Garth Brooks: Groupie Status pending

I have been looking forward to this weekend since we bought our tickets a month ago.  We had the best time at the show in Atlanta that we knew we wanted to see Garth and Trisha again.  This time was going to be so much fun because we had a big group going.  I was so excited to get a night out!  We dropped Barrett off around noon on Saturday so we could relax and take our time getting ready.  I told Patrick I was going to start getting ready around 1:00 to which he replied, "It's not the Prom!".  So I pushed it back to 2:00 so I'd have ample time to be looking my best in case Garth and Trisha noticed me. 

Funny story, I saw this dress in a local boutique last month and fell in love with it.  Pink is my signature color.  I didn't buy it because I just  couldn't justify it that day.  I didn't say anything about it, Well about two weeks later, Brittany told me she went in the new boutique and bought a dress.  She was like it's hot pink, you're going to love it.  I was so stinking excited that she'd bought it and agreed to let me borrow it.  It was perfect for this occasion.  It was bright so no one in our group lost me and I'm pretty sure both Garth and Trisha saw it and waved at us! 

Anyway, I love it. It was one of those outfits that I just felt good in.  You ladies know what I mean.  I'd gotten several compliments on the way in and I'm feeling good, then I tripped and almost busted my face.  It was very humbling and I probably needed to be knocked down a notch.

We met at On Tap in Fultondale to eat before we headed down.  We decided to all pile in my car and ride together.  It was fun!

Selfie stick in action.

We got parked and headed in!  But not before some pictures of course.

More pictures to pass the time.  We were told that it was going to be a "hard open" at 7:05 sharp since there was another show at 10:30.  At 7:30 Garth came out.  There was no opening act.  

Jessica took this from her seats.  That bright pink dress by the guy in the white shirt and hat on the second row of the upper deck.  That's us.  Jessica said I was glowing! ha!

After the show we went to Tin Roof with all the young people.  I was looking around wondering why they let so many kids in.  Then I realized I was old.  We had a blast though.  I'd forgotten how much fun live music is.

I was so happy Matt and Jennifer took our last minute extra tickets.  We always have so much fun with them!

A night out with the Hortons isn't complete without a late night stop at Waffle House.  Jessica and I got bumped to another table because we had to go to the bathroom.

So we took selfies.  We ended the night listening to Garth on the jukebox.  (and maybe a little Britney Spears).  It was seriously one of the most fun nights.  After the crappy year we've had it was fun to dance it off.  I want to go again!  I'd go see him every weekend if I could.

Friends in Low Places

When Garth Brooks announced he was going back on tour this year Patrick and I immediately started talking about going.  I didn't think he would come to Birmingham but hoped he would come close.  Well the second city he announced was Atlanta.  We knew we had to go!  We didn't get tickets the day they went on sale so we started to lose hope.  Well I was randomly checking a ticket site and there were some available so we snatched them up.  Our friends Tony and Carla went with us and we had a so much fun!  We got a hotel room for the night so we wouldn't have to worry about driving back.  The drive over seemed to take forever, I think it was because we were all so excited.  We narrowly avoided a head on collision, Tony quickly realized we were going the wrong way down and turned down a side street but it was scary for a second.  We finally arrived at the hotel just in time for check-in.  Funny story:  Friday, Patrick asked me if I was going to be taking an overnight bag.  I wish you could have seen the look I gave him.  It's like he doesn't know me at all.  I take an overnight bag when I go somewhere for the day.  Needless to say I packed an overnight bag.

Love is dragging a pink suitcase when you're married to an overpacker!

We got ready and headed to dinner.

A few pictures before dinner.

We went to dinner at the first place we came to. Ted's Montana Grill.  We used to have one in Birmingham but it closed.  (Patrick and I had eaten there before but I spent most of the meal trying to remind him.  He is convinced I went with someone else.)  After dinner we had time to kill before the show so we decided to ride the Ferris wheel to get a good look at the hip hop festival.  It was such a beautiful day!

SkyView selfie.

My bearded date.  He was so excited about all the compliments he got on his beard.

Not really sure what I was doing here but I can assure you I was having fun!

Carla and Me at the show.  

I was so afraid our seats were going to be terrible.  

There were definitely better seats in the house but there were worse ones too. 

We had so much fun.  Garth was amazing!  He retired right around the time that I really started going to concerts so he was one of those people that I thought I'd never see live.  Patrick felt the same way so it was kind of surreal getting to be there.  Honestly I don't know how he does it.  I was exhausted.  Last weekend he did two shows each night.  Talk about impressive.  Trisha sang a few songs and was great too.  I didn't want it to end (except my feet were hurting and I was really tired).  My favorite part was he seemed genuinely happy and shocked that people still wanted to see him after all his time off.  I also read somewhere that he is donating everything he makes from the tour to charity.  Pretty amazing.  After the show, we went back to the hotel so I could change shoes and then we headed out in search of a late night snack.  We really wanted Hooters but we took a wrong turn somewhere and never found it. So we ended up at Waffle House.  Y'all it was packed.  We had to wait for 30 minutes for a table...at waffle house.  But it was probably the best waffle I'd ever had.  We were all barely holding our eyes open at this point so we headed back to the hotel and called it a night.  Before we knew it it was time to wake up and head home.  We had so much fun and the whole trip home we talked about all the trips we need to take together.  We always have so much fun with Tony and Carla.  I think our personalities just mesh really well.  We got home around noon and Barrett was taking a nap at my parents house, so we left him there to sleep and headed home to unload.  When I went back to get him he was so excited to see me.  It was so cute.  We missed him but we enjoyed our time away and he had a blast at my parents house with my two nieces.  We were again reminded that we're not as young as we used to be.  I took a nap Sunday afternoon and I'm still exhausted today.  It may take me a week to recover...but it was totally worth it!

