The gates of hell swing open wide...Invitin you to step inside...

We decided to take Emma to her "first" concert, as a 11th birthday present. We also took Matthew, since he is a huge Alan Jackson fan. The concert was held at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds and of course the fair was in progress. Betty and I took the kids for the afternoon, giving them a chance to attend the fair before the crowds came in. It worked out perfect, as they had wrist bands and could ride all afternoon for one price....there were no lines!!!!! We really got our money's worth out of the wrist bands for the first time ever. Thank God we did it that way because after the concert the lines were out of sight!!!

Emma likes to sit by Pop or go wherever he goes, as he is the one who gives in and buys her all the junk mom and grandma won't buy!!!

What a turnout....8,000 people. I was amazed at how well the city of Watertown planned this event. They had 50 buses shuttling people from two different parking areas. It was a smooth as anything I had ever witnessed.

The opening act was a local singer, who obviously got the break of a lifetime. His name is a TJ Murphy, who is a soldier at Fort Drum. He won a local North Country Idol contest and also was the Afghanastan Idol. I can imagine the thrill when Alan Jackson's people called and asked him to open. For sure, he didn't disappoint.....he was AWESOME! Watertown is the home of the 10th Mountain Division (Army). Needless to say, when he sang Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue the crowd went ballistic! What a great feeling of patriotism ran through every one's veins!!

And here's Alan....what a show he puts on!!!!

Check out the crowds.....thank God we got in early and had good seats... there was standing room only!

Emma with an arrow in her head....she is SO her grandmother! Her mom would never do this kind of thing in a crowd of 8,000! She spent the whole concert on her feet line dancing and shaking her bootie! Needless to say, we will never get to another local concert without her!

Matt with some of his "prizes".....

What's more fun at a fair or concert than "junk food"?????

Emma has never "dared" to go on any rides with height, bumps or speed. This year she finally got talked into several and wanted to repeat all of them....we may have created a monster. She will definitely have more fun at Disney and Universal now!!

Every one's favorite....bumper cars!

Matthew won this basketball early in the day....what a pain to carry around all day. Of course he couldn't complain cuz he didn't want to hear..."I told you so"!

Sometimes the simplest things are the biggest attraction!