Chris Jansen...and some other folks

DATE NIGHT!  Lisa came over to watch the kids, so Magan and I decided to go see Chris Janson.  Magan had texted me earlier that week while I was in NC asking if I was interested.   I said sure, and her response was not believing me...how could I not want to go out with my beautiful bride.  But when I went to purchase the tickets that were on sale for $15...they were no longer on sale, but now were $35.  So we had a nice dinner, then went to Regions field with no tickets...because I was thinking we could just scalp some...then at the park there were NO scalpers...How do you have a concert or any event without tickets available down on the street corner?  What has happened in this country?  Probably something Trump did... 

 

Anyway, the concert was about the start, and I told Magan "let me walk around one more time and see if anyone has any tickets".  Then I saw a lady asking someone else if they needed tickets.  Knowing that I was in need, I ask the lady if I could purchase hers...and she said she could sell them for $10/each.  Boo Yah!  Turned my date night into an awesomely cheap date night. 

 

Anyway, we had a great time.  We saw Jordan Davis, then Chris Jansen.  Chris is one that we saw in Nashville at the Opry, and he was really good, and his full concert was great.  Songs are country cheesy, but his stage presence is about as good as you can get.  I tried to catch a picture of Magan waving her cell phone during his ballad "Drunk Girl", but it was too dark.  Then the head liner was Jake Owen.  And he was...well he sang some typical songs with a typical sound...even rhymed Sheila with Tequilla at one time...ehhh...we left early.  I am sure we will try and catch Chris Janson again sometime...his portion was really fun.  

 

Band; Flag Football; Order of the Arrow

Davis is now in the middle school band, and Bad to the TromBONE!  He played a song for us the other night pretty well.  And he loves it.  He is also playing flag football for the first time this year.  He LOVES flag football.  Never would have thought he would like it this much, should have signed him up earlier.  He has caught 4 or 5 passes already, completed one pass as quarterback, and caught one 2 point conversion.  And the last picture is the only one I got from Sam's Order of the Arrow campout weekend.  

 

Scout Court of Honor

I think this happened while I was in North Carolina...but Sam was sporting his new Order of the Arrow sash, and he was also awarded the Star Rank...2 more levels to Eagle!  He was also recently voted by his troop as one of 4 patrol leaders.  Davis received his first 5 merit badges he earned at summer camp.  Sam hit summer camp pretty hard and I think got 7 new merit badges.  

 

New Year of AHG!

I am sure there will be more pictures to come...as Magan is an assistant leader, and I am the campout coordinator...looks like we are tied into American Heritage Girls for another year.  

 

North Carolina

So, I had a rare opportunity to visit another nuclear site this year in North Carolina.  I was there for 2 weeks and while hating to be away from the kids, I try to enjoy the places my job allows me to go.  The beaches were amazing in this small city of Southport 45 minutes south of Wilmington.  I told everyone there how amazing this place was, and how lucky they all are to get to work in this area...and as I write this 1 month later, they recently went thru a Cat 1 hurricane that flooded the area. 

 

I also had fun with the kids finding a "shell family".  There was a shell for all of us, and the shell family ended up riding in the car with me, watching cartoons on the tv, swimming in the bathroom, riding in the seat next to me on the plan, and well...they were fun to share with the kids. 

 

Also had my first taste of Escargo...and had an excellent tour of the USS North Carolina docked in Wilmington.  

 

Night with the Barons

We had not been to a game this year, and during the last home games of the year, I scored some free tickets to see the Barons.  We also made it on a Tuesday which is 50 cent hot dog night...and free t-shirt day.  But trust me...they get plenty of money out of us...especially those cutie faces...and I am not just talking about Dave.  Can you see the shirts with a the Alabama "Yellow Hammer"?  So we have free club level seats, but we always seem to be staying in the grass with the "common folk".  Lots of balls hit out way over there, and Davis ended up with 3 foul balls (did I mention we may have been one of the only ones there).  And Ruby's only desire was to see those puppies, and I have never seen her momma move so fast chasing down those dogs across half the stadium to get that little smile with Ruby's buddies.  She was so excited to show Lillie Mays her little dog.  After the game, we were planning to leave when Davis said they were having fireworks.  I told him this was Tuesday, and they would not have fireworks on this day.  It took some convincing and him getting upset, but he realized I was right...then over the loud speakers they announced "We have a special treat tonight...A firework show".  Oh well...maybe I was wrong...