Meet Amy

I have struggled with the answer when asked, "What do you do?" and it isn't work-related. Ultimately, we settled on that I find things and untangle things. But I also read (a lot), pretend to wake surf, and watch Hallmark films.

Amy's bookshelf: 2024

The Weekend Away
it was amazing
So so good! Orla and Kate are long-time best friends off on a girls' weekend away. Kate is a bit of a player who is trying to get back at her soon-to-be-ex, causing her to spend frivolously and do drugs and hook-ups. Orla is a new mom ex...
tagged: 2024, audible-books, five-stars, thriller, and thoughtful
Written Off
really liked it
tagged: 2024, cozy, easy, and four-stars
Maybe Next Time
really liked it
Parts were a screaming 5 and parts were like “what?” And just irritated me. It is a Groundhog Day premise about a family of four - the mom is caught up in her own life and missing all that is going on around her with her kids and then he...
tagged: 2024, audible-books, fiction, four-stars, and thoughtful

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A Production to see a Production…

A year ago Scott’s mom gave us a call and asked us if we wanted to see the touring production of “The Lion King” and I immediately said yes and crossed my fingers that Ivy would be old enough to enjoy it.  Any time we started planning something for the summer, we would double-check the dates for  our tickets so that we made sure not to mess us up.

A couple of weeks before the show, the girls saw these adorable skirts at Costco.  They started begging us to get them.  We told them no and walked past them.  A few days later I went back and got them without the girls knowing.  (Okay I kept it a secret only as long as it took me to get home because they saw them in the back of the car).  Every day they would ask when they were going to get to wear their skirts.

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The day finally came and I laid out their skirts.  They were so excited and knew we were doing something special.  They knew that I wouldn’t let them wear their skirts because I had them hidden for weeks.  Oh, I had told them we were going to see “The Lion King” but it didn’t really mean anything to them.  They’d seen the movie and had no idea what to expect.  And I opted out of showing them clips on YouTube, mostly because I didn’t want them to have preconceived notions about whether or not they would enjoy it.  (If I had it to do over again, I would still not show them any video footage, their surprise was priceless).

The girls were so excited.

We like to go to dinner before we go to the theater.  If it is just grown ups, we prefer to go to the New Yorker in downtown.  But when we go with a group of kids the New Yorker isn’t really appropriate.  So, we decided on the Old Spaghetti Factory.  This is one of my girls’ favorite places to eat.  They have a fantastic kids menu, and they will allow you to select items from the grown up menu (like mizithra cheese with browned butter) and have in kids portions.  Plus, the ice cream for dessert is always a special treat.  Ivy gets vanilla and Jade gets spumoni.

After the yummy meal of pasta, sour dough bread with garlic butter and ice cream, we were on our way to enjoy the evening.

Scott dropped us off by the door and we did a quick photo shoot while we waited.  Then while we were hanging out, my dad saw an old friend that had just been interviewed by the press.  My mom had my dad’s ticket and she was already inside.  So, my dad walked in with his friend and no one ever asked to see his ticket.  Which was good, since my mm was nowhere to be found.

As the show began, the girls were wide-eyed and gaping mouthed.  It was so fun to look over at them and see their excitement.  That face continued through the whole show.

Our one mistake for the evening?  We went to the bathroom during intermission and had to wait in a FOREVER long line.  By the time it was our turn, the intermission had ended and we missed the big production number.  Of course it was the one number when the animals were up by our seats.  The girls were pretty bummed to miss it, but we saw the actors out in the hall before they went on stage.

Final remarks from the family members?

“That was AWESOME!”

“I could watch that show constantly”

“When I close my eyes, I can still see it.”

Next year the show is Mary Poppins.  I can’t wait to take the girls.  I’ve heard amazing things about it and think their eyes will be just as wide when she comes floating in with her umbrella.

The things to help make a night like this successful?

1- Prep the kids just a little – if you build too much anticipation they can be hyper and risk the chance of being disappointed.

2- Don’t show them video – then there is nothing to be surprised about and that is how you are going to keep them engaged.

3- Make an event out of it so that they will remember it as something special.  Include dinner and a special outfit.

4- Allow to express their joy at the show, don’t shush them unless they are being distracting to those around them – it is a kids show so the attendees will have a little more tolerance than at a non-kids show.

5- Don’t worry about bedtime.  They aren’t going to be in bed on time, and the next morning just might be tough, but remember the memories are worth it.

PS – Check out some tips at Parenting By Dummies

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6 comments to A Production to see a Production…

  • Michelle
    Twitter: flyinggiggles

    They look so sweet in their special skirts! I know their excitement to wear them because I do the same thing with my girls and their outfits. They know something special is happening when I let them wear outfits I had been saving.

    It sounds like they really enjoyed the show. Sometimes us mommas worry to much! I am so guilty of it myself. I was the same way when we took Chloe (2) to the circus, Disney on Ice and another Disney show. I thought there was no way should could hang in there for 2 hours plus the intermission. But, she did and probably could have stayed longer.

  • Ashlee
    Twitter: imtopsyturvy

    What a fun evening! I wanted to go, but the whole no job thing tends to put a stop to family outings. I caught Marry Poppins in New York. FYI the costumes are like the Disney movie, but the story is more like the book and a bit darker. Still fun, but going into it expecting one thing was disappointing. My sister took her oldest to see it after I told it not to expect the movie and said they enjoyed it but were glad their expectations weren’t as high as mine had been! The set is AMAZING though and over all a well done production.

  • Lolli
    Twitter: 1momof5

    That sounds like so much fun!! And I love your show time tips. I agree!

  • They must have had a great time. I saw The Lion King in NYC, many years ago.

    Oh, and someone posted a recipe for that spaghetti with mizthra and browned butter. It’s amazing.

  • Holly
    Twitter: HJPix

    OH!! I am SO JEALOUS!! SO FUN!! Glad it was a HIT!!

    These are great tips, too!!

    What COOL mom you are!! Making such WONDERFUL memories! ;D

  • Mrs.Mayhem
    Twitter: motheringmayhem

    That first photo is gorgeous! You should frame it! The evening sounds wonderful.