So February 2 is an important day in my larger extended family–we have two beautiful family members who share this birthday. Both of these lovely people also happened to pass away in the summer of 2017, which left the question…what do we do on February 2? How can we honor them in a positive way, while also being conscientious and respectful that celebrating them in no way trivializes the very real loss we still feel by their absences?

I took a stab at this, inspired by the love for all things fun that each of these people embodied, in their own ways, during their lives. I declared February 2 to be FUN APPRECIATION DAY and invited others in the family to do something–anything–that they found fun. Big or little, complex or simple–it didn’t matter. But to honor their memories by consciously doing something fun.

February 2 fell on a Friday and as luck would have it, Mike and I had a fancy-smancy party to attend and Sugar Bear was going to stay home and party all night with her sweet babysitter Sarah.

But first, after work that day, I busted open a bottle of bubbly and handed Sugar Bear a mini champagne bottle (containing champagne jelly bellies). We cranked up Frank Sinatra’s “Luck Be a Lady” and twirled around the kitchen. She was over the MOON excited about this fun, spontaneous dance party and new toy!

Could you get any more excitement out of a mini champagne bottle of jelly beans?!? I tried to show her how to use it as a microphone but she was more interested in eating it (surprising nobody) and then shaking it wildly like a rattle.

Mike and I got ready for our fancy night out on the town and got a quick family shot. Caroline really wanted to grab my teeth. It’s a new thing.

We traveled all of .5 miles down the street to the Army Navy Club. You know, where the Joint Chiefs of Staff hold luncheons. Where presidents play golf. And, once a year, where the Forest Hills HOA holds their Winter Formal. The theme this year was “A Night at the Oscars” and the place was so festive. The Social Committee did a great job.

Here we are enjoying some of our favorite neighbors. The young lady in the middle is one of our favorites and is wearing the dress she wore to Kennedy’s Inaugural Ball. Yes, that one–in 1964.

We had a delightful night. It was nice to get all dolled up and attend a fancy event.

The decorations were Oscar-worthy and we were the real winners that night when we got to take a few home with us. The next morning, there was a pretty happy little lady who was greeted by these!

Happy Fun Appreciation Day to everyone!