Disneyland!

So, last weekend, we made a trip to DISNEYLAND! It's our favorite place to go - our 3rd trip as a family this year. But that doesn't diminish our excitement nor our enjoyment every time. This trip was MUCH needed as we had no time for a summer vacation this year!

We "woke up" early (I use quotes because I never quite made it to sleep) and left at 5am on Saturday. The kids were SO good in the car. We stopped once in Barstow for breakfast at the train station McDonalds. Then strait to our hotel. It wasn't busy, so they let us park in the parking lot. We made it to the gates by 10 am! Once there, we hung out and rode some rides, waiting for our friends Shannon and Lamar and their cute little man, Brendan. Shannon played the Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast with Steve and was also assistant choreographer for AIDA. It's been really fun getting to know her this year. They got there around noon! We played for a while - it was really HUMID! It was so muggy, there was like a haze in the air. It was truly stiffling. Saturday night on Storybookland Canal Boats - It was the Alice boat which made Piper happy!

Chloe - throwin some Peace on our way in on Saturday morning

Piper and Waaaaaaaaaaaalleeeeeeeeeee!

We were waiting for Daddy and Chloe to go on Tower of Terror when we saw a really short line for Cinderella! She said to Piper "You look just like I did when I was a little girl!"

And, of course - Ryder with his Cinderella. I didn't think he would go see her, but he did. It was so cute!

My crazy tea-cuppers!

Me and the girls - 3 for tea!

Lola thought the tea cups were a blast! And it's not every day that you get to ride in a tea cup with Alice herself!

Ryder and his very favorite - "Lighting MaKween!"

Imagine our delight as we walked in on Monday morning to find Alice and the Madhatter to greet us! Alice and Alice - too fun!

The whole crew! Lamar, Shannon and Baby Brendon and our ragtag gang!

Before the next photos, I have to share something really cool that happened to us. On Monday, I got really hot and decided to go back to the hotel to change into shorts, so Lola and I made the short journey. When we returned, Steve and the other kids were in Toon Town. I headed that way, but decided to see how long the princess line was. I hate that all the princesses are in one place now. I much preferred when they were scattered around Fantasyland and the castle. Anyway, it was the shortest I'd ever seen it and the girls were in costume, so I called Steve and told him to meet me there. The girls decided that they didn't want to wait to see them - I think Piper said something about wanting to go on Thunder Mountain again (for like the 10th time. She's OBSESSED with it) *see below We still needed to wait for Shannon and the gang, so we just hung out around there. Well, I look over and Chloe is talking to one of the cast members. Granted, this is not unusual as Chloe will talk to anyone, but this cast member looked actively engaged in the conversation, not annoyed. When Chloe came back over, I asked what happened. She said the cast member called her over and asked her about her dress. The cast member then came over and said that they had never seen Ariel in her pink dress before and that they really like it. She said to wait here for a second and then disappeared into the princess area. She came back and said that Ariel had already left, but if we came back at 2:30, she would go get Ariel so she could see Chloe's dress. Very cool!

We went over to the Tomorrowland Terrace to grab a burger (or a spicy chicken if you are Steve) and were pleasantly surprised to actually have hot burgers at Disneyland. Mental note - nor more burgers from the Village Haus, we like TT instead! Anyway, we headed back shortly after 2:30 and the cast member in question was on a break! Oh dear! We tried to explain what she had said, but no one seemed to care. We waited until 3pm, when Steve peaked in and Ariel was GONE! I gave up right there - poor Chloe started crying. But Shannon went over to the Supervisor who happened to be standing there because a cast member dragged her out so the crowd could sing happy birthday to her. The surpervisor immediatly came over to me and asked what happened, I explained and she asked us to wait there for a moment.

A moment passed and she returned and asked Chloe to gather her family and follow her. We were lead to a small, curtained off room just to the side of the stage where they do their princess show. And then Ariel came out! She chatted with us for a good 20 minutes! We took lots of photos. She was SO perfect as Ariel - so cute and she had a really good character. The kids were beside themselves - even Lola got all worked up when she appeared.

So, below are some photos of our extra special visit with Ariel!

Our private metting with Ariel! Even Lola was excited.

