the nutcracker ballet

on 11 december, i took grace to see the nutcracker ballet in topeka, ks. this was something that we have been looking forward to doing all year. we got a babysitter for the other kiddos and headed out of town.

unfortunately, we have to pictures... lame... but i we had a great time and she loved every minute of it.

i also have a fun little story to tell about the happenings with the babysitter.

grace and i left at about 12 pm. i asked essen to babysit and gave her all the instructions she would need. about 12:30, jack said he wanted to go outside. it was freezing... literally freezing. so cold and windy. essen bundled up jack and raegan and opened the back door for them to go out. essen left her shoes inside since she figured the kids wouldn't be out there too long. and she shut the sliding glass door. when she shut the door, the bar we keep in the slider (so it can't be opened from the outside... or inside for that matter) fell down into place locking them outside. did i say it was freezing? and essen isn't wearing shoes?

so essen says, should we say a prayer? raegan is like... why? and so they do and then raegan says, 'i know the way to the richards house!' and she led essen and jack on a trip around the block to the richards house. essen says that she asked raegan one time on their walk, 'are you sure this is the right way?' and raegan says, 'YES, it's right there!'

i thought this was so funny and i am so happy that raegan was able to remember how to get to the richards. i was very surprised she knew the way, but she is one smart cookie.

oh, and the richards had a key to our house and were able to let the freezing kids back in...