Nutcracker!

Last night we all went to see Nutcracker. All except Lizzy that is. I was so stressed by the time we got out the door, I was swearing to all the kids that this is their last time. The boys were mad because someone was actually trying to peel them away from stupid Cartoon Network for one single evening.

"We hate ballet."

"This is going to be so boring."

"We've already seen this, we could tell you the whole thing from beginning to end."

I really think I hated my own children by the time we left. Yes, hated. However, once the ballet started, things started to look up. We had pretty good seats and Carolina Ballet continues to rock my world. I just love that company. I've seen so many of their productions that I have my favorite principal dancers and I watch for them. The kids' favorite part was the duel between the Rat King and the Nutcracker. There is even a calico cat in this version, which Lucy LOVES of course. I can never figure out if the cat is on the good side or the bad side, she doesn't really do much to help either side except dancing around and grooming herself. Just like a true cat.

I find it so interesting to do some "people-watching" at events like this. There was a family in front of us, a mother, father, and two girls, maybe 10 and 12. In the entire time we were there, I honestly didn't see any of the family speak to each other. Maybe once or twice. The father looked straight ahead and looked like he would rather be getting his nosehairs plucked than be there. The mother was on her phone for a few minutes, and then off, and still hardly looked at the girls. The girls were not sitting together and didn't interact at all either. So odd...I wondered what's the story here? Where is the love in this family? The girls were well-accomplished at giving very crusty looks though. Lucy sat as still as a soldier most of the time, because she was very mesmerized and a little sleepy, but if she even shifted her legs and softly tapped the seat in front of her by accident, the little girl would turn around and GLARE at us. After about 30 times, I wanted to smack her!

Anyway, it made me so grateful that even though the kids fought a little on the way there and giggled and teased a lot, at least there is conversation in our family. Things are good for us. We are so fortunate.