Let the Party start...2 weeks early

This past weekend was indeed a special one. The kind you treat as a mini vacation   And use to cling onto the idea that you will indeed get through the work week and be in bliss. Oh those are good thoughts.

I'll skip to it now. My 30th birthday is the 18th. (Oh M Gee, jk I've looked to this year a lot but you know, now that it's here did I really have to talk about so much in the previous years???)  that's ok,  I still look not 30 as most say so I suppose that's a plus. Most people guess im a whopping 23-24 yrs old. Hmm I don't know that i agree. That aside, in June I bought tickets to see Jason Aldean in Charlotte. I hadn't been to a "real" concert in 10 years (college bands definitely don't count) and i knew he would put on a good show. The concert was last Friday and he did not disappoint! Its like john says, that man is all voice. 

My parents drove down on Friday to watch Ellie. I really didn't think she would sleep well away from home (as if she stayed with her other grandparents) so I asked my parents to come here. It was wonderful to see them at our home. And a special surprise! My younger cousin came with them and I think Ellie kept her very busy! They have a wonderful little bond together, especially now I think. John and I left very soon after they arrived and we got to Charlotte by 4 or so. We stayed at the Hilton Inn at City Center which was right in the heart of downtown. 

After we checked in and refreshed, we walked out to find some dinner. We had no ideas in mind, just something relatively quick and obviously not insanely expensive. We followed this little side street (I originally typed alley but that sounded a little too sketch) off a main street and found this little hidden away pub and had dinner there. I don't know the connection but they had an ECU flag out front and their football schedule indoors. In touch with ole alma mater.

After dinner we headed towards the concert (outdoors but I finally am able to afford some seats, which are also covered!!) which at this point I was thinking a good investment as some impending doom weather was starting to form. We park and o.m.g. this huge field (also the parking lot) looks like a gigantic tailgate for the young crowd but still weirdly exciting to be around, like a concert pep rally of sorts. Many were already playing Jason Aldean music from their cars, trucks and it was just building excitement! SO we start walking up and it 's thundering and has a few times already. Parking attendants start to turn everyone back...delay in the show, storm's coming. Great. We go back to the car, actually we run as it starts to rain at this point, and wait. 30-45 minutes they start to let us peasants back in and the show goes on. There were so many people there. Packed out.

Tyler Farr and Cole Swindell opened for Jason Aldean and it was all good. I knew not much of the other too but Cole Swindell kinda won me over. He was very entertaining and well it was all good. we left a little early to miss the chaos of a mass exit and some other smart people did the same. It was worth it to miss a couple of songs to not try and get out all together.

 I mean you should have seen the shape some of my fellow concert goers were in...yikes. Anyway all good!
We got back late to the hotel and left to find breakfast in the morning. We had overpriced brunch, well you pay for the atmosphere I suppose) in downtown and I thoroughly enjoyed the company of my husband, all day everyday. I got coffee for my pounding headache and then we headed back to SC.

Saturday we spent hanging out with my parents and cousin and of course little Ellie :) We had a good time the rest of the day. 

On Sunday the family had to head back and we relaxed and cleaned some and took Ellie to the pool for one last swim for this summer. 

We were so thankful they came. Ellie so enjoyed them. We did too...and the concert. That's a good way to kick off the celebration to 30. #dirtythirty