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The Nutcracker {Sunday Snapshot}

Sunday, December 4, 2011
Last June, when the Houston Ballet put the banner for the Nutcracker up downtown, Kate saw it and started campaigning for tickets.  Kate would ask to watch the Youtube videos of it.  Kate loves ballet but I was waiting for her to really be old enough to appreciate the Nutcracker.  This year was the perfect age.

Let me say that this was a day I hope to never forget.  Kate wanted to get very dressed up.  So we did.

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I love my little dumpling SO much!!!


We had fun getting some shots before we left.  I really need to learn to make collages on here.

After that, things went a little down hill...  We had reservations for brunch downtown before the show but the address of the restaurant on the website was incorrect and Kate and I were circling a very dodgy part of downtown trying to find an address that did not exist.   I was getting panicked.  Finally, I called Dave and he called the restaurant and guided us there on the phone.  GPS was no help. We were a half hour late for our reservation but a mimosa for me and a Shirley Temple for Kate quickly remedied our frenzied state.

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Kate LOVED her stuffed french toast.. She is a delightful dining companion.  We had such a nice time eating and chatting.

Then we rushed out to the theater....we had awesome seats. Since I bought the tickets in June, I had great options.  I chose the first row in the center stage loge box.  So we were up a bit and Kate could see everything.  I have sat in the orchestra before but you see so much more from up above a little.

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So the BEST part of the show was watching Kate and hearing her.  She oohed and ahhed the WHOLE time.  As each dance number began, she would literally GASP out loud in joy and amazement!!!.  She would say repeatedly how beautiful the dancers and costumes were. I had to remind her to use a "whisper voice" as she was so in awe of all the beauty.  She was so happy and literally soaked up every second of the beautiful show.  I looked around at some other little girls who looked completely bored and felt so lucky that Kate really embraces life and is so expressive.  I really don't know how to describe how much she loved this ballet.  Her face was glowing the whole time.

In fact, since we were running late with the whole restaurant address debacle, we did not have time to use the restroom before the show.  I had to go during the first act but Kate would not leave.  She said, "I don't want to miss one second, mama!" She told me to go alone!

At intermission we got to see some of the performers....

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I also bought Kate her first Nutcracker to remember the show.  She could not put it down all day (and broke a piece of it as a result).  She also went right to her room, put on Nutcracker music and began dancing.  She wants to try out for the show eventually.

I know these shots are awful but my memories are beautiful from this day and I want to preserve my memories. I am so disappointed in our point and shoot (Nikon coolpix).  It it awful.  Anyone have one they love?

You can see other Sunday Snaphots here...



Sunday Snapshot

38 comments:

  1. HOW FUN...
    I am sad to say that I have never been to see the Nutcracker. .I think I need to make this a point next year...
    You are both soooo BEAUTIFUL..
    Glad you had an amazing time..
    Hugz..

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  2. I cherish all the memories I have doing special things with my mom and I'm sure Kate will do the same! As far as point and shoot cameras, I have a Canon Powershot and I think it works pretty well and the pictures are always clear. I would definitely recommend it.

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  3. What a great day. We go every couple of years and I am excited to say it was Bradys idea this year! I did find out why he wanted to go though, his friend Morgan from Youth at church has one of the main parts and I think there may be a little crush going on. As far as a camera I love the Cannon Elf but a little bigger one that is amazing and has a video to is the Cannon G12. When I was in China for fun there were two photographers using a Cannon G10 and the pics were awesome here I was carrying around a big camera and lenses and they were professionals with that! Made me mad so I bought the new one the G11 and when in London a photographer with our group goes is that the new G11 can I see it??? So I knew I had made the right choice. The G12 is out now and my sister in law has it and loves it! Good luck and Merry CHRISTmas to you and your family.

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  4. Such a lovely Christmas memory made. Y'all look beautiful. What is it about the GPS that guides to the sketchy parts of town. I wish there was a button on our gps that I could push that says avoid the bad areas at all costs. LOL

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  5. Love these sweet memories you are making with your little girl!

    janet

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  6. We love the Nutcracker too. Your orchestra is so much for visible than ours. I wish we could see ours better. The photos are lovely!

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  7. What a sweet story. Just wait until she is IN the Nutcracker - I remember bursting with excitement the day we got our parts, and then the day we got our costumes, and then on each day of the performance!

    As for cameras, I've had 2 Canons (always the cheapest kind) and loved them both.

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  8. Oh Kim, these are the days that I pray for. What a special day for both of you, I love Kate's love of life. I'm sure it was amazing. You both look beautiful :) Have a wonderful week.
    PS. I'm going on the 16th with a girlfriend who's never been, I hope she ooh's and awe's too ;) I even bought her a nutcracker ornamnent so she would always remember her first time.

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  9. I love both of your dresses! I want your pink one! Please tell me where to get it!:) I need about 4 sizes bigger, lol, but I just love the pink silk....dress envy for sure!

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  10. What a special mother-daughter outing full of precious memories! You both looked beautiful!!!
    I hope to take my daughters next year to see it.

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  11. You both look so beautiful in those silk dresses! I want the pink one. Major dress envy over here in Pensacola! Please tell me where I can get it:) I love to read your Kate adventures, because life with three boys is so different:(

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  12. What a fun day with cutie pie Kate! You both look fabulous all dressed up! This post gets me sooo excited to go! Kamree was the same exact way last year -- in complete awe! I hope this year is the same way!

