Beach Party!

Yes, you read the title correctly, we went to a Beach Party today!  The AFC (Arlington Family Connection) hosted an indoor beach party at a local school's gym.  We haven't been to any other functions hosted by the group, but not for lack of interest so I was excited to take Finley today.  Dan's been down in NC since Friday coaching frisbee, so this event was timed perfectly!

We nearly froze walking from the parking lot into the gym, but once inside it was sunny and warm with music blaring and balloons flying.  Finley tried to take it all in, but there was a lot so we dropped off our beach tote along the wall before diving into the activities.  We kicked beach balls around, went fishing using magnet polls in a kiddie pool, and dug for ocean tattoos.  Finley did well managing all the people and kids rushing by and since he was in his crocs and shark sweatshirt, he almost looked like he was at the beach.  When we were close to the DJ's table, he busted out dancing and it was adorable.  He even asked me join him so we danced together and I thought, where is Dan with the video camera now??  Then, we did a couple of art projects using stamps (just like we had used this morning to make valentines of his friends at Beth's).  He even said to me, "put in ink and then stamp, mommy"--what an excellent student!

I tried to get him to touch the shells of the hermit crabs in the touch tank that came from the New England Aquarium, but no dice.  He was happy enough to push my hand into the frigid water and laugh.  We blew up some balloons to toss around and then it was pizza time.  We got our slices and spread out our beach towel to picnic on.  Finley requested that I cut his kid slice (already 1/2 as big as regular slice), but I explained there were no knives or forks and he would have to pick it up and bite it.  He seemed unsure, but watched me and then went to town.

Soon after, a little girl sat near us and had the same conversation with her father about cutting her pizza but he pointed out how "that little boy"  was eating it like a big kid.  She watched and then devoured her slice.  What a role model!  Some girls from the town dance studio did some hula dancing and Finley loved the Hawaiian tunes and started swaying his head back and forth to the music.

(is that picture priceless or what???)

We took a brief Hokey Pokey break (he watched more than danced, but in his defense it was a crowded dance circle) and then returned to our blanket for some ice cream hoodsies!  I could tell the chocolate side wasn't up his alley, so I helped him scoop around it for the vanilla.  Hm, all three of us don't like chocolate ice cream...hoodsies probably won't be in our family's future since there will be no one to be the chocolate yin to our vanilla yangs :)

The music pumped up again and Finley grabbed his balloon and got to dancing. These are blurry for obvious reasons, but worth seeing :)

Then, he asked me to hold his balloon so he could dance while eating his pizza crust.

Looks like our little guy is quite the dancer!  Even after I convinced him to put on his coat and hat so we could go, he continued to dance and got lots of enthusiastic compliments from other beach-goers.  I have to admit, I was quite proud!