Nutcracker Tea Party= Heaven!!

So if any of you were wondering why we moved to California...this is it. The Nutcracker Tea Party! Madeline loves the Nutcracker more than life itself, ever since Mimi showed her the Nutcracker ballet on VHS, the Macaulay Culkin version. Bet you didn't even know a Macaulay Culkin version existed. Well, it does, and it's not too bad. It's definitely better than the Barbie version (yes, we have several versions, insane right?!).

Then last Christmas, we went with her friend Christina and mom, Heather, to the Pocatello Ballet's Nutcracker. Madeline was only two years and four months old, and she sat quietly watching the entire thing, and stood up clapping at the end and said "Do it again!"

Since then the Nutcracker is not just a Christmas thing at our house, it is on year-round. So you can imagine our excitement when we found out that they were having a Nutcracker Tea Party here. I mean, Nutcracker+Tea Party!!! What could be better?

The cast from the local ballet performed some of their numbers, while the girls had juice and cookies, then they opened it up for questions. PS- Adam took Madeline. Adam helped Madeline ask Clara (Madeline's favorite person--because she's a girl and wears pretty dresses, of course) if the rat king was scary! Then all the kids went up and learned some "ballet" with the dancers. And thank you to Adam for not only indulging Madeline's favorite things, but also for taking LOTS of pictures!
Madeline in her whole ballerina outfit her Mimi bought her. You wouldn't know it, but about one second later, she started crying and throwing a tantrum. Yes, the girl still needs a nap, but come hell or high water, she will not take one! Does anyone have this problem with their 3 year old?
The scary rat king
Madeline was so excited that they had REAL cookies and "tea"/juice. Because we just play pretend at home. She asked me not less than 50 times if the cookies were going to be REAL!

Madeline and Spicy Spanish Chocolate
Let the dance lessons begin!
Of course, magic princess wands were provided

Not sure what they call this move in ballet

Madeline ran to Clara as soon as the dancing lessons began and did NOT leave her side the entire time!

Annie Oak-a-ley

Madeline was Annie Oak-a-ley (yes that's how she pronounces it) for Halloween! I loved it because all the other little kids had no clue who Annie Oakley was. She first fell in love with Annie Oakley when she heard that her idol, her cousin Mary, loved Annie Oakley, and then when Adam took her to see the musical in Jackson Hole this past summer. (PS Madeline loves musicals). The video is a picture of her singing "You can't get a man with a gun" her favorite song from the play. Sorry it's side ways, I just wanted to get her whole outfit. If anyone knows how to rotate it please tell me!

Pier 39

We are here in the Bay Area! This was our first excursion up to the city, to Pier 39! It was so fun, Madeline rode the carousel, we saw sea lions- which STINK by the way- we walked along the pier and got lunch and went to the Farmer's Market. It was a fun day!