We know this is late. Really really late. But better late than never?
Our road trip to Tinley Park, IL last June 25-28 was the only summer tour trip that we were able to work into our extremely busy schedules and social lives. Living in the midwest we are geographically challenged and unable to make many "quick overnight" trips.
This trip was also very special because we brought Alexis's 7 year old son Aiden. For months he obsessed alongside us with all of our wardrobe decisions and was very excited for his own "Facetime" camp chair and t-shirt. His t-shirt did kinda kick ass. Since a lot of time has passed between now and then we are just going to bullet point it.
-We had a most difficult time finding cheese in Wisconsin. Naturally we eventually found it in the same town as Beer Lube. No, we didn't stop. We had a kid with us!!!
-We had borrowed Peggy's Tom-Tom for the trip. We had it set in the James Bond voice option. We must have had to take a lot of sharp lefts because at one point Aiden asked, "Why does it keep telling us to shoplift?"
-When we arrived in Chicago at Alexis's dad's house we found out that Michael Jackson had passed away. It was kind of surreal.
-Alexis's dad made us an amazing dinner of filet mignon, corn/feta/walnut/jalepeno/lime salad and Greek salad. We are now obsessed with the corn salad and both made it at least a dozen times last summer.
-It was too hot and the venue was too secure to do any bus stalking. We had lunch at Boston's in Tinley Park, IL with Lisa and Tiff (who you may remember from tours past) and some other friends. We were not the only fans who were drawn to a chain restaurant with the same name as the boy's hometown because we ran into several other fans that we knew.
-Before we knew it, it was time to head to the venue. We wanted to get there early because we knew Aiden would not be able to handle standing around too long waiting for our photo. Plus SNACKS!! Who can resist ballpark hotdogs and free wine! Aiden was getting frustrated with the line so Kim tried to keep him busy by playing I Spy. Aiden kinda kicked her ass in it.
-5* was its usual blur of excitement. When it came time for our group to enter, Aiden grabbed each of us by the hand to enter the meet and greet area. He made a bee-line for Donnie who was already swarmed with fans. Donnie motioned towards him to come closer and Aiden went to hug him. At the last minute he pulled back and offered his hand instead. Alexis started tearing up at that point and said, "Aiden, it is ok to hug Donnie." When they hugged Alexis was almost in full blown sob mode. The look on Aiden's face was priceless. Par for the course, the photographer yelled, "PICTURE" and Donnie pulled Aiden towards him and Kim and Alexis split for the sidelines. Alexis was next to Joe and Kim was next to Danny as usual. Mere seconds before the first photo was taken we heard Donnie yell, "Where is Aiden's mom?" In the photo both Aiden and Donnie are looking towards the end of the line, from where Alexis yelled "I'm over here!" After the photos were taken, Donnie led Aiden off to the side, took his Boston hat off his head and signed it, "To Aiden, your friend Donnie Wahlberg." On the way out Joe approached Aiden and shook his hand and introduced himself. Aiden's concert was a hit and since part of this was payback for all the trips that Alexis went on without him that was all that mattered. He had been wanting to come with us ever since the St Paul concert when he was able to sit with us up front for part of the show.
-Thanks to the powers of the internets we were able to stand in the front row directly in the middle of the stage. Thanks Sarah!
-The sh0w was great as usual. It was the second night of the Michael Jackson tribute and I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. Something about Joe singing "I'll Be There" gets me every time.
-And then it was over. We went to Denny's where the New Kids did not appear but we were not the only people who had the idea. It was packed.
To view our entire set of pictures on Flickr click here
-The next day we headed back to Chicago to nap, explore, and eat another amazing meal at Alexis's dad's house. This guy had our number and knew we were coming. He was waiting for us in Millenium Park
-The ride back to the Twin Cities was uneventful. To entertain ourselves we changed the setting's of Peggy's Tom-Tom so that every time she drives by a firestation it quacks at her, a bar yells "whoo-hoo" and if she drives by a winery it will moo. FYI: Tom-Tom considers breweries to be in the winery category so as we approached Alexis's house it mooed because she lives near a brewery. We wonder if she has discovered it yet.
Forever and ever and ever. Amen.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXO,
Kim and Alexis
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