James Bond is my husband

We had such a great time on our recent trip to Chicago. My sweet hubby hadn't worn a tux since our wedding day and he looked quite dapper!

Product credits: Template from the Life is Amazing 2 pack by Fiddle Dee Dee Designs at Scrap Orchard; Papers, embellies and word art all from Little Black Dress Kit by WM {Squared} at Scrap Orchard; Journaling font: Avenir

Project Life: Week 15 & 16 (5/15-5/28)

As all the school year sports and the school year itself wrapped themselves up, there didn’t seem to be a whole lot going on these two weeks. Either that, or I was just busy and didn’t really document the daily stuff. Either way it’s just fine, and I was perfectly content combining two week on one page and calling it done.

I included Bryce’s heat time card from the last day of swimming. He’s looking forward to starting again in the fall. It will be interesting to see what his times look like after the first session. It’s funny that the two major events of the whole time span, actually both happened on the Saturdays: Summer’s first horse show (5/28), and our first neighborhood block party (5/21).

Summer ended up riding this horse, GE, in her very first horse show. She did so well, and we are incredibly proud of her. She ended up getting both a 3rd place ribbon, as well as a 5th place ribbon. She wasn’t particularly thrilled that she had to ride GE in the show. He is such a sweet horse, and we’re thankful he survived his lip cancer. However, because he has to wear a special bridle with no bit, it’s a tad more difficult to steer him. But she did just fine. The consensus is that because he’s a special horse, he needed a special rider, and she certainly fits the bill there!

The block party was a huge success. Every one of our neighbors participated and we even had neighbors and friends from the adjoining areas. Since we had a DJ the atmosphere was fun all night, particularly during the group dances.

The kids had a riot and some of the adults acted like the kids! The boys even set up all the skateboarding stuff and they were busy doing tricks in the street with the lights highlighting their tricks. As you can see by the photo, Bryce certainly felt like the King of the World!

Popular vote says this is an event that is definitely worth repeating. I was happy our plans worked out as this was the first time that I had planned a block party. I’m happy to report that I’m in the preliminary stages of planning our next block party to bid summertime adieu.

Note to self: Dance like no one’s looking

It's been so long since I danced. I'm not exactly sure why. I used to dance all the time, every chance I got. Weekends were all centered on where we were going to go to dance,what clubs had the best DJs, what we were going to wear to dance, when would be the next party, and the list goes on. Somehow over the years I stopped dancing. It didn't happen overnight. Just gradually, there were less opportunities to dance, life got into that settled (albeit happy) but content phase and movies on the couch or dinners with friends were more the norm. My husband is not a dancer, he's wonderful in every other way so that certainly wasn't a deal breaker, but it did make me a little sad. Maybe I knew all those years ago that if he didn't dance that I may not dance either. Well, I guess I did let that happen. Shame on me. A few weeks ago a wonderful thing happened. I was at a football party (of all places, because I am so not a sports person) and all of the ladies went to sit out on the porch and some this song came on that hit all of us and almost simultaneously we all just started dancing. It was like it was instinct or something primal - but boy was it wonderful. I am quite out of shape and it was exhausting and exhilarating and wonderful all at the same time. It brought back a feeling that I haven't had in a long time, almost a childlike happiness for no particular reason. So today, when I finally had everyone out of the house, with lunches packed and backpacks appropriately checked – I plugged myself in and sang at the top of my lungs with my spotted banana microphone 

and danced and twirled around my kitchen like a little kid just because I could – I feel awesome! I think I'm going to do this more often. So whatever you are doing right now – STOP – get up, crank up your favorite tunes and dance (even if you have to go hide in a bathroom somewhere) – it'll be worth it, trust me. Let me know how it goes – have a dancing day!

P.S. Thanks Julie & Trish