It's a Hard Knock Life

Last night was Brooke's ice skating "recital" at Wesleyan University Athletic Center. It's a huge 3 hour production - very professionally produced with the lights and music and costumes - the whole nine yards. Much like a dance recital, the kids skate with their "class" and solo performers are interspersed between the groups across the night. The costumes are beautiful and the kids just love the whole ordeal. (Bit of an overload on the Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus songs this year but...whatever)

The costumes are ordered in early December and it's always exciting to see what you will be wearing. I think dressing up and wearing make-up is what makes the night so exciting. This year, Brooke's class did "It's a Hard Knock Life" from Annie (that is NOT a Taylor Swift number!). When we went to order the costume, we were so disappointed. Instead of the glitzy, sequined, flashy, sparkly number we had last year,
the costume was a boring cute pinafore and bloomers number - with a babushka!!! Needless to say, Mom Brooke whined for months.

Actually, the group looked adorable. They came out on the ice each carrying a bucket and a sponge (which each child was required to bring from home) and the number began with the kids on their hands and knees scrubbing the "floor".

Friday night was the dress rehearsal and when we got home, we left the bucket and Brooke's skate bag in the car so we wouldn't forget those very important items. So, yesterday afternoon I organized for our departure - costume, check, make-up, check, snacks, check, blankets, check, water bottle, check. The family jumped into the car (in a torrential rain storm, mind you!!) and off we went.

Bob dropped us all off at the front entrance and because there were so many events at Wesleyan last night, the parking was horrendous and he had to park a good half mile away and walk in the dark, pouring rain to the athletic center. He's such a good sport - my husband!

The show began at 7PM and at 6:36PM (I remember this clearly), my daughter turns to me and says, "Mom. The bucket!!!" I turned 3 shades of white and froze. We left the bucket in the car! SHIT Oh DARN!

I spotted my husband across the rink and frantically motioned him over. "Bob, you have to go back to the car and get Brooke's bucket!!! Hurry, we only have 20 minutes!!" Now it was his turn to turn 3 shades of white. I already knew what he was going to say. Please don't say it. PLEASE don't say you took the bucket out of the van when you were cleaning it this morning...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

So being the good Dad (and husband) he always is, he ignores me ripping him a new one said he would go buy one at Home Depot down the street. He has 20 minutes, it's torrentially raining and he is parked a half mile away.

By now, Brooke is crying and I'm trying to console her thinking - he's never getting back here on time. It's a 10 minute walk to the car, both WAYS!!! But at 5 of 7, in walks Bob. He's carry an over sized SQUARE white bucket with the word PICKLES in huge letters written on it. Groannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. Brooke, in her squeaky 8 year old voice shouts, "I'm not using THAT!!" OH YES YOU ARE YOUNG LADY!!!!!!!!!!

Epilogue

How did Bob find a bucket so quickly? He ran to the deli/convenience store down the street and when they didn't have any buckets for sale he begged them to look for one in their basement and the owner came up with the pickle bucket from the alley. He even hosed it out! It doesn't get any better than this! Except when my oldest son ran to the bathroom in the middle of the show because he had to throw up...

Catching the joy!