I sent the girls a link to a mixed review of The Nutcracker today. (The reviewer always complains that there is no live orchestra). Here was M's response:

"And that was a mean article. You should have seen the comments. People were like "I totally agree with you" and " I totally agree. Our family just waits to go to the Joffrey at the Kennedy Center." But, there was one comment that was all like "Oh, come on. I have never seen a Nutcracker that HAS love and meaning in the music." That right there is a role model. Come on other commenters. I mean, a live orchestra is really expensive. And, we did do it one year." 

and

"Oh, come on! It is really hard to get a live orchestra. It is expensive, and very hard to dance to sometimes. Give us  some credit. We tried one year, and it was really expensive, and it just didn't work."

Here are some photos.

From the surprise party. I look a little sick, because I *was* a little sick.

And from the White House:

And here is a photo of me wrapping books at P&P last Saturday. Grandma Sandy stopped by and took a photo.