I haven’t written since Christmas, and even then I didn’t really write.  I’ve just enjoyed my vacation.  It was a week of uninterrupted time with family and friends and exactly what our little family needed.  No work, no blogging.  It was really fantastic.  Do it if you can.

It could be the excitement of having Christmas with a 2-year-old that made this year special, but that’s not all of it.  I can’t put my finger on one thing that made it fantastic.  It was every little moment.  I think we have to go back before our actual vacation, to the week before Thanksgiving.

• That is when we took Charlotte to her first Christmas parade and the Santa mania began.  She didn’t even want to sit in her wagon.  Nope, only our shoulders would do.  She wanted to see everything.

• During Thanksgiving she watched her first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  She couldn’t wait for the Sesame Street float while she sat on her Sesame Street potty.  Greyson and I laughed and laughed at our little naked baby.

• Charlotte ran to Santa and gave him a hug.  She asked him for a baby doll.

• One night in December, Greyson and I had a date night to see Raleigh’s famous version of “A Christmas Carol.”  My former colleague and great friend, Mark played Nephew Fred.  I was so proud I teared up.  When the cast ran into the audience as part of the performance, he found us and hugged us.
• Another night I had a girls night at “The Nutcracker” I told all of you about.
• We got an extra special treat when Greyson’s parents surprised us and flew in from Colorado the weekend before Christmas.  They got to give Charlotte her new kitchen set.
• I got together with my friends from my old dance company growing up since everyone was in town for the holidays.  Some still dance.  For others like me, competitions, recitals, bleeding toes and tutus are all part of a past life.  It was exciting to catch up with them and plan dance days for our own daughters.  

• I also got to meet up with friends from high school.  It was like herding cats for Meagan, Megan and myself to keep track of our two-year-olds.  I love seeing old friends from the past and seeing their life successes.  It does my heart good.  For me, when I look at old friends I see the 17-year-old me, forever preserved in them.

• Santa came!  Her beloved baby doll was in her arms.

• We traveled to my Grandparents houses for a little extended-family time.  Charlotte has not stopped talking about her second cousins Lana, Emma, and Willow.

• New Years Eve we went downtown to Raleigh’s First Night celebration.  We drop an acorn because we’re the City of Oaks.  It’s silly, we know, but it’s our thing here in the Capital City.  We went to the 7:00pm Acorn Drop for children.  This was Charlotte’s first and she couldn’t have been more delightful.  If she kissed us once, it was a million times.  I teared up singing Auld Lang Syne at 7:01pm.  I was that ridiculously happy with my bundled-up little family.

 

Quick sidenote:  This holiday I realized how often I use my Instagram.  (Duh! See above post.  Half these pics are IG.) Seriously.  It’s as much as I use Twitter and Facebook.  I’ve had my account for about 1 1/2 years.  I was shocked at BlogHer ’12 how many bloggers I recognized from Instagram.  Therefore, I’m keeping my account even though many are jumping ship because of all the drama.  I’m considering watermarking my pics.  I dunno.  I just don’t want to worry about it.  Anyway, let me know what you decided.  Let me know if I’m not following you!  

I think it was Christmas 1996 when I scored a lead role in my dance studio’s local production of The Nutcracker.  I was the “Snow Queen”, or “Lead Snowflake.” Different companies call it different things.  I was 15.  My mom has pictures somewhere.  For many years of my youth The Nutcracker and the holiday season became synonymous.

My dance career ended after I finished a Dance Minor in college and shook my pom poms on the university dance team.  Back in Christmas 2003 when my husband and I were dating he took me to the Carolina Ballet’s annual performance of The Nutcracker.  We held hands and made eyes at each other in the dark theater.

I haven’t been to a dance concert or ballet since then, so I was elated when Carolina Ballet offered to send me to The Nutcracker this year.  It is truly a magical holiday experience, especially for kids.  Obviously, my two-year-old isn’t quite old enough to appreciate the beauty and artistry of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece.  But, I knew a little girl who would.

I tweeted out this slightly blurry pic of my companions last night.  Meet Amy and Ashley.  Amy is a dear friend and her daughter Ashley is my favorite 8-year-old.

The three “A’s” Amy, Amy, and Ashley

Before the show, Ashley dined on some of the best mac ‘n cheese Raleigh has to offer as she rattled off her Christmas list to me.  (Santa will have a lot of electronics to bring this little gal and her step-brothers.)  She showed me her super cool new braces and explained they only hurt for a few days.  Ashley told me about 3rd grade and her upcoming Christmas program at school. This is the most delightful, kind and gracious child you will ever meet.  If she thanked me once, she thanked me a million times for inviting her.  I love this kid!

