Tuesday, June 5, 2012

For the Love of Country Dance Halls

Some of my fondest childhood memories are formed around old country dance halls.  My sister and I spent almost every weekend at my grandparent's house.  My grandparents still have a more active social life than I do.  Nearly every weekend, they went to dances and still do today.  My sister and I would dance with our grandparents, with each other, and occasionally with the "red-haired boys" after the older couples had scolded them for sliding across the slick dance floor on their knees.  We gained a love for dancing in those old country dance halls dancing to the tune of "Rose-Colored Glasses" and "Silver Wings" ending the night curled up on piles of blankets laid under the tables.  

This past weekend we celebrated Jim's cousin's wedding.  The wedding was back in April in another state, so they held a reception in our hometown for those who couldn't make it.  The twins didn't make the long roadtrip last time, but they certainly made up for any fun they may have missed at the reception.  

Brenna and Camdyn found some friends to dance with right away.
   

Cade convinced his older cousin, Blake, into helping him reach food off the snack table.  You would never guess that Cade ever didn't like to eat!  He now wants everything!


Camdyn was more interested in showing off her dance moves.


More of her great dance moves.  We have a video on Jim's phone of her doing a country line dance that is hilarious, but I'm having trouble getting it off his phone.  She was kicking and stomping right along to the music!


Camdyn found some friends to dance with too.  I would say her social skills are pretty good.  She went right up to these little girls, held hands, and started spinning in circles.  It was so cute.


Brenna danced with her second cousins, Landon and Parker, all night. 


Who needs therapy when you have red Solo cups, Hershey kisses, wedding bubbles, and Grandma and Grandpa?  Cade and Camdyn were totally enthralled with putting the Hershey kisses that were laying on the tables into the cups then pouring one cup into another.  I was quite impressed with their pouring skills.



Grandpa and Camdyn practiced blowing bubbles.


Grandma and Cade filled cups, emptied cups, and filled cups again!  An added benefit of the "Hershey kiss/Red solo cup therapy" program is that you get to eat a Hershey kiss every now and then.


After all that dancing and playing, it was cuddle time.  I soak up the cuddle time whenever I can. 


What could be better than being rocked to sleep?  Being danced to sleep, of course.



I'm sure I too have been danced to sleep although I don't remember it.  As a little girl, I remember learning how to dance by standing on top of my grandpa's feet as he stepped in time to the music making his way around the dance floor.  If there is such a thing as learning through osmosis, sleeping on creaky, worn dance floors must be the way to acquire rhythm.  At first, the bass permeates your body almost intrusively.  Gradually it begins to beat in rhythm with your own heartbeat while the vibration of the wood dance floor soothes you to sleep.  Or . . . you're just so darned tired from all that dancing and staying up way past your bedtime that you can't help but fall asleep!

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