So there we were...

1400pm on 12 March 2010. Shanna and Kayla arrive at our house. We pile into the van and head to the Bedaplatz to pick up Gertrud. Our last stop on a trip to Oberhausen to see Taylor Swift LIVE!!

1615pm, 135 miles and 1 speeding ticket later - we arrive! The Kayla and Stevie had no idea where we were going. They both thought they were in for an afternoon of shopping with old women :P Kayla was the first to figure it out when she saw a banner of Taylor Swift with the date written on the bottom. Putting two and two together she says "wait, is TODAY the March 12th? Yes! IT IS! OMG, we're going to see Taylor Swift!" (Stevie still didn't get it.) HAHAH!

1645pm - parked and on foot to find the ticket office to retrieve our reserved seats. The general entry crowd is pumped up and screaming for the cameras. TONS of people line the sidewalks with posters and handmade t-shirts, and cameras and bags. The girls are so excited.

the Konig-Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany

Kayla and Stevie, waiting in line for the doors to open

1650-1730... We stand at the front of the line, waiting for the doors to open. Hehehe, I tricked 'em both as I looked hard inside the glass doors and loudly exlaimed "THERE SHE IS!" They both jumped and freaked out and yelled "WHERE?!" before I let out a hearty "JUST KIDDING!" hahaha... I guess they didn't think it was as funny as I did.

1730pm - the doors open. We quickly get in and get in line for souvenirs. Stevie got a tour t-shirt, a program, collector guitar picks, and a glow stick. On to the Coke station to pick up a drink and then off to find our seats... We passed an open door so the girls wanted to climb up and sneak a quick peek at the arena. Stevie's jaw dropped. "COOL!"

In the nosebleeds, but exciteded nonetheless!

Waiting for the show to start ALMOST killed the excitement. It was a long wait, but in the end, worth it. 1915pm and the lights shut off. The crowd started screaming, and a "first timer" Stevie grabbed my arm in fear. I patted her silly head and reassured her that this was normal and she got excited. The opening act was a duo known as Martin and James from Scotland. GREAT singers! (pics below - don't ask me which one is which...)

1945 pm... Martin and James proclaim they're singing they're last song - so everyone cheers. Not that they're bad, but come on! We're really there for Taylor anyway right?? They finish, but the lights come back on! NO! WE WANT TAYLOR!! A quick stage change and the lights shut off again... and then Oh. My. Goodness. Madness erupts. The chanting, the booming bass coming from the loud speakers near the stage. Stevie covers her ears. I told her to settle in - it's gonna be a LONG night! :)

2000pm - Let the show begin. She starts with a speech about life, and "Speaking Now" about the things we should say so that they don't turn into things we meant to say. Words like I'm sorry, or I love you. A nice, thought provoking speech which leads into her opening song "Sparks Fly."

I have to stop now to share an emotional highlight of my night. When I first had Stevie - it was a personal goal of mine to take her to Disneyland when she turned 5. Well, I made it. I got her to Disneyland Paris when she was 5. However, I wanted to see the fireworks in that child's eyes... Unfortunately - Disneyland for her was like... the school playground or something. I didn't get quite the reaction that I'd anticipated.

Last night, with Taylor Swift - I think I definitely won "Awesomest Mother of the Year!" During Taylor's opening speech about saying those things that we always mean to say, Stevie leaned in and yelled "THANK YOU!" in my ear! And I don't know if she meant for me to hear it or not... but she continued on with "THIS IS THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE!" (cue the waterworks.) I was a babbling fool for the first couple songs!

We liked her sparkly guitar the best!

Speaking about how NICE she thought Germany was!

Her signature heart. (funny how all the fans do it too. It's like speaking to ALIENS!)

Stevie was a rather reserved fan - compared to the die hard freaks around us who were waving banners and screaming and dancing and LIVING the music. I tried to get her into it... encouraged her to wave her hands and clap to the beat of the music... She ended up being more like me. Just quietly sitting and taking it all in. She was kind of bummed that she couldn't go with her friend to the floor to stand and dance and jump and be crazy with the aliens. :) I would have let her - but I knew if she'd gotten separated from Kayla she would have had NO IDEA what to do. She was safer with me... Maybe another concert! (on a bright note for Kayla - she made her way to the floor and ended up RIGHT NEXT to the stage for an up close and personal moment with Taylor!)

2130pm - the grand finale.

Stevie jumped about 2 feet out of her chair when the streamers and glitter exploded into the air! "WOOOOW!"

I'm pretty sure that I'll have to wash her Taylor Swift tour shirt tonight so she can wear it AGAIN to school tomorrow. All she could think about yesterday was getting to brag about her great night :) I can only imagine what it was like through Stevie's eyes... but for me, it's a night I'll never forget! SUCH FUN!