B-Boy goes to a concert for Lunch Money

Today I took B-Boy to a concert at the Carrboro Arts Center. Carrboro is right next to Chapel Hill and is about an hour and a half from our house. The center is a wonderful place for kids of all ages to play, and had a great big room with a tall stage and lights.

The concert started at 11, and we arrived about ten minutes before it started. Neb had to study for his final next week, and this was the perfect opportunity for us to give him some study time while we had some fun.

We were going to hear a band that plays kids music that adults like to listen to. I heard them on an NPR program and one of their songs made me giggle. The band is called Lunch Money and the song that made me giggle was about a Cookie As Big As Your Head. How could you not like that?

I searched the web and found out that they were from South Carolina, and would be playing in Carrboro today. We made the journey easily. Once we arrived, we sat down on the second row. B-Boy ate has granola bar while we waited.  He looked around in wide-eyed wonder taking it all in.

The stage was large, and there were lots of rows of seats, some down on the floor in front of the stage. The area in front of the stage had a padded foam mat and was used for the kids to dance on. The bands' instruments were waiting for them and included several guitars, a set of drums and a trombone.

B-Boy sported a cute shirt with a drum set on it. There was a pocket on his chest that looked like he had a set of drum sticks in it. We both agreed that he was dressed appropriately!

Mommy, when is the concert going to start?

I am ready to dance!

The band took the stage, and started to play. Their music was catchy and fun and they did a great job engaging the kids. They asked questions and incorporated the answers into their songs. B-Boy sat on my lap the entire time and had a blast. (I think that is a first, he usually wants out of my lap as soon as he sits in it!) We danced and wiggled in our seat- we jumped up and down and in one of the songs (called I want a dog) even barked and howled during the song.

B-Boy did really well... and did not cry a bit. He even got to meet the band members after the show and get a photo with the lead singer.

Mommy, I had fun but I am a little scared to be sitting here.

After the show, we headed home and had lunch followed by a REALLY big nap. Yes, we all took one. And when we woke up, it was SNOWING! It was a light dusting that did stick to the ground. It was very pretty, but not enough to play in. I think the band sang the snow here, what do you think?

Happy Birthday Neb!

Today is Neb's birthday. To celebrate, our favorite musician, Jackie Greene, came to town for a concert.

It was held last night at the new Raleigh Ampitheater, which is outdoors, in the heart of downtown Raleigh. Neb and I were extremely excited, as we had not seen him perform since last summer when he played with Phil Lesh and Friends, opening for the Allman Brothers. He has a new album out, Til the Light Comes, and it is amazing.

ChiggerButt offered to babysit B-Boy, and we felt really good about leaving him in such great hands... but I am getting ahead of myself.

Yesterday morning started with both of us taking the day off of work. However, I dropped B-Boy at daycare , and then met Neb back home to play a round of golf. It was nice to have just the two of us on the course, and despite the fact that it has been about 18 months since I have played, I did pretty well. I even managed to birdie a hole, and had some good shots. I also had some not so good shots, but we won't dwell on those. We had a blast.

Then we got cleaned up, headed to pick B-Boy up at daycare, and then took him to see ChiggerButt. He loves her, and couldn't wait for her to hold him. We made a quick exit (before he would know we were gone) and headed downtown.

Neb spotted Jackie a few minutes after we arrived, and we waited on the side of the stage to see him again. When he walked by, we shouted out to him. I was shocked when he walked over!

We had a Sactown magazine (a Sacramento magazine) with him on the cover that we have been trying to get him to sign for a while. While he started to sign it, I mentioned that it was Neb's birthday. He then wished Neb a happy birthday, and signed a message to that effect on the cover of the magazine. The dude is just plain nice, and incredibly talented. We were even able to get a photo with him, which made our day.

He played a great set, and as they started to clear the stage, it started to rain. It got heavier and heavier, so we decided to head back to the parking garage to wait it out. Good thing, because we decided to leave our stuff (like the magazine, my purse, my new shoes- changed out for my flip flops) in the car. Once the rain ceased, we headed back to the ampitheater.

A view of the shimmer tree... so pretty!

Then Government Mule took the stage. After their second song, the rain began again. Then the thunder and lightening... by the time song 4 started, it was POURING. Buckets.

At first it was nice and cool, a nice change from the extreme heat. Then it became cold. Finally, it came down so hard that it HURT. At that point, the band covered up the gear and left the stage. We decided we had enough fun and headed to the gate to leave.

We were DRENCHED. And, with no towels or clothes to change into, we became cold and wet. We wrung out the clothes as best we could, but without much effect. I had a few blankets in the car, which helped us dry off a bit. We jumped in the car, pulled off our shorts and squeezed the water out of them through the window. Ah, to be young!

Neb changed into his concert T... so he looks dry, but we are soaking wet.

When we arrived to pick up B-Boy, we both realized we had to put those cold, wet shorts back on. I must admit, that was not very fun.

We didn't care. And thankfully, the MacFamily provided us with dry clothes to wear home. B-Boy was still wide awake, and had a blast playing with ChiggerButt. I think he has a little crush on her! He was rubbing his eyes, and was ready to go home... it was not long before he was heard snoring loudly from the backseat.

All in all, a great evening.

What's up for today? Well, I won't even try to top yesterday... but we will try to take B-Boy to the pool and end the day with a nice meal of Neb's choosing, and chocolate cake.

And for those of you who don't know... chocolate cake is Dunkin Hines Butter Recipe Yellow Cake with Milk Chocolate frosting. Neb's favorite.

So happy birthday Neb! B-Boy is so lucky to have such a great Dad! Enjoy your day!