The day of the Nutcracker came, and in true Cinderella style, Hailey got to open another Christmas present early and wear her new dress to the ballet. (The invitation did say "formal attire"). John snapped a picture before we ran out the door.
As we were pulling up to the theater, we ran into a parade of about 300 Santas on bikes! I got a shot of the tail end. It's hard to take pictures and drive at the same time. Calm down now, I was at a stop light. I have no idea what that was all about, except a sign that magic was around us downtown. Crazy things happen when you decide to have a fairy-tale day.
We were a little behind schedule (those Santas slowed us down) so we had to run to the theater from the car. Hailey ran with her propeller legs, feet and knees flying everywhere, yelling in what I can only assume was an attempt at an English accent for what reason, I don't know "Huurry, Huurry! We'w gooing to be laate for the bah-let!!" Here's Hailey now settled down and in quiet theater-patron mode.
And the Nutcracker was magical. Hailey shot off her barrage of comments and questions in rapid-fire action the whole time, in an appropriate library whisper. And I let her. And giggled with her. And she sat on my lap, and cuddled with me and showered me with kisses the whole time. I let myself be comfortable with that.
Hailey brought her Nutcracker and held on to it the whole time. Her new dream is to be Clara.
We had a wonderful time together and learned a little more about what Hailey is all about. There are not many four-years-old who are born avid theater-goers, and I saw plenty of little children squirming and crying and ready to leave after the second number. Hailey drank it all in and would have sat watching for another hour. I have a greater respect for who I am raising.
The icing on the cake for Hailey was visiting and getting her picture taken with some of the dancers. she especially loved the mouse.
For those of you asking "Was Nora just left out of all of this?" the answer is yes. But we brought her home a little ornamet. She'll have her day in a few years.
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5 comments:
How fun! I went to the Nutcracker every year until I was about 20, and haven't been since. I can't wait to take Annie! I can see Hailey sitting there, loving every minute of it!
What a special experience! I'm sure Hailey will remember it for a long time.
hmmm, I've been accused of being a bit dramatic myself, but I am going to have to agree with Hailey on this one, you just might be the best mom in the whole wide world.
See, this is why I only have girls, so that I can dress them up and go to the theater with them. Oh, that's right, I have no girls.--It looks like it's another trip to the Motocross tack for me. It looks like it's going to be a Merry Christmas after all.
p.s. I really do love my children. That last comment was a little disturbing.
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