Trevor and some other bands

First off let me just say that I'm a terrible blogger. Lots has happened in our lives since July...but I haven't blogged any of it. Maybe I'll do a catch up post later. But for now...

So Friday night was AMAZING! Janet, Trinity, Anesha, Jayden and I went to the "Creation Festival: The Tour" concert. FM Static, Beautiful Republic, Audio Unplugged, Jars of Clay and most importantly...Thousand Foot Krutch. My very favorite band.

Janet and I got there early to save our spots in line. While we were waiting we heard some girls say they saw Trevor (Trevor McNevan is the lead singer of TFK and FM Static...my very favorite) get into his tour bus out back. So Janet and I decided to go for a little walk and when we rounded the corner and saw three tour buses I was thinking I wonder which one is his.

From there it was like slow motion.

A door opened. Someone was stepping out. He was wearing all black and had a bleached faux hawk and I told Janet "that's Trevor". And...he walked right over to us. And he was so cool and sweet and adorable. I can't remember what I said but I sure remember what Janet said. She said "this is Carrie and she's your #1 fan". Are you kidding me? You are one of my best friends and that is what you say to him? Ugh. Anyway, he told us to hang out after the show (and of course I am) and I got a picture with him.

While we were waiting for the auditorium to open, we noticed one of the doors open so we all RAN in and got our seats. Third row...pretty good. Then we were told they opened the doors by mistake and we had to leave to let all the VIPs get their seats first. Fine. So we go back out to the lobby and the doors open again and we run, again. This time we got seventh row but right on the center isle. The concert was in a church with pews. I was surprised and bummed cause I wanted to be standing by the stage. Someone also said they weren't going to allow anyone to stand in font of the first pew. Lame. Then we were told we were sitting in VIP reserved seats and by this time the auditorium was filled and if they made us move we would have had to go all the way to the back. Luckily they didn't. And the show started and very slowly people started walking up front to stand thinking they'd get sent back to their seats.

They let us stand but made us sit down between bands. Lame. But soon we learned as soon as the lights went down...run! Anesha had broken her foot a couple weeks ago so she and Jayden stayed back at our seats which worked out perfectly.

FM Static was up first. I was using Jayden's camera for all the bands leading up to TFK cause I didn't want to get caught using a professional camera and then they'd not let me shoot TFK. So I kept it hidden until then. Jay's camera didn't do too bad.

I
Ha!

He loves Jesus!
This is a sweet shot.

Then Beautiful Republic performed. They weren't bad but I was getting annoyed cause FM Static only did like 4 songs and I was getting impatient for more Trevor.

Another artist, B. Reith was supposed to perform...swine flu.

Then Audio Unplugged (Mark and Will from Audio Adrenaline) performed. They had to call the band quits a few years ago when Mark lost his voice. His wife left him too. He had a very powerful message about that time in his life. The morning after she left, it was very cold and he got into his old truck not expecting it to start. He was praying when he turned the key and it started but also the song on the radio was an old Audio A song, The Good Life.

"Good Life"

I've watched my dreams all fade away

And blister in the sun

Everything I've ever had is unraveled and undone

I've set upon a worthless stack

Of my ambitious plans

And the people that I've loved the most

Have turned their backs and ran

[CHORUS:]This is the good life

I've lost everything I could ever want

And ever dream of

This is the good life

I found everything I could ever need

Here in Your arms

Loneliness has left me searching

For someone to love

Poverty has changed my view

Of what true riches are

Sorrow's opened up my eyes

To see what real joy is

Pain has been the catalyst

To my heart's happiness

[CHORUS]

What good would it be

If you had everything

But you wouldn't have

The only thing you need

[CHORUS]

That song hadn't played on the radio in years.

Finally Thousand Foot Krutch! I took close to 700 pictures at the concert and most of them (like over 650) were of Trevor. But...the more pics you take the better chance you have of getting shots like these...

After the show, Steve Augustine threw his drum sticks out into the crowd. I am very proud to say my friend Janet got one.

I like the dimples.

I think this shot is amazing. I love the way it's composed with the mask in the background. I'd like to say I knew what I was doing when I took it, but it was a total happy accident. Just perfect timing.

I'd like to think he posed just for me here.

Great TFK Shot. Steve and Joel get a little love too.

This one might just be my favorite. Wow!

After TFK we went out in the lobby and Mark and Will were signing autographs.

And this totally made Trinity's night.

