Rapunzel, Rapunzel

Today we attended the Chicago Kid's Company production of "Rapunzel" along with a couple hundred screaming youngish and school-age kids. It was surprisingly good :) - by that I mean, for low-cost tickets and while playing to a kid audience, the cast did a great job of entertaining older and younger kids, and making me laugh a few times too! They were great actors, sang songs that engaged the kids, did several costume changes, used music and lighting to signal changes in scene and emotions, and the experience kept Eva's arms flapping most of the performance.

The five-member cast was also very sweet afterward and greeted the streams of kids who stopped by to meet them. Eva loved Rapunzel's hair, petted it a little, and then talked to the actress who played Rapunzel in order to explain to her (very seriously) that her hair did not grow as long as Rapunzel's did. :)

We went to the play with our family/friends who had seen this company perform before, and we got front row center seats in the auditorium. All three kids did great and seemed to enjoy themselves a lot. Our godson Isaac even developed a mini-crush on Rapunzel; here is his little-too-long hug with her after the show.

Eva wasn't too sure about going to a "concert," as she kept calling it before we went, and wondered if she would like having to be quiet or the lights going to dark between scenes. But - she loved this show. On the walk out she was already asking when we got to go see them perform again. During the show she waved her hand to volunteer information and sang along with the songs when asked, laughed repeatedly, and also jumped into my arms a few times when Nexus (witch/mean gardener figure) was on stage. What a fabulous memory of Eva's first time attending a play!  

Labor Day Weekend

I know its been several weeks already, but I had to share some of the great photos and fun times that we had over Labor Day Weekend on here! My college roomie and a godmomma to Eva, Linnea, came into town from Colorado so we could play, talk, eat, sleep in, laugh late at night, and take a bunch of pictures together for a weekend.

Most of these photos Lin took on her fab camera (thanks, chica!), which helped make a fun walk in the park a photo shoot. These first few shots are of us in Gomper's Park by the fishing pond - it's Eva's new fave park (and there are many more good pics from the park and the weekend in our online photo albums as well.)

We also spent an afternoon with Lin at Danielson's *new* house for their block party - meeting all their new neighbors and chillin with the chillins. My favorite pic is the one here, of the two toddlers sitting on the front stoop - so cliche, and so cute! They were swapping sunglasses, drinks, and some kisses that afternoon. Gotta love 'em!

Over the long weekend, Eva and I also got to see Molly, a dog that Linnea was meeting so she could consider bringing her back home to their family in CO. Molly is a cute, smart pup that we watched fetch tennis balls in the lake and run all over the hillside; she is flying on "Pet Air" to join Lin in her new home next month! Needless to say, Evy was pretty excited about a dog who could swim AND chase balls.

Labor Day also marked ten years of marriage for Peter and me! TEN YEARS! We've done several date nights to celebrate our anniversary together already, and are taking a big trip to Thailand in a week or so that is in part to celebrate - but it was kind of cool to actually pass the official day and think about all that has happened in ten years of being married to my best friend.

How lucky we are to be able to share everyday moments - and big milestones - with friends that we love so much! :)