As you can see, sunny days did sweep the clouds away! Look in the arena reflection and you will find no clouds, promise. The weather could not have been more perfect to take the family to Sesame Street right here in my hometown. Not that it was outside, but it did not rain on us going to and from the arena so that makes it perfect.

It has been about 27 years since I last went to see “Sesame Street Live, Elmo’s Green Thumb” in person. I have to say this time presented a completely new perspective for me. After all, I am about 2.5 feet taller and 29 years older then I was last time. Roughly. My souvenir the first time around was a pennant from the show and a button. This time around, they had no buttons, but they did have pennants.

Yes, that is the stage right behind my girls. We could not have had better seats. The allure of the stage is quite powerful to small children. I called it the tractor beam as we saw child after child gradually stagger in a hypnotized state towards the stage where all their favorite friends were dancing and singing about Elmo’s friend, Sunny, a sunflower he’s trying to find a new home for. Sunny has outgrown his pot and calls on his friends for help to find Sunny a proper new home. The children learn various morals throughout the story including being kind to nature, and embracing the small things that surround us because there is beauty everywhere. You also learn that it is ok to make a mistake occasionally and in the end, all you need is love.

The music was constant and intoxicating with characters venturing off stage constantly throughout the show and interacting with the children in the audience as well as some of the willing parents. Proof in the intoxication was seeing my 5 year old ask permission to and on several occasions get out of her seat and dance. My 5 year old has some social anxiety issues and yet she could not contain her excitement and even shared a dance with one of the monsters. It was awesome!

The show consists of roughly two 45-minute halves separated by a 15-minute intermission. Smart thinking to build in a potty break when the majority of your audience has bladders the size of a small fist. Although the show ended a good hour passed my girls bedtime, they did not lose interest or excitement for the beloved characters they have spent their pre-school days with, and who we spent our own pre-school days with. Some of the faces are new to us but the voices still sound the same.

I will let this picture of my 3-year-old act as my overall review of the show. After all, it was all about the kids tonight…

If you missed the show tonight, it will be here in Orlando at the UCF arena through Sunday with two performances each day. For more information and ticketing options, click here.

If you have never been to any show at the UCF arena, I highly recommend it. I have seen two of my favorite artists (Elton John and O.A.R.) here and the acoustics are fantastic. There is plenty of comfortable seating in the arena with great sight lines everywhere. I have also been to a couple mixed martial arts events here so I have seen all sorts of events there now. All except the main purpose of the arena and its college sporting events. Funny huh? Anyway, the inside of the building is gorgeous. The concourses are impeccably clean and extremely well maintained. No matter the type, I always look forward to seeing events here.

Disclosure: My family and I were provided tickets for tonight’s performance by the UCF arena marketing department.

True Disclosure: This post was brought to you by the letter F and the number 6.