Amy and I walked to the auditorium while Ashley danced down the street in her skirt that looks sort of like a tutu.  It was perfect for a night at the ballet.

Ashley’s skirt. I’ve decided I need one like this.

I saw other little girls as young as 3 or 4 dressed in their Christmas best.  Many had pretty taffeta dresses with bows.  Some clutched their own Nutcracker dolls.  I flashed forward to nights we’ll take our daughter Charlotte in the coming years.  If you think only girls like The Nutcracker, you are wrong!  There were little guys in the theater in dress pants and sweater vests.  What boy wouldn’t love a good battle between a Rat King and a Toy Soldier?  That’s pretty awesome.  Children and adults were completely enthralled by the magic tricks the Carolina Ballet incorporates into their show.  It kept Ashley’s and other children’s attention the entire time.  Amy said to me, “I’ve been to a lot of Nutcracker performances.  This is my first one by Carolina Ballet and it is the best!”

Throughout the performance Ashley would lean over and whisper things like, “He he!  The little rat is my favorite.  It’s cute!”  or “Hey, Miss Amy.  Do you think that’s real snow?”

During intermission, the dancer playing “Clara” was out in the front of the auditorium taking pictures with children.  That would have been very exciting for Ashley, but Carolina Ballet gave us the opportunity to go backstage during intermission.  When I told Ashley this I thought she was going to jump out of her tutu skirt!  When we got back stage, there she was!  In all her sparkly pink tutu beauty!  The Sugar Plum Fairy herself talked to Ashley and took a picture with her.  I think Ashley’s face says it all.

I’m pretty sure we can see all of her new braces with a grin that big.  Thank you Carolina Ballet for a very special evening that kicked off Christmas in the perfect way.

I know I have a lot of readers here locally in North Carolina.  I’m talking to you.  The Carolina Ballet is one of the true treasures of our state.  During the Nutcracker the North Carolina Symphony is the orchestra.  Amazing!  There are still tickets available for performances in Raleigh and Durham both before and after Christmas.  Get information here.  It is a fantastic way to celebrate the holidays with your family.  If you are elsewhere in the nation, please go to your local shows and take in all that local arts programs have to offer.

What are your favorite Nutcracker memories?  Do you go every year?  How old should a child be to go to the ballet and enjoy it?  

Disclaimer: The Carolina Ballet sent me to the performance but my opinions are totally free and totally honest.  Happy Holidays!  

This week I sort of geeked out over 12-12-12. All the other matching dates in this past decade were cool. I mean, who could forget lucky 07-07-07? This year was different because it’s likely the last triple date we’ll have in our lifetime. It will be 01-01-01 again on January 1, 2101, but that is 89 years away. With advances in modern science I could envision living to the extremely ripe old age of 120, but it’s unlikely. Another 12-12-12 is out of the question for me.

But, not for my daughter. She could live to see it.

Upon this realization I stopped and prayed. I prayed to God my baby would live 100 more years to see the next 12-12-12 on December 12, 2112. I prayed she would celebrate her 102nd birthday the month before, surrounded by her Great-Great Grandchildren. I imagined myself as a stunningly beautiful 131-year-old angel looking down from heaven. I’d watch her wheel up to her birthday cake in a super space age wheelchair she controls with her brain. I envisioned a 22nd century Willard Scott-like person wishing her a “Happy Birthday” on whatever medium has replaced television. She will regale her posterity with stories of her silly mother who typed out tales of her child’s life on an ancient computer. I will smile and laugh at my baby turning 102.

Even as a centenarian she will still be my baby.

I bought an Elf on the Shelf, but I decided to hold off this year. After an extensive discussion on with other moms on Twitter, I decided she was a little too young to fully understand and appreciate the Elf. Plus, I knew she would try to touch it. That’s okay. We have a little elf in our house this year.

I can’t stop looking at this elfish little face. This picture of Charlotte perfectly captures the mischievous nature of my little girl. Oh, how I hope this stays alive in her! Even if it drives me crazy in later years.

Let’s hear it for little elves!

By-the-way…when did you start Elf on the Shelf? Did I do the right thing by waiting? I mean, she just turned 2.

Happy National Blog Posting Month! Better known as NaBloPoMo. Yep, I’m trying to write a post every day of November this year. Hmmm. We’ll see how it goes. I did about 25 of 30 days for NaBloPoMo ’11. I’m feeling even better for ’12.

Wish me luck. We have a big two days with Charlotte’s birthday tomorrow and party on Saturday. For today, just enjoy a glimpse of our Halloween.

Leave a comment with a link to shots of your costumed kiddos! There is nothing better than cute kids in costumes. Happy November!

(Sorry these didn’t post the first time.  Oh, and she was a cupcake.  Some people couldn’t tell.)