supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

as a little girl, i remember my mother taking me into the city (syracuse, ny) to see various performances as they came through town. we went to the ballet, the symphony, plays and musicals. later, when we moved to winchester, we would often go to the local performing arts college's summer theatre. it was always such a divine experience for me. it was an opportunity to see beyond my own little sandbox and get a glimpse at the larger world. somehow, the music would transport me and i would imagine being part of a different era or living a life totally different than my own. it was magical.

i think that is how i came to fall in love with my husband. not knowing about my love for musicals, the poor starving law student took me to see les miserables for our second date. we arrived painfully early and had lots of time to get acquainted while waiting for the performance to begin. while sitting there, he reached into his pocket and withdrew a tweety bird pez dispenser, pulled back the top and offered me a pez. it was a "you had me at hello" moment! anyways, i digress. this year for valentine's day, scott suggested taking ellie to see a broadway in chicago performance of mary poppins. he even gave up the a blackhawks v. redwings game to do so! i was over the moon for the opportunity to see miss e take in her first performance (and thrilled to see it myself).

and so last night, scott, ellie and a very excited momma went to the cadillac palace theatre. e has been spilling with questions for days, was delighted to get all glammed up, and beyond excited to leave d at home while she got to go on a date with momma and daddy. i am not sure she took one single breath the whole way there. she just kept asking questions and chatting away.

as we walked up to the theatre, her eyes were saucers and her smile went from ear to ear. she was carrying her little umbrella, pretending to be mary poppins, and bouncing all over the place. it was a moment i will play over in my mind for years to come.

this is e waiting in line to walk into the theatre entrance.

and here she is with her very wonderful daddy, inside the theatre.

she was adorable to watch. with each moment, she had those "new eyes" that was taking it all in for the very first time. she was enthralled with the beauty of the theatre itself, delighted with the search for the letter of our seat row, and sat in eager anticipation for the show to begin. when the lights dimmed, i thought she was going to pass out. her eyes were so huge and she was so happy. it was a sight to see.

personally, i had a difficult time choosing between watching e or watching the performance. both were wonderful! e loved each and every minute of it- and when mary poppins took to the sky, well miss e almost fell off her chair. and then burt does this dance number where he ends up literally walking up the wall and onto the ceiling, tap dancing all the while- truly a sight to see! to top it off, at the very end, mary flies up over the audience with her carpet bag and umbrella, right over your head. let's just say that it was a wonderful experience that i won't soon forget!