Four For a Day

Today, for the first time since the babies were born, we went out as a family of four.

It felt totally and completely normal. Barely five blocks from the house, it was almost like the babies were a dream.

We went to see a play, "Angelina Ballerina". Leo and Ellie loved it (they're experienced theatergoers).

When the play ended we purchased the requisite souvenirs ("Angelina" ears and wand) that cost more than the tickets (because you only live once).

Then it was off to a party. Again, just the four of us.

Later, Erin would describe me as "sitting alone at a table eating and drinking (wine)." It's totally true and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I enjoyed myself.

Ellie played four square with a couple of new found friends. Leo stayed with Erin and me and ate his weight in hot dogs and grapes and chatted up the ladies. He was having actual conversations and it was wonderful to watch.

There was just a lightness about the day, even when we couldn't find parking before the play and drove around in circles with the clock on the dashboard ticking down (there are few things in life I hate more than being late).

I don't think I realize how much work the babies are until I'm away from them (which is basically never). And I forget sometimes how easy "big" kids (like Leo and Ellie) are. But someday (too soon, I know) these babies will be big kids too. And the not so light days will feel like far away dreams. And there will be four little people instead of two, sitting in a darkened theater whispering "Is it over?"

Lucy modeling the Angelina ears.

Dusk arrived and an exquisite fall day came to an end and it was time to return home to the babysitter and the babies. When we walked in the door, the babysitter was holding Lucy and Harry was jiggling away in his bouncy chair. Both babies turned to look at us and smiled as if to say "It's you guys! We know you!" Leo and Ellie showered the babies with hugs and kisses and squeezes as they are apt to do when apart from them for more than three minutes. Ellie tried the ears and wand on her little sister and squeeled "She's holding the wand!" (see above and below).

Our babysitter described the babies as "so much fun." She said it twice so it must have been true.

Mouse ears AND wand.

Four for a day was fun. But six is more like it.

First Play and Much More

I think the picture pretty much says it all.

But because I am who I am, I have to say just a little bit more about taking Leo to see his first play this past weekend, “Charlotte’s Web." Of course, it didn’t hurt that Charlotte’s Web just happens to be one of my absolute favorite books of all time (I actually consider it to be one of the few perfect books). How can you argue with a line like this one:

"You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that."

When the house lights went down, Leo took my arm for a minute, not sure what to expect, I suppose. When the show started, and the actors began speaking (and there were puppets!), Leo crossed his legs, leaned forward, and was instantly hooked.

Aside from laughing and clapping at all the right places, the only sound Leo made was when the first web with the words “Some Pig” appeared. “Some pig!” he announced, decidedly not whispering. He leaned over to the unsuspecting man next to him, pointed at the web and said “Some pig!” The patient man (a dad) caught my eye and smiled at me, and then Leo. I drew the line when Leo crouched down and attempted to tap on the shoulder of the woman in front of us (he apparently wanted to tell her about “Some Pig!” too.

Unlike “Some Pig,” Leo couldn’t read “Radiant” or “Humble,” the next words to appear on Charlotte’s Web. I assure you that when he leaned over to ask me “What’s that say?” he immediately attempted to tell Dad Next To Us about Radiant and Humble. Luckily, patience mostly abounded that day and Leo’s neighbor indulged him with a sweet nod.

I grew up going to the theater. Nothing fancy, just community theater, shows like “Peter Pan,” “The Fantasticks,” and “West Side Story.” And who could forget the traveling version of “Les Miserables” that captivated me my entire senior year of high school (nerd alert). I think I wore the tape on that cassette soundtrack thin.

And because I am who I am, of course there were [happy] tears rolling down my cheeks at the end of Sunday's matinee of "Charlotte's Web," when the final, utterly simple yet heartbreaking line was spoken:

"It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both."

It's OK, you can call me a sap, but it was almost TOO much. My favorite book. Live theater. And my beautiful, sweet boy next to me, loving the whole thing.