Back to the Grind

I literally blinked my eyes this summer and woke up on the first day of school. I really feel like I had just attended the end of school parties! In fact, when I went to put lunch boxes in the boys' backpacks, I discovered that I had not even cleaned them out at the end of school! I found 852 silly bands, random pencil erasers, and a gift certificate from one of their teachers thanking me for my help during the year!

I don't really think anyone was ready to start school per se but they were both excited to see school friends that they've missed during the summer. Cade lucked out and had several friends in his classroom for 4th grade. That always makes starting a little easier. Here's Cade on his first day of 4th grade. I sniffle a little when I look back to 2007 to see his first day EVER.

Grant has one buddy from his 1st grade class in his room again this year. He has a brand new LVES teacher that is a transplant from the Sunshine State. She seems really nice and he's excited about her. He's going to have to get to school a good 30 minutes early every day because he's already added Mrs. Casey to his daily morning stop-by in addition to Mrs. Cole. This kid has loved his teachers thus far. We all remember his first "true love".
Big Bros....heading to another year of school. Just a few more days until Little Buddy gets the day he has so long dreamed for. I can't believe it's actually here!
Here's to a fantastic 2011-2012 school year. 2012 sounds crazy. Back in '88 I would have sworn we'd all be buzzing around in flying cars and wearing jet packs by 2012. Anyway, Happy School Year!!

Get Closer

The tickets for Keith Urban's 2011 "Get Closer" Tour had been in our drawer for months. So when the day finally rolled around we were pumped about getting our concert fix in. And, if the past was any indicator, Keith was going to put on a doozie. He's not a disappointer.

We met up with my hottie friend, Kelly, and her hubs Big Mike for the evening date night.

The show's opener was Jake Owen and he did a fabulous job. I can see a headliner tour in his future for sure. It was also really cool to see him in concert because our friend (and cousin by marriage---shout out Tol!!) is in his "Barefoot, Blue Jean Night" video so that makes us and Jake pretty much best friends.
You're allowed to be best friends when you are one degree of Kevin Bacon from whomever. He sang a song I can't recall at this moment but it was about some love and durn it, he invited a couple on stage to dance since it was their 29th anniversary. Apparently he didn't care that we were bff or he would've known Bobby and I had been lovin' each other for nearly 18 years and we deserved to be on that stage slow dancing.
In any case, he was great. Loved his whole performance.
There was what seemed to be an eternity between stage setups. I learned a thing or two people watching. 1) Cowboy boots look cute with pretty much whatever you pair them with. 2) If you don't have cowboy boots and you try to pull off a frayed edge jean skirt with your chunky, tall black boots from 1999, instead of screaming "hip", it screams "hooker" and 3) You shouldn't drink alcohol and then try to walk across folding chairs. They fold. That's why they are called "folding"....but thanks for the laugh.
Finally, the big show. Guitar playin' and more guitar playin'. Have I ever mentioned that I love Keith Urban?
We had great seats on row 15. We were on the inside of the row this time so when Keith came running down the aisle I wasn't able to grab his shirt like Crazy Granny did last year.
I like to think he smiled just for me and this picture this time. Probably didn't but you can just never be sure.

He spent some time at the beginning of the concert reading the signs that people were holding up. One group of ladies had a sign that read blah, blah, blah " a picture with you: Priceless." Wouldn't you know, the next thing he says is "Well, come on down. Let's get one!" If I'd have known things would be that easy I would've made a banner that said "GET ME IN YOUR WIFE'S PLAYGROUP!!". Geez.
There was a monster disco ball in the middle of the arena. If someone would give it to me I'd hang it in my downstairs room and have disco dancing. Sorry. That was an aside.
Here's just a picture.
The stage was really interesting this go around. Lots of crazy lights and motorized thingydos riding tracks all around filming and lighting and whatnot.
There was also a mongo screen behind him so even the people in the nosebleeds could see his sweat.

