The wedding reception was a hoot. Cooper really came out of his shell and let his feet do the talking (read: danced his little tail feathers off). Mark and I decided to just let him loose without hovering too closely because we loved the fact that he felt so comfortable around so many unfamiliar faces. We did have to step in a couple of times when he tried to pull up a chair next to random individuals with yummy plates full of food. For the most part he stayed on the dance floor. I really talked up the fact that he was going to a party with lots of kids beforehand so that he would be excited. He tried his best to talk to some kids but sadly, his shy little voice didn't quite get their attention. He walked up to some older boys that were playing with bubbles and said "Hi kids, this is my Mommy and this is my Daddy". It melted my heart when I heard it, but either they didn't hear him or just weren't that interested in meeting us (go figure). Apparently, stranger kids don't think Mark and I are as cool as Cooper does.
Cooper then decided he would spend the rest of the evening dancing. And boy did he ever. Mark tried to capture a video of our little bluegrass buddy but the video was taken as things were winding down. It was more of his "cool down" dance.
Bluegrass Wedding from A Mendonca on Vimeo.
The Bluegrass band was a hit. They gave him a copy of their CD and said he made quite the groupie. If it weren't for them being from Georgia, I think Mark and I would consider letting Cooper watch them again. Crazy thing was, they told us some parents paid them $1000 to play a 30 minute set for their 2yr old's birthday party!!!!!!!!!
Cooper was especially fond of the fiddle player. He sat on the stage while he was packing things up. The guy was so sweet to Cooper and talked to him like he was a fellow musician rather than a 2 year old. The conversation went a little something like this:
Fiddler Player: Would you like to learn to play the fiddle?
Cooper: ****Nods his head as if to say HECK YES I WOULD******
Fiddler Player (speaking in the typical Georgia Bluegrass Twang): Okay then, I'd suggest you start off with a 16.
Me (listening from afar and thinking to myself): What the HELL is a 16?????? Crap. Do I need to be taking notes?????
Fiddler Player: Make sure you tell your Mom and Dad that you should start playing right away. I reckon you'll make a mighty fine fiddle player.
Cooper: Okay. Again nodding his head and looking at him as if he just met a Super Hero.
Me (thinking to myself): Crap, I missed the best photo op. Cooper with the fiddle. Damn, I wish I had my camera!!! Mark, where the hell are you? I need a picture of this.
Here's a picture after I scrambled to find Mark, the fiddle was packed up and the conversation was over. The poor guy just wanted to pack up and start his drive to Marietta so I didn't have the heart to ask him to re-enact the scene so that some crazy Mom could have him pose with her son, The Future Fiddle player.
On our drive home, Mark had the best idea EVER. Since we don't go to church, my efforts at finding a nearby Playgroup have failed and Cooper really needs to get out more, we have decided to become Wedding Crashers. I guess I need to subscribe to the local newspaper and start reading the wedding announcements :).
Oh, and in case you were wondering how Cruz spent the evening. He enjoyed himself doing what he does best: sleeping and looking cute.
