Dance Party

Merrit, in particular, has been known to cut a rug or two at weddings...eh, Durenda and Page? Yesterday's Royal Wedding was no different. Ollie got in on the action, too.

Beach Party for William and Kate

Today is the big day. The wedding.  Everyone has been abuzz this week, counting down the days to the Royal Wedding. To be here, in the U.K., for this historic and fun event was pretty cool. We were invited by a friend to head down to a beachfront restaurant that was hosting a party. Which was fine, because the alternative was just sad: The boys and I watching the BBC all day here in the living room!

We arrived at the restaurant at 10am, and grabbed a table near the TV. The boys and I were with a group of three couples and four kids. (Mike had to work. Boo. Hiss. That's not very patriotic.) The 10-pound entry fee for me (kids = free) covered a cup of tea on arrival, a barbeque lunch, face painting for the kids, a children's entertainer who had dances, games, and prizes for the kids, an appearance by a Kate Middleton look-alike, and a glass of Pimm's to toast the new couple for their kiss on the balcony.

We finally left at about 4pm, walked home, and the boys promptly took naps on the couch. They spent most of the day dancing outside or running on the beach, so they were primed to crash. And they did. For my part, I wanted more, so I flipped on the BBC and am watching even more of the coverage, even as I type this. Recaps of the day's high points: The ceremony, the carriage ride, the horses, the balcony kiss, the crowds, the Aston Martin. Designers discussing the wedding gown, the morning suits, and all the fab hats. Coverage of parties in the streets and pubs across the country. It's all just too much fun. It's probably just as well that Mike had to work. By this point, he'd be SO done.

Here's our day in pictures:

Shop windows are all done up. Here's one charity shop window.

Congratulations banners in many shop windows.

Another charity shop window. Passed this one on our walk to the restaurant.

The view from where I sat. One of the boys in our group brought a bouquet of
pink roses for our table. Sweet.

Merrit's friend Jacob getting his face painted.

The boys ordering at the bar.
Water.

Playing a game called Pass the Parcel. Sort of like Musical Chairs; when
the music stops, if you're holding the bag, you unzip it and claim your prize
and pass it on for the next round. The bag is sort of like those Russian dolls:
A bag inside a bag inside a bag and so on. Cute game. 

Bunting.

The adults got in on the face painting, too.

Ollie didn't want face paint, though.

A patriotic gent.

Doing the hokey pokey. The smoke is from the barbeque grill.

A toast!

Playing outside with friends.

New friend Joanne and her son.

New friend Steph and her daughter.

The view from the restaurant window.

Ollie taking a breather before more dance-partying.

The kids had great fun on the beach.
The weather was decent; some spattering of rain
here and there. Warmer in the morning but right cold
by the mid-afternoon.

I thought barbeques were downright American...?

Well, the Cumberland sausages gave this meal a bit more of a British flair.

Listening to the Kate Middleton-esque singer performing.

Royal Wedding Dance

It's the buzz on the street, everywhere you go. The Royal Wedding. No word yet on whether or not our street will be throwing a street party. Secretly, I'm hoping that someone on the street will; I think that would be so awesome.

To get this party started, I have to share this video. Cred: I found it first at Carrieloves.com.