Elmo Live!

This post is a few weeks late but I wanted to be sure to remember this very special day! Several months ago Josh and I bought tickets to take Leah to Elmo Live! and the day finally came. It was cold but we bundled her up and braved the Michigan winter morning and headed out to the historic Fox Theater in downtown Detroit. We had never been there before and it was really beautiful and directly across the street from Comerica Park where the Detroit Tigers play. The whole experience began as we walked up to the entrance and there were actual bellmen at the doors (Detroit! who knew?!) and as soon as we got inside you could smell the popcorn, cotton candy, spiced nuts and other snacks. It was like walking into a fancy circus, without the heartbreaking animal cruelty. They were selling fun souvenirs and there were kids playing and laughing everywhere. It was beautiful. We got there early because we had "Sunny Days" tickets, which included front row seats and a meet and greet with Elmo and Grover before the show. Leah had fun looking around at the beautiful lobby while we waited to be brought upstairs to meet the characters.

 While we were upstairs waiting for Elmo and Grover she was very excited, jumping and smiling in line but once they came out she got pretty shy. She did go up to them for a picture, but only when I agreed to walk up there with her, and only while she was clutched to me like a little koala bear. But she DID give Elmo a "high five" and blew him a kiss before he walked away, so that was cute! We didn't get great pictures of all of that because we only had our phones with us (shameful, I know, but that usually what I use to take pictures so it didn't occur to be that it wouldn't do well in a dark room, oh well!).

 After that we bought a Leah a few souvenirs and then settled into our seats to wait for the show to begin. Leah had her sippy cup and she munched on cheerios in her own little seat but when the show started she preferred to be in Josh's lap. Let me just say, this was the CUTEST thing I have ever seen. I was tearing up as I was watching there characters sing and dance on stage and seeing all of these children so happy and our little bug so mesmerized in her Daddy's arms. It was really a moment I will never forget. She spent most of the show in a daze, just watching it all, loving it, soaking it all in, but toward the end she started laughing and clapping and playing with her souvenirs. Not once did she get antsy or want to leave, and it was a long show, an hour and 45 minutes including the intermission!

 After the show we walked out toward the restaurant where we planned to eat lunch and there was a man on the corner (street performer? homeless? not sure, don't want to assume?) and he was playing the trumpet and he was playing the Sesame Street song! It might sound silly, or cheesy but it really was the cherry on top of a perfect morning. Speaking of cherries, we went to Hockey Town USA for lunch, which was right next to the Fox Theater and I had a burger that they topped with a soft, creamy herbed cheese and michigan cherries. Sounds weird, I know, but it was heavenly!! (Jaclyn, I thought of you and your love of cheese!) They also have like a dozen different types of root beer, so that was pretty great too. After lunch we drove home, Leah took a nap, and then we all went to Target together, score! Wait, maybe that was the cherry on top of the great day, not much beats Target! So, there you have it! Josh may have had to miss Leah's birthday party, but this was our plan to, as a family, celebrate together. I believe we succeeded. Once I figure out how to upload pics onto here from my macbook I will post some pics from the show.