Christmas Traditions 2016

Traditions are something that we all seem to have.
Some are things that we have done for a very long time.
Others are new to us.


I for one love traditions, and I am happy to say that I have one that our daughter in law and our granddaughter have been doing for the last few years
The Nutcracker is just that tradition.




We go to the Oklahoma Ballet to see The Nutcracker every year when the holiday season comes around.

I love that we have a tradition that we can share.

We never know how the weather is going to be in Oklahoma.
This year it was cold...very cold!
Last year we had a tornado warning, so as I say, we just never know.

We enter the building and navigate our way to the area that they are selling Nutcracker memorabilia.
Cooper spots a Nutcracker with a cupcake on his head, and that is the one she wants.
Another girl was looking at the same one, and since it was the last one of its kind, when the girl decided she wanted another one, I nodded to the lady, and she bagged it up for us. 
Cooper was excited with the newest addition to her growing collection.

Our celebratory picture was taken beside the giant Nutcracker that was in front of their large Christmas tree.
(Thanks to the lady that took them for us.)



Being we have done this a few times, we know just where our seats are, so we navigate our way upstairs and find our entrance.
Settled in, we wait for the curtain to rise.

As we watch the ballet, I can see in Coopers eyes that she is dancing every step that they are on stage.
In fact, I am told that when she gets home she dances around most of the evening.

Not to leave our grandson out of the mix, he gets a Nutcracker as well.
I had found a cute Soccer Nutcracker for him during one of my shopping trips.


Before you know it, two hours are gone, and the final curtain goes down on this years ballet.
So glad that we get to have such a wonderful "tradition" to keep us all young at heart.

Going to see "The Nutcracker"

The Oklahoma City Ballet performed "The Nutcracker"" and I got tickets for my daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.  I would love to say this was totally my idea, but alas, it wasn't.  My friend Diana told me several weeks ago that she and her family were going to go, so I thought what the heck.  My son and daughter-in-law used to go every year before they had kids.  Cooper is 5 now, and we might as well start a fun tradition that we can do each year.









I got the tickets and the plans were made.  We met downtown on a beautiful Sunday afternoon for the 2pm production.  We entered the Civic Center and they have several areas set up for purchasing items.  They also had a beautiful 3 story Christmas Tree with a very nice looking Santa sitting there, just waiting to have his picture taken with the children that wanted to do it.  Of course Cooper was ready to sit on Santa's lap and get a picture.  He was so kind, and even kissed her on her cheek as she got off his lap.











We did a little shopping and got a couple of nutcrackers for Cooper and Cash's Christmas trees that they have in their rooms.  We walked a little further and Cooper spotted a hippopotamus with a tutu on....It was a stuffed one, so we had to have one of those as well.
















We walked around and actually saw a hippo worthy of a picture.  There was an area set up for the kids to write a letter to Santa and put in the mailbox to send to the North Pole.  Cooper has written several letters, so I am sure Santa will be very well informed on what she is asking for him to bring her.






























































It's showtime, so we make our way to our seats.  We see Diana and her family sitting in the seats in front of us.  Diana's sister Debbie, was here from Florida, and I thought it was so nice they all got together to do this.

Before the curtain rises, the announcer says that this has been a really good year for the ballet.  The other interesting part of the announcement is that this is the 50th year for the production of the Nutcracker.  I have to say by some of the people that are here, some of them were at the 1st production....LOL

The ballet was wonderful.  I was also impressed with how well this little 5 yr. old girl sat and watched the story unfold.  It was a fun afternoon with 2 of my most favorite girls.  I hope that we can continue this little tradition for years to come.  Merry Christmas to everyone.  I hope you make some old and new memories this year.