"Where the Wild Things Are"

My kids are such lucky little souls. On Saturday evening their Aunt Lilia and Uncle Mark took them for a fancy dinner at a swanky Thia restaurant and then to see the Colorado Ballet's rendition of "Where the Wild Things Are," inspired by the Maurice Sindack book. They had such a wonderful time. Even though they had been to the ballet many times, each saw it with eyes anew. Ellie's new vision is due to the ballet classes she is taking. She has developed a new sense of respect for what it takes to move like they do. For Ethan, it is a growing awareness in how things function together. He was thrilled to announce that when a man and woman dance together, the man becomes a tool. I was a bit confused, so I asked for clarification. He says (and he is right) That the man waits to help her dance. He lifts, spins and even tosses her. He does very little on his own. However, when it is just men, then they become dancers themselves. He tells me it feels like things are beginning to "click" in his head. I told him that in education we call this the egg carton theory - the idea that we collect all of these separate pieces of information, each one staying apart and distinct, then they combine together, like an omelet, making something entirely different and delightful. They also both joyfully recounted the very last thing. At the end "Max" comes back out, followed by another monster. Max beckons another monster back onstage. This monster is confused. What's going on? Then the first monster gets on his knees, brings out a small box and asks the other monster to marry him. They are thrilled. She jumps up and down (not easy to do in such a costume) and falls down on top of him. A very romantic, if clumsy, ending to a great evening. Which, by the way, was topped off by double scoops of ice cream. Does life get any better than this?