It's not every day the whole family gets a private audience with a princess.

Of course Lola was going to town on her "Coral Milk" as Ariel called it.

Alice, I mean Piper, and Ariel

Ryder was SO cute! Ariel was the first character he could identify and one of his first words. He used to watch "Ariel" on my iPod all the time, especially when Lola was little and I needed to keep him entertained.

So precious! FYI - Chloe's top pattern was a size 4 but I had to add 4 inches to make it long enough. Nice, huh!

It's too bad Chloe was so used to me being a princess for so long - she mentioned that "That girl was really good at playing Ariel". My kids are ruined for life.

Lola Belle! Waitin' for the Parade.

Little (well, not so little - he's younger than Lola but weighs the same as Ryder - the cutest kid!) high five'n Merryweahter! Good to be friends with the fairies - they have all the power.

Me and Lola - chillin' before the Parade!

Ryder LOVED King Triton's carousel! It's not every day you get to ride a purple humpback.

Chloe - they Spunky one.

We could not get that Alice dress off of Piper. She loved it!

Piper and Mr. Potato Head!

Steve and Chloe on the Maliboomer. Rockstars!

The girls and I on Grizzly River Rapids. Of course, I was hoping to get wet because it was pretty warm, but barely a drop.

Lola was just happy to be there.

Ryder running through the "stream"

Lola thought it was fun, too. If I'm ever rich, I want one of these. A stream on playground material.

Daddy and Ryder getting ready to go on Toy Story Midway Mania! The ride was freaking AWESOME! So awesome that after the first time - waiting in line for about 1/2 an hour, we got back in line for another 1/2 an hour to go again!

See! Ryder and I went together this time. It was also in this line that I became my husband's hero! I changed Lola's diaper while standing in line - holding her the whole time. Granted, it wasn't messy, but still, total mommy coolness.

Chloe and Piper - ready to shoot 'em up on Toy Story!

Then we wandered back to Disneyland and found the Fairy Godmother!

We had such a great time! Can't wait to go again.

There. I finally finished it. I've only been working on this post all week, but I kept getting interrupted.

**If anyone can pinpoint this reference, I will come up with a cool prize. Not to steal from Jessica, but it's so obscure, I doubt anyone will get it. Good luck!

Drumroll please.....I'm back!

Sorry it' been so long. What a crazy month it has been! I have a lot to catch up on, but I'll get to that later. The important thing is that I have photos of my performance as Amneris in AIDA. The show closed yesterday, August 30th. The photos here are from my performance night, August 20th. I do have some video, but I haven't watched it. If I deem it worthy and can figure out how, I will post some of it. But for now, the photos will do.

Let me just say that the actress I was understudying is built very differently than I am, so the costumes didn't fit me quite the way they should, especially the strapless numbers. Having 4 kids expands your rib cage so they were TIGHT! I'll share my start of the show story at the end of the photos. There are lots of pictures of the whole show at www.signatureproductions.net.Aidaphotospage.htm if you want to see more. It was an absolutely amazing show and I couldn't be more proud of my husband who directed it and designed costumes. I was the production manager which is really just the fancy term for the one who does all the directors dirty work. I also technically designed hair and makeup, but the entire makeup credit goes to Alda Tomasic. And, she watched Lola backstage during the show some nights with her daughter. She's AWESOME!

Of course, my dear friend Valinda (onceuponacostume.blogspot.com) did most of the costumes. I only say most because some of my costumes were purchased. I'll make sure to label in the photos which ones she built.

I had a total blast on my night. It was really fun to get up there, wear pretty costumes, belt my guts out and take an amazing journey. I can't wait to do it again sometime.

So, to preface the first photo, at the beginning of the show, I am lifted out of the ground on to the platform. Very dramatic, very cool! It's hard to capture the effect in photos, but you get the idea.

Sandra Huntsman as Amneris in SST/Signature Productions

Elton John & Tim Rices AIDA - August 20, 2008

Costume built by Valinda Gubler

"Every Story is a Love Story"

An egyptian pharoah, Amneris, narrates the story of a war torn egypt.

