You may remember that last year we were given, a part of a Christmas Gift, tickets to see the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s yuletide Celebration. We took Roo and Ren and really enjoyed ourselves so Mom and I decided that we would make this a yearly tradition.

No sooner had we put away the turkey and started hanging the interior decoration did Roo ask us if we would be going to the concert again this year. Now Mom and I wee excited to tell the kids that we were doing it again but this comment made it even more fun for us. We had not bought tickets yet so like wise parents we skirted around the issue upon this first request.

The comments kept coming so finally, like the procrastinating pros that we are, we decided that we would purchase tickets. ONe Saturday morning Mom got online and looked only to find they were sold out for all future showings and that the tickets were being scalped for over $150 each. When I woke up, that is right she lets me sleep in almost every Saturday (she is the greatest), she told me and asked what we should do. Now anyone who knows us also knows that we will not be spending $150 per person on any family tradition so I announced that the only thing to do would be to make it an every other year tradition and make a note to buy the tickets early.

Unlike the old me I decided instead of dwelling on the impossibility of going I would take another look online to determine if there was any other way to make it happen. I stumbled across the ISO’s own website and found that not only were they not actually sold out but that there were plenty of tickets still available. Mom had clicked on an erroneous link and although it appeared to be the ISO’s it in fact was not. Anyway, what started as a sad morning quickly turned into a happy one and tickets were purchased.

The day finally arrived and each of the kids were able to open one gift they had received from Grandma M. The girls quickly opened theirs and Ren pulled out a beautiful sparkling dress. Fish opened another one and Roo had a very nice pair of pants and a tie. Roo quickly exclaimed to Ren that she could now ask Santa for something else as she just got the gift she had been asking for, a sparkly dress!

Then we announced that we would be going to the concert that afternoon. We all showered up, got dressed and then had to inform Fish that she could not go, they recommend no children under 3 and we agree with that recommendation, but would be spending a nice afternoon with Grandma B.

We arrived early and walked around getting a good look at all the decorations we rushed through last year. There was even a real live reindeer just outside the front doors that the kids got to see.

Then the concert began. It was a very nice concert but was very different from lat years and the kids did not seem to be as into it. They sat as best they could and although it was difficult at times for Mom and I we kept our spirits up and a the conclusion of the program we are all ready to go.

We took off down the stairs and at the bottom were the dogs that were featured in the show waiting there for kids to come and pet and get their picture taken with them. So like all good parents we let them see. They posed well for pictures and Mom enjoyed taking them.

Mom and I were questing whether or not this was a good tradition as it was more difficult to sit through it this year for the kids. Then not two days later Roo was talking to Fish and telling her how next year she gets to go with us also. He was telling her all about it. Mom then asked him why it was hard for him and he stated that he thought it would be the same show we saw not something different. Now that might not be the greatest reason but I can see how it could effect a young kid and make it more challenging.

Mom and I have not yet decided if we will be going or not but we have determined that if we go we are still getting the back row and will continue to do so until at least one of the sits trough the entire performance.

It really was a good time and although it sound as though it was hard what isn’t? The kids keep talking about it and even tough they seemed to be bored with it while there they love talking about it.

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