Breezy's Graduation

My baby sister graduated from high school this year. Being the middle of nine children, it's such an odd feeling now that everyone is all grown up.

Joseph and I took Breezy and her BFF Lili out for a photoshoot for their senior graduation pics.

I think it turned out well. It really helps when your subjects are drop-dead gorgeous.

Things I have Learned from Zumba

1. It's all about the instructor. To experience the full joy of Zumba, you must have a fun, energetic, slightly crazy lady. (But not crazy to the extent that she makes up moves that involve you rubbing your tush. Dano and I didn't care for that instructor.)
2. No one cares that I don't know what I'm doing (they don't know what they're doing either!), so I may as well have some fun and jump around and make up my own steps.
3. Note to self: Never, EVER wear gray or yellow pants. Sweat shows on gray and the dark underwear underneath yellow just isn't pretty.
4. The old ladies are freaking awesome and I hope I am that spry when I have white hair.
5. I really respect the overweight ladies (and gentlemen) because they are trying.
6. If the instructor tells you to do something, you'd better do it. She may be tiny but she looks like she could do some damage.
7. Joseph is willing to give me money to go to class. I asked him if it was because he knows I have fun or if it was because he doesn't want me to get fat. He paused, then said, "Can it be both?"
8. The four to six people in the front are groupies and know all of the steps to all of the songs. If I can't see the instructor, I can follow one of them. Or watch them as I continue to make up my own steps.
9. It is important to wear the proper underwear. Dancing for a full hour with a wedgie is unpleasant. Doing this while standing behind the woman in the yellow pants and dark underwear is really unpleasant. Watching the woman in the yellow pants pick her wedgie and experiencing jealousy is extremely unpleasant.
10. After work when I change into my workout clothes, it's really important to remember my second application of deodorant.
11. It hurts less when I smile.
12. I can gauge how hard I worked by licking my upper lip and testing the sweat content.

Adirondack Chairs

I love the beach, and the ultimate beach chair is an Adirondack. I fell in love the first time Joseph and I were in Belize, and have wanted some ever since. They sell some gorgeous ones at World Market, but they're over $100 for just one chair. Joseph and I have been looking around for years, but we could not find one for an affordable price.

Until we went to Home Depot, and ran across this:

It's unfinished, but it was $29.99. Joseph and I really hate painting, but we weren't willing to spend an extra $70+ (per chair!) just to get out of painting.

We picked up two boxes, picked out colors, and went to work.

Just in time for summer.