Date Night with Lady A

We had a fun busy weekend.  Patrick told my Friday morning that he was going to be off Saturday and Sunday and I was so excited!  While I was at work I sent him a message saying we should have a family day Saturday and then have a date night Saturday night. Thankfully, Patrick accepted my offer!  Not long after that I realized that Lady Antebellum was going to be in town and the weather was going to be perfect for an outdoor concert.  We decided that's what we'd do!  We used to go to concerts a lot before we were married and Patrick worked crazy shifts so I was excited to relive our glory days.  Patrick's parents came to watch Barrett for us.  I didn't want to be obnoxious but I was so excited to get out and enjoy the fresh air with Patrick.  I think dates are important to a marriage.  We're so fortunate that we have both sets of grandparents so close and always willing to baby sit.  

We made our way to the venue  We got in, got a drink and found our seats just in time for Love & Theft.  I knew a couple of their songs.  Next up was Scotty McCreery.  I'm embarrassed to admit this but I had huge tears in my eyes when he sang the finale song from American Idol "Love you this Big".  You see, being a parent changes you.  I'm no longer able to just see things at face value.  While he was talking about his dreams of performing and how he's living his dream.  I couldn't help but think of his Mama.  I can't imagine what it's like to see your son's dreams coming true.  

It was a beautiful night.  So thankful this guy still wants to date me.
25oz lime-a-rita was a bad idea.  It made my stomach hurt. There was a cute *young* couple on a date sitting next to us.  They were probably 21 or 22.  The guy offered to take our picture when he saw us struggling.  He was probably thinking, "aww poor old people that don't get out much".  I was thankful anyway. I thought the show was so much fun.   Fun car selfie, we were sitting in traffic.  I think I said make a funny face.  I was the only one that made a funny face.  We both couldn't wait to get home to Barrett, even though he was sound asleep and had been for hours.
Sunday Barrett and I got up and went to Mass then to my parents house for lunch.  My little brother's birthday was Sunday but mom made him a cake for Saturday night.  Barrett enjoyed a left over piece after lunch.
I'm backing up a bit to mention that this sweet poodle celebrated her 6th birthday Thursday.
We had our first session with Early Intervention today.  We have a lot of work to do but hopefully with our service coordinator's help we'll get Barrett caught up to where he needs to be.  We have his hearing test on Wednesday, hopefully it comes back normal.  This is Patrick's last week on 2nd shift, thank goodness!  We're ready to have Daddy home in the evenings!

13 going on 30

In 1999 I was 14 and in love with the Backstreet Boys.  Our church went on a canoe trip every Tuesday during the summer.  It was about an hour drive from where we met to where we put our canoes in and all the girls would ride in one van with our disc man listening to the Backstreet Boys singing at the top of our lungs.  It was one of the best summers I can remember.  That fall BSB came to Birmingham and I was pretty sure my life would be over if I didn't get to go.  We found 3 tickets and my parents paid an arm and a leg for me and my sister to be there.  My best friend Kellie went with us.  We had the absolute worst seats in the place but we didn't care.  It was first concert ever.  

Last night Kellie and I and three other friends relived our teenage dreams and went to see BSB again, live in concert.  I'm pretty sure we were just as excited or maybe even more excited than the first time we saw them.  Things were definitely different this time.  For starters we had to find babysitters.  Last night my mom kept my baby until Patrick got off work.  Secondly, we drove ourselves.  In 1999 our moms drove us and dropped us off.  I thought we were so cool. Last night we were trying to find someone to drive us and drop us off so we didn't have to walk. Ha!  

Kellie and me.  I wish I could find a picture of us from the last time we went. 

I was so excited that Kristen went with us! 

Kristen and Bekah

We were in youth group at church together.  There were 6 of us total that were total boy band fanatics but this was all we could round up for the night.

We weren't to close but we were definitely closer than last time.  

The whole group.
We had such a great time.  We laughed because they sang a few more songs sitting down than in the past.  They did several songs off of their new album that were good.  Of course my favorite were the oldies.  I love how a song can take you right back to your youth.  We were all so giddy.  I really felt like I was fourteen again.   This morning I'm feeling every bit of 28.  It was a late night.  I didn't get in the bed until after 2:00 and then it took me awhile to wind down.  Today, I'm exhausted and my legs hurt from dancing the night away. It was totally worth it.