Lipizzaner Stallions
We surprised the girls on Sunday with tickets to see the Lipizzaner Stallions. We left early and had lunch downtown Dallas and then walked to the American Airlines Center to see the show. At first we were telling them we were going to the museum… then we told them we were going to see an opera. Melissa wasn’t happy about either one, but Sara said she wanted to see an opera. I doubt she knows what that is!
Then at lunch I told Melissa that we were going to see some airplanes at the American Airlines Center. They’re brand new airplanes called “Lippies”. I thought for sure that she would figure it out, considering she knows every single horse breed. But nope. Didn’t have a clue! I looked around when we walked through the doors and didn’t see any signs, but the woman who told us which way to go to get to our section, told us about a souvenir stand. I spotted that, but Melissa completely missed it! We were one of the first to get o our seats, but as it filled up, there were quite a few people with programs (aka souvenir books) and you could clearly see the pictures of the horses. I kept waiting for Melissa to say something, and I even told her to pay attention to her surroundings, but she never noticed the books! Another big clue was the gap in the curtains when we first walked in, you could see horses behind the curtain, but I guess Melissa never saw that, either. We had great seats, btw. They were in the 8th row! The show was pretty good, too, and everyone enjoyed it. At the very beginning, the commentator came through the curtains, followed by one of the horses and the rider was holding an American flag. The horse stood perfectly still during America the Beautiful and the National Anthem, and Sara whispered to me “Is that a real horse?”
I was lucky to get a few good pictures…. overexposed the whites on a LOT of them, and the ISO was on 1600, so lots of grain.
In this picture, the horse performs a Capriole. The Stallion leaps into the air, drawing his forelegs under his chest at the height of elevation, and kicks out violently with his hind legs.
*** More pictures on my flickr. See link on the right.
The Daily Click 
So, I’m sitting on the edge of my seat, anxiously awaiting Melissa’s reaction and………nothing!!! LOL, I even went back an reread it. What did she say when you found out???? What a great story, great memories!! These pics are AMAZING!! I feel like I am right there!
12. February, 2008 at 06:46
There WAS no reaction!!! Can you believe it? I think she was mad at herself that she didn’t figure it out… and maybe a little mad at us for not telling her and then trying to drop all kinds of hints for her. Maybe she wanted to see the opera after all? LOL
But I totally expected her to jump up and down in her seat, clap her hands and yell “horsies!” when she saw the horses, but… NOTHING!!!! Just sat there, eating popcorn. KIDS!
I do know she loved it. We bought them a souvenir book on he way out and she read it the whole way home. Oh, and during the show she complained that I didn’t get a picture of one of the horses bowing. Already had one like that of another one, but she wanted one of this one, too.
12. February, 2008 at 06:57
Geeesh…not even a little emotion??? Kids!!!
Looks like a great show and I think your pictures are amazing!!!!
12. February, 2008 at 07:17
Looks like a ton of fun…and Melissa is just like Andrew…he wouldn’t have had a reaction either….it kills me sometimes but my others are pretty animated so at least I have some to give reaction! These pics are fantastic…..!!!!!
12. February, 2008 at 08:04