Toy Story on Ice!

One of Lyla's very awesome birthday gifts this year was a Mommy and Daddy date to go see Toy Story 3 on Ice! What a special treat from some very special people we are so thankful to have in Lyla's life! The time alone with our daughter was very much needed!

Lyla was disappointed, at first, to learn that she wouldn't be allowed to get onto the ice and skate with "her Jessie." When the music and lights started up the show, I looked over at my girl and saw absolute delight on her face. She was just beside herself with the excitement of being in the arena with her own special seat and so thrilled to see her favorite characters... so much so that I may have gotten a little choked up. Just maybe.

She asked repeatedly throughout the entire show to "go down there on the ice." When we explained to her that only the toys got to go on the ice and the people got to sit and watch, she nodded and seemed to understand... but her wheels were turning. Moments later, she claimed, "Mommy, I'm a toy, too. And I need to go there." Oh, our clever little fibber. She even renamed the ice "freeze" later on, in yet another attempt to persuade us to let her go skate, stating, "I want to go to the freeze."

She sat surprisingly well through the show and was particularly attentive during Jessie's dance and any upbeat song that Mommy could help her "dance" to from our seat. We volunteered exorbitant amounts of money for one over-priced Jessie T-shirt, one Jessie snow-cone, plus one box of popcorn with a soda all in the name of overjoying a three-year-old. Three trips to the potty, one intermission catered especially to antsy preschoolers and seventeen shifts from Luke's lap to mine to standing to sitting turned the show into an almost kinesthetic experience. The performance, itself, was very cute and entertaining - my favorites were actually Ken and Barbie, who totally stole the show dancing through wardrobe changes for the "closet of clothes" scene. The aliens were very adorable, as well, marching in on their knees to perfectly master the squeaky-toy waddle. So cute!

Knowing my Lyla doesn't transition all too well (even for a three-year-old), we gave her a few warnings as the finale approached, that she show would soon be over. She actually handled the ending well, but the departure from the American Airlines Center was a bit more challenging. Being overly tired, overly happy INside and overly resistent to exit, quickly turned any hope of a smooth descent from her Toy Story high into a rapid crash of flailing, screaming madness. Between bouts of throat-raking wails and hysterical sobs, we could make out, "I... wanna... stay... here..." It was a physical struggle to get her safely into her carseat and a serious auditory discomfort to listen to her belting out in desperation. Then... she fell asleep.

When we arrived at Nonna's to pick up Brudder, her eyes opened suddenly and she asked instantly, "Where's my Toy Story?" before drifting back to sleep temporarily on Daddy's shoulder.

What a special, special day!
Lyla: "I need some more tickets so I can do that again."
Mommy: "It was just one special day. Just one time."
Lyla: "I need to do one time some more."

Thanks to our dear friends for making it happen!

And for our next adventure... ice skating.