So my friends are nuts.  Especially Adina.  I love that about them.  I'm not nuts, generally.  I'm your typically type A very reliable and dependable sort of person.  I'm very aware that those things are both strengths and weaknesses simultaneously.  It's generally useful for people who count on me for stuff, but it's easy for people like me to be a little too responsible.  You see, I need my friends to keep balance in my life.  I need them to help me to loosen up, in the same kind of way that they need me to keep them from getting arrested.  

We are all moms.  We met in a Moms Club.  We share the day to day struggles of raising children.  Raising children is hard, hard work and you can't do it alone.  We are each others village.   We are typical suburban moms, shopping at Target and volunteering at Elementary schools.  Our children range from nine months old to nine years old.  Between us, we probably hear the word "mama" 2.3 million times a day.  We make mistakes every day but we love our children with a fierceness that cannot be explained in words.  

Every now and then, we get a break.  The way we spend that break, some might see as untraditional.  

It all started with DJ's car.  Adina's husband, DJ, had an 1999 Eclipse. We made fun of him for it.  It seemed like the kind of car that your 80's high school boyfriend would drive.  One day, shortly before DJ's birthday, Adina had an amazing idea.  She wanted to do a 80's rocker style photo shoot featuring DJ's car as a surprise present for his birthday.  We were thinking 'Guns 'n Roses" and Aquanet and even a giant lollipop.  We did it, and I think it was magical. 

Adina has a gift for costumes.  I have no idea where she found those pants.  I also have no idea why she still owns a crimper, but it came in handy. 

The hairspray was one of my favorite parts. 

So, that's how this obsession with Awkward on purpose photos began.  But now it's grown into a thing.  We try to get a away for a cabin weekend periodically....a couple days where we don't have to hear "mama" 2.3 million times and can relax and have fun.  Somehow, these weekends have grown to require some kind of themed awkward photo shoot.  

One time it was a 90's glamour shot session.  

Yes, she does look like a man here.  It's OK...she owns it.  I told you, she's nuts. 

From this day forward, Michelle will forever be known as "Crazy Eyes."

And there was a brief crazy housewives in gowns shoot.  Yep, Christy had a bun in the oven.  Kind of adds to the photo, doesn't it?

So, now that you know our little secret, I'll let you know one more.  Another cabin weekend is coming up soon, and I hear that the theme is "lumberjacks." I can't wait.