Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer @ Ovens Auditorium

In an attempt to broaden the boys' horizons we took them to their first musical.  At Christmas.  What better time, right?  Now I've seen the claymation version of Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer every year since I was the boys' age.  It's a classic!  But would it be able to stand the change to live performance?

You bet it can!

This mixture of live performance and puppets was word for word, accent for accent, movement by movement exactly like the TV special.  It was so good.  The puppeteers, while visible, were not obvious, and the young troupe were enthusiastic and professional.

I don't think anyone in the family-oriented audience (our kids may have been some of the oldest) didn't have a wonderful time.  We have the show DVR'd at home, and I think it will be more fun to watch it again after seeing this performance.

Back to that attempt to expand our boys' interests outside of sports, their responses are summed up in the following expansive conversation:

Mom & Dad: Wow! That was fantastic!  What did you guys think of the show?

Boys: Good

Mom & Dad: Well do you think you'd like to do some sort of performance as an activity after school?

Boys: No Thanks.

At least they were polite.

Carolina Panthers v Green Bay Packers @ Bank Of America Stadium

The boys have become sports mad.  They can't get enough of any of it.  So when a neighbor was selling their tickets to the Panthers vs Packers match (as a reasonable price) we decided an early Xmas present was on the cards.  We called the boys to our room and let them open a gift box which had gloves and one Keuchley and one Olsen shirt in them.  Then they discovered the tickets.  I though B's head was going to explode.  He was so excited.  I think L was so overwhelmed he was not sure what was actually happening.  We got our proud parent moment when B declared us "best parents ever!"

Another neighbor lent us a parking pass close to the stadium and from moment we were on the street the boys, with eyes so wide open, couldn't wrap their head around how many people were wearing their Panthers gear.  We walked through Bearden Park, where they were wrapping up a family fun fare (note for next season), but we were able to get some faces painted.

Dad, B & L @ Bank of America Stadium

Once we got in, the boys signed up for the "First Game Club" which gave them a badge stating this, which in turn, ensured a million high fives from any and everyone for the whole game..  Our seats were high up and in the corner behind the end zone.  Still the view was great and it was just so much fun watching the boys soak up everything.  From the National Anthem, the teams running out, Air Force fly over, fireworks - everything!

And there was some football.

A highly anticipated return from injury for Aaron Rogers was supposed to give the Packers a boost, and with positions in the play offs up for grabs, fans were a bit concerned.  They needn't be.  The Panthers were awesome, and while there was a good contingent of Packers fans near us, the overwhelming support of the home crowd drowned out the travelling fans.  While you're never sure with the Cardiac Cats, the team had the game wrapped up by the beginning of the 4th quarter.

We tried to leave, to get in front of the crowds, but B was having none of it.  If fact, he'd still be there today had we not forced him to go at the end of the game.  I'm so glad we did this, we uhmmed and ahhed for a long time before pulling the trigger to get the tickets.  But the whole family had a great time, the boys being there, and the parents watching the kids have a blast.  Not sure it is something we could do every week, but definitely something we could do once a year.  At the least we can just be downtown and soak up the atmosphere and activities before the game.

Carolina Panthers 31 (D. Byrd 2, C. McCaffery, G. Olsen touchdowns, G. Gano 4 extra points, 1 field goal) defeated the Green Bay Packers 24 (D. Adams, R. Cobb, R. Rogers touchdowns, M. Crosby 3 extra points, 1 field goal)

Paid Attendance: 74,447

Les Misérables @ Ovens Auditorium

For all the shows A and I have seen, it's hard to believe Les Miserables hasn't been one of them.  So when the opportunity arose at the nearby Ovens, we decided on an adults night out.

The night started at Bistro la Bon, a local favorite, close to both the house and the venue.  Tonight was a sub-par, service wise, for the restaurant.  We ordered a few tapas plates while sitting at the bar.  The bartender was too busy being in charge and controlling his bar back for us too relax.  Then the food came out unevenly spaced, in that the last dish had to scoffed down to get to our show.  May need to try something different next time.

Our seats on the main floor were off to right and a great spot for the show.  Les Miserables is a true musical.  Not a word was spoken and everything was sung.  I don't remember ever seeing that before, but I was not a fan.  A great story and I loved the set movements, but this pedantic, old man couldn't put all the singing behind him.  And the cherry on that cake is multiple people singing different things at the same time.  Just shits me!  A on the other hand, loved it all.  

While I love the very few adult only nights we get, tonight's show was not the highlight of all the things we've done.  I had a good night, but I doubt I'd see Les Miserables again.

Davidson v Virginia Military Institute @ John Belk Arena

On the day that winter arrived in Charlotte, Aaron and I went up to Davidson College for my first game of the season against VMI.  We made out stop at Char Grill for a quick bite before walking into the Belk Arena moments before tip-off.

Turned out tonight's winner would be the team that could hit the target at least a few times, as both sides were shocking in putting baskets away.

While not playing well, Davidson looked the more comfortable on their home turf.  Once they got their noses in front midway through the first period, it stayed in the Wildcats control.  Although it seemed pretty even up and down the court, it was Davidson that took advantage of points when needed.  In the end I don't think that VMI deserved to lose by such a large margin, it was only their accuracy that let them down.

On the drive up, Aaron had mentioned that rumor had Steph Curry coming to the game, with his Warriors due to play the Hornets the following night in Charlotte.  Though an ankle injury made that a bit doubtful.  As usual the Davidson crowd redded up the arena, but I don't recall seeing so many #30 shirts before.  Curry did try, unsuccessfully, to slip into his court-side seat unnoticed, however it felt like that was all people were watching for, because a wave of hub-bub hit the stadium (and kids ran from everywhere to near where he was seated).  I feel like it affected the players too, as it seemed like everyone was trying to put down a 3 pointer.  In the end both teams combined only hit 16/46 from outside.  Hardly Curry percentages.

Davidson Wildcats 74 (J. Gudmundsson 22, P. Aldridge 20, K. Grady 10) defeated  Virginia Military Institute Keydets 51 (A. Vereen 12, G. Gilkeson 10, B. Parham10)

Crowd: 5,295