Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

Ticket Giveaway: Sesame Street Live “Make a New Friend” or “Let’s Dance”

The original Star Wars movie came out when I was a little kid. My dad, my brother and I couldn’t wait to see it and went to the theater one Saturday afternoon thinking we’d be among the coveted first to watch incredible life-like “how did they DO that?” 1977 effects. You know, like this.

death star blow up

After waiting in line for an hour or more, we got notice that the next two shows were sold out. Defeated, we headed home and were not among the lucky Monday school crowd bragging about having been the first to see the movie.

Later that week, my brother had a mole removed and my dad pulled me out of school. Freaking out that something had gone horribly wrong with my bother Tommy’s surgery was for naught when I realized that my dad had pulled me out of school to see Star Wars!

In the middle of a school day!! That memory remains one of my favorite ones from childhood and I’ve vowed to do cool things like that with Tucker whenever it makes sense.

So, when I got an offer to see Sesame Street Live “Make a New Friend,” held on a school morning, I said yes. The day arrived, and Tucker and I ditched the bus, emailed his teacher about his “appointment,” and headed to the arena of a local college to get our Grover on. The show was really well done and we had great seats.

ABC Sesame Street Live

Those awesome seats meant that while Tucker looked like this when looking up on stage, seeing his buddies (including the awesome Count),

Happy Kid Sesame Street Live

I got this really expensive camera and still can’t take a decent photo

he looked like this

Scared kid at Sesame Street

Don’t come near me yo.

when the “costumes” came down the aisles to high-five the kids. Tucker loves watching shows and interacting with kids. Not so much when it comes to 6″ tall characters walking down the aisles. The other kids seemed to love that part though.

Overall, I have to say that I’d definitely recommend the show, especially for kids aged 18 months to 4 years old or so. It’s hard to know how to place ages on activities for my developmentally delayed little boy, who is five. Some of his loves are tagged as being great for three-year-olds while others, like Lego stuff, is recommended for kids around eight.

The costumes were top-notch, and the singing and dancing amazing.

WIN FOURTICKETS TO SESAME STREET LIVE!

I’m very thankful to have received tickets to this show and am even more thankful to be able to offer you some!!! If you’d like four complimentary vouchers to see Sesame Street Live (either “Let’s Dance!” or “Make a New Friend,”) please leave a note in your comment and you’ll be entered to win.

Win 4 tickets to Sesame Street Live

YOU CAN WIN 4 OF THESE YO

I’m also thankful that for the first time, Tucker “gets” that Christmas is coming. We had for-real tears today when he wasn’t able to open one of the few presents that’s already shown up underneath the tree. Maybe that sounds weird, but in this house, when he’s been oblivious to any holiday coming up, it’s big huge news.

His Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar helps to remind him of the days (and Kim asked to see a photo so here you go):

Star Wars Lego Advent Calender

I was thankful and afraid tonight, when we were invited to attend a birthday party at a pool. Tucker was included and welcome and loved loved loved the pool. He can’t swim, though, and while I sometimes think that his gross motor skills are great, they’re not as good as I sometimes think they are.

He can’t paddle to the edge of the pool even in a life vest, and at another point, three boys were sharing this car raft. Tucker was in the middle and the boy in front leaned back, forcing Tucker underwater. He didn’t know to swim under and up and the lifeguard got him three seconds before I did. We ended up signing up for private swim lessons after me tearily telling my husband that we HAD to…

I’m also thankful for light shows that are awesome. We have one fairly close to home and Tucker loves it (me too).

Light Show
This has been a Ten Things of Thankful Post. Don’t forget to tell me if you want to win the tickets!!!

Note: I received four tickets plus the four that I’m giving away. All opinions and photos are my own.

Ten Things of ThankfulYour hosts: A Fly on our (Chicken Coop) Wall, Amycake and the Dude, Considerings, Finding Ninee, Getting Literal, I Want Backsies, The Meaning of Me, Rewritten, Thankful Me, The Wakefield Doctrine

Join the Ten Things of Thankful Facebook Group


  • Out One Ear - Linda Atwell - I remember the year Lindsey realized Christmas, Santa, etc., was a big thing. Cabbage Patch kids had just come out. I had to fight a bunch of other ladies to get my daughter one and make her dream come true. So I totally understand: this. is. a. big. huge. deal. Not only for Tucker, but for you too. Enjoy. Enjoy. Enjoy.

