Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Rah Rah Ree

Kick em in the knee, Rah Rah Ras kick em in the other knee. :) I hope you really didn't think I would say that other word.

Every time I look at these picture, I say that "cheer" in my head. I also start remembering my elementary school days when we all wanted to be cheerleaders. On the playground we used to pretend to be cheerleaders. My favorite cheer was.....

U-G-L-Y

You ain't got no alibi

You UGLY, hey hey You UGLY

Yes You are !

C-U-T-E

We got personality

Were CUTE, hey hey Were CUTE

Yes We are !

This may be the reason I was never a cheerleader. You could consider me a goofball, not a cheerleader. Probably still can. ;P

Deta and Lisa were cheerleaders. I can't remember if Jan was one. Robin followed in the steps of here big sister (me) and was not a cheerleader either.

Here are some early photos of Lisa wanting to be a cheerleader.

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Notice I am trying to do the splits like her.

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Don't you love here saddle oxfords! :)

Now do you want proof that I was a goofball at an early age? Lets take a closer look at this picture.

me

Yes that would be me hamming for the camera and sticking my tongue out. :)

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I think she was trying to choke me in this picture.

Notice the evil grin on her face.

Notice my hands look like they are about to try and lift up toward her hands perched around my neck. She had probably just started applying the pressure.

Now I wanted to be a cheerleader. I worked on my splits (which I can still do by the way) and cartwheels. I worked on not having spaghetti arms. I worked on my wrist, so they would not have a bend in them. I worked on my SMARKLE (Smile and Sparkle). It was to no avail. I had two things that stopped the dream.

Deta and Lisa

They were just to good. It was hard for me to follow them. You see I would have had the same cheerleading sponsor as both of them. I tried out, I didn't make it. I tried out, I didn't make it. Then the sponsor said these words that have haunted me to this day (not really, just going for the dramatic affect). Valarie you will never be as good as your sisters Deta and Lisa. ~sigh~ (More dramatic affect) :(

Its all good though. If I had been a cheerleader, then I would not have had time to hone in on my goofball skills like this....

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This....

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And This.....

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So see it all worked out!

******(People! make sure you read my sister Lisa's comment! I think she is a goofball also. :) Just sayin!)******

WORD FROM LISA: Hey all you Bloggy Friends out there! I just wanted to drop in for a minute and tell y'all that I was NOT the perfect cheerleader. You can read my comments here:

Valarie Lea!!! You have totally misrepresented me in this post!!!! I was a TERRIBLE cheerleader!!!!

I was only a cheerleader one year! That was the year they consolidated schools and let EVERYONE that tried out be on the "squad." We had 37 cheerleaders that year for goodness sake! Here are some memories that I have. I could NEVER keep my hands straight. The harder I tried, the more they would dip in the middle with my fingers pointing to the sky. Look at that picture you posted! I couldn't (still can't) do the splits.I tried out at Highland Rim one time and didn't make it. Ms. McGrath (yes, Ms.) told me it was because I had a broken arm and she thought I was just trying out to prove I could do it. What?!?!? Whateva! Shouldn't that have showed her that I had spunk and personality????? I guess not! Oh...and the time Ms. Webb came down from out of the stands when I was cheering a football game. The cheer was "FIRE UP!" She said I had everybody in the stands looking up in the sky because I was down there hollering with my southern accent, "FAR up!" Heee heee. I thought that one was pretty funny. There was the time I wanted my bee bop socks to be as white as everyone else's, so I soaked them all night in bleach. About the time I got to school, they started literally crumbling apart. I had to go the rest of the day and ballgame without any socks!!!!! And then! (you don't think I have issues do you?) There was the time I put "Sun In" on my hair and turned it COMPLETELY orange. AND!!!! I had also put fake tan on my legs and my legs were VERY streaky orange. I looked like a punkin, punkin on a punkin night. :) (sorry y'all. family joke.) So you see? I was not the perfect cheerleader. I was a cheerleading flub.

I loved those BeeBop shoes in the post thought. I wish I had some now. LOL! I probably WAS trying to choke you. I probably wanted to be in the camera spotlight all by myself and you wouldn't get out of the way being a camera hog and all.

Now talk about Deta. She was the perfect cheerleader.....Love, Lisa

Since typing this comment, I have thought of a couple of other flub ups I had as a cheerleader.

There was the time I wanted my hair to be as shiny as the other girls (I never could quite measusre up to them). Someone told me if I washed my hair with eggs, it would be good for my hair and make it shiny. What they forgot to tell me was this....don't rinse your hair with hot water. I had scrambled eggs in my hair for the longest. It was attached to every single strand of hair. You don't think anyone got me to do that on purpose do you? Hmmmm. I'll have to think about that for a minute.