Then we got TFK autographs and pictures. When Trevor saw me he was like "Hey, parking lot girl!" Then he said...and I quote "lets hang out again sometime". Yep, I'd like that!

Goofy shot. I think I might have been leaning on him.

The night was absolutley awesome! We all had a blast. Even Anesha enjoyed the "head banging music". Ha! I can't wait for the next concert.

But wait...there's more. Last Friday night, I went with Ray and Violeta to take the high school seniors in the youth group to the Skillet "Alive and Awake" tour. One of the girls, Dresden, really wanted to buy VIP tickets but needed a leader to go with her. So I selflessly volunteered. ;)

I took Jayden's camera because I was afraid they wouldn't let me in with my Canon.

We got in early for a Q&A with Skillet.

John Cooper is pretty cool!

Jen Ledger is a rad drummer.

That's Ben.

Korey Cooper...John's wife.

Skillet

The first band out was The Letter Black.

Decyfer Down was awesome.

So Jay's camera took some pretty fantastic shots.

Hawk Nelson was next. They're my favorite...after Trevor!

That's Dan.

Live Life Loud

Jason Dunn is so cute...

...even when he's nerdy.

Skillet puts on a phenominal show!

Thank you Salem!

Two great concerts and I'll be looking for more. Also concidering a career change!

A Tribute to our Creator

Last month, Jayden and I went with the youth group to Creation. Four days of camping at The Gorge with teenagers...awesome.

We spent the night at the church on Tuesday and got up at 3 something Wednesday morning. We hit the road for the 6 to 7 hour drive to try to get up there as early as possible to avoid the long line to get in.
Ray's van.

Eric's van.

Travis and Jayden cuddling in the van.

Still had to wait in a long line, about an hour and a half. It was something like 105 degrees.

Finally we got to our campsite and set up camp.

Even in the extreme heat, Jayden worked really hard. I think he wanted to prove he was man enough to handle the hard work.

To keep cool, we used spray bottles and often water wars would break out.

Violeta and Adrienne help each other stay cool.

Dresden got soaked!

And Jayden snuck up on Debbie and got her good.

The boys from the camp next to us, from Montana, started a soccer game. Jayden wasn't too shy to jump right in. And he definitely held his own.

Dinner time. We ate very well, BBQ every night!

Me and Violeta

Hurray we're at Creation!

Travis. What more can I say. He kept me laughing all the time. And he loved to get his picture taken.

How took my camera? I look exhausted and fried.

Awe. Ray's tri tip. Nothing's better.

Passing the time. Jayden learned some new card games and made new friends.

I love this picture.

Travis loves tri tip too.

Haley & I. I really enjoyed getting to know all the kids.Enjoy Diet Coke!

The Concerts

Pillar

Got this picture of Pillar...playing paparazzi.

Taylor, Travis and Adrienne enjoy a concert.

Family Force 5

Kutless

Jay & I having fun at an evening concert.

And another concert. The view is amazing.

Worth Dying For and Reggie Dabbs. He was everyone's favorite speaker.

Jayden even enjoyed Reggie.

Red...Thousand Foot Krutch was supposed to perform but Trevor (Trevor McNeven, I refer to him by name because I met him at Creation '04) had an emergency appendectomy. I was devastated...that's my favorite band.

This is a picture of the jumbo screen. That's Kevin during the Red concert. He is so funny.

Chris Tomlin

We had a candle lighting ceremony during the Chris Tomlin concert. It was so beautiful to see the hill covered in thousands of candle flames.

Group 1 Crew

Jayden, Michael, LeeAnn and Jessica having a blast!

David Crowder Band

David's keytar

And Relient K closed the festival.

seen but not pictured: Hawk Nelson and Skillet. They both performed the first night and it was when I tried to enter I was told I could not bring in my camera because it was too professional. So it almost killed me not being able to shoot those shows. We were up front too. Skillet was the best show of the entire festival by far. They had fireworks and flames and rising violinists...amazing. Yes, I'm still bitter. The next day I figured out a way to smuggle the camera in.

Sunday morning it was time to pack up and head home. Jayden and Travis show off some school spirit!

Here is the group (minus Kevin who had to leave the night before).

We hit the road and headed home. Haley, Tamera and Sarah were very entertaining on the long drive.

The trip was a blast and Jay and I cannot wait til next year.

I must be a space geek

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch. I am blown away by how amazing that event was. I wish I had been here to witness it. I found this collection of photos at The Big Picture. These pictures are awesome.

Jayden and I went to Kennedy Space Center in November, here is that entry.

