The Nutcracker

We wanted to throw Clara her first big birthday party this year. She's only ever had a few friends over to the house for her birthday. Although last year she did have a pizza party with 3 friends and their siblings. But only because I had a two week old baby and there was no way I was letting anyone see my house in it's postpartum condition. Anyway, back to my point.

It just wasn't working out to have the large party we wanted to have because the place was unavailable for the date we needed, so I offered Clara an alternative. The Nutcracker ballet with one friend and her mom. She was on board with that idea, especially after I read her the book and got really excited as the day drew near. She invited Leah and Becky to join us for her special birthday treat.

The Wortham Center was decorated beautifully for Christmas with this huge Christmas tree.

And then there was the massive gingerbread house that the girls' drooled over. I had to snatch Clara from the other side of the velvet rope and explain exactly what the velvet rope was trying to accomplish.

Ready for the show!

Oh my, Clara was squirmy. She would be really interested, and then get bored and then the story would pick up again and the scene would change so she'd get still again. And then a dance would be a little too long for her taste. It was a little touch and go for a good portion of the second half. I found that if I put her in my lap and whispered what was happening and remind her of the story, she did better. Her favorite part was when Clara was in her bed and the mice were trying to get her and she was hitting them on the head with her pillow. She also enjoyed the dancers that flew across the stage. I'm not quite sure what they were because I don't think they were in the version we read.

My favorite quotes during the show were, "Are those ladies wearing panties because I can't see any." (Referring to the ballerinas when their skirts came up.) And then there was the classic, "He's doing a girlie dance". And my favorite, "Another dance!" followed by a loud sigh as some dancers came back out in costumes that we had already seen. The first two were whispers that only I heard. The last one got a laugh out of Becky two seats down it was so loud.

We hit the bathroom at intermission and then let them twirl around in their pretty dresses to get some energy out. Ok, so Clara could get some energy out. Leah actually sat still the entire time. I really enjoyed the show and would love to make it a yearly tradition for Clara and I, but we'll have to see if she is interested next year. She says she enjoyed it, but I think she more enjoyed the excitement of the day. I definitely need to take her to some child friendly performances because I think she would love them.