Sugar Plum Fairy Magic!

St Petersburg Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker
© Konstantin Tachkin

My whole childhood I wished to see The Nutcracker. I remember twirling around my room to my record player in a silky nightgown, many nights. I imagined floating across a grand stage. Like so many little girls, I was going to be a ballerina. I was Clara.


Natasha Oughtred and Jamie Bond in Birmingham Royal Ballet's production of The Nutcracker
© Bill Cooper

Sydney and I went to our first Nutcracker show when she was 2 1/2 years old and 4 months into her first ballet class. She was enchanted throughout the entire show and for me, it was even more magical and beautiful than I ever imagined! The next year, once again it was just Sydney and me. I remember 3 year old Sydney dancing in front of her chair. Last year I had 4 year old Sydney and 3 year old Jack with me. I wish I could remember Jack's comments but there were many and each one made us laugh! I was happy that Jack loved the show as much as Sydney and me.

This year, once again it was just the three of us. Allie Rose stayed home with daddy, but it broke my heart to see her run to the door shouting "we're going to The Nutcracker"! I think it was a mistake not to take her this year. She is almost as old as Sydney was for her first Nutcracker and would have loved it. Next year little Allie! And that means next year for all five of us together. Hooray!

Chad made me laugh last night when he teased me that Sydney and Jack aren't my little dolls to play dress up with. I like to pretend they are twins and yes I do like to dress them up!


So here are my little paper dolls on their way into the theatre. Jack doesn't have a dressy coat yet so we did our best. He had that goofy look on his face. Made me laugh!


Sydney is thrilled. Jack oh so serious. Upon arrival to the theatre he became suddenly full of reverence and awe. He didn't recall going last year so for him this was a first.

I got one photo of the performance.


Mother Ginger! I wasn't sure photos were allowed but HAD to get one of her! Especially because Jack half grunted, half laughed "NEHHHH!" the moment she appeared. I remember last year when he saw her he yelled "Pinata!". He also really enjoyed the music and would ask what some of the unique sounds were, like the "chh, chh, chh" during the Arabian dance. Sydney was excited to recognize Waltz of the Flowers.

What a good night!!! Maybe someday we can see The Nutcracker in London or New York in it's ultimate grandeur! For now, I'm so happy seeing it at Thanksgiving Point with my kids. It's perfect.

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