Welcome to Conlin Chaos

Welcome to the family journal that captures the chaos that is the world of Colleen, Adam, Zach, Ben, Josh, Luke, Tommy, and Ruby. Here you will see small snippets of what we see every day.

Come. Enjoy! You know we do!

Monday, November 26, 2007

My Favorite's the Battle Scene...

The Man Himself Grrr...We're not Scared of You, RAT KING!
Or You Crazy Uncle
The Cannons for the Battle Scene The Boat that Carries Clara and the Prince Away (and check out Ben's tie...it's almost as big as Ben!)
The Rat King's Tail from the Big Battle Scene...can you tell yet what was the favorite part?
...so luckily we get to see it twice!! At the dress rehearsal for the PNB production of the Nutcracker that is (which has to be the best Nutcracker production there is!). Once upon a time, my dear friend Jen was a ballerina in the Pacific Northwest Ballet company, and still works for them in their physical therapy room as a massage therapist. Thus, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for the past two years I have gussied up a boy or two and headed down to Seattle for dress rehearsal with Jen and Hannah and Beth and Madison. It is basically the same as the regular show, but we get to see the battle scene between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King TWICE, which my boys see as a bonus, and from time to time you hear the director make a subtle comment. And we get the added bonus of exploring the back stage area before the show and during intermission (or half-time as we non-dancing folk call it). When we sat back down after intermission and the show started with the Nutcracker Prince and Clara journeying across the sea, Ben leaned over to me and said, "Hey, Mom, that girl in the puffy dress said "Hi" to us back there!" It was great this year sharing this beautiful story with both Ben and Zach (last year I just brought Zach). On the way to the car after the show, Zach kept twirling Madison, and both Ben and Zach repeatedly reenacted the battle scene complete with leaps, stabs and gracefulness. Thanks, Jen, for another night of memories!

5 comments:

emily said...

is this night something you want to share!?? i'd love to go next time!! i have never been and the last time andy went ... it was with the youth - he was 14 and he SLEPT thru it!! bah!! he doesn't want to go and therefore will NOT spend the money on it. :( sad for me! but if you're willing to share this magical night - i'd LOVE to tag along!

Colleen said...

I would share in a second, but it is Jen who gets us in. It all depends on how many comp tickets she can get from other dancers, because she only gets two. I will let her know you are interested for next year (although more than likely we won't be here:(.

Jones said...

how fun!! Maddy has Barbie The Nutcracker...one of her favorite, though the rat king is scary, so she says.

SO SO FUN!!

Camille said...

What a fun tradition. Abby and Lily are in the Sierra Nevada Ballet's production of the "Peanutcracker"- the nutcraker in a nutshell- this year. I'm impressed the boys liked it. :)

Kim said...

That sounds like so much fun! I would love to be able to go backstage and see everything. I think it's great that your boys are able to see the ballet and appreciate it.