One last thing....one time I had a basketball game to cheer at and had mama or daddy drop me off. Once inside, I realized I had come on the wrong night (we had 3 squads and took turns cheering). I had on the wrong cheering outfit and stood out like a sore thumb. Ms. Webb and everybody else laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed. I was so embarrassed and didn't have a cell phone to call anyone to pick me up. I had to grin and bear it.

I think its safe to say that I have successfully given you a better portrayal of my cheerleading year than the way Valarie made it look. :) You see...she obviously isn't the ONLY goofball in our family. LOL!

Now back to your regularly scheduled Valarieness.....

For more random memories from some awesome people, go over to

Kristen's at We are THAT Family.

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36 comments:

Mike Golch said...

good post,thanks for sharing it. I hope that you have a great daty tomorrow.

Tammy said...

Looks like it all worked out just perfectly!

I've got the spirit yes I do, I've go the spirit how about you???

My little sister was the spirit bunny of the family.

Southerner said...

Okay, let's plan on the 30th then. I will call to see what time they have the demonstration. Connie from Laughter by Lakeside wants to come. I am going to ask a girl from church that was in my dinner group. All the other bloggers from AL that I know are more towards B'ham, so if you know people invite them.

Talk more about it later- I feel like the photo where you are spastic on the couch:) You need a closer look at that one. Whew, cameras have come a long way haven't they?

Muthering Heights said...

LOL, You would have been great!

heidi said...

The world needs more goofballs and less cheerleaders. *nods* I'm glad you took the time to hone your skills.

j said...

I think that your goofball skills have served you better in life than being able to do a herkey.

Just sayin.

Adorable pics. And cheerleading (the one year that I did it) was no walk in the park. See, I was one of the BIG girls? So that meant I was always on the bottom. A base. As in there was always some one STANDING on me.

Better to hone those goofball skills than door mat skills :)

Anonymous said...

I remember practicing cheers for hours. Never was a cheerleader though . . lol.

Shell in your Pocket said...

What great pictures! How do you have them on your computer? Do you scan them in? I love the last one!
-sandy toes

Lisa said...

Valarie Lea!!!

You have totally misrepresented me in this post!!!!

I was a TERRIBLE cheerleader!!!!

I was only a cheerleader one year! That was the year they consolidated schools and let EVERYONE that tried out be on the "squad." We had 37 cheerleaders that year for goodness sake!

Here are some memories that I have.

I could NEVER keep my hands straight. The harder I tried, the more they would dip in the middle with my fingers pointing to the sky.

Look at that picture you posted! I couldn't (still can't) do the splits.

I tried out at Highland Rim one time and didn't make it. Ms. McGrath (yes, Ms.) told me it was because I had a broken arm and she thought I was just trying out to prove I could do it. What?!?!? Whateva! Shouldn't that have showed her that I had spunk and personality????? I guess not!

Oh...and the time Ms. Webb came down from out of the stands when I was cheering a football game. The cheer was "FIRE UP!" She said I had everybody in the stands looking up in the sky because I was down there hollering with my southern accent, "FAR up!" Heee heee. I thought that one was pretty funny.

There was the time I wanted my bee bob socks to be as white as everyone else's, so I soaked them all night in bleach. About the time I got to school, they started literally crumbling apart. I had to go the rest of the day and ballgame without any socks!!!!!

And then! (you don't think I have issues do you?) There was the time I put "Sun In" on my hair and turned it COMPLETELY orange. AND!!!! I had also put fake tan on my legs and my legs were VERY streaky orange. I looked like punkin, punkin on a punkin night. :) (sorry y'all. family joke.)

So you see? I was not the perfect cheerleader. I was a cheerleading flub.

I loved those BeeBop shoes in the post thought. I wish I had some now. LOL! I probably was trying to choke you. I probably wanted to be in the camera spotlight all by myself and you wouldn't get out of the way being a camera hog and all.

Now talk about Deta. She was the perfect cheerleader.....

Love, Lisa

Dawn @ simply transparent said...

your still a crazy girl like that..and all the pix to prove it!

My cheer:

Never
never
never grow up!

Anonymous said...

You and your sisters are too funny. I tried out for the cheerleading squad-and didn't make it either-but like you I survived!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

What a fun post-by both you and your sister!

Kasey said...

Get excited, e-x-c-i-t-e-d!!! Love the pics but I must say my fav is of you goofing off with those denim washed jeans on!!

littletoesandcheerios said...

