Weekend of Memories

On to last weekend!  We started off last weekend with what is becoming our tradition, going to the Nutcracker Ballet at Ohio Theater.  We bought the tickets in July, and Hannah has pretty much been excited since then.  She talked about it all the time.  When the week finally came, she was bouncing off the walls every night.  That Friday during the day, she had to go to daycare, and I think she talked about it all day.  I picked her up, and she screamed, "Is it time for the Nutcracker?!!"  She bounded to me faster than she ever has.  One of her little friends said, "I want to go to the Nutcracker."  It was kind of sad.  So we changed the girls at daycare into their dresses, and got them some dinner.  Then we headed downtown.  Whenever we are driving with the girls into downtown, they always say, "We're coming to the city!"  It's so funny, like we live in the sticks.  We kind of do, but it's not that far out of town. They love all of the lights in downtown, and during Christmas everything is decorated.  We parked by Columbus Commons, which was all decked out in lights.

Ohio Theatre is so beautiful, and I'm thankful that we have it in Columbus.  The girls feel like princesses there.  Speaking of which, as soon as we walked in the door, Cinderella was there, marketing for another show.  Emma was mesmerized.  She went right up to her.  It was over.  Right there.  Nothing could have been better for Emma than that moment.  Of course, the first thing that Laura and Hannah needed to do was use the restroom.  So off we went to stand in line.  Then we looked around for a while and took a few pictures.

So you will notice that I mentioned Emma.  Yes, we took Emma with us to the show.  I knew it was a risk but thought that she might enjoy it or she would at least fall asleep.  Well, we weren't so successful in the first act.  We made it about ten minutes into the show, and I had to leave with her.  We hung out in the lobby area, and she danced about and sang and played.  The ushers and staff enjoyed talking to her, and she enjoyed entertaining them.  And of course we ran into Cinderella again.  She bent down to Emma's level, and Emma held her face in her hands and told her she was beautiful.  She's only two, so she probably won't remember any of it.  But she can read this years later and know that she loved Cinderella that night.  The second act she did a little better.  We made it through anyway.  She was getting really tired, so she was very restless and constantly moving from my lap to Matt's lap to the seat.  But towards the end she was falling asleep on the seat.  Laura was asleep by the end of the show too.  But not Hannah!  Hannah loved it!

At the end of the show, the girls wanted to go look at the orchestra pit again.  They had looked several times prior to the show.  But most of the musicians had cleared out fairly fast.  Matt's friend from band, Doug Droste, was the conductor, and he graciously offered to show the girls back stage.  I think they were really too tired to appreciate it.  But it was really cool.  Thank you Doug.  What a treat!

The excitement didn't end after that night.  Even into this week, Hannah and Laura wanted to bring their nutcrackers to school to show their friends.  I think nutcrackers will always be a part of our Christmas tradition.

They really didn't want their picture taken.

Saturday Laura had basketball again, and she loved it.  She is bummed that they are off for a week now.  I'm so happy she likes it.  I again took the little girls to the store while Matt was with Laura, and they did so well!  I was so proud of them.  Often the store is a challenge, but little Miss Hannah has become quite the helper.  She helped me get things, and she helps entertain her little sister.   Then Saturday night, we headed out to see the Zoo Lights.  We have been to this event many times in the last several years, BUT never on the weekend.  Now I know why.  We had a great time....once we got there.  Traffic was terrible and backed up for miles trying to get to the zoo.  When we finally got there, it was soooo packed.  Thankfully the kids and my parents enjoyed it.  I enjoyed it too.  It was a pleasant evening, about 40 degrees and no precipitation.  So really we couldn't complain.  We got to make a special memory, and that's what counts.  We took the stroller, and Hannah and Laura rode in it more than Emma.  Emma walked almost the whole time!

Sunday after church I finished my Christmas shopping.  Yep, you read that right.  I'm done!  Yay!  Of course, I haven't wrapped a thing.  It will get done, eventually.

And of course the flu is going around Columbus like wild fire.  So we got an email this week that it was in Laura's classroom.  I was so hoping we could just get through the week.  It's the last week before break!  Matt and I are supposed to have a half day tomorrow to go see a movie.  But alas, Laura has a fever.  So I'm praying that it's not the flu.  Say a prayer for us!

We have several parties, family gathering and friend visits planned in the coming week (assuming we stay healthy), and I think I am going to try to blog about each one individually.  We'll see how it goes!

Merry Christmas All!

P.S. I've read Mary's blog at Passionate Perseverance for awhile.  Say a prayer for them too.  Her daughter is in her final days/hours.  Mary's blog reminds me that we don't get to choose what cards we are dealt in life, but every situation happens for a reason.  And every life is a blessing.