Good News San Fransisco Tour with Anela

Anela and I just got back from her group, Good News and U.S.A. tour with Clayton Productions to San Fransisco, CA. It was definitely all fun and no rest! I am so proud of her and cannot express the joy that she has brought me these past 6 years watching her perform. She is a very talented girl! Her improvements over the years astound me! She has decided to take a break from it this upcoming year and pursue other interests...like soccer and whatever else tickles her fancy. Her group will miss her and I know she will miss it as well...hopefully too much! I will not pressure her as I feel she is old enough to know what extra curricular activities are important to her. So what a way to end these years by going on tour! We had a blast!

Day one: airport at 6:00 am
Upon arrival to California we headed straight to California's Great America (amusement park) where they performed right inside the entrance for a large audience. We then were allowed to change and play for a few hours before leaving for Rossmoor Retirement Home for another performance. We were a little late, so despite the major stress that created, the kids did an amazing job!
We arrived at the hotel later that night purely exhausted and ready for some serious sleep! We had fabulous roommates, Connie Robbins and her cute daughter Katie. (whom Anela adores)

 

Day 2: Breakfast, then off to Muir Woods to see some amazing Redwood trees.
While waiting for the bus for our next stop the kids entertained themselves in the parking lot with "ride, ride, ride that pony." They played for at least 45 minutes and not once did it get boring (for them)...kids are entertained with the simplest things sometimes!
We then drove over the Golden Gate Bridge on our way to Pier 39 where they performed. This was their largest audience BY FAR! There were people coming out of restaurant balconies to see them. I was sitting by a young family with two little girls who said at the end of the performance, "No, mommy! I want them to do it again!" The mom then turned to me and said, "We are on vacation, and I promise you that this will be the highlight of it all!" We then were able to do some shopping, eating, exploring, watch some seals bark at each other...fun times!
Off to Kaiser hospital for another performance for sick patients. Brought smiles to them, lifted my heart and the kids...
Back to the hotel for a pizza party at the pool. Imagine being a family enjoying a quiet evening at the pool with your kids when all of a sudden, 40 kids and their chaperones bring that peaceful evening to an abrupt halt! We as parents felt bad for those unlucky people who chose that night to swim! Anela got a taste of what it was like being dunked by boys repeatedly all evening long. (that's how boys flirt at this age) With red swimming pool eyes and a smile on her face, we fell asleep once again exhausted!

 

Day 3: Breakfast and then off to Six Flags Amusement Park! (Because for sure we (parents) had all the energy in the world for this!) They performed on a stage in the park, did a great job, then were allowed to change and we spent the ENTIRE day riding the rides, chasing the kids, catching up on who had a CTR (Clayton Tour Romance) and who did not. Believe me, that was a lot to keep up with! All in all, fun day! Much to my relief, the park closed at 8:00 pm and we then walked (sigh!) home. Anela and her friend, Katie, changed into their swimming suits and went down to a cold, late swim (REALLY?!?!) before the pool closed. My head hit the pillow..don't remember a thing!

 

Day 4: Early breakfast! Packed up our stuff to haul out to the buses. It is our departure day!
We first stop off at the Jelly Belly Factory for a tour. (being that it was Saturday, there were no workers there....hmmm...we used our imagination!) After the tour we were set free to shop for a little bit before the kids performed one last time together for the MANY visitors at the factory. Almost broke down and bawled! Couldn't believe it was over! I love these kids and the talents that they have! The audiences cannot believe that such a thing exists, especially for these kids' ages. I am so glad that it does! Looking forward to Kanani's upcoming years in Clayton! I told her she had to experience tour with me! She said, "of course!" YEAH!