This evening we had a date with grandsons Jay & Jacob for dinner and to see Beauty and the Beast onstage downtown. Always a little chagrined at "fancy" restaurants that don't have pizza, they recovered well when the menu revealed corn dogs and shrimp. They are such a joy to spend time with. Their excitement before the performance took them to their usual pre-show routine of racing to the front to watch the orchestra warm up. Patrons often line the pit to take photos of orchestra members warming up but this time one of the cello players tricked the boys by holding up his cell phone and taking THEIR picture! He laughed at their momentary shock which delighted them to no end.

It's delightful to observe their involvment in these performances; jumping with shock, scowling at bad guys, leaning forward with concern, laughing and holding me tight when perceived monsters appear and finally sinking back in their seats when said monster "melts" as did the witch in Wicked. Getting Skittles at intermission likely improves the experience even more for them. As we deliver these soundly sleeping little fellows home, I realize again how much I love our "dress-up" evenings together.