye

The burglars celebrating.

Playing this character was fun!

I'm not sure if Sean had money in his "ventriloquist's suitcase" from our dummy show or for bartending, but whatever it was...he danced while earning it.

 

Then he let his suspenders loose to dance with a criminal and Peter Pan.

But had to get back to bartending when the burglar tried to steal the loot.

Tink sprinkled fairy-dust on everyone...

 

...Even the inanimate lobby statues.

We blared some music...got hyped up...had a drank or two.

 

 

Then the creepy mustache man and his creepy doll were ready to hit Beale!

On the way, we stopped by the ATM for cash.

 

And the burglars busted into Bank of America.

Totally kidding. Obvi.They were just ready to bust some moves.

We hit the Saucer.

(See...I even made her a wand with a sparkly 'E'! It's the little things...)

And 152 for a minute. Nothing blogworthy there, as usual.

Finally at our favorite fun-stop, Alfreds, we were able to get comfy and get rowdy.

 

Cute Sara

We are so glad to have Tommy back home! He's been in the Navy and gone from home for several looong years.

Tink and Sara

My fave pic of. you. ever.

What can I say, I have a knack for paparazzi photography...

Tinker and Peter

(Taylor made his own costume! So impressed)

I smiled occasionally! But not often...it just wasn't right.

 

I love you even with a creepy pedofile mustache...That's some love right there.

(It was gone the next day and the stubble was all back...Phew) 

 

I hope your Halloween is light-hearted, fun and festive! And I hope wherever you are, you are safe from storms and praying for those who aren't.

 

Everyone be safe!

The Grays 

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