Pizza Night and "Motherhood the Musical"

Last night was Friday night and we didn't have anywhere to go or do.

We are really quite boring people.

So, we decided to make homemade pizza.

Some of us were really excited about making pizza!



Really, really excited!!

Some......not quite as excited.

Mmmmh.....not quite sure about this expression???

Everybody dance now......

Jessica!  Smile!!  It is the only way your Dad will stop taking all these photos!!!

FINALLY!  A smile!!!

Josh and Courtney were not there to enjoy the excitement of it all.

Instead, they were enjoying.......

Jim and I went to see it last Friday night.  It was possibly the best show we have seen all year.  As a mother, I could definitely relate to just about everything in the show.  However, I think Jim laughed just as hard as I did.

Excellent cast.

With songs like "Costco Queen", "Minivan", "The Kids Are Finally Asleep", and last, but not least, "I Leak",  how can you go wrong??

A good way to spend a Friday night!!!

Sally-Ann



Last night Jim and I went to see "Little House on the Prairie The Musical".  I had mixed feelings about going to this show.  Like many, I grew-up watching "Little House on the Prairie" and reading the books.  Even though I loved the TV show and the books, I couldn't imagine a musical based on Little House as being all that exciting.  Well, I admit it, I can be wrong......rarely, but sometimes.

"Little House on the Prairie has remained one of the most popular and beloved celebrations of pioneering America since Laura Ingalls Wilder published the first book of her classic series 75 years ago. Now the inspirational stories cross into yet another frontier in an uplifting new musical. Melissa Gilbert, who we all knew as “Laura” for 10 years in the much-loved television series is now all grown up and playing “Ma.”

Through the magic of live theatre, the musical follows the Ingalls family‘s journey westward and settlement in DeSmet, South Dakota where Ma and Pa Ingalls hoped to make a better life for their children. It tells the story of their struggle to keep their land claim. In story, song and dance, we see the Ingalls suffering the hardships of winter blizzards and prairie fires as well as rejoicing in the settlement of land and town. Most of all, the story follows Laura as she grows from the wild child who loved to run free into a woman who embraces the responsibilities of her own future while struggling to remain true to herself.

Recommended for the whole family, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL brings the joys and sorrows of family life during the settlement of the prairie to contemporary America. Families will continue to identify with these life affirming stories that celebrate the pioneering spirit and the core values on which this country was founded – a spirit that resonates within each of us today."

Jim was quite excited to go and see "Little House on the Prairie the Musical".  In his younger days, Jim had a bit of a crush on Melissa Gilbert.

 

Mmmmh.......

I would say that there is no accounting for taste, but what would that say about him marrying me!!!!

Of course, Melissa Gilbert did evolve quite a bit over the years on "Little House".

We really enjoyed the musical, it is definitely on the top 10 list of the best shows that we have seen over the years.  Melissa Gilbert certainly didn't have the strongest singing voice in the cast, but it was cool to see "Laura" play Ma.

 We also found out a bit more about Melissa Gilbert.  She is on the board of the above charity......a very good charity.  Anything to do with the care and well being of children will always have a soft spot in my heart.  Click on the above picture to learn more if you would like.

While in Tampa the cast has been working on a Habitat for Humanity house in Ybor City.

 We had a wonderful night.  Bought some incredibly expensive mementos............

 

 We wanted to buy Bill (our nephew who is living with us at the moment) this "Farmer Boy" t-shirt.  Unfortunately, they did not have it in his size.  We thought he would appreciate this generous gift.......something to celebrate his new found skill and passion - farming on Facebook.

 Instead, we bought Jessica this t-shirt.

We could have bought Ma, Pa and 1/2 pint shirts if we had so desired.

 Every show we go to, we buy a mug.  Thought the tin cups were cute.

 

 Then Jim just had to have this stuffed horse for Samuel.  It goes with the decor of Sam's room.  It was soft and cuddly.  Where else could you get such a wonderful stuffed horse???

So.......I relented and bought it for Jim Sam.  After all, it is his birthday on Monday.

The songs were great, especially the last one.  Made us a little homesick for South Dakota.

It also made me think of what will be made into a musical next. "The Brady Bunch?"  "CHiPS?"  I know........"The Waltons - A Musical!"

YeeHaw,

Sally-Ann

Everybody Dance Now!!!!

Last Thursday I received the 2nd half of my birthday present!!

First, we went to dinner at Maestro's Restaurant in downtown Tampa. It is part of the Performing Arts center. We had a real sit down adult meal - can't remember the last time that this had happened. If I can't remember it, you know it had to be a long time ago! There was chairs not covered with plastic, cloth napkins, drinks served without a straw, candlelight and not a chicken nugget or french fry in sight!! We didn't have to speed eat so someone could take Sam outside to chill out. Delicious food, great service and even better company.

We then went to a performance of Riverdance. It was wonderful, so much better "live". I hope that you enjoy the music that I have playing in honor of a great performance! I kept thinking of a episode of the comedy, "Third rock from the Sun." In one particular episode they went to see Riverdance. At the end they all burst out of the theatre door and clogged in the foyer. I kept thinking of this because I had a nearly overpowering desire to do the same! In fact, my feet are twitching even as I write!

Jim kept commenting that the girl's were very talented and great dancers, but the men were just show-offs. All I know is that they all need great talent, stamina and mighty strong calf muscles to dance like this night after night.

Have also added a video clip of Riverdance. It is the opening number. Our seats were quite close to the stage and it was quite loud! If you want to watch the clip, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of my page and turn the music off, or there will be dueling Riverdance music!

Get up and dance along!!!!

Sally-Ann

So good So good

Last night my husband and I had a date night planned. We had this night planned months ago and Jim even came home early from a work seminar in Indianapolis so we could still go.

Joshua and Jessica were drilled on how to babysit their little brother. Great care was taken all week so we would not have a repeat of the Bob Seger incident. Jim is a HUGE Bob Seger fan. Bob rarely tours anymore, so when Jim heard that Bob was coming to town he had to go and see him. It just so happens that the concert date fell on my birthday. Unfortunately, Samuel was injured the day of my birthday, so a parent needed to stay home with him. Guess who??? That's right, me, me, me!!! So, who went with her Dad to see Bob Seger - someone she had never even heard of! That's right, Jessica. Jim had a great time. Jessica had a deer in the headlights look when she walked through the door. To many old people rocking out in skin tight clothing, was a shock to a teenagers psyche. It has been over a year and she still shudders when you say "Bob Seger Concert". Jessica did enjoy the music, just not the sights around her! This was the great Bob Seger Incident of 2007.

So, that being said, nothing, I repeat, nothing was going to spoil this date night.

What concert did we spend outrageous amounts of money on. Who was it that was worth every penny at the end of the night? Who caused my husband to bust some white boy moves in front of 14,000 people? Who performed their first professional gig 42 years ago in Tampa, Florida?

Neil Diamond

Now, Jim and I aren't huge Neil Diamond fans, but we do enjoy listening to him now and then. We just thought that he would put on a good show and that we would enjoy it. He put on a excellent show!! We really had a fun night. People watching was a hoot and we loved singing along with everyone else.

It can all be summed up with a quote from a Neil Diamond song, "Sweet Caroline". SO GOOD, SO GOOD, SO GOOD. It was so good that Neil sang that song twice!

Sally-Ann