Homecoming for Belle

 I can't believe my little girl is all grown up.   But her and this always together trio of girls are the sweetest, kindest, and most beautiful girls in all of Chelsea.   I really don't understand the Homecoming traditions in Birmingham, but it appears to be an opportunity to buy a pretty dress, get pictures, and go out to eat at a nice restaurant.   No boys, No dancing...so I feel a little better, since I can't cage her in at the house.   I did text her the rules on tipping since she was paying for her meal at Mt. Fuji that night.   And she said it helped and she shared the percentage (15-20%) with Linley.   Later, I told her the easy way to calculate percentages in her head, and immediately I think she heard "Wah Wah Wah", because she cut me off with "Yeah, I have a calculator always with me".   And I guess kids do these days, Oh well, I tried.   I did not hear much from my girly with curlies this weekend as the trio went to the homecoming game on Friday night and spent the night at Linleys, then after the dress up, pictures and meal, spent the night at Sarah Beths.   I guess that our house with the little sister, and no cool hang out zone just don't make it into the plans.   

Ruby's Wicked Birthday Parties

Belle may have been a little annoyed that little sister had taken her Birthday theme, since I think many of these decorations were part of Belle's birthday last year.   But our sweet Ruby has picked up the broadway bug, and currently Wicked has a slight advantage over Hamilton (at least until Halloween).   She wanted also to go to an Escape room, and that room (and our van) was limited to 8, so she got to pick 6 friends for this party.   

The party night began picking up girls to travel to the Escape Room.   There, they attempted to escape from "The Haunted Mansion" where Magan had already attended with the AHG girls, so she could help them a little bit.   Magan's favorite part was when she knew that the gun that Olivia had gotten would trigger the coffin to open when it was pointed at.   Magan said she stepped back and watched all of these 6th grade girls go crazy as the coffin opened and out came a skeleton.   Girls screaming, on the ground sliding away from the coffin, overly dramatic as only middle school girls (or Davis) can be.   But in the end, they made it out of the room just before their hour was up.

After the escape room, they took the fun pictures of them floating around in the room, then Magan texted me that they were on their way home.   I had already ordered pizzas to be ready at 7:30 PM, but did not realize that they went into the escape room early, and thus had left early.   So at the Shell station (combo with Little Caesars), they had to wait until 7:45PM to get the pizzas.   I am glad I was not here, as Magan explained that the high pitched squeals and screaming and dancing in the seats was rocking the van back and forth.   Finally, Magan saw that gas was selling at $2.67, and since the ticktock sensation 67 was going on, all the girls got out and went over to the sign for a group picture.   

Finally home, we all ate the pretzel bread pizza, opened presents and the girls started their party.   Ruby was excited to have them do the scavenger hunt throughout the house for them to find their prizes (bracelets, candy, and oz glasses).   And finally, they went downstairs to where loud karaoke would continue through the rest of the night.   They finally stopped to watch a movie together...which movie you ask?   Wicked of course.   

Her big present this year was the bicycle that she has been wanting/needing.   But she was pretty much spoiled all around with a second trip to see Wicked at the BJCC.   I don't remember that 12 was big on the birthday year celebrations, but I think Ruby will remember this as one of the best.   Most of the girls spent the night, so it was a fun fun weekend.

Later in the week, she also got to have Claire come over for another smaller party.   It included the same scavenger hunt with the same prizes, but a little less noisy as it was with 7 girls.   Happy Birthday to my sweet Ruby Gooby.   I love your laughs at my silliness, because your the last one left that still does.   I love that we still have our front step time before the bus, our night time before prayers, and our early group rides to church.   Sorry I grabbed your cheeks cause they were so cute, and forgot you had braces!  Oh, and I guess we will have yet one more birthday party on your actual day.    

 

Ruby makes it through Ellis Island

This is Sofia Barbara from Greece.   She is Greek Orthodox, and coming to America for freedom.   She smiled when she saw the Statue of Liberty, and was tested at Ellis Island to get into the country.   She had to write her first and last name.   She had to show she had some basic skills of arithmetic and washing.   Then had to explain to the officer why she left her country, and why she picked America as her new homeland.  Fortunately, she had a relative on the immigration committee, and they let her in.  I have never done this, but Magan was a little sad that this was her last experience at Ellis Island.   

Wicked Again!

I had been watching for any sales on the Wicked tickets every since that first night when I saw how magical it was.   That night seeing the Wicked play was so much fun, that when Ruby asked about seeing it again, I wanted it for her again.   But the ticket prices never came down much over the three week run, and me and Ruby would check the site together every couple of days.   But on facebook, they did have a post about $47 "rush" tickets that you could get at the ticket office day of the show.   But it also claimed that these tickets at that price were limited.   

But none of the shows ever worked out until the last week.   I told Magan that she should take the girls for the very last show at 6:30PM on Sunday evening.   I would be heading to Chattanooga for the week, and it would give her and the girls a fun activity to begin the week.  She reached out to Amanda and Claire Ray and Laini Decker to see if they all would want to go on an adventure for these "rush" tickets.   The game plan was to see if they had the tickets, and if not, just find another fun thing to do together.   

Magan and the girls dressed up for the event, and had to leave an AHG meeting a little early, but they made it early to the show and over to the ticket office.   I can not tell from the picture below, but both Claire and Ruby told me that the person at the desk looked like Santa Clause, and he told them he did have 6 "rush" tickets all together.   I tried to help Magan out when I stopped in Chattanooga by sending her a map view of all the open seats in the balcony, showing that they could probably move up to row 8 or 9 in the balcony.   So they went in with their tickets and walked up to the balcony to find their seats.

"This is not the right portal, you need to go to number 5" they were told, and so all six of them completely surprised, they walked back down to the first level, then made their way into the portal, and all the way to 5 rows from the front of the Orchestra section.   This is not the Continental front section, but it is amazing seats that Magan and I had for Les Misables two years ago.   I got a text from Belle first saying "You should see where we are sitting", then Magan sent me some of these pictures, and I was blown away at yet another magical moment at Wicked.   

While not there, I have loved hearing all three of them tell me about how amazing it was to get this "rush" ticket surprise.   Loved seeing them on Facetime later that week wide eyed sharing about how great the show was this time...and not on the front row, getting to see the giant dragon clock turning during the show.   Perhaps they did not see the spittle from the starring ladies as they sang, but they certainly saw the facial expressions and knew once again why everyone was laughing.   

Magan asked a lady there to take all of their picture with the full balloon archway, the same picture she had taken multiple times at the first trip.   She said the lady looked at her in disgust and said "I have taken 1000s of pictures, and you can not take that picture with one of these cameras".   Haha, Amanda (Magan's bestie) and Magan made fun of and laughed at this lady's ill temper for the rest of the night.   This full month was won by the "Wicked" nights, and I am so happy they were able to go once more.   I'll just try not to think about how much cheaper that first night might have been with "rush" tickets.   :)