Farwell to Rapid City....Hello to Missouri

We bid a fond farwell to Rapid City, South Dakota also known as the "City of Presidents." They have statutes of the former Presidents on almost every corner in Rapid City's Main Street area. My favorite was JFK and John John. I think Mikey's favorite was Pocohontas since he had me take a picture of him kissing her. He was disappointed when she did not come to life and discovered for the first time in his life he wasn't really a prince. (LOL) Since we were in Rapid City a few days we were able to swim and relax in the hot tub, shop in the cute town, do laundry, dine out and of course as I wrote yesterday fulfill a dream. Mikey and I were also very happy to find a verizon store because we both broke our phone holders. I also needed to up the texting on the plan since my husband discovered how to text. (LOL) The first night we arrived we went to a cute restaurant that was called the Fire House Brewing Company. It was beautifully decorated for the holidays; fire truck and all. Q and John's dessert was so big Mikey had to help them eat it; they still were not able to finish it all. Yesterday after returning from Mt. Rushmore we browsed all the cute unique shops until we could barely walk back. When we walked back to the hotel Missy was like the "General" marching ahead at a fast pace while John and I could barely move our legs anymore and had to order them to keep moving or risk freezing to death. I definitely took my car for granted all these years. "Seriously, Never Again! Today was a really long bus ride. It took us about 12 hours to get to Missouri for a stop over on the way to Baton Rouge. We were so happy to get off the bus and go to "Arbys" for dinner. Then we browsed the truck stop stores hoping to find some secret santa presents. Now Mikey just finished reading a chapter in his book. He is reading "The Maze of Bones-The 39 Blues. He is really enjoying it and is laughing out loud. We talked to Mike and Maria several times today. They are busy decorating the house so when we come home we will only have to put the ornaments on the tree. We are counting the days until we come home. Well I have to go night night now. Bus call is 730am. Love, Sue and Mikey

Mt. Rushmore---Need I say more......

Today was a dream come true for me. I only wish Mike and Maria were with us to share this truly awesome or as the kids would say....GI-NORMOUS experience! Thanks to our fantastic tour manager (Clare) the cast went to see Mt. Rushmore today. We were really worried last night because it was snowing and we were not sure if we would be able to go today. However, we woke up to bright sunshine and and the weather was perfect. It is truly a remarkable site and the sky was the bluest I have ever seen. To think that one man's idea developed into this beautiful monument. My first thought.was....How did this actually get created? It seems like a miracle and I never really thought about it before. Luckily there is a museum at the site and we all watched the video in the little theater there. The video explained the history and how the sculpture was made. It took 14 years to get the project completed but only 6 and one-half to actually do the carving. There was a lot of politics involved and fund raising to get it completed. What amazed us all as we watched the video was how they used dynamite to blast and shape the granite. Even when some of the faces were carved already they utilized dynamite to make the rest. Truly amazing stuff. The project began in 1927 and was completed in 1941. It cost just under one million dollars to create which was a lot of money at that time. Most of it came from the government. The orignial idea by Doane Robinson was to carve Sioux Chief Red Cloud or Lewis and Clark. When he contacted sculpturer Gotzon Borglum to actually create the monument, Borglum had his own lofty and creative ideas. He was very patriotic and felt that the men whose actions helped to create this great nation should be the ones carved into the mountain. He died a few month before the project was completed and his son took over until the project was completed. One thing I found real interesting was how Mt. Rushmore got it's name. Between 1884 and 1885, a young lawyer from New York named Charles Rushmore kept visiting the area on business and spent time with the locals. He really gained the respect of the locals and was fond of one particularly impressive granite mountain. One day he asked his guide "What is the name of that mountain?" His guide responded, " Never had any, but now-we'll call the damn thing "Rushmore." We also had great fun as we were leaving. Chaz's(Mr. Bumble) secret santa left him a note that he had to do Shoopoopi from Music Man at Mt. Rushmore to get a present. Well he put on quite a show and luckily I video taped it because Mikey joined in to do the "Shoopoopi dance." What a memory.....not many people can say they did the "Shoopoopi at Mt. Rushmore! Scroll down and look to the left to check out more photos. I also added more to facebook album under Oliver-Mt. Rushmore......Love ya, Sue and Mikey

