Review | NHRA Races

Today our family headed to the NHRA races at Firebird International Raceway. Sadly, this raceway will be closing down this year. I have never been to an NHRA event or even seen drag racing in person...so I was in for something new.

My husband and I had a great time...something that I can mark off on my bucket list. The weather was chilly so that made me and the kids uncomfortable. Between the cold weather and the extremely loud noises from the "funny cars," my kids ended up leaving after an hour with Grandma and Grandpa. They had enough. Needless to say, I really wouldn't recommend this event for kids under the age of 5.

My hubby loved the racing and thought it was even better than Monster Jam. I felt differently but enjoyed something new and different. Ear plugs are a must!

Review | Disney on Ice

Disney on Ice Dare to Dream

 

This was our third Disney on Ice experience and it was great just like the others. The cast and set crew do a fabulous job. This particular show focused only on three princesses: Cinderella, Tatiana and Rapunzel. My daughter and I have only seen Cinderella so we were a little clueless about the other story lines. It was easy enough for us to pick of the plot and still enjoy ourselves. Most of the little girls at the show were well versed with Rapunzel and Tatiana. This program is a little girl's dream! We were blessed to have a mother-daughter night out with some friends and appreciate our real life princesses. Besides the cost of the tickets, snacks and drinks are super expensive. $5 for a bottle of water or Coke. $12 for shaved ice in a Disney cup. I would suggest bringing unopened snacks and drinks to cut down on costs.

Review | Cavalia's Odysseo

Have you ever been to a show that takes your breath away? The kind of show that you think about as you fall asleep at night or greets you the next morning with vibrant memories? That is what Cavalia did for me. I feel extremely blessed to have seen such an incredible act of artistry.

Cavalia, a company based in Montreal, Quebec, presents large-scale equestrian and performing arts productions. Its shows display expertise and innovation with cutting-edge technology, multimedia and special effects, along with equestrian and acrobatic performances. Odysseo, their second production, was launched in 2011. This second show portrays equestrian arts, acrobatics, music, multimedia projections and special effects under one Big Top. It features some 300 different costumes, 60 male horses, and 45 artists/musicians.

The show started at 8:00 pm and although I was extremely exhausted 2.5 hours later, I was thankful that my time was extremely well spent. I can't even fathom how another production can top this one. The music was phenomenal. The artists were extremely talented and even made me nervous on several occasions. And the horses were gorgeous.

I am usually a little extra sensitive to animals in regards to their show life. I wonder if the training is too tough and if they are cared for adequately. I was relieved to see the artists lovingly stroke their horse companions. The stallions and other breeds completely trusted their masters. It was a beautiful relationship to watch.

I can't wait to see what Cavalia comes up with next! Check out Cavalia's website for more information and photos.

Review | Circus Americana

Last night our family attended the very first stage perfomance for Circus Americana. The Taylor family, who are Arizona locals, put on a homegrown circus. The family is extremely talented and have quite a show packed into almost 90 minutes of entertainment. My 3-year-old was glued to the performance and wouldn't allow himself to fall asleep until the ride home.

Although the circus was missing live animals, it made up for itself in many other ways. One of the best memories from this show was that before and after the show, the entire cast was mingling with the crowd. We felt like we knew them! It made a huge impact on the kids for sure.

We feel truly blessed to be a part of their first live theater performance. I would recommend this show to anyone with children ages 3 and up.