so i made the arrangements for someone to watch russell, and natalie and i headed out to the theatre. when we arrived, there was a line of people waiting along the side of the building. i wasn't too worried because i expected some school camps to be there. when we finally got to the check-in desk after very patiently waiting in line for about 15 min., i was told that the show had been sold out--long before i even stepped into the line. apparently i should have bought the tickets online but i did not even think of doing that. well, there were others who were in the same boat as us and they were waiting around to see if some people did not show up to buy their seats. we waiting until the show started and some seats did become available but there were people ahead of us who got them. i was finally told there was nothing else they could do and it was then that i had to break the news to my sweet natalie, who wasn't aware of all the chaos surrounding us.
both natalie and russell take disappointment pretty well. i have tried my best to raise them knowing that they can't always get what they want, and when something changes, or plans fall through, i always explained that it would be okay without trying to make it up to them in another way. life is full of disappointments, whether we like it or not!
with that being said, this was an exception. natalie had her little sweet heart set on seeing this show ever since i heard it was on stage and told her about it. the morning of the show, she wanted to dress like snow white (we didn't have a snow white dress but she wore a red and white shirt and a yellow skirt), put on her snow white headband and ruby red shoes, and then she made sure to bring her snow white doll. she had a huge smile on her face the whole drive there. this time, it was different.
so, i turned natalie around to walk out of the theatre and tell her what happened. she didn't really understand why the show was "sold out" and we couldn't go in. my heart sank as she started to cry, and then i just let myself cry with her. we got in the car and her quiet little sobs just broke my heart. i had to do something else fun with her. this was not how our mother-daughter time together should end.
we ended up renting 3 princess movies that she picked out from blockbuster and then eating lunch at mcdonalds (her pick after i practically begged her to choose a place. she just wanted to go home.)
in the end, i could tell that natalie was very happy with how her day turned out. she's such a trooper. i can't help but feel blessed to have such amazing kids!
at mcdonald's:
the following week (last wednesday), we went to see Cinderella at the Alhambra with my mom and sister. this was something that my mom had really wanted to do for natalie when they announced the show would be coming. last year we all went to see Annie and it was such a nice "girls out" experience for us, we wanted to do it again.
needless to say, natalie was really, really excited about the show and we all had a wonderful night.
dressed up and ready to go! 
at the Alhambra, sitting in Cinderella's throne 
holding the glass slipper
before dinner
we asked natalie to smile big, and this is what she gave us :)
she really enjoyed reading and looking at the program
before the show began:
after the show, picture with the evil stepmother and stepsisters
the queen and the king(both actors we recognized from the Annie show)
townspeople
townspeople
on the way out:
i must say, i think i redeemed my self!thanks mom and celena for such a special night!
Posts
