The original Star Wars movie came out when I was a little kid. My dad, my brother and I couldn’t wait to see it and went to the theater one Saturday afternoon thinking we’d be among the coveted first to watch incredible life-like “how did they DO that?” 1977 effects. You know, like this.

After waiting in line for an hour or more, we got notice that the next two shows were sold out. Defeated, we headed home and were not among the lucky Monday school crowd bragging about having been the first to see the movie.

Later that week, my brother had a mole removed and my dad pulled me out of school. Freaking out that something had gone horribly wrong with my bother Tommy’s surgery was for naught when I realized that my dad had pulled me out of school to see Star Wars!

In the middle of a school day!! That memory remains one of my favorite ones from childhood and I’ve vowed to do cool things like that with Tucker whenever it makes sense.

So, when I got an offer to see Sesame Street Live “Make a New Friend,” held on a school morning, I said yes. The day arrived, and Tucker and I ditched the bus, emailed his teacher about his “appointment,” and headed to the arena of a local college to get our Grover on. The show was really well done and we had great seats.

Those awesome seats meant that while Tucker looked like this when looking up on stage, seeing his buddies (including the awesome Count),

I got this really expensive camera and still can’t take a decent photo

he looked like this

Don’t come near me yo.

when the “costumes” came down the aisles to high-five the kids. Tucker loves watching shows and interacting with kids. Not so much when it comes to 6″ tall characters walking down the aisles. The other kids seemed to love that part though.

Overall, I have to say that I’d definitely recommend the show, especially for kids aged 18 months to 4 years old or so. It’s hard to know how to place ages on activities for my developmentally delayed little boy, who is five. Some of his loves are tagged as being great for three-year-olds while others, like Lego stuff, is recommended for kids around eight.

The costumes were top-notch, and the singing and dancing amazing.

I’m very thankful to have received tickets to this show and am even more thankful to be able to offer you some!!! If you’d like four complimentary vouchers to see Sesame Street Live (either “Let’s Dance!” or “Make a New Friend,”) please leave a note in your comment and you’ll be entered to win.

YOU CAN WIN 4 OF THESE YO

I’m also thankful that for the first time, Tucker “gets” that Christmas is coming. We had for-real tears today when he wasn’t able to open one of the few presents that’s already shown up underneath the tree. Maybe that sounds weird, but in this house, when he’s been oblivious to any holiday coming up, it’s big huge news.

His Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar helps to remind him of the days (and Kim asked to see a photo so here you go):

I was thankful and afraid tonight, when we were invited to attend a birthday party at a pool. Tucker was included and welcome and loved loved loved the pool. He can’t swim, though, and while I sometimes think that his gross motor skills are great, they’re not as good as I sometimes think they are.

He can’t paddle to the edge of the pool even in a life vest, and at another point, three boys were sharing this car raft. Tucker was in the middle and the boy in front leaned back, forcing Tucker underwater. He didn’t know to swim under and up and the lifeguard got him three seconds before I did. We ended up signing up for private swim lessons after me tearily telling my husband that we HAD to…

I’m also thankful for light shows that are awesome. We have one fairly close to home and Tucker loves it (me too).

This has been a Ten Things of Thankful Post. Don’t forget to tell me if you want to win the tickets!!!

Note: I received four tickets plus the four that I’m giving away. All opinions and photos are my own.

Your hosts: A Fly on our (Chicken Coop) Wall, Amycake and the Dude, Considerings, Finding Ninee, Getting Literal, I Want Backsies, The Meaning of Me, Rewritten, Thankful Me, The Wakefield Doctrine

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