How to Train Your Dragon Live (Best Surprise Ever!)

Oh where to start... Okay so MONTHS ago, no longer than that, we heard that the makers of "Walking With Dinosaurs" made another live performance for the movie "How to Train Your Dragons." Obviously Belle was beside herself. But at the time it had no listings for coming to our area. Brad and watched the site waiting for it to list dates here. Finally it did. Then we waited for them to start selling tickets. Back in October they went on sale for two days of shows in Tacoma in December. Brad and I talked and decided we would do it, but not only would we take Belle we would keep it a secret up until the drive to the event!

I can't say how amazingly hard this was to keep quiet!! One day Belle brought home a flier about her she got at school her teach had and was going to throw out. She was so excited about it. I explained how expensive it was and I wasn't working. She was SO sweet and understanding! AAAAHHH!! I just wanted to scream "WE ARE TAKING YOU!!!" But I couldn't I just bite my tongue and changed the subject. It was SO FREAKING HARD!! We all had moments where wanted to tell her but had to hold back. I've never had such a hard time keeping quiet about something.

Finally we made it to the day, now we just needed to find a way to get her in the car out to Tacoma. We made up a story we were going to go window shopping for bed frames at Ikea. She didn't want to go at first but agreed easily and didn't even ask why! Once we got within 30 minutes of it we made a stop to use the rest room and took the opportunity to get her reaction to being told where we were REALLY going on video.

We told her we had a surprise for her. We handed her a bag with a stuffed Toothless plush inside. She thought that was the surprise. :) We then asked her how she'd like to go see them... right now. She looked confused. We told her we bought tickets months ago, that we were really going to the show right now. The look on her face... well... you can see the picture. But it was absolutely the best more genuine look of surprise. You could see the gears trying to process what was going on. Needless to say she freaked out.

We got in the car and headed out. We almost were late because of traffic detours but we made it just in time!

The show was amazing! Just fantastic. We had great seats and it was just stunning. Belle was on cloud 9 the entire time.

After the show we headed home but were starving so stopped at Red Robin for dinner. Belle had to tell everyone about it. We got home and gave Moya her own Toothless plush so she didn't feel left out (we bought two ahead of time).

I am SO glad we were able to do this for her and we were able to keep it quiet. I asked her later if she was happy it was a surprise or if she would have rather us have told her. She said she loved being surprised but that now she was going to wonder if we ever told her we were taking her bed frame shopping again. :) Guess we will need to think of a new white lie if we ever get a chance like this again.

Love you Belle! Hope you always remember this. I know I will!