All The Single Ladies--For Nor

My friend, Nor, has asked all her loyal blog readers to contribute a Beyonce-inspired piece of performance art for her birthday this year. Last year we threw her a surprise party but she didn't think that was good enough :) ...The winner of the contest (did I mention it was a contest?) gets Betsey Johnson (Nor's favorite Designer) earrings! Oh, please! Let us win. If the kids aren't good enough dancers for you, we threw in a few shots of our husbands looking...eh, hot. Here you go, Nor!

This is the Beyonce video that started all this.

The kids (okay, and adults) loved watching the video on our (admittedly large) tv and trying to copy all the moves. We did it over, and over, and over again. For days and days in anticipation of the filming. The kids begged to dance to it several times a day. And this is what we came up with:



Since I can't imagine that these hilarious kids won't win this for me, I'll just give my acceptance speech now:

I would like to thank Robyn, for not only allowing her young boys to watch this crazy dance video over and over again in prep, but for bringing them just at bed-time to make this work. Oh, and by the way, she did the filming and editing! Thanks, Robyn! You're the best.

I would like to thank Cadence, Jacob, and Nicholas, for being hard-core dancers. Honestly, I'm really impressed with their ability to copy some of these moves. If you've seen the video as many times as I have, you'll recognize every attempt. Even little Nicholas (18 months) had some good booty-smacks and hip-shakes. You'll notice Jacob's excellent version of the "floor punch", and just watch his face as he watches the video and dances. He's so thoughtful and discerning. And Cadence has those hips down. Also, notice that just before the lyrics say something about drinking a cup, she does the move of holding a cup to her lips. Oh, these kids are so hilarious.

And finally, Thanks to Nor. This activity gave us hours of family entertainment. I can't tell you how much fun we all had dancing together, trying to do these ridiculous moves. It was a great idea and an excuse to get crazy.
And while we're on the topic of Nor, I'll just say a few things. Nor is so on top of things and confident that it's hard for me to compliment her. My little immature innervoice says, "She must know how practically perfect she is, like she needs to hear you say it!" Nor is highly educated, widely cultured, one of the most well-read people I know, and carries herself like a superstar. She knows celebrities, by the way. She has had every car (including a 67 Mustang!) and been everywhere. Oh, and her blog is way better than mine. But, like me, her husband is handsome and a genuinely charming, good guy. Like me, she is the mother of two of the cutest kids ever, and in spite of how much she sounds like a "woman of the world", she wants to have a whole brood--just like me! Family is most important to this woman who seems to have everything. So, why would she need my little country-bumpkin compliments? Tonight it's not about whether or not you need my compliments, Nor. I would just like to tell you that I think you are great. I've loved being your friend, because you are so interesting! Whether it is how much you know about Shakespeare or cars, or what kind of crazy thing you did when you were mad the other day....You are a great example of a person who puts family first and I love that you want to have so many kids, in spite of how much you love to wear bikinis! (Not saying you won't still look tip-top after 10 babies:) ). Anyway, thanks again for this fun activity you assigned us. I hope your birthday is the best ever.