So it's been awhile since I've done a "weekend wrap-up" type of post, but this past weekend was just way too fun not to share! An unforgettable concert, amazing wedding reception, and both done with some of the best people in the world - not sure there's more I could ask for! So, here we go...
My weekend started with my good friend from Chicago (What up, Stephanie!?) picking me up Friday morning, so we could drive down to Indy for a Hanson concert! So, if you know me at all, you
know Hanson is my favorite band of all time. If you knew me in the 90's, you have the right to call me obsessed. Because I totally was! And, after Friday night's concert, I'd have to say I'm a born-again Hanson
freak! It's not really that I ever stopped liking them, but life gets a hold of you and, well, you do silly things like get rid of all that your life was for your teenage years. 😠I can't say this is for sure yet, but my mom and I have turned both our houses upside down searching for all my old Hanson memorabilia and have turned up next to nothing. This seriously makes me so sad! Neither of us ever remembers actually getting rid of any of it, it's just nowhere to be found. The only thing I can think of is that at some point in my grown up years, I must have thought this phase was behind me.
Honestly, when I heard they were playing at the Indy State Fair, I thought it would be so neat to see them again in concert. Even better that my family would already be down there that same weekend for my cousin's wedding reception, so it was totally happening. But you guys. When they came out onto the stage, all my 12 year-old feels came back! Like, almost to the point of tears for the simple fact that these were
my people - all I talked about for my early teenage years. It was kind of weird actually. Only this time, I wasn't hoping one of them would happen to glance my way, fall madly in love, call me up on stage and ask me to marry them. (I was totally going to be Mrs. Zac Hanson!) This time, it was like seeing old friends who are all grown up and married and have families of their own except that they never knew I existed, so our friendship is a little one-sided. No biggie, haha! But seriously, the next couple of hours were just so. much. fun. - singing along to songs I hadn't heard in almost 20 years, but somehow still knew every word to - and then being shamefully quiet when they performed a song that came out when I'd fallen off the Hanson grid. At one point, Isaac gave a shout out to all the fans, "including the ones who sort of took a crap on us through the years and are back" and I almost felt obligated to own that one. And, honestly, even though Stephanie and I didn't know each other in our original Hanson days, it was so much fun to enjoy it with someone who got me on those feels. There were families that you could tell the mom was a total mmmbopper and there were supportive husbands with their kids. Just a fun freaking time!
Before I get on to the pictures, I just have to say this... if you were a Hanson fan in the 90's, you probably got a lot of shit for it. Well, the funny thing is that, while all the other 90's boy bands are getting back together, playing reunion shows and all that,
my band never ever broke up. I'm sure them being brothers has a lot to do with that, but they've been writing new music all along and even, which I just learned on Friday, started their own record label along the way. They never got caught up in drugs or drama or got lost in the fame. They are the same people they were back then and I just love that so much. So, yeah, I'm a Hanson freak.
Sharing these two pix (above) that are basically the same, but one is Stephanie's fav and one is mine and I'm a good friend like that, lol.
Stephanie living her best life, doing something she probably never thought would be possible: Hanson + beer in the same place!
Saturday morning, after re-living all our favorite moments from the night before, Stephanie and I had breakfast at Cracker Barrel and then she had to head back to Chicago for Whitney Houston and goat yoga.
Miss you already, girl!
I met up with Jose, the kids, and my mother and sister-in-law, and then we headed to our hotel. Jose and I stayed to get ready, while the others went out to explore a local mall. My parents got into town shortly after that and we met up with them so the four of us could go to my cousin's wedding reception together. Love my mother and sister-in-law forever for coming along to watch the kids, so we could all go together!
The reception venue was beyond beautiful. (If you're ever in Indy, check out
Tinker House!) It was an old building that had just been restored within the past two years - brick with some industrial and rustic touches - and a beautiful terrace out back! So many IG photo opportunities! (Don't worry, I took full advantage!) The food was so good and my cousin was so stinkin' happy! I got to meet his partner for the first time and he was seriously so sweet! It was just a beautiful evening and there was so much love in the room!
I'm going to sound so cheesy, but I just have to share this little story because Jose is seriously the best. Towards the middle of the reception, my contacts were both cloudy. Not sure if it was because I was wearing more makeup than usual or what, but one was cloudy for awhile and only got worse, and then the other was cloudy too. I really didn't want to leave, because we were having such a good time, but I was also getting really annoyed and could literally hardly see at all. Jose asked the waiter if he knew of anyone that might have saline drops. The waiter asked a few of the other staff members and no one did. You guys. Jose gave me his freaking contacts. We have a really close prescription, and I'm sure there are, like, a 1,000 health code violations with this, but he went almost blind for the rest of the night just so I could see. Here's the cheesy part, but it seriously made me melt. I told Jose I felt so bad because he couldn't see and he goes... "The only thing I need to see is you." Umm. Excuse me while I melt. It could've also been because I was the DD and would definitely need to see driving home, but nonetheless, it was super sweet.
My, "Is it bread or is it a baby?" look
My lovely parents
Welcome to the family, Garry!
Seriously, the food was SO good!
My cousin - love him SO much!!
This pic is a bit dark, but there were SO many great IG-worthy photo ops that I couldn't pass any of them up!
On Sunday, Jose and I, the kids, my mother and sister-in-law, and my parents went to explore downtown Indy before heading back home. I just love this little family of mine so much! We have such a great time together and I'm so blessed to have them all in my life!
I honestly just wish I could re-live this entire weekend over again!