    The Sesame Street Live looked fun and if that would’ve been available when my kids were little, I would’ve loved to have taken them. Glad Tucker enjoyed. This is what Christmas is all about (to me) making memories with our kids. You can never go wrong with the memories.

    🙂December 15, 2014 – 1:06 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - OMG I remember Cabbage Patch dolls! I wanted one too (although I didn’t get one). Wow, they were ugly little things weren’t they? Still, they were the thing!!!! Thank you for getting it and for getting that the memories are really what matter!!December 15, 2014 – 10:54 pmReplyCancel

  • Kristi - You are that COOL mom! I’m so happy you were able to take Tucker to see the show.

    Sounds like private swimming lessons are a good idea. What a scary experience for you! I’m glad the lifeguard was there and everything is OK.December 15, 2014 – 10:07 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - haha I TRY to be the cool mom and thank you! Yeah, private swimming lessons I think are a perfect idea although super expensive… still though, what price for a sweet life and skill? Thanks, KristiDecember 15, 2014 – 11:02 pmReplyCancel

  • Kerri - I’m so glad he had fun at Sesame Street and how can you not be thankful for a birthday party where you kid didn’t drown? Holy crap you must’ve freaked!!! Good job mama, holding it togetherDecember 15, 2014 – 10:20 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - YUP! I was kindof freaking. Stupid me though…I had on a swim suit but none of the other moms were in the pool so I waited thinking that it was “good for him” to be by himself in there with friends, which it WAS, but the poor kid doesn’t have the skills at all…December 15, 2014 – 11:04 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ The Meaning of Me - Kidzilla loves her Legos, too!
    So glad you had fun at Sesame Street – doing those things together and making special memories are the things that really matter.
    Hooray for “getting” Christmas. Isn’t it absolutely wonderful???
    Huge hugs to all of you XOXOXOXODecember 15, 2014 – 12:21 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Yes, “getting” Christmas is amazing!!! And here’s to legos and making memories!!!December 15, 2014 – 11:05 pmReplyCancel

  • Kim - Oh – there was a time (like last year!) that advent calendar would have been a hit here!!! This past summer my oldest son decided to get rid of ALL of his Legos – this was a collection he had worked on for over 10 years. It was hard for me but I let (and helped) him sell them all.
    Thanks for sharing the calendar!!!December 15, 2014 – 12:46 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Sorry I’m late with the Lego advent calendar (but maybe be glad as they are stupid expensive but obviously worth it when it makes your kid “get it” and all that). He got rid of ALL OF HIS LEGOS??? I wish I knew. I’d have bought them!!! You rock for helping him to sell them all!!December 15, 2014 – 11:06 pmReplyCancel

  • Tamara - I love Sesame Street Live! My good friend was the director of one of the big ones so we got backstage passes to meet Elmo, baby.
    And I’m so old I went to the Star Wars Ice Capades as a kid. I even got a nose bleed there. And a fake lightsaber.
    I was just telling Scarlet that story this morning!December 15, 2014 – 2:21 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - You met Elmo??? You so rock!!! Tucker would have hated that part but I’d have been super psyched!!! And you rock with your little girl nosebleed and fake lightsaber. 🙂December 15, 2014 – 11:07 pmReplyCancel

  • Chronicallysickmanicmother - I find it hilarious when they don’t like the costumes getting close to them.

    Star Wars advent calendar! AWESOME!December 15, 2014 – 4:30 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - It IS funny when they get freaked out by the costumes, even when knowing what they are and yeah the Lego Star Wars advent calendar is totally awesome 🙂December 15, 2014 – 11:08 pmReplyCancel

  • Dana - We never saw Sesame Street Live, but we did see The Wiggles in concert. Loved it then, so glad I don’t have to go now.