This was the tightest costume! It's amazing I was even able to get it on. In hindsight, I wish I would have put a piece in the back. Steve said I sounded nervous in this number, but in reality, I couldn't breath. And the fact that me feet could get no further than shoulder length apart didn't help. But, hey - it was worth it. It's a FABULOUS piece!

My dramatic exit from that number

"My Strongest Suit"

Amneris is a vain and wordly princess who's biggest care in life is her wardrobe.

This was my BIG number! It's total fun. I hope to post a video of it.

Belting my LUNGS out!

I loved the choreography in this number - so fun! Thanks Keith and Shannon

In the middle, I ran off to make a costume change - into my couture gown. This number is all about clothes, afterall - "I am what I wear, and how I dress" - ROCKIN!

Can you believe Valinda MADE this amazing piece! So fun! And, I have to be proud of those legs after 4 kids.

All the ensemble girls were in black and white, so I really made a splash!

And now, a more elegant look. At the banquet with Brandon Albright as Radames.

Another view. Valinda made this one, too - and Radames' costume as well.

A group shot - the show was stunning.

Sharing a bonding moment with Tai Lewis as Aida. The woman is FIERCE! She tore down the house every single night. Amazing.

Just for story purposes - Amneris is betrothed to the egyptian capatain, Radames, but he falls in love with the captured slave, Aida - who is secretly the Nubian princess. He gives Aida to Amneris as a present, but Aida soon becomes good friends with Amneris as well. Setting them up for certain heartbreak, as love triangles often do.

"Are you trying to get me drunk, Radames"

Radames comes to see Aida after she tells him off, but he has to get rid of Amneris, first.

He's just toying with me, trying to get rid of me.

Yup. I'm wearing a sheet. Hey - don't keep a fiesty princess waiting. We had been engaged for 9 years!

My FAVORITE costume - courtesy of Valinda.

"Not Me" - Sandra Huntsman as Amneris, Brandon Albright as Radames and Tai Lewis as Aida

How could love be so confusing?

Things get darker as Amneris realizes her betrothed doesn't seem to be thinking of her...

As the love triangle is lost in thought in "A Step Too Far"

This was one of my favorite numbers and extra cool because I helped Steve develop the concept for the number that ended up being very powerful! Yay!

Oh, and Valinda made Radames' and Tai's costumes, but mine was a purchased evening gown. I loved it - it made me feel so glamarous!

Amneris discovers the truth - that Aida and Radames are desperately in love.

"I Know the Truth"

However, if she betrays them, they will die, so she goes through with the wedding. Bianca Guevara and Lauren Basch are the handmaidens.

"I Know the Truth"

We bought this dress - at David's Bridal back in March for $99! What a buy!

But the lovers are caught and Amneris must confront their betrayal. Joel Abelson as a soldier and Tai Lewis as Aida.

She has compassion for Radames and Aida - her friends, and though she must sentence them to death, she allows them to die together.

And we come full circle - Amneris is made Pharaoh, giving way to a reign of peace in the land

and the story continues in another life.

The End!

Almost there!

Yay! The show - AIDA in case you forgot - opens tomorrow. Yippee! I've been up to my eyeballs in wigs, costumes and quick changes and I'm WAY BEYOND EXHAUSTED! But I hope it will be worth it. I'll update ya on stuff soon!

I'm still here....

...just busy beyond belief and exhausted. The show opens on Wednesday, then I have my show the following Wednesday. SO, after that I'll be back to my old blogging self.

Quick Update

1. Well, it was a wonderful week! I had a total blast rehearsing for the role and on top of that - I did a great job! I even impressed some important people (namely my husband) and I remembered just how much I love being onstage! So, now back to real life and costumes, hair and makeup and just getting the dang show up! Then I go on on August 20th and I can't wait!

2. The girls are home - they had a great time with my parents. They were spoiled ROTTEN but they deserve it. They went to the beach and boardwalk, an old fashioned mining town, fishing - lots of fun stuff. My parents were here for the weekend and were kind enough to watch the kids yesterday while we had rehearsal.

3. I can't believe Lola is going to be 1 on Wednesday. She's so fun.

4. Ok, I said it was going to be short. Seriously - BUSY!