Ft. Collins, Colorado

On Friday night after the show we went to the Pool with Q and John. The boys were thrilled to find baby Spencer already in the hot tub with his Grandma and Grandpa who were visting. We all had a lot of fun playing with Spencer. Spencer apparently was having a lot of fun to because when his mommy and daddy took him out he demanded to go back to the pool. The boys were really happy when Rhiannon and Brendan joined the hot tub party. They love their leading lady! Since we have been here since Wednesday, Mikey is now best friends with most of the waitresses in the I-Hop across the street. On Saturday, we got to do some shopping in Wal-mart. The hotel was kind enough to allow the shuttle to take us there and back. We are having a lot of fun with Secret Santa. The show last night was great and we think the ghost returned for a brief moment when the set staircase wouldn't budge for a scene change. We were really wondering how the cast would handle it since a lot of Consider Yourself takes place on the stairs. Bart saved the day donning Chaz's costume to fix the problem; with the cast dancing and singing all around him the audience did not realize there was a problem. The boys are beginning to get spoked by the ghost and are a little jittery in the dressing room. They keep hearing noises and seeing curtains move. Of course Zac (Fagin) got them good yesterday and Chris said he never heard such a high pitched scream as Mikey's and that Colin and Q almost jumped into each others arms (LOL) Today we were happy to be woken up by Maria and Daddy's phone call. There is a two hour time difference. Maria's cough is all better and they are on there way to the Children's Christmas party at Daddy's work. She was excited that she may see Santa. Mikey is really excited about going home for Christmas and his birthday. I am counting the days until I can hold my baby girl again. Today is a beautiful day here in Colorado. It feels about 50 and the snow is starting to melt. We enjoyed breakfast with Q and John at I-Hop and Mikey and I are relaxing, reading our books until bus call at 1pm. That is all for now...................Love, Sue and Mikey

Ft. Collins, Colorado

Thursday, December 4th---Morning
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow! We arrived here December 3rd. Mikey and I send a shout out to Aunt Mo.....Happy Birthday! It has been snowing since we arrived and it looks like a winter wonderland. I have a feeling there will be a major snow ball fight later. Ft. Collins is a college town and we are right next to Colorado State University. We haven't had a chance to explore much since the kids had a show last night and are in school now. Last night's show was unbelievable. We think there is a phantom in the theater. The first act had so many things go wrong. Mikey jacket got stuck on top of the bridge's fence during "Consider Yourself" and he could not free himself. It took Chaz and finally Chris (Bill Sikes) to free him. His jacket was ripped up the whole back. The big monument that Mikey pushes out with Jen wouldn't stop moving when its' wheel broke. Another member of Fagin's Gang (Jen) had to go to the hospital when she fell to the floor off Alaggio's shoulder during "Pick a Pocket." Thank goodness she is only bruised and did not break anything. There were many other bloopers that I will not mention. I do believe there was a ghost in the house. We have been watching every show for months now and never seen so many things happen.

Thursday, December 4th- Evening
After school Q, John, Mikey and I walked in the snow storm a few blocks to a wonderful sandwich place called "Which, Which." We had a lot of fun on the way there and back. Mikey took a few snow baths after he kept throwing snow at the parents and did not heed our warnings. John got him on way there and back. I got him on way back after he hit me with snow, one time too many. After lunch we had to go to the theater for brush-up and under study rehearsals. The cast worked hard and it was interesting to see Adam, Mikey and Michelle do the "It's Your Funeral" scene. They did a great job. I thought Mikey looked adorable in the hat but then again I am his mother. The rehearsals went longer then expected so we had to grab a quick bite at I-Hop and then the boys had to be back at the theater for tonights show. Hopefully the Phantom got everything out of his system last night. I pooped out after being at the theater all afternoon and John kindly offered to take Mikey so I could do my laundry. Early reports from Mikey and Missy after Act I are that the Phantom must be resting. Act I was great tonight. They just called that they are on the way back and we all plan on going into the swimming pool and hot tub to unwind before bed. The kids worked hard today so we agreed we would let them swim tonight since they did not have a chance the last two days. I will be going to bed happy since I got all my laundry done without having to go to a laundromat. (Ah, the little things in life.) "Be Back Soon." Love, Sue and Mikey

Bye to Kansas, Hello to Ft. Collins Colorado

Sorry to say clicking my heels together did not work! I am still on tour. I think Mikey stole the real ruby slippers so I would stay with him on tour. (Either that or for himself. ) After seeing Kansas landscaping from the bus I think I know why Dorothy ran away. Miles and Miles of barren looking flat dry land with hardly any houses. We saw a lot of cows and the kids got excited seeing windmills. Every once in a while I would see a lonely looking house in the middle of no-where. Mikey did manage to find Dorothy, however not in human form. Plenty of ornaments, t-shirts and statutes. I had to hold on to my purse! He still loves his "Wizard of Oz." His singing "Over the Rainbow" in front of the whole school in kindergarten is what led to this tour! After we were finally off the bus we had a nice steak dinner at "Montana Mikes." (even though we were in Kansas and not Montana) After dinner we went shopping for some "Secret Santa gifts." Mikey is really into it, only problem is he want to buy everything he sees. I am exicted to be back in Colorado. We arrived in Ft. Collins, Colorado around 230pm today. There is some snow on the ground and some light flurries. We have a show tonight so we are heading off now to I-HOP. We will be here until Sunday......."Be Back Soon!" Love, Sue and Mikey

