Yeah, We Did It Again

We once again rolled in to M&T Bank Stadium (home of the World Champion Ravens!!) for the Auto Zone "Tour of Destruction". It's not the Devon Horse Show of my youth, but I'll admit I really don't mind going to the Monster Truck Jam. Mainly because my little guy loves it, and yep, I'll do just about anything for him!

All for him

Best buddy Gavin came along!

Best buddies Mommas!

O's new favorite - Zombie

His dance face! They played Psy

You go girl

This dog can hunt!

Max-D with a back flip

The Mechem Family Reunion - A Very Happy Place

Third weekend of June - time for the Mechem Family Reunion! Once again hosted by Mark and Sherri at their gorgeous home, it was a wonderful day. I sure am lucky to have such a warm, welcoming, and slightly wacky ('cause normal is no fun!) "second" family. I didn't get pics of everyone, but I think I got some good ones ...

This is Owen's new favorite pose. The driver of El Toro Loco (that's a monster truck) gets out and lays on the hood of his vehicle like this after he finishes a freestyle event. Yep, Owen is wacky too!

Pap has had recent health issues, and we are thankful he got to join us and for being able to spend time with him.

Ah, a mother's love ... Sherri and her oldest Taylor (a proud Penn Stater!).

Gathered around the buffet, where we spend most of our time! L to r: Uncle Darb, Pap, Owen, Vicki and her husband Dave, Kathy and her husband Will - in from Minnesota - and sneaking around in the background, Bob.

Aunt Arlene and Aunt Nancy

Getting ready to take Owen for a ride and to feed the cows and chickens. Hands down Owen's favorite things to do at the farm!

"Come on over cows!"

Boots the chicken

Owen attempting to answer that age old question - "why'd the chicken cross the road?"

He cannot wait until he can drive one himself. Kept pointing out to me that he could reach the peddles!

Every year we have an auction. Each family brings one or two items, usually wrapped, to be auctioned off. Our auctioneer John is always hilarious, and the bidding gets pretty competitive! There are some traditional items, like filled cookies made using Granny's recipe, and then there are items that are not quite as sweet.

Like the lovely lizard shoes! Congrats to this year's winner, Kathy!

Cearra and Dennis snatched up some lollipops - one for Allegany High School where Bob, Todd, and half the family went; and one for Fort Hill, where Dennis and the other half of the family went.

Thinking that perhaps he was now on "Storage Wars", Owen really enjoyed himself at the auction, winning several of the items and making everyone laugh.

Captain America goes for a ride - such a peaceful, beautiful place.

My amazing kids - C and O! The dog was dropped off by someone at Mark and Sherri's on Wednesday with no collar, note, etc. They gave her a bath, a bandanna and a new name - Muffin. She is the cutest, friendliest little thing, and you can just tell she knows she has landed in a very happy place.

We Did It Again

This time we did it BIG!

The first stop on the "Path of Destruction Tour" at M&T Bank Stadium (yes, that's where our beloved Ravens battle). More dirt, dust, noise, crowds and big name trucks - Grave Digger!, Maximum Destruction!, Monster Mutt and their drivers - Dennis Anderson!, Tom Meents!, Charlie Pauken! - than the show we saw a couple months back.

On the way in - love his pose!

We had super seats

Anticipation

Once again, we drug asked Dennis and C along

Grave Digger 30th Anniversary Truck

Grave Digger fan - the other half of his hair was purple

Ironman - one of my favs

Monster Mutt, ears flapping

Loving it

The family that goes to Monster Jam together ...
Bob's cousin Liora and her husband Kevin with
kids Hailey and Nathan

See, Dennis DOES like it!

Cheering on Grinder

Back flip!

Maximum Destruction

It was a late, long show. By the end it was thumb sucking time,
but his eyes were still glued to the action

Took me until this morning to realize he's "making"
 Dennis Anderson's mustache with his fingers!
(see below pic)

The main man of Monster Trucks

Tom Meents, driver of Max D - went by and
high-fived Owen after show

It was fun! I'm going to just go ahead and admit - I liked it, especially the freestyle competition. I never thought I'd go to a monster truck show, much less enjoy it and know who the drivers were. I grew up on the rather privileged Main Line, deep in prep heaven where our idea of a fun Saturday night was going to the Devon Horse Show dressed head to toe in pink and green. I knew nothing about monster trucks (or Nascar and John Deere for that matter).

Yes, the crowd and the "sport" are a little, um, redneck; but they start every show playing "God Bless the USA" and asking all service members past and present to stand and be recognized. I'm a sucker for that kind of patriotism. And for every character trying (rather unsuccessfully) to balance a beer and a toddler on his lap, there are at least two parents like those who sat behind us last night and allowed us to borrow their extra ear protection after overhearing that I'd forgotten Owen's and was preparing to go buy some.

Most importantly, it was something we did as a family. An event that made Owen's eyes light up and that even those more cynical among us stand and cheer at least once. What's better than that? So yeah, I'm a Monster Jam fan. I'll just make sure to balance it out with trips to Hilton Head and getting Owen into golf lessons.

The Best News

The good news is that I no longer spend hot afternoons wandering around combines and commercial seed spreaders at the local John Deere Dealership.

The bad news is that now I find myself in the Advanced Auto Zone parking lot during a tornado warning because Grinder is in town.

The best news is that Owen is feeling great after his surgery, and loved seeing a monster truck up close. And yeah, I'll go just about anywhere to make my buddy smile.