disney on ice

We took Claire to see Disney on Ice tonight and it was a treat! I've gotta say, she was having a bad day all day long. Temper tantrums at the playplace at the mall, really fussy all day, took NO nap today, etc. it wasn't cute. i know mike's patience was tested BIGtime (basically b/c he used those exact words with me at some point). after three different costume changes, princess claire finally decided on a pink taffeta number with her 'jewels' and pigtails. then she started to get more psyched. and then she fell asleep in the car. (thank bejeebus)

When we arrived at scottrade center in downtown st. louis, we were greeted by thousands of other little princesses; belles, cinderellas, minnie mice, snow whites and even some spidermen? (this is disney on ice not marvel on ice?) a princess fashion show was promoted for before the show. basically all it was a few booths with mannequins wearing princess dresses and doo-hickies from their respective movie at the end of a looooong hallway preceded by four hundred merchandise stands full of overpriced disney toys. claire's such a good girl though, she never asks for anything...which

just makes us want to buy her something! so here comes her first treat - a box of minnie mouse popcorn ($7). we found our seats and they were pretty good. mike and i get our own snacks - sodas and a pretzel ($16! -that's totally reasonable!) then she show begins!

it was a blast. it started with mickey and the gang and they would announce each act. first off was Cars and it was really cute, they used all the actual actors' voices from the movie, Owen Wilson, Bonnie Hunt, Cheech, the Cable Guy, it was funny. Then it was The Little Mermaid's

turn. They performed "Under the Sea", "Kiss the

Girl" and fatty boombalatty Ursula came skating out on all 8 legs. Then it was Lion King's turn. I felt like i was watching the Broadway musical - it was pretty spectacular. all of the animals looked beautiful; wildebeasts, ostrichs (my favorite), zebras, girrafes, birds, etc. Claire's never seen The Little Mermaid or The Lion King, so she didn't recognize any songs, but she still enjoyed it. She did keep asking where all the princesses were throughout. Can you blame her?!

There was a brief intermission in which everyone was expected to spend more money on overpriced souvenirs and food - we were not immune. In comes cotton candy with a pink flower hat ($12). Claire had never had the stuff before, and she had no idea what it was. Get this - Mike and I had to actually convince her to eat the sugary goodness (or badness). Hey it was $12!! those cavities don't form by themselves!

The second half began and it was entirely Tinkerbell. This was what we were waiting for! This really was beautiful too. Very girly. Full of flowers and fairy dust and rainbows and of course - fairies. Queen Clarion flew high in the sky and there was confetti and streamers and blooming flowers coming out of the floor...pretty flitteriffic!

Claire seemed to be having a religious experience near the finale. Her little arms outstretched, eyes half-closed in pure fairy-bliss. She yelled out "i love you tinkerbell! i'm claire!" she wouldn't stop waving. She was literally dancing in my lap. It was friggin adorable.

She was totally sweet and redeemed herself from her 'bad day' and the huge princess smile on her face at the end of the evening was the perfect thanks! we can't wait to go back!