    I can see why the characters can make Tucker uncomfortable – they can be scary. Gwen had a friend years ago who was TERRIFIED of the Chick Fil-A cow. As in she ran screaming out the door. Poor kid.December 15, 2014 – 7:31 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - OOOH I got email alerts for the Wiggles for a couple of years and it never worked out!! I’m kinda jealous. And yeah the costume guys up close can be huge scary – that’s funny/sad about your friend who was terrified of the chick-fil-a cow. I don’t blame her!!December 15, 2014 – 11:11 pmReplyCancel

  • Mike - Yes, MY jump-in-after-Tucker needle pegged just reading that pool scene! I’m so glad you got him signed up for swimming lessons. We were in the water always on the boat during my childhood. I hated the swimming lessons but wow did it make myself and two step sisters expert swimmers. That’s so awesome you played hooky and went to see Sesame Street! I love it when parents do this with their kids because what happened in school that day will never be remember (assuming it’s a normal day). Sesame Street with mom will be a memory of a lifetime! Just like I still remember right where my dad and I were standing when he told me he was taking me to Star Wars on that Wed May 25th opening night! Good post, Kristi 🙂 Good luck to whomever wins the tickets!! 🙂December 15, 2014 – 8:12 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Yeah, I was freaking out a little bit. I was THISCLOSE to jumping in but then the lifeguard did…sigh. And yeah, I learned to swim young as well. Honestly, I didn’t realize how much help he’d need to do so and am glad we’re going to pay a fortune to get him private lessons…
      And YAY to Sesame Street Live being a memory he will cherish!! I hope so!!! I love that you remember your dad telling you that you’d be seeing Star Wars in 1977!!!December 15, 2014 – 11:20 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - We have great memories of taking the boys to Sesame Street Live – it’s a great show and I’m glad Tucker enjoyed it. (my boys were never big fans of the costumed characters up close either). And, I definitely get your excitement over his excitement about Christmas — that’s awesome!December 15, 2014 – 10:12 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Emily – I’m kindof relieved to read that your boys weren’t fans of the live “costumes” either!!! And yeah, the Christmas understanding is incredible even though I have to listen to “Can I open a present now?” 200 times a day 🙂December 15, 2014 – 11:21 pmReplyCancel

  • Michele @ A Storybook Life - Now that’s an awesome tradition that your dad started and you’re carrying on with Tucker! I would think it’s an ultimate compliment to a parent when their kid remembers something so fondly to do it with their own child. 🙂 It’s also a good reminder to me, the slave to the “schedule,” that surprises and a change from the schedule can be the source of great memories.

    I’d love to be entered in the giveaway — Teddy is currently obsessed with his good friends Elmo and “Ernie and Burp.” (Whoops, he learned about Bert and burping the baby on the same day.)

    And I’m excited for you that Tucker is getting into Christmas! Great Advent calendar. 🙂December 16, 2014 – 3:50 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I think so too Michele! And you’re entered! I love “Ernie and Burp!” Awesome!! I’ll have to remind my dad how awesome it was that he pulled us out of school to see Star Wars! That’ll make him happy.December 16, 2014 – 7:05 pmReplyCancel

  • Rebekah - Yes please! My older daughter is ob.sessed. with Elmo! So fun!December 16, 2014 – 9:03 amReplyCancel

  • Elizabeth - I seem to recall that we got pulled out of school to see Star Wars too! Of course, by the time Return of the Jedi opened, I was working for the theatre (at Tyson’s Corner – it is gone now, lol!) and got myself in on opening day. 🙂

    I have done lots of sharing so people can enter for those tickets – I hope whoever wins them has a great time!December 16, 2014 – 10:20 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - You got pulled out of school for Star Wars!?? Awesome!!! Also, you worked in Tyson’s Corner? As in VA? I live about 15 minutes from Tyson’s Corner! Are you still in the area now?? Thanks so much for sharing!!! I appreciate it!December 16, 2014 – 7:07 pmReplyCancel

      • Elizabeth - Yup, the same one in VA! We moved away decades ago but it remains one of my favorite places. 🙂December 16, 2014 – 8:32 pmReplyCancel

        • Kristi Campbell - WOW small world!! I moved here from Denver in 2004 and promised I’d not stay but well the schools, and my hubs job. WOW. seriously small world. I love it!!!December 16, 2014 – 11:07 pmReplyCancel

  • celeste noelani - That is AMAZING about Tucker getting that it’s Christmas this year. I hope it’s a wonderful one for you all.December 16, 2014 – 11:51 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks Celeste! I love that he gets Christmas, even though it means saying “no you can’t open your presents yet” 12 times every day. I’ll take it!!December 16, 2014 – 7:07 pmReplyCancel

  • Amy Neumyer - I absolutely love your blog and would love to win those tickets for my family! Thank you!December 16, 2014 – 7:51 pmReplyCancel

  • My Inner Chick - What a doll face!
    Merry Christmas, sweet, sweet girl. xxxDecember 18, 2014 – 6:25 pmReplyCancel

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