We took the kids to see Sesame Street Live: When Elmo Grows Up a few weeks ago.  It was AWESOME!  The songs were cute, the beloved characters adorable and… the tantrums were epic.  Arched backed, red faced, hearing loss causing, over stimulated, over sugared, no nap tantrums.  The kid sitting directly behind us was screaming so loud before the show started that I think my ears bled a little bit.  But despite that, it was a great show and Emma was so happy the entire time.

We brought Elmo with us…

The show starts…

For some reason Bert got upset and beat up Ernie.

Cookie Monster found this confusing.

Rogene's favorite part was when Elmo used the computer.

Big Bird was exactly the same… EXACTLY!

Abby Cadabby, the newest addition to the Monster family.

My favorite part was when Oscar came out all full of attitude and sang "I Love Trash".

It was magical.

Then this guy came out and sold every single one of those balloons.  What?!  I only bought two!

It was all worth it for Emma to get to see her beloved Elmo.

"Elmo loves you!"

(Thank you to Rogene who took all these pictures.)

The shoes they make for kids these days… are AWESOME!  (These are Tessa's new favorites.)

Goggles (or gogglegoks as they are known in our household) can really make a kid smile.

If your sister won't smile for the camera, give her a helping hand.

My friends Shanell and Aleta were passing through town on their way to the airport last Monday. I offered to make them sack lunches for their air plane trip because you never get as hungry as when you walk on the airplane and realize there is only peanuts and a small drink for the next several hours. 

Here is a list of the things I wanted to do to their lunches, but did not, because I'm all about being a grown up these days…

Let Emma put Dora stickers all over the brown paper bags.

Throw away the brown paper bags and use the Elmo lunch boxes.

Write a silly note (like I do for Tessa every day)

Put Dora fruit snacks in the lunches

Cut their sandwiches up into little tiny pieces

Take the grapes off the stems and cut them in half (to reduce the choking hazard of course!)

Include a happy meal toy or some crayons and paper.

I restrained myself as much as I possibly could.  Shanell and Aleta, I hope you enjoyed the Nerds!

Dear Tessa,

It is never okay to wear pink Capri stretch pants over the top of your jeans.  Ever.  Just wanted to clear that up.

Love,

Mommy