The Nutcracker

I brought my children to the local production of The Nutcracker today. I was really dreading it--dreading the ballet itself (not being a very "ballet person" at all), dreading the crowds, dreading the parking, dreading the purchase of tickets, and of course, dreading the possible behaviors of my seat mates.

However, I loved it so much that tonight I am googling to see if there is another Nutcracker performance near enough to go to. What really is a "ballet person" anyhow?

Both children cried out (appropriately) with joy and excitement along with the rest of the crowd. They clapped at the right times and I looked over and they were really loving it--all of it, the sword fighting, the dancing, the stage explosions...

even M!-- who was dealing with personal jealousy because her classmates were performing as angels and mice and she wasn't...

There were molasses and chocolate chip cookies at Intermission of which I bought six and ate one. Somehow the math doesn't add up but I don't want to be greedy. There was a reasonable line for the bathrooms. All around, everything was excellent....except for the woman in red who felt it was okay to budge in front of children for cookies...BUT, I was having such a good time that I just smiled at her.

I am posting pictures (not very good ones, but no flash photography was allowed and I AM a rule follower...)

T brought his Transformers blanket and his Spiderman pillow pet. I was gonna let these kids bring just about anything to keep them quiet and good.

M brought her Rescue Kitty and her bracelet.

 Below is M being a candy cane at home after the show. She loved the striped dancers that were gymnastically enabled. She shouted at them as we were leaving. "I love you guys. You guys were awesome!"

T didn't shout at anyone. He did however note that, "Those guys were pretty cool. I would do that if I didn't have to wear tights."

1st position

See my child? She's the ONLY one in the photo that is blurred from her near constant motion. She has the very sturdy leotard and wildly swinging hair and arms. Oh, good-luck-to-you-ballet-instructor...

One Flew Over

This is the mental hospital where they filmed One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. I haven't seen the movie, but plan to. The hospital has been recently remodeled and now contains a museum dedicated to mental health.

I toured it with a friend. She was convinced that when this photo was processed there would be a ghostly image in the room. It's just me though, and I'm darn good-looking.

The museum had a lot of articles/artifacts from mental health care-spanning the last hundred years or so. Many of the other types of items they had were things that you would find in any home. They had a sewing machine cabinet like the one I have---except mine is Minnesota brand and theirs was Sears or something.

Below is where my friend had to pay my admission fee, which I still owe her for. I don't know why I never think to bring cash anywhere. :(

There was a tunnel system under the building. This tunnel system was one of the more rumored and criticized aspects of the old hospital system. They did not allow tours but they had this mock-up of the tunnel system.

I will go back. They had a lot to look at. 

http://oshmuseum.wordpress.com/

The Sword in the Planter

...Cleaning up the yard for Winter and I cannot draw the sword from the planter. I guess this means I will not be King of England. Shucks.

Phoebe's clothes!

We are opening the big 4t tub of clothes from the good Ms. Phoebe today. Although we are seeking Fall and Winter items, M could not resist trying on some of the Summer stuff too!

Fabric Ghosts!

I think they are cute. Frank seemed interested in the "crafty" project. T seemed a little ashamed of them. M was worried that I had destroyed toys to make them, and Mom said, "Is that good fabric that you used?" So many Chiefs in my home. Sigh.

Monkeys

There is a diner near here that has a room with a live monkey in it. The whole diner is "monkey-themed" and the kids have enjoyed going there to watch the monkey.
We got ice cream and M had a learning experience; that not all colored items on top of ice cream are sprinkles:(

Activities...

Sometimes I look at my children and I fear for their psyches. I think they are SO odd and they spend their time doing SUCH odd activities--things I cannot even post here because it freaks me out so.
People assure me that children are just odd little creatures, and, not to worry, statistically many children grow up to be happy and functioning adults.
But still I worry and fear for their psyches.
However, sometimes, they surprise me with an activity that seems surprisingly normal and healthy. Tonight, they made a list of exercises:

and they proceeded to mark off each exercise as they did them. There was a sibling altercation prior to checking off soccer and basketball...and there was a small argument between the mom and the son about what exactly a Burpee should look like (and how it should be spelled), so it didn't make the list...but other than that, this was a good night.


Post-script, 10/5:
I turned over the paper this morning and saw that he had added my exercise suggestion...not the spelling I suggested, but at least my exercise wasn't ignored completely.

Auntie vs. Mommy

as determined by one of Mard's drawings. I feel sort of afterthoughtish. Afterthoughtish is not a real word, but how could I even know many real words with my head being so small and malformed?

Saturday morning lie-in...

Sometimes, on a morning off, a person just wants to have a bit of a lie-in and not be disturbed by rascals...and since it is likely illegal and, most definitely, immoral to medicate them the evening prior, then one must hand them an electronic device the moment they arrive in the bedroom. However, once the device has been handed over, then a person must relinquish creative control.

And expect that things might not go as anticipated....

If the invading rascals are technologically advanced then they may be able to turn on special camera settings...
And come up with some fantastical imagery...

Some of which may look like it comes from a paranormal film...

Or this, reverse coloring...

Or this, no coloring...

Or this...AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

I think I peed a little.

Top tooth!

Last week T discovered that his top front tooth was wiggly. He knew that treats from the tooth fairy would be forthcoming and so he wiggled it right away and worked to get it out. However, it didn't come out until he had a tantrum in the parking lot of the Kmart and it was knocked out (by his motion, thankfully, and not mine...)

We picked it up off the parking lot ground, dusted it off, and still placed it under his pillow that night. The tooth fairy delivered Mike and Ike candies and five bucks in cold, hard cash. T shared with his sister and I frequently look in the rear view mirror and see her pulling at her teeth!

Multi-tasking

M decided this AM that it was time to give herself a pedicure. 

She then proceeded to tell me that she was also going to give herself a "quick" manicure too, to "save some time."

Finally, I walked by the bathroom door and she had both feet in the water, one hand in the water, and was brushing her hair and spraying detangler with the other hand. What a good multi-tasker.

Cast Iron Dawg

Is this what they mean when they say to clean the cast iron pans without soap? ...Anyone ever eating at my house again?

Corned Beef

The canned corned beef for supper felt like a fine culinary experiment until somebody pulled out the, "Hey! Look how big my tongue is!" prank.

First Pedicure

She was so good and sat so still. She conversed politely with the pedicurist.

New Year's Eve day