4th of July, 2009

The 4th of July in Bend is the best. There is just so much to do. My wonderful friend Janet spent the day with us.

First we went to the annual Pet Parade in downtown. This is a true Bend tradition.
I heard someone describe it as "kitschy" and yes it is! Kids dress up themselves, their bikes, wagons and animals (real or stuffed). I realized Jayden has never been in the parade...that is just not right. But Lola would be way too scared.

And here is the show stopper...

I love the goggles!

After the parade, we decided to check out the Des Chutes History Museum, free admission for the 4th.

Picture taken of the Old Mill District a long time ago.

After that it was time for lunch. We went to Longboard Louie's. And this is a picture of Jayden eating something green. And I think he liked it.

Later that afternoon was the We the People rally (Bend's tea party). I missed the one on tax day so I was excited to go to this one. I feel these rallies are so important and it's great to see people of different political parties all standing up for the same cause. Less government, less taxes, more freedom.

Next was the BBQ at Jake's. We met Janet's parents, Terry and Mary. And my Dad was making his rounds.

More friends joined us and we had a wonderful dinner while enjoying the perfect weather and listening to great music. It was the perfect evening.

Dewey, Nita, me, Terry, Mary, Janet.

And finally it was time to get our spot for fireworks. We went back to Jake's and found a spot in the parking lot. Before the fireworks started, we had fun playing w/ sparklers.

We tried writing our names while taking pictures. I think we did pretty good...can you see it?

"Carrie"

"Janet"

"Jayden"...not sure what happened to the J?!

"Lola"

And Jayden just preferred to scribble.

We had a great view of the fireworks on Pilot Butte. And I think this might be the first time in years that the Butte didn't catch on fire! It was a wonderful day and a beautiful night.

Happy Birthday USA!

"I'm gonna marry him when I grow up"

I remember when I was 6 years old, I had the Thriller record and loved it. I loved Michael! I told my family I was going to marry him when I grew up. I think he may have been my first crush. That was back when he was still cute and normal...before any plastic surgery.

Michael Jackson died today. I was watching the news at lunch and they announced he had been taken to the hospital for a heart attack. I went back to work and a few others had heard he went to the hospital too. A while later, they announced on the radio he had died. My jaw dropped and everyone around me was shocked. Crazy!

So now I am sitting here blogging (finally, more on that later) and watching MTV. They are running all his music videos. He was pretty phenomenal. I don't like what he became, but still love to listen to his old music. By the time I picked Jayden up after work, I couldn't stop singing ROCK WITH YOU.

I wonder if years from now, people will ask do you remember where you were when you found out Michael Jackson died? Ya know, kinda like they do w/ Elvis.

So it has been a long time since I've blogged and so much to catch up on. I have been meaning to update this for a few months now but I don't want Jayden to be an afterthought on a Michael Jackson post so I'll leave it at this.

Glamour Shots

Lola got a bath today and she looked so pretty. I put her in front of my large south facing window and she posed in front of my birthday tulips. Jayden is so glad that I have a new photography subject, anyone but him.

Yesterday was my birthday, it was a nice layed back day. I went to Pastini for lunch with Mom, Dad and Jayden. We spent the rest of the day at their house with Lola and Mia.

I got a new MP3 player for my birthday and already have like 300 songs downloaded on it.

Lots has happened in the last month

We got a dog!
Her name is Lola. She is 4 years old and only weighs 4 lbs. She is very quiet, hardly ever barks. She didn't like Jay at first, but she's warming up to him. She really likes cheese and messing up her hair.

March 1st, we went to the Civil War. Dad, Trinity, Jayden and I went to Eugene to catch maybe one of the last games to be played at MacArthur Court. We got there early, went to the mall and got dinner at Track Town Pizza before the game.

The game was fantastic. Ducks were down by 10 at the half and things got worse in the beginning of the second half. One big play from the Ducks was all it took for the crowd to start getting loud. The Pit started shaking and the Ducks started catching up. The Beavs couldn't do anything and the refs couldn't hear over the noise. Anyway, Ducks won by 10. It was SOOOO fun!

And this last weekend, the Jake's Diner Nuggets wrapped up their season with a great win and party at Jake's. This was Jayden's best game all season. In this picture he dribbled the ball behind his back, he is getting pretty good at that.

I signed Jayden up for Lacrosse yesterday. He's never played before and he was so happy and surprised when I told him he was gonna get to play. There is lots of equipment we have to buy so he better like it.