So when the banners started going up on McCaw Hall a few blocks from my office we started thinking about taking Clara. Auntie Amy was out since she was likely to be on bed rest (having triplets will do that to you, apparently), but Grandpa Jack was all about going. We picked a date and kept it under wraps so Clara wouldn't get too excited. When we finally did tell her she practically glowed.

On Friday we started talking it up big-time. Want to go to the Nutcracker? Better eat your beans! Want to go to the Nutcracker? Better use the potty! (We should have thought of that years ago.)

We dropped Lilly at NanaPapa's and met Grandpa Jack at the Park and Ride. Traffic was light on a Sunday at noon (big surprise), until we had to dodge around a million little kids dressed all fancy. Actually, they weren't all fancy and I have a theory about that.

The families with no girls tended to be more casual. Some even wore jeans. (Oh, the humanity!) One girl and one boy meant a skirt for the girl and maybe khakis for the boy. More than one girl (or just a girl like us) meant the girl was all dolled up, the mother was, too, and the father was dragging along pulling at his tie. (No, I didn't wear a tie. Cha!)

Clara didn't want to get a picture with the freaky guy with a Nutcracker head on his shoulders, but was perfectly fine standing next to the monsterously-tall Nutracker statue. She gladly accompanied Grandpa Jack into the gift shop and around the corner to the booster seat counter and elevator.

Our seats were on the first balcony, pretty close to the middle, three rows back from the edge. The only thing that might have been better would have been had they been right on the edge, though I don't think Clara had any real problems seeing.

She did have some issues waiting, though. She was clearly very, very excited and very compliant. She and Amy found the little girls' room and she was extremely careful with the chocolate mouse cookie Grandpa Jack bought for snack.

When the lights went down she sat up and stared hard at the empty stage. "I can't see it," she whispered to Amy as the orchestra played the overture. "Just wait."

When the teeth opened up and Godfather Drosselmeier directed Clara's dream Clara's mouth hung open. (Yeah, this is where it gets confusing. Remember that the main character in the Nutcracker is named Clara, was played by Clara and Carla (young and old), and we were there with Clara. Hmph.)

Our Clara was silent except the occasional cough and a few whispered questions. She never took her eyes away from the stage and was thrilled when we told her it wasn't over, they were just taking a break called, "intermission."

At intermission Clara danced and swirled among the crowds. She usually fairly liberal in her dancing style, but now she was much more disciplined (if you can call a three year old disciplined) and pointed her toes and spun as best she could.

As much as she loved the first half, she was even more enamored of the second. She was especially fascinated by the larger groups of dancers and of course any time Clara (the dancer) was on stage.

When it was all over we took our time leaving to let the crowds thin out a bit. Clara held Grandpa Jack's hand as we headed to the car, but by the time we dropped Grandpa Jack in Kirkland she was nearly asleep.

Although she didn't much care for Herr Drosselmeier she loved the rest of the experience. Clearly, this will have to be a yearly tradition with Grandpa Jack.

(A review of the production itself is at seattletimes.com.)