Elvis video back story

I knew I wanted to put videos on the blog for Mimi and Susan's birthday, I just didn't know of what. We decided to do Bradley playing the piano for Mimi - that was an easy one. Thank goodness Bradley's dusty skills came back to him! For Susan - I dug up the old beatnik beret and sunglasses and I was thinking of writing a "Suuuuuuuuuusan" poem. We even went to two different costume stores and tried to find berets for the rest of the Jackson 4. While we were there, we looked at all kinds of different costumes. We found some Elvis wigs (complete with side burns) and sunglasses, and I told Rick that Susan LOVES Elvis (a fact he had previously not known). We couldn't decide on anything that day (Saturday), so we headed home, defeated. I woke up early Sunday morning and spent a couple hours on itunes searching for Elvis singing happy birthday (and we would lip sync) - couldn't find it. Went back the other way and tried to find a cool beatnik loop to perform a poem over - couldn't find it. I was ready to give up on everything, when Rick came out of the shower and said, "What if we go down to Freemont Street and see if we can find an Elvis to sing Happy Birthday to Aunt Susan." Rick does have his moments. By this time it was early afternoon, and Ella needed a nap. After she got up, we packed up the kids and headed to downtown Vegas. I did some research and found out that the Fitzgerald Hotel (on Freemont Street) is the best place to spot an Elvis. Plus, we had previously spotted an Elvis walking around there. Our confidence was up and we were sure we would get this accomplished. We walked all over Freemont Street, all throught the Fitzgerald Hotel, and nothing. I was beat down - I think I even said "my life sucks" (I also had an extremely bad case of pms and cramps). We decided to leave Freemont Street and head over to the Las Vegas Hilton (my earlier research had shown that this is where Elvis performed, and there is a gift shop there, too). We drive over to the Hilton, and as we're looking for a place to park, I decide that we shouldn't go in with just the "hope" of spotting an Elvis. It was getting late, and the kids were starving, so we headed to the Hard Rock Cafe for dinner. On the way over there I said, you know - the best place to find an Elvis should be at an Elvis wedding chappel. While we were eating we were trying to figure out which one of the wedding chappels actually had an Elvis, so Rick asked the waiter. He had to go ask his co-workers, but he said there should be one at the Viva Las Vegas wedding chappel. We finished eating dinner, and by this time it's 7:00 on a Sunday night, so on the way over to the Viva Las Vegas we were having all these thoughts - would Elvis actually be there, would he be willing to sing happy birthday, etc. We drive to the Viva, and there is huge wedding party out front taking pictures, so we're thinking we might be in luck. I stay in the truck with the kids, and Rick goes in to the front desk. He comes back out dejected - Elvis left about 20 minutes prior. But, they said there is usually an Elvis at the Graceland chappel. We head farther down the strip to the Graceland chapel and Rick parks in the back and gets out to go ask the front desk. I'm talking to the kids, when all of a sudden Bradley says - there goes Elvis right there! He practically ran to his car and got in and peeled out of there. I immediately call Rick, who says Elvis just left, didn't he? Rick said the front desk said Elvis had another gig he had to get to. Naturally I say - "Did you ask where?" and naturally he did not, so he had to go back inside. He came back out and said that they weren't 100% positive, but they think he was headed to the Hollywood chappel. I totally remember passing that one (along with about 14 others) so we head back out on the strip. We get to the Hollywood, and there aren't any cars around, so we're thinking we're out of luck. This time Bradley goes inside with Rick, and they come back out with the thumbs up. We are in luck! Elvis was re-doing a ceremony from earlier in the day because the dvd messed up. These two couples had flown in from Italy to "renew" their vows in the Elvis wedding chappel. We got to watch the dvd while it was being made (totally cool), then Elvis came out and we asked if he would sing happy birthday to Aunt Susan. He said sure - let me go get my guitar from the car. While I was recording him I was busting at the seams because it was turning out so awesome!! The kids didn't even scream! We were all so happy on the way home that we couldn't stop talking about it or smiling!!