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  13. Kim, I have the same problem with my point and shoot. Please let us know which one you decide to purchase....I still have to buy a Christmas present for my hubby (well for me really!!) Dx

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  14. Kim, just saw this for your little Sugar Plum Fairy,from Williams Sonoma Nutcracker Cupcake decorating kit $12.00...very cute.
    Norah

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  15. What a wonderful day!! I really need to do that with Madeline next December, kinda thinking she may be one of the kids that gets bored but I won't know til I try:)
    Thanks for sharing and I love the pics of you and Kate, perfect mother-daughter pics at such a sweet age!

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  16. I have a Panasonic Lumix 10X, which sports a Leica lens, which my father always told me was the best of the best (at one point I owned an Leica SLR and I can attest to the quality of both lenses). The Lumix is tiny and also has video capabilities.

    I am not a techie, so I am sure it does far more than I know about it, but I love it so far.

    Both of the dresses are stunning! I love that Kate embraces life; so many of us take years to see the beauty in everything as she does now at such a tender age.

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  17. sounds like a perfect day! So glad it was so memorable!

    We saw Mary Poppins today!

    lea
    xo

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  18. Canon all the way--so try a Canon point and shoot! Looks like a FUN girls day!

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  19. How wonderful Kim, what a special time with your little girl, you both look so pretty! I love that she was SO excited ~ it is a wonderful and magical performance and how great that she was able to take it all in! We are going next week and I cannot wait!! I like that you were able to get some shots with some of the dancers!

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  20. You both look absolutely stunning! I have to admit I cannot wait until I get to take my daughter to see the Nutcracker for the first time. Magical!!!

    I too have a Nikon coolpix and I must agree it is awful! I only use it when the Rebel will not fit. We have sent ours off to be repaired 2 different times.

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  21. Both you girls look fabulous, what a beautiful mom and daughter event. We love our little yearly tradition too! I feel bad that you felt you had to apologize, especially since the Ottawa Citizen had a glowing review about the Pennsylvania Ballet today...I just felt it wasn't as rich as the one we saw last year, I still LOVED it though!! It's a show I will never tire of seeing, year after year! :)

    Glad Kate loved it too. Lilah is the same!

    Jill

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  22. Looks like a wonderfully memorable day!
    You both look beautiful and happy!

    Happy belated Anniversary to you and your honey...

    xo
    Brooke

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  23. My poor husband. I was a candy cane in the Nutcracker when I was little and every time it comes on TV and I have to relive my glory days. He should just be appreciative I wasn't a creepy mouse! ;) What a beautiful memory you and sweet Kate created. I know you will cherish this day for a lifetime! xoxo Brooke

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  24. Fabulous time! We love the Nutcracker as much as Kate! The girls and I have a mini-season package and enjoy the ballet! We will be going on Friday night. I agree with you on the quality of the the coolpix - I didn't like mine either and gave it to Jasmine! Let us know what you buy - I wouldn't mine a smaller camera that takes great shots! Nancy

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  25. LOVE this post :) Such great pictures too :) Love both your dress's. I know the feeling of awe, I remember the first time I saw the nutcracker:) I can't wait until I have my daughter and care share these beautiful moments:)
    As for point and shoot, avoid Olympus anything. I owned one and was so very disappointed. I have yet to still find one

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  26. Awww..that's so precious. She's adorable. Alexis is dancing in the Nutcracker for the first time this year and we are soooo excited!

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  27. What a sweet memory!!! You both looked stunning! 5 is such a great age!

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  28. What a wonderful day, one no doubt that she will remember for a long long time. I remember MY first time seeing the Nutcracker all those many years ago, it is like a rite of passage in a young girls life:)
    Kate looked so pretty (as did you) and she is such a litlte ham for the cameras...thanks for sharing your special day!

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  29. Beautiful, I was so glad Nicki danced and loved ballet so we could have special mother daughter dated- we just purchased our season pass for next year and I'm so looking forward to those performances :)

    We put our Christmas Tree up today, I just love this season, even if it is full on
    x Yve

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  30. What a wonderful day and memory you created! This post made me get teary. You are a wonderful mother and have a beautiful daughter.

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  31. looks like fun! molly and i are going to see the nutcracker on saturday. i probably was a bit hasty in planning it since she's only 3, but i couldn't wait any longer. fingers crossed that she enjoys it!!

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  32. This post just warms my heart! You are so blessed to have a daughter to share such fun and memorable memories with. Beautiful mother & daughter!! :)

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  33. Love this post! I was exactly the same as Kate, in awe of the Nutcracker. In second grade I was able to try out for a similar ballet's production and performed in the Nutcracker every year from 2nd-8th grade. It was so special and I hope she one day has a similar experience!

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  34. What a special time for the two of you. Beautiful pics of you two beautiful girls.

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  35. Cute and fun, soooo beautiful!!!!

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  36. I love this post. When I was a little girl I loved the Nutcracker story so much, and this made me smile.

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  37. I took my daughter to the Nutcracker for the first time this year as well! We went with several of her other cousins, and I was ecstatic that my daughter was the only one not to fall asleep! Ha! She was far from it!!! She ate it up, as Kate did!! :) What wonderful memories!! I hope to make this a Christmas tradition!

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  38. Kate is such a special little girl! Her smile is so genuine and she always looks so happy! Loved the pic of the two of you before you left for the show!

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Thank you for your kindness.