The Nutcracker

Ken and I had taken the girls to see a high school production of The Nutcracker a few years ago, but I really wanted them to see a good production of it. So, I did a search a few months ago and found that we have a local ballet company down in Claremont:

Inland Pacific Ballet

I purchased tickets for the family, and it was finally time to go see the play yesterday. The girls did not really remember the ballet they saw before so they weren't sure they were going to like it or not. Ken was quite the trooper and enjoyed the ballet with us even though it isn't really his style, however,  he really enjoyed himself once I purchased a program and he could read about what was going on in the ballet.

Taylor's most "favorite" memory of the ballet was the tights on the men. She felt that they were too tight and it was rather disgusting. HA!! Jordan, of course, now believes that she is a prima ballerina and is practicing her moves all the time. Mandy, sadly, wants to return to ballet lessons. I so wish we could afford to put her in ballet, but Ken and I just can't afford it with everything else we have to take care of. Even more sadly, is her father won't pay for them either (nasty statements coming.....yeah, and it's not like he sends any support ever......6 years and still waiting).

After the ballet, the girls picked one ornament for our Christmas tree so they will always have a reminder of their visit to the ballet for Christmas. I was told that I got one heck of a snowglobe from the girls and Ken is grateful that he doesn't have to take them shopping for me now.  HeeHee.

Jordan went around and got some autographs from the characters and she loved taking pictures with everyone. Mandy and Taylor were selective in their choices - they wanted pictures with Clara and The Nutcracker. Sadly, the Nutcracker was already gone by the time we were done in line for Clara. Jordan managed to get a picture with The Sugarplum Fairy even though she was supposed to be done as well.  Good for her!

We got home later than planned, but Taylor and Mandy were dropped off at home (they were both coughing too much) and off we went to Martin and Kathy's for their annual Christmas party. Martin kept giving me shit because we failed to show up last year after Sheryl refused to leave our house, and he said that since she's in Texas, we have no good excuse to miss it this year. 

The party was a ton of fun!! I enjoyed meeting Joey Lies and his wife, Maryann.  They both teach at Encore and were hired after my departure. Joey was Brian's teacher at one time, and he could not get over the difference between Ken and Brian. He kept joking around that he cannot see why Brian is as dull as he is with Ken as a father - "are all of your traits recessive?" HAHA!

Ken and I had a great time, and it was tough, but I made Ken leave the party early (after 10 pm) since he has been sick as well. Ken was still going on and on about how HE won the game for us by randomly screaming out Finding Nemo, but everyone knows it was all about me.  

Ken complained all the way home that he wasn't tired and didn't want to leave the party, but he was asleep the second his head hit the pillow.