Today Was a Fairytale

It was a typical Friday morning in our house, the usual chaos of getting everyone up and at ‘em, sourdough toast and eggs on the table, a missing shoe search. But I had a little secret that I had been keeping for months. As we were about to head out the door, I broke the news to my nine-year-old daughter Lux. I was so nervous I felt like I was proposing, “Baby you aren’t going to school today, we are actually headed to the airport right now. We are flying to Las Vegas and going to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour tonight!” We were screaming, sweating, crying, all the things. I made Chris record the moment so I could watch it over and over, which I do, and I cry each time I watch it. I packed the night before, so I grabbed our bags and headed out to drop off a jealous brother at school. Just as we were about to head off island, I had one more surprise. We stopped at our best friends house to pick them up because they were coming too, mother/daughter trip of a lifetime!

We landed in Sin City, and it was so fun to watch the girls take it all in. They couldn’t believe the people watching, the lights, the Eiffel Tower! They decided it was the classiest place they had ever been and declared their intentions of going to college together there (which was concerning to say the least). Apparently, we need to get out more. I remember my first time going to Las Vegas when I was about the same age for a soccer tournament during Thanksgiving break with my family. We stayed at Circus Circus and had a depressing buffet Thanksgiving dinner, so I was not as enamored with it as they were. This time we stayed at Delano Las Vegas which is located at Mandalay Bay, if you ever go to a concert/football game at Allegiant Stadium this is the best location. It has direct access to a pedestrian bridge and is a quick 10-minute walk between hotel and venue.

We grabbed lunch and spent the afternoon dressing to the nines; feathers, rhinestones, glitter, you name it - we wore it. We had to get a little creative in order to plan the girl's outfits. Last summer I took Lux to a candlelight Taylor string quartet tribute concert at the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park which was stunning. We told the girls we were going to take them to another candlelight show and you are supposed to dress up in themed outfits. This way they were able to have the perfect outfit without ruining the surprise! We went to a beautiful fancy steakhouse for dinner, the girls had their Shirley temples and the moms their spicy margaritas. Everyone in the hotel seemed to be going to the concert, the energy was electric and the outfits were wild. We walked to the stadium and bought the girls bubblegum pink cowgirl hats with feathers and lights. We also got screamed at by evangelical protesters that yelled that we were going to hell for going to the concert, which was fun to explain to our kids!

The concert started at eight and for the next three and a half hours again we were screaming, crying, sweating. It was the most breathtaking show I have ever seen, Taylor Swift is a force. I can't imagine it being my first concert, I have a vivid memory of my mom taking me to my first concert. It was The Judds who I was obsessed with at the time. I love that memory I have with her, and it feels so special to have the same with my daughter. I don't want to spoil any of the show in case you are going this summer, but you're in for a treat. If you couldn’t get tickets, you're more than welcome to come over to my house and Lux and I will perform our hearts out for you in our living room.

After not even 24 hours in Las Vegas, we were back at the airport bright and early the next morning. We walked past the slot machines with Lux still in her cowgirl hat, fitting in like a local and we boarded our plane. We met so many people in line from all walks of life who had been at the concert, and we were all bonded and blissful from the experience. Swifties unite! Core memories were made and I feel so incredibly grateful to have shared these precious moments with my girl. I may be getting mother of the year award this Mother's Day from her, but on the other hand I just fed my son a packet of peanut butter crackers for dinner. You win some, you lose some! Happy Mother's Day to all of you extraordinary women, cheers to the hardest and best job in the world!