Celebrities Among Us

Tonight we went to Dixie Stampede.  I've been several times but this was by far the most fun I've ever had at one.

We were soon to discover that Kolbee was in rare form and Konner was raring to go.  The last time the boys went to DS, Konner was too busy watching all the action to eat and asked the waiter to move because he couldn't see the show.  He also couldn't figure out how Dolly Parton got on the big screen.  He thought she was hiding behind the screen and she wouldn't shut up.  So now they call Dolly the 'Shut Up' girl.

Any time music played, Kolbee danced a jig.  Yes I do mean a real jig.  Picture clog dancing on steriods. 

We were one of the first ones to get seated on the second row.  The waiter came over and asked the boys if they wanted to be part of the show.  They both raised their hands eagerly.  (Jennifer, Michael, and I were worried Konner wouldn't go through with it.  He is very headstrong and when he DOESN'T want to do something, no amount of coaxing will work.  He refused to do the fun, interactive things at the Titanic exhibit - touching an iceberg, shoveling coal, sticking his hand in the 28 degree water. What kid wouldn't want to do those things.  *Konner*)  We were told they would participate after the meal was over. 

Well, their version of 'over' isn't our definition.  We had barely time to eat (and they hadn't delivered dessert) and Konner had to go to the bathroom.  Michael got up to take him when the waiter said that he was coming to get the boys in about a minute!  Konner REALLY had to go.  Michael scooped Konner up in his arms and off they went.  That was the FASTEST bathroom trip in the universe! 

Did they make it?  Yes they did!  It was time for their moment in the spotlight.  They joined 2 other little kids, maybe a little older than Konner, in the arena.  It was so cute seeing them walk out  in that big arena.  We were beaming we were so proud.

(Do you the suspense building yet?)

The other kids were representing the North in the competition and Kolbee and Konner were representing the South.  The emcee asked each of the kids their names.    The 2 'northern' kids politely said their name.  When they got to Kolbee, he turned toward the 'South' side and said loud enough for the entire arena to hear "My name is Kolbee and I'm the smartest kid here" and did a thumbs up sign.  Jennifer was MORTIFIED and I was laughing so hard I couldn't catch my breath.  The waiter walked in front of us just after that and told Jennifer that she had a 'live' one there!

Turns out they had to chase chickens to the end of the arena.  The first team to get their chickens over the finish line won a medal for their 'side.'  Little Konner chased his chicken all the way to the finish line.  It was ADORABLE. The dirt is piled high enough in the arena that it makes it hard to walk so you have to kind of waddle and jump at the same time.  He wasn't much bigger than the chickens.

Did they win? 

No.  Kolbee's chicken refused to cooperate and ran behind Kolbee.  Kolbee ran in circles trying to get his chicken to go straight.  When they announced the winner, Kolbee just grinned and shrugged his shoulders like what was he supposed to do about it.  He had a dud chicken!  But since they were all 'winners' they all got a medal around their neck, a book and a letter from Dolly Parton thanking them for participating.

That's all they have talked about the rest of the evening.  We laughed all evening long.  Konner wants to go back and watch the show again.  Kolbee danced all night and Konner sat mesmerized by the entire show.  He ate but it was like a robot.  Kolbee used to be shy and you usually can't get Konner to sit still for more than 2 minutes.  Not at the DS show.

The only bad thing about the whole evening was DS didn't take a video of it and we weren't allowed to take pictures of it.  We tried to take a pic of the chicken race with our phones but we were laughing so hard we lost out on the opportunity.

The boys were floating on cloud 9 and they didn't want to go to bed.  Definitely a night to remember!

(If the computer is shaking now, it's me laughing so hard I can hardly type.)