I of course love all the pics and had all the same looks myself!!

I think kickin' them in the knee would hurt worse don't you?! And I so used to do the U-L-G-Y cheer!!

Kristen said...

Oh my gosh! Y'all are hilarious.

Seriously wishing I could come to your house for Thanksgiving dinner! I think I would laugh A LOT!

Archie Mck said...

Ha, love the shoes/boots in both eras!

Debbie said...

I love reading about you and your sisters. I had one brother and always wanted sisters. I still miss that I don’t have them – you are truly blessed to have them in your life. Thanks for sharing!

~*Lisa*~ said...

I just sat here and laughed my head off. You and your sister sound like me and my sister's. I have 2 sister I am the middle. My older sister was homecoming queen, captain of cheerleading squad (I cheered under her) captain of the basketball team (played under her) and dated the most popular guy in our little private school. I was always the ugly skinny kid that was Laura's little sister! ;) I think we all look up to our older siblings and think more highly of them then they really are! ha ha ha You guys are so funny!

Anonymous said...

Hey Val, I did not live here when Lisa was a cheerleader, but I do remember at the lunch table in high school her still trying to get her arms straight. And she did tell me one time that a March tan was the best one to get because it lasted the longest(where did she get that). We like to have froze to death trying to get a tan by the pool. Florida girl here transplanted in the North/South zone trying to get a tan. Never had to try to get a tan in Florida. So now you know why she had streaked legs. March winds are a killer here. Kristi

Rhea said...

Great photos! Love em. I was a middle school cheerleader and then got it out of my system by high school.

Jules from "The Roost" said...

So funny! Don't you just love going through this pictures and letting memories flood you mind :)

Anonymous said...

I love it! I think we must be around the same age cause I had your hair. I was a cheerleader in high school. I wish I could still do splits! I have not tried in years..maybe I should, ha! Thanks for bringing me back. Those were some fun days. I always wanted to be on the dance team . Lets just say... Im not dancing material. Enough said, ha! Take care~

Unknown said...

Love the pictures! Thank you for your prayers and kind words they mean alot to me right now!

Anonymous said...

I'm so glad I have such kind, loving, and funny daughters. They all have a good sense of humor. (you too, Kristi) I want all of you bloggers to know that to the best of my knowledge, they have never had a cross word. What wonderful girls God blessed me with.

Anonymous said...

What wonderful, kind, loving and funny girls I have. They have such a wonderful sense of humor. To the best of my knowledge, they have never had a cross word with each other. What wonderful daughters God blessed me with.

Anonymous said...

What wonderful daughters God blessed me with. They are so thoughtful and kind (and funny). To the best of my knowledge, they have never had a cross word between them. I love all three so much.

Anonymous said...

Oh my... you hit a nerve with your big sis on that one didn't ya?

Great memories girls and great pictures!

j said...

A plot twist.... hmmmm. Never a dull day at Valarie's place.

I love the way you can hear Lisa yelling at you when this starts... Valarie Lea!!

You ain't gettin' nothin' but coal this year chick.

Louise said...

You are too funny!
Those pics are fabulous :)
HUGS

Crayl said...

I remember the UGLY cheer. This was a great post, I felt like I was in the room with the two of you...love it! And you were the cutest little thing in those first photos! AND then you and your skinny self with full on double socks matching your shirt and giant hair! Fashionista, even if you were a goof ball! Obviously your talents were somewhere else other than cheerleading!

Ashley said...

Oh my goodness! This is just too funny! I am laughing so hard right now! I just love that your sister is chiming in here... too good, I tell ya! Your sister needs a blog, too, so we can hear all the really good Valarie stories! ;)

Amanda@Imperfectly Beautiful said...

Hilarious! Thanks for bringin back the "ugly" cheer, it never gets old! Girl...LOVE those acid washed tapered leg jeans. You were a fashionista!

a Tonggu Momma said...

The world already has enough cheerleaders. But it never has enough comedians. So go on acting goofy!

D... said...

Great pics! I do think it's a good thing you were never a cheerleader. You probably would have missed out on your true calling in life. Being a goofball is so much better than cheering. ;)

Ya'll are great! I bet holidays are so much fun!

Deta said...

I have laughed so much I'm crying. That was the funniest thing I have ever read. You 2 are too funny.

UtahJenny said...

I am dying - I have a sister and we definitely get along like ya'll! I agree that spending all the time cheerleading would have taken away from some of those great skills you highlighted!

And I LOVED the tongue sticking out in the photo - kids don't look right without a little bit of that tongue sticking out!