The Nut Cracker

This last Sunday we had such a good time at the ballet.  I usually go to the ballet by myself but this time I convinced my boys to come with me.  Nick and I decided to take the risk and get tickets to PNB's Nut Cracker this year and bring Deven along with us.  I don't think we've been since 2008 and I don't imagine going for a couple more years once baby sister is born so this was our chance! 
Nick and I agreed that it could have gone horribly, and some people around us may have concluded it was just that, but I'm calling it a success.  No tantrums, no running up and down the isles and he technically sat through the whole thing...there may have been a few transfers to daddo's lap but he made it!  We were 7 rows back from the pit in the last three seats on the end; if necessary we could have made our escape, but I'm glad there was no reason.
We are always making Deven talk to us during movies and etc., because he looks like a zombie otherwise and that way we also know he is learning something - at the very least comprehension.  Well, Deven took that to heart while watching the ballet too.  Most of the time this was fine because the music was loud and the choreography had a lot of action but in the second act the music is a lot quieter and there are a lot more solos and duets.  Specifically, when Clara does her solo at the palace Deven asks, very seriously, in a voice loud enough for the entire theatre to hear I'm positive, "what does she have on her shirt?". The answer was of course sparkles but you get the idea.  I would say 80% of the time though he was grinning with excitement or asking to cuddle at the 'scary' parts.  It sort of worked out perfectly, down to our pre-order for dinner at intermission.  Given the chaos of our lives lately, this was a welcome change.
Bottom line, Deven loved it!!  He talked about how he was a ballet'er all the way home and insisted on listening to ballet music.  Nick made him a Nut Cracker Pandora station and Deven had the phone up to his hear to listen the rest of the way home.  Today, three days later, his teacher told us that Deven was dancing to the Christmas music they had on and told them that he was a ballet'er.  I LOVE it!! 
I guess we will have to wait to see what he ends up choosing, ballet, hockey, football, soccer...I'm sure the list will grow but in the mean time Nick and I are loving having the chance to introduce them all to him!