Picnik or Why my House Hasn't Been Cleaned in a Week.

It started innocently enough. I was playing around on Picnik & thought I'd "Ghoul" some of the kids old pics with their Halloween tools. What would the kids look like if Elphaba was their mom and we let them play outside in a storm? Hmmmm...


Then, I couldn't stop.











Oh so much fun!

Today's the day...

Happy Birthday Mom! And Aunt Karen! I love you!

Polls Schmolls

First of all, it seems like Facebook & I have kissed & made up. Whew! I now can keep tabs on all my friends again.

Now on to matters at hand. Ms. Amy C., was so kind to point out in my comments that her Crimson Tide moved up to #1 in the rankings, dropping the Gators to #2. Not so fast, my friend. Not so fast! The Gators are still #1 in the BCS poll. So BOO-YAH! Plus, can your Crimson Tide do this?!



I thought not.

Happy Monday!

Oh Facebook, why has thou forsaken me?!

Something is wrong with my Facebook account. As of 10:00 this morning, I hadn't had any status updates from my friends since 10:52am yesterday.

I knew they were all heading out yesterday morning to soccer games, garage sales, football games, Octoberfests & cheerleading competitions. I knew some of them had kids going to homecoming. I know many of them are Gator fans & would be posting updates about the sad state of affairs that was most of football game yesterday. I NEEDED TO KNOW WHAT MY FRIENDS HAD TO SAY!!!

I spent most of the last night & this morning obsessively refreshing & logging in & out of my Facebook account. For a few minutes about 1/2 hour ago, I had a breakthrough. I now know that Joanne's daughter's soccer team was playing on a short field & that the goalie scored a goal off of a punt. I found out that Debbie's daughter & Lori's son both went to their first homecoming dances (same dance, but not together). I learned that Kyra's son's football team lost their game but that the parents on the team really enjoyed the wonderful weather at the game. Ana's got a soccer game at 1 today (WAR EAGLE!), Kori's sons had a Halloween party. Such exciting lives my friends lead & I was getting to read all about it! YEAH ME!!!

After I looked at Lori's kids' homecoming pictures (gorgeous!)I went back to my Facebook "Home" & THEY WERE ALL GONE AGAIN!!! I'm so sad, I can't even explain. Was Laura's garage sale successful? Will I ever get to see Karin's football & Octoberfest pictures (I love love love her pictures!)? Is Shelly going to see her daughter at college after she makes breakfast, goes to church, makes lunches, does laundry, goes grocery shopping, cooks dinner & saves the world? Will I ever know again?!

Oh, I hope so! Or I may just have to join a self-help group.

Hmmm...

Google Earth. Our address. Street view. Megan getting into her (and now Jordan's too) car sometime when she was in high school. Creepy.

My First Concert

My First Concert
by Ben

Last night I went to my very first concert. My sisters' first concert was Hanson. My mom's first concert was Billy Squier. My dad's first concert was The Beach Boys, Starship & Whitney Houston. I think I'm definitely the luckiest of the Beth Blog's Bunch. My first concert was U2!

Even though they told me they wouldn't, Mom & Dad signed me out a little early so we could grab a bite to eat & beat traffic. I quickly changed out of my school uniform & grabbed my book.


Mom knew our seats were kinda high up so she brought some binoculars.



We got to the parking lot about 4 hours before the show (traffic wasn't so bad after all) so we took a quick little car nap. Mom & Dad love a good car nap. They're old like that.



We met up with Mom's BFF, Tia.



And her husband, Shaun. He's from England. Another English couple (friends of Tia & Shaun) stopped by. They drank a beer or two. And talked about soccer. Or futball. Because that's what people from England do. And that's what my dad does. English people + my dad = Lots of soccer talk.



I stayed in the car with my book.



But it was pretty hot in there.


So I got out to cool off.



And my mom took pictures. Cause that's what my mom does.

One hour til showtime. Time to head over to the stadium. I've never been here with a crowd. I've only been here for soccer. Soccer doesn't draw a big crowd around these parts. I don't know why. I LOVE IT! (that was sarcasm folks)


We're in! Putting my ticket away for safe keeping.

Up we go on the escalator.

Up, Up, Up. Did I mention that our seats are kinda high?
Here's our little corner of the stadium. We're up pretty high, but the stage looks really cool.




Hot dogs! Woohoo!



Mom wanted me to let you know there was a mullet sighting (or two) but she only got one picture.


My mom thought this was a pretty picture, so I thought I'd share.



Hanging out with dad.

Muse is starting. Because Mom & Dad are old, they have never heard of them before, but of course being the cool kid I am, I have. They were pretty good. Even Mom & Dad thought so.



It's getting dark. In between acts, Mom breaks out her camera again. Because that's what she does.






Smoke coming from the Spaceship. Show must be starting soon.


Counting down!



I'm excited!



Once the lights go down, Mom can't get any good shots of the band. So here's my dad singing along. He knows every word to every U2 song ever! He's cool.


About 4 songs in, I'm getting tired.


Mom's arm looks comfy.

It is.


...and I'm OUT!


Here I am during one of the greatest rock anthems of all times, Sunday Bloody Sunday.




I woke up for the encore. And even sang along.




Inappropriate couple in front of us. Ewww!


I wish I hadn't seen that. Why did I wake up?!



Shows over. Daddy is good at maneuvering through the crowd to get to the car FAST!!! Good thing Mom's camera battery died when she took this picture, so she didn't slow us down.


Even though I slept through over half of it, I know it was a great show! My mom & dad are the greatest parents EVER for taking me! :)


Now, I'm excited to go to my sister's soccer game. NOT!


But at least I have a cool shirt to wear.


~Ben