that's a rap.

For some reason this year we've been double booked for Christmas parties- which makes this time of year even crazier than it usually is.. Last Saturday was our ward/church Christmas dinner. It started at the same time as Aaron's office party. We tried to pick between the two, but ultimately decided we could swing both. Super insane weekend.

The Bishopric put themselves in charge of the ward Christmas party this year.. which really meant that their wives did everything :) I am not complaining one bit because I love party planning and also because I did the least amount of work. But it was a little nutzo to have the leaders who are already at the church WAY too much add more to their plates. The RS pres and Bishop's wife did all the decorating and it looked amazing. We went shopping for a lot of the food, cooked several hams in our oven, baked cupcakes and tried to make sure there was enough grub on the tables. During the party, I spent all my time in the kitchen, which was okay, because other people were watching my kids & Aaron and I were planning on eating at his fancy work dinner later. We planned to leave the church earlier than we did, but I had to take a break to nurse the baby and well, things never really turn out how you plan. Roma makes our life a lot more complicated, but she's worth it! (I wish I would have taken a better picture of her in her cute Christmas dress!)

While slaving away in the kitchen, my husband found me and said he was planning on taking the kids home to help them put their pj's on.. then he said he needed to change into a suit and tie because his office party was formal.. This was the FIRST time Aaron had mentioned the formal dress code for his work party. I know, I should have asked, but I figured we would drive straight there and not change in between. I was totally surprised and told Aaron I needed to go shopping on the way to his work party. My closet is limited as it is! He laughed at me (because he thought I was joking-- obviously no one needs to think about what they wear to a formal party...) Things were crazy enough so there was no time for shopping. We rushed home to change. I threw on a black dress I wore to Cindy's wedding. It didn't really fit me, but it was either that or a maternity tent. We were in and out of the house in ten minutes. On the way to drop off the kids at our friends for the night, Aaron said something about how easy that was for me to get fancied up. I told him he has NO IDEA how cool I really was for playing it off as casually as I did.. most women wouldn't be so nice :) Not that it was his fault I don't have more options in my closet. Anyway....

We arrived at his office party about 2 hours late. It was at the M resort in a fancy ballroom. Dinner was over and everyone was starting to socialize. We were able to get a couple of plates still and sit down to eat. The halibut was seriously to.die.for. Best dinner I've ever had... (but I could have been really hungry.) While we were eating, it was announced that ALL first year associates had to sing karaoke, no excuses. Aaron isn't fresh out of law school, but he's only been at this firm for a month.. so he qualified as a first-timer and was on the chopping block. The other attorneys were making a big deal of it--- even teasing one guy for running out of the party last year for not wanting to sing. I knew that Aaron would be willing to sing something, but he didn't have any time to plan. The music was starting & they were getting ready to make assignments.

While we were scarfing down our food, Aaron said he should rap a song. I got really excited--- because I know what kind of show he can put on. I went to find a list of karaoke songs available... and there were NO rap songs. No Vanilla Ice, no MC Hammer, no nothing. So then I went to talk to the DJ. He confirmed that they didn't have any rap songs in the program, but he did have the music to "Bust A Move" by Young MC. I told him that my husband would probably be able to sing it without the lyrics on the screen and the DJ said, "Oh, I doubt it. This song moves too quickly." I told him he didn't know my husband. He's white and skinny, but the man can rap. The DJ was awesome and said he'd try to help him & maybe sing along, if he needed it.

I went back to the table and told Aaron they had the music to Bust A Move, but didn't have the lyrics. Aaron said, "No way. There's no way I am going to do it without the words." But I have heard him rap this song before and I knew he knew all of the words. So I pulled out my phone and looked up the lyrics. I had Aaron go over the first couple of verses at the table (him rapping, me looking at the words) and he didn't miss a beat. He knew every word. I told him he HAD to do it, but he wouldn't. He kept saying it's harder when you're up there, etc. So I went back to the DJ and told him we were good to go-- but he needed to force Aaron out of his seat. And that's exactly what happened... Once the music started, Aaron was totally in his element and had no problems getting through the song.

It wasn't until the middle of the song that I realized I needed to film it. I had to get Aaron's phone out of his pocket because I didn't bring my camera. I know it's a bad clip, but at least I got a little bit. The DJ was so awesome... when there wasn't a time Aaron was singing, the DJ would yell out, "Atta boy!" or "That's what I'm talking about!" And if you look real close at the video, you can see him doing actions to the song in the background. So funny! Of course, everyone else in the room loved it. They were drunk and happy and totally SHOCKED that Aaron was able to rap like that. (I was too the first time I heard Aaron rap back in 1998. He took an empty paper towel ring and rapped for a few of my friends and I was totally shocked.) Many of his colleagues came up to him afterward to tell him what an "epic" performance he had. One guy in particular kept saying, "he's a wolf in sheep's clothing! he's a wolf in sheep's clothing!" The song was a real ice breaker, that's for sure. The only thing Aaron said to me after the song was, "I wish I would have had a cordless mic, then I could have gotten out on the dance floor." I love him.

Aaron and the DJ in the middle of the rap. Taken by someone else :)

Another funny memory from the night was hanging out with a few female attorneys from Aaron's office, one girl in particular. She is an absolute DOLL and has been so friendly since day one. She probably weighs 98 lbs soaking wet, so I am sure she was toast after a couple of drinks. To say she was wasted is putting it lightly. I hope she doesn't read this because I am NOT making fun of her. But she didn't want us to leave and kept hanging on us. When we finally told her we HAD to go (we have 5 kids, remember?) she said it would be okay. But then she grabbed us and made us hug! and then she kind of grabbed Aaron by the tie and got really close, pointed to me and said slowly "she completes you". It was so cute and so funny! Aaron and I were laughing all night about that. It's going to be an inside joke for a long time. If you're reading this, Christina, I love you and I can't wait to party on the dance floor with you next year!

There are a couple of videos going around the office of Aaron's performance and several people took pictures. He brought a few hard copies home last night that I will need to scan in. But he's only gotten positive feedback from his new firm. They love him (how could they not?) and gave him the "best performance of the night" award (how could they not?). While at lunch with some of the guys, everyone was talking about it and Aaron tried to brush it off like it was no big deal (that's what he does) and one of them said, "Oh stop trying to be so modest, it was amazing." The fact that I am writing all of this down is going to bother Aaron SO bad, so I just need to stop, but I want to have it written for the archives. This will go down in our memory books as one of the most fun nights ever! I am already thinking about what we are going to sing for next year (and definitely about what I am going to wear!!!!!)

the end.