Fun Weekend!

We've had a crazy busy weekend thus far. Friday night, I went back to the dance studio for the first time in about a year and a half. They were having their weekly dance party but the dance lesson for the evening was the "shag." I had to go to that! We learned the proper technique during our lesson and then the dance party was the rest of the night. I danced a few times; I danced a rhumba, the cha-cha, the shag, a fox-trot (which I don't really like). Lots of my old friends I took dancing with several years ago were there and I had a great time.

When I got home, Joe and I decided to go out (after 10:30 PM). We went to The Mont (a local college icon that's been there since Joe was in school - all the old Normanites hang out there), sat on the patio and had a drink. Kristen and Kaitlyn couldn't believe I was actually out after 10:00 on a Friday night.

Kristen's birthday was Saturday; she turned 22. She wanted me to make her favorite cake. I made her the "flag" cake with strawberries and blueberries. She came home and we took her to Texas Roadhouse for a birthday luncheon. We didn't embarrass her and tell them it was her birthday or they would have made her sit in a saddle and sing to her.


This weekend in Oklahoma City, the city is hosting the U.S. Conference of Mayors where all the mayors across the United States can come for a conference and some super fun. They have different activities on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening. Joe asked me what would I like to participate in and I said the hoedown on Saturday evening. Friday evening's event was in Bricktown, where they had the Taste of Bricktown, then the afterparty at The Skirvin Hotel. Last night, we went to the Oklahoma Hoedown at State Fair Park, and the afterparty was at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art (we didn't go there). Tonight, there is Flaming Lips concert and something else going on.

When we got to the hoedown, they give you a hat and you can have your picture taken. We decided we wanted a black and white one instead of color.

Outside the Express Personnel Clydesdales and stagecoach were on display for the mayors.

Inside they had a dance area set up (I'm guessing) like the Oklahoma Opry and the Red Dirt Rangers were playing "Red Dirt Music."

The tables were set up real cute. Your silverware was rolled up in a bandana which you could keep. I tied mine around my hat. The food was WONDERFUL. They served Made in Oklahoma products (from the Griffin's jams to the bison meat). There was a full-service bar with everything you could want for free.

The Oklahoma State pom girls were there (I guess to make it seem more "cowboy"). Joe couldn't resist going into enemy territory to have his picture made with them.

I had a glass of wine before dinner and a budweiser after.

They had several games set up around the arena. Horseshoes, calf roping, and mechanical bullriding. Here's Joe receiving instruction on roping the mechanical calf.

Trying his best to capture the calf. Never did it though.

As we were getting ready to leave they had a different picture booth set up. We both got into the picture but it really looks better if there is only one (we discovered after). It looks like you're riding a horse looking at a bull charging you.

Here's a very quick video of Joe riding the mechanical bull. The guy controlling the bull was really just circling the bull around. I missed Joe's first opportunity because of my camera "operator" error. So I got this one which wasn't as good, plus Joe had had a couple of drinks beforehand. I'm surprised it didn't make him sick!

Today, we're taking the girls to the lake again. That is if Kristen isn't too hungover from celebrating her birthday with friends last night!