Silly boys

Johnny, Travis from Adio and Damian accepting a MAW Award

Johnny

Jim and Jack ridin’ the bull!

Mikey and Sophie just about to get thrown from the bull

Jack Joey and Johnny

Johnny and the Deluxe Team presenting his check from the sale of his boards

Jim with us

dinner

Johnny and Jack T. (Jim’s son)

Sean, Joey, Joel and Johnny

Johnny having fun

We had so much fun! We all were looking forward to seeing our friends from Deluxe, Adio and Southshore distributing. It was the one year mark since the last Jam, when Johnny and Jim from Deluxe became friends and he made Johnny his own signature board.

The weather was awesome — perfect — almost like CA weather. Because it was a big anniversary for the Jam, they went all out (food, booths, mechanical bulls…), Damian’s goal was to raise $75,000 (up from 45k last year). 100% of the proceeds go directly to MAW, the companies donate product, the pros come on their own time and money, it’s pretty amazing what these guys do for the kids.

We arrived about 9:30am, doors opened at 11. Plenty of time for Johnny and Joey to skate the park (empty — how cool is that?), and say hi to some of the pros that came. Our friends from H-town also made the trip to see Johnny, Joel and Sean (Wendy’s kids), they were able to skate together before the flood gate of kids was opened and descended onto the park.

It was cool to see the guys from the Deluxe and Adio teams come up to Johnny and Joey and say hi. Damian (the owner of Southshore and the person behind the Jam) gave all four boys special arm bands that allowed them to skate the park even when it was open to the general public (it was only our guys and the team riders that were allowed to skate the whole day). I thought once it got crowded and the team riders started, the boys would just step aside and watch. Nope. Not these kids. Joey and Joel were on the street course most of the day until Mike stepped in and told them to stop hogging the park and let the Deluxe and Adio guys to their thing. They finally did — it was just a funny sight to watch our little ones among all the other team riders just tring to keep up.

They had the award ceremony with all the “winnings” for each skater going to MAW. They asked Johnny to come up and present his check for the proceeds of his board and it was $5,818.60! The person accepting the check was the very first person to grant a Wish. Everything finally ended about 4 or 5 and Jim asked us to come to dinner with him, his guys, along with the Adio Team. That had to be my favorite part, we could just SIT (yeah!), and talk without all of the loud music (I can’t believe I just said that), and mobs of crazy kids (I CAN believe I just said that!). Erine Torres, Kenny Anderson and Peter Ramondetta C R A C K E D me up. Altoghter there were about 30 of us and although most folks would think that it be out-of-control with 30 pro skaters, they were actually very well behaved and down right normal. Maybe because I was there (”look out, here comes Johnny’s mom!”).

Anyway, Damian called yesterday and invited us to a quarterly MAW meeting for the board members and volunteers, because they had something to present to Johnny. Turns out Damian’s Skate Jam pulled in over $83,000 — for one day! 100% of that goes to MAW! They gave Johnny an award for his contribution to the event as well as Travis from Adio and Tommy the owner of Southside Skatepark.

It was an incredible weekend, something our family will never forget! Thank you to all of our family and friends who bought a board to support Johnny, Deluxe and MAW — we love you all!

I hope this makes sense — I am still recovering from the weekend!

Joey was Anikin Skywalker, or Darth Vader: The Early Years
Sophie was Buttercup
And Mike and I made Johnny be Napoleon Dynamite. He has the curly hair, and wears the Vote For Pedro shirt 24/7. We actually got in a fight because he refused to dress up. I said if he is going trick or treating, he HAS to dress up. I think in the end he was glad, all the teenage girls in the neighborhood were all over him, like flies on a rib roast.

The gang before the “raid”. Johnny’s glasses are the ones that Mike and I use when we weed eat the yard.

Do you ever wonder what your dogs do when you are gone?

Wonder no longer.

Luckily, no bunnies were harmed in the making of this mess. Mike told us not to get to attached to her… we keep the door closed or the gate up at all times now.

Me and Tessa, my new God-daughter!

Suzanne asked Sophie if she slept with Buttercup. There was a long pause and Sophie looked at Suzanne and told her “I’m too big to fit in her cage you silly!”

I L O V E Buttercup so much! (”I” meaning me, Julie)

We had a great time trick or treating in the ‘hood. Especially since last year was spent in the hospital — I don’t want to jinx us, but it has been quite a few holiday’s since Johnny had a hospital stay. For the first year it seemed like every major holiday and family birthday was celebrated at TCH. I think we are over the hump now. I was thinking about 2007 — the home stretch or at least the light at the end of the tunnel (Johnny’s treatment is scheduled to end Nov/Dec 2008)!

Johnny’s next doctor’s visit is 11/10. His hair is starting to fall out again. he won’t let me brush his hair or even touch it. He said the kids at school found out how easily it comes out and all they do is pull it out. He was laughing about it when he told me, but I think it bothers him. Each little strand that falls out he keeps in a container, yes, it’s gross, but I think he wants to keep track of how much he’s losing. I think it’s just because he has hair to lose that makes it so noticeable. We were looking at photos from last years Texas Skate Jam for Make A Wish, and there are a bunch of ones with Johnny not wearing a hat. He was so proud that he had some fuzz — If you go to the Adio website and click on Texas Skate Jam for MAW, you can see photos from last year.

Which brings me to this year’s Jam — this Saturday. The boys are pretty stoked, we get to go early to hang with some guys and friends of ours from Deluxe and Adio. I can’t wait. I’m not sure if the boys are excited about seeing everyone or having Southside all to themselves. I’ll post photos Sunday…