The Wizard of Oz

Our neighbor girl Paige babysits Ella and Zoe once in a while.

The girls A.D.O.R.E her.

They notice when she has her glasses on, what her shoes look like, what design is on her t-shirt, even if she's changed her earrings. She's such a great babysitter too -- she plays and plays and plays with them and she even puts dishes in the dishwasher (something I've never even asked her to do!). Plus, her mom is a pal of mine AND a nurse (bonus) and is always just across the street -- which gives me that extra sense of comfort when I'm not home.

This past weekend Paige was in her middle-school play and invited our family to see the performance. They put on 'The Wizard of Oz' and Paige was one of the Good Witches. The afternoon of the play we realized Zoe and Ella didn't know the actual story, so Tom told them an abridged-preschool-version and they were fascinated, and hooked.

I personally was so excited to go -- I LOOOOOOOVE school events supporting kids doing positive things, and I wasn't disappointed -- the play was awesome. The cast of middle-school kids were fantastic, each and every one of them, and Dorothy's singing actually brought tears to my eyes, she really was that good.

Ella and Zoe loved it too. Ella was beside herself with glee, laughing out loud and commenting throughout the whole performance. Zoe clapped after each song and told me a few times that she

'loved the play'.

At intermission Dorothy . . .

. . . and a few of the other characters (including Paige, in the pink) came out from behind the curtain and talked with the girls,

which was just so awesome.

Ella even petted Toto.

And at the end of the show Ella and Zoe saw all of the characters up close, including the Wicked Witch of the West. They talked with her, heard that she was a friend of Paige's, saw that she hadn't actually melted and that her green skin was only green paint.

It was great, on so many levels.

And Ella even held Paige's magic wand : )

I think what got me most excited is thinking about all the fun things Ella and Zoe have to look forward to. Maybe some day they will stand on a stage singing their little hearts out, or they might be a student director, or play the piano accompaniment, or be the set designer. Or maybe they will be on the yearbook staff, or the tennis team or play in the high school band . . . The possibilities are truly endless -- and though I'm not in a hurry for middle-school to get here, I am so excited for all the experiences that are in store for both of them.