Nutcracker Sweet

Sis and Bud saw a live performance of The Nutcracker in school last week, danced by a local ballet school. We had discussed the story in advance and, as I mentioned earlier, had watched Pacific Northwest's odd, almost Freudian version (the implied tension between Drosselmeyer and Clara creeped both Mama and I out), though we all preferred the Rockettes' teddy bear version.

Bud loved it and, as is his way, has been reliving the experience since then, through his own versions of the dance. He dons his tutu, requests the suite on the iPod, and cradles our own big red wooden Nutcracker in his arms as he dances his amalgam of kung-fu ballet. The boy loves to feel his body move.

And we love to watch.