Ft. Smith, ARKANSAS To Kansas

THE WIND BEGAN TO TWITCH THE HOUSE TO PITCH...(IF ONLY I HAD A HOUSE!) We are on the way to Kansas now. When you look at the window it feels like you are in the middle of no where. You see cows and flat brown grass that looks thirsty for water. We have no show this is just a travel day because it takes two days to get to Ft. Collins, Colorado. Let me fill you in on yesterday. On Monday, December 1st, we began our day travelling on the bus to Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Or as the cast members like to say, "Ar......KANSAS! On the way the tour manager allowed us to stop off to shop for some secret santa gifts. Everyone had fun picking out little things they thought their person would like. Everyone is getting into the spirit of Christmas and their bus areas are getting creatively decorated. Mikey decorated our areas with colorful curly ribbons. Missy bought him a stick on rudolph decoration so he decorated his window and he put candy canes around the picture he hung up of him and Reilly. Mikey has taken to wearing his rudolph antlers with bells everywhere. It's getting fun because everyone is now finding little surprises on the seats or in their dressing rooms. Mikey was a little perturbed that my secret santa delivered a gift before his had a chance too. I got an Advent Calendar which will really help me keep track of the days. I keep forgetting what day it is. Mikey's Santa surprised him by leaving a gift between acts in his dressing room. It was a Christmas Ornanment filled with bubble gum. He loved it. The bus ride took about 8 hours so when we arrived at the hotel we had only time for a quick shower before going to the theater. The positive thing about the bus ride is that I did get a lot of On-Line Shopping done on the bus, until my battery died. I really have trouble sleeping on the bus so I usually go on the computer or read. All I can say is thank God I can read or I would really lose my mind since unlike mostly everybody else, I can't sleep on the bus. I envy Mikey. He goes out like a light for hours and I wind up staring at him in jealousy. He does however take after Nana in that he needs a dramamine if he has to read on the bus. The same kid that can go on every scary ride in Six Flags will get nauseous if he reads on the bus. The Theater fed the cast dinner before the show. Another nice meal that the cast really appreciated. Mikey really liked the bananna bread pudding and asked me if Nana knows how to make it. Of course he also liked the chocolate cake. The Theater had about 1400 seats and the parents watched Act 1 and then tried to relax in the dressing room. (That wasn't happening after the kids all ate chocolate) (LOL.) To give Clare (tour manager) a break I kidnapped her baby boy, Spencer during Act II. He spent part of the second act in the dressing room with the boys all entertaining him and giving him rides in the laudry basket between their scenes. Spencer and I had fun walking the the long hallways together and I took him back stage to see Jeff the drummer drum at the end of the show. He is such a cute little baby! I think he is really learning from his dad Bart and the crew about moving things too the right spot. He was so funny moving the laudry basket around the dressing room and then announcing "there" when he thought it was in the right spot. Well we are on the bus now stopping off to sleep in Kansas on the way to Ft. Collins, Colorado. Mikey is on the look out for "Dorothy" and I am hoping to find the "Wizard" so I can go home!" Either that or I am going to try clicking my heels together and say "There is No Place Like Home." That line from the Wizard of Oz has taken on a new meaning for me. I feel Dorothy's pain! Love You All! Sue and Mikey Scroll down an look left to see some new photos.

Goodbye to Orange, Texas!

Not to much to report. The hotel was nice but did not have any food places nearby. The hotel had a nice fireplace and couch sitting area with a Xmas tree. Next to it was the breakfast dining area. The first night we arrived we decided to make this area our home and ordered Italian Food with the Nims and Araujos. We all enjoyed sitting on a couch and watching the flat screen TV. It was nice because it felt like we were in someones living room instead of a hotel. The cast performed two shows at the Lutcher Theater in Orange Texas. The theater treated the cast really well providing home cooked meals and freshed baked:cookies, brownies and cakes. I really loved those cookies! Mikey couldn't get enough of the brownies and they seemed to give him a blast of energy while on stage. (LOL) Yesterday the cast and crew all picked the names for the "Secret Santa." We will all give secret little presents in the next few weeks and your secret Santa will be revealed at the end when we exchange bigger gifts. The kids and adults all are excited. The parents were also excited to get the laudry done. These are the little things that exicte you on tour. We bid a fond farwell to our Mr. Brownlow (Matt) who left us Sunday to join the cast of the Drowsy Chaperone. Adam did a nice job as understudy yesterday while the new Mr. Brownlow, James gets ready to take over the part. We will miss Matt, especially at any future roller rink parties! After the show we traveled 2 hours to Conroe,Texas so we would have a shorter travel to Ft. Smith, Arkansas today. Last night, Rhiannon joined the boys in the back of the bus for a DS Marathon playing Mario Party. All four DS's were in fast action with fingers flying and a lot of laughter, grunts and groans. This was good for the boys because it made the ride go by faster. They really all are amazingly good kids on the bus. I started to Christmas shop on line beacuse I will have very little time once I get home to prepare. Christmas dinner is at my house, Mikey's birthday is two days later and we have to visit our family upstate. A lot to do when we have to fly back to Sarasota, Fl on December 28th. Yikes! Trying not to panic. "Be Back Soon!"