Speaking Now (Part One)

So, in the spirit of simplifying my life, I have been trying to give the kids more experiences in place of material gifts. For Madison’s birthday in May, I got tickets to see Taylor Swift at Arrowhead Stadium on September 24. It seemed to be an eternity away at the time. My friend got on board with her two daughters and her niece. We kept it a secret that Molly was going with us until she got her tickets for her birthday in August. I can't tell you how many times she told us how lucky we were to be going. When she finally got her tickets, my tough little niece with four brothers actually cried...and maybe her mom and I did, too.

So when the big day FINALLY rolled around, we all headed to the big city. Three adults and an assortment of six girls ranging in age from nine to twenty. We played the Speak Now album all the way to the hotel. Madison called the pizza place and ordered her first pizza for delivery. All the girls (and some moms) had their hair, makeup, and nails done, complete with a thirteen painted on their right hands. We were ready. If you have never taken your daughter to the concert of her dreams before, get on Ticketmaster and get your tickets today. In those final moments before the show begins her face will look like this:And when she catches her first glimpse of her shero rising from beneath the stage, she will scream with excitement like this:She will wave her glow stick in the air like she means it. She will sing along with every single song, only stopping to break out in crazy applause between them. You will sing right along with her, but you might cry a little.

After the concert we capped off the evening with breakfast at Denny's in the wee hours of the morning. I think the decision to give experiences instead of things might be the best choice I have made in a really long time. We all win. It was a beautiful day for mothers and daughters, aunts and nieces, cousins and friends. Any suggestions on where we should go next?