Trick or Treat

Tommy's Preschool Halloween Party

Today was Tommy's Halloween Party at preshool. He wanted to go as a ghost, but went as a bear instead because a ghost might scare the other kids and would break the rules of preschool. We got yet another year of use from this bear suit, too, which is always good. The kids had a great time with their games, including the bobbing-for-apples game I was assigned to bring in. I thought it would be a huge bust, but the kids pulled it off brilliantly. Instead of creating a huge, watery disaster, they were smart enough to figure that if they went for the stem with their teeth, they wouldn't have to get wet at all. What a concept! And I remember this game from in the past, dunking my entire head in trying to get my mouth around the apple. I guess another...
"back in the day" moment.

Eric Church and Threats of Violence at Blazing Saddles

If you're ever looking for a country bar in the middle of nowhere between Seattle and the Canadian border, don't even think about stopping at Blazing Saddles in the heart of Stanwood. Apparently the looks of a nice camera and a couple of flashes are enough to make the near-rabid owner threaten acts of violence against his paying customers. As if getting John to agree to arrange for the night off to go on a date with me to see yet another concert wasn't hard enough (and at a place called Blazing Saddles no less). Before Eric Church even took to the stage John was threatening mutiny, and once I found out what was said to him, Blazing Saddles should be thankful the fine police officers of Stanwood weren't called in to break up the booze-fest inside. I'm sure that even in the haze of a drunken stupor, the patrons on this night would have been wary to see the owner questioned by the men in uniform.

So, because John's camera actually looks cool, there aren't any shots of this concert. It was a lot of fun meeting and chatting with the sound man, Brent, who has been in the industry a while and had a very cool story to share while I waited for hours for the rest of the entourage to show up. I secretly stalked the band from the front seat of the Pilot, trying valiantly to hide behind my hat and steering wheel as I waited in the parking lot (whatever happened to busses being hidden behind baracades and big, bad security dudes?!!!) Berg practiced his country line dancing moves for the crowd in full country attire, and realized that he's just not the stage-hugger type (Eric, can I have your babies?!!!!). Summer caressed the back and side of the man of the night and John protected her from boobs and rhinestones to her right (Eric, can I have your baby?!!!!). Andrea almost passed out, but from the story she tells it wasn't from the incense on stage left fumigating the front of the stage, the site of Eric bustin' moves in tight jeans directly in front of her, or the bum gas from someone way too close to us. Berg shared beer with the big dude dancing the night away and I yet again thoroughly enjoyed myself with good friends and a sister who somehow managed to run away not once, but twice to hear great music.

With a concert theme going here.....
I would like to dedicate this night to Lil and Bruce, who braved teething Cooper and exhausted Thomas to let us run away again.
I would also like to dedicate this night to my parents, who risked life and limb to watch Andrea's kids until they could return the next morning.
I would also like to dedicate this night to my friend Kim, who willingly gave up her free night off to work the pager tonight for John. We owe you guys!

I don't really know if our parents can ever truly be repaid for what these nights "off" really mean to us. It is a break that cannot be measured and gets us through the darkest of nights, the sleeplessness and the longest of days. Without you, these amazing breaks wouldn't be possible.

Mommy's Gone!!!!

As you can see, Cooper is heartbroken that mommy is leaving for the weekend!

Berbati's Pan, Embassy Suites, Hair and Nordstrom

That's Andrea with Gary the Merch guy.

4:30 am came very quickly for us two moms. Thankfully, John had taken the Cooper-shift during the night, and I got about 4 hours of sleep. Racing to North Bend to pick up my sister, I had the chance to sit back and begin to relax as I rolled along in the fog and darkness before dawn. I could only hope that everything we had planned for Portland would come together. John had remarked when I asked if he had a map, "It's not having a map that's the problem. It's how to read it." With that ringing in my ears, I MapQuested the daylights out of Portland, figuring I could not have too many maps to offset any problems getting into, around and out of the the city without the help of a husband. Six hours later and we were out of our state and into Oregon.
It all turned out perfectly, despite the craziness of the city. Our hotel was perfect, we enjoyed our girlie time at the salon, ran off and spent a bundle at Nordstrom (Not on jeans, though! I figured it was time to get more makeup when one of the youth at work told me I looked like I hadn't slept in two months...and he's the one doing crack and crime, not me!) enjoyed chatting with Anthony at Berbati's, who let us in early, and thoroughly enjoyed our time at the show. Coming off the Kenny show at Qwest, you can really appreciate what being back up at the stage affords you instead of looking down from the rafters of a stadium. I'm almost to the point that I'm equally amused and enterntained by the people we meet and chat with as the show itself. We didn't meet the artist, but we met a person associated with him, felt assaulted by PETA protesters and anti-war protesters, stared at the hideous Halloween costumes slinking around the night alleys and enjoyed the antics within the venue by too drunk men losing themselves to Eric's music. What a night it was! And as we stumbled our exhausted bodies through a throng of Jack Sparrows and Bloodied Zombies, then across the street to our hotel room, I pondered just when will he make another Northwest run so I can do this all again.

Tommy's Favorite Commercial

Tommy gets a kick out of this ad whenever it comes on TV. Since we've found it on YouTube, he can get his fill of it on demand.

Kickin' it Old School

The last toothless grin?

Cooper looks to be pushing his first baby tooth, just one week shy of being six months old.

Trips to the Pumpkin Patch!

The Great Bicycle Chase

Thomas and his cousin, Lily, put together this little movie during the summer.