At one point, he came off the stage and went to a smaller little pedestal in the middle. That gave me a really good view especially since that really tall guy let me stand in front of him. Thanks, TallGuy. I was surprised to see that Keith was just rockin' some regular ol' Levi's. Just your basic 501's. I expected something a little more glitzy. Expensive. Maybe Nicole hadn't done the wash lately and he was down to his last pair.
This one made me giggle. It's one of those awkward dancing pictures you hope no one puts on facebook.
These were great seats for the two or three songs he played from here.

I also got to witness him (almost) doing his backbend playing the guitar move. He started at the mic....

started around.....

little further....

Oh, yikes! Here he goes!
Bending backwards, singing, AND playing the guitar. You can't teach that, folks.
Now back to the safety of the revolving chair.
Towards the end of the concert he asked for some help singing one of his songs and AGAIN he took people out of the audience up on stage. No matter how loud I screamed "SPARKLE TANK TOP!!!! SPARKLE TANK TOP!!!" he didn't pick me. Bobby was relieved because he knows my singing ability is often less than stellar. But, I'll have you know, just the other day I sang the chorus to the song in the car and if I do say so myself, I sounded pretty good. I definitely could've beat the girl he had up there and my sparkle tank top would've looked better than this guys flannel in the duet.
He sat down and dedicated a song to Nikki who was in the place somewhere with Sunday Rose. If I'd have known Sunday would be there I'd have brought Lanie for a little get-to-know-you session. I guess I'd need to get through security to do that though. It may have posed a problem.

I like light up guitars.

In the end Jake came back out for a duet of "Jack and Diane" and it was great.
And, the trick that we're on to now: The "we're all done and we're leaving the stage.... Oh, wait. We're back for an encore and now we're going to blow confetti at you!" It's still pretty much as neat this time as it has been the last 5 or whatever times.


Bobby and I both felt that this was the best KU concert yet. Great singing, great music, even greater guitar playing and a SUPER talented band crew. Get Closer 2011 is down in the books! Next concert is going to be a shocker! We have a genre change, people!

Fishin'

The boys have a new summer pastime of late: Fishing. Bobby bought each one a new pole and for several days they practiced their casting out in the driveway. They've also gone crazy over lures, bait, and tackle boxes. I decided to join them on their second or third trip to the creek as the resident photo person.

We trudged down a tiny embankment and with poles in hand, everyone started casting.

Cade reeled in a huge wad of pond junk. That was deflating.
But shortly after he caught an actual fish and was grinning ear to ear.
Rhett did some casting and thankfully didn't hook anyone's earlobe or anything.
He did hook a fishy though. I was shocked at the quick luck we were having!
We walked through the water to a little cove that we thought would produce good results. Not so much.
Cade helped Carter fix his line after getting it caught on a log.
Then he was ready to go...
Little Buddy and his bird legs made their way across the water to the sand bank. That's when things got sticky.
It's probably not a good idea to cast your line underneath large, overhanging trees. It is a good idea to bring your Papa to hang on said tree to get your line out.
It still turned out to be a two man job though. Bobby pretty much comes along on the fishing trips to untangle line. He doesn't get to do much fishing himself.
It makes for a line mess when 4 peeps decide to cast and fish in the same exact spot that Bobby is already fishing in. It would probably be a good idea to retake the Fishing 101 exam before our next outing.
After de-treeing and untangling line Bobby emerged from the creek slightly annoyed and minus one shoe that got sucked off in the mud never to be seen again.
Meanwhile, Brad was all smiles enjoying his time with his Little Mermaid.

After having just a short string of luck in the creek, the boys decided to move to the pond on the golf course. It was an immediate hot spot for Grant.

One fish, two fish!

Toss 'em back...
Meredith even got in on the luck!
Three fish!
And to prove I was there: My self portrait.
It was a mildly successful fishing outing. Mild because we didn't catch many fish. Successful because no one got hooked in the head or drowned in the water from getting wrapped up in their own fishing line. I count small things as successes these days.!