The Great Layout Makeover Challenge

I am here today with this challenge for the CKCB. It was my turn for the next contribution, and it kind of goes against my policy of not redoing my pages, but I'm always up for a challenge, so I powered on. First order of business was to go through my old scrapbook pages/albums, until I saw a page that I thought needed to be redone. I found one from way back in the early 2000s, and decided to go with it.
Here is my original page:

(Please excuse the terrible photo, it was a cell phone snap at night, and I totally forgot to retake the photo before I tore it apart).

Here is what the design team liked:
*the blue color
*the title
*the cute little guy ;-)
*the photos across the page(some felt it was too busy, though)

Suggestions:
*black and white the photos (I chose not to do this simply because they are so busy. I like my black and white photos to be simple and striking)
*having the journaling on a card or tag, and tucking it in somewhere
*use blues-some felt darker, some said lighter blue. The Shimelle True Stories collection was suggested
* bring in some red to tie in the red sweater
*use a square formation for the photos
*trim the photos to eliminate the background
*use Thickers
*use only the three photos on the right
*reduce the photos down to two

I tried to think about all of their suggestions as I was putting my layout back together, although I did have to do it my own way, and include the things that made the page feel complete to me. My favorite part of this challenge: I developed my story more in the process, as I was explaining the layout to the girls, so I included that on my finished layout design.
Would you like to see my finished product?

Here is the updated layout:

I separated the three dancing photos from the other one, which I gave a little more prominence with its own photo mat. I tucked the journaling in on tags, and used a kraft background to ground the photos and the wood tones. I added red as suggested, in bits from Say Cheese, Shimelle's True stories did make a small appearance (can you spot it?), along with a few bits from my September kit. I even got a little bit of light and navy blue in there! What do you think? Better? If you make over any pages, link me up! I'd love to see!