**Prepare for major photo overload**
We got into Phoenix about 10:30 in the morning (I believe). Linds picked us up and drove us back to her house in Gilbert. It is always so interesting to me to see different cities. I expected it to be completely desert, but was surprised to see mountains and farm land. It was surprisingly beautiful down there. If I had to move somewhere that had hot temperatures, I think I'd pick Phoenix/Gilbert/any of those outlying towns.
Linds lives really close to the new Gilbert temple, so she drove us by it so we could get a better look. It was absolutely beautiful!
We then went to Lindsay's apartment and chilled for a while. I haven't seen her little girl in a very long time, so it was fun to see how big she has gotten, and to see her adorable, sassy little attitude. She was a lot of fun. We ate lunch and toured the apartment complex (which was really nice...Like I said, if I had to move somewhere hot...) I got to see a brief Arizona rainstorm, and then we just watched Dancing with the Stars.
The concert didn't start until 7:00 PM, but we decided to leave around 3:00 PM. I changed into my awesome One Direction shirt, and we headed out. It took forever to get there. We literally listened to the One Direction CD three times all the way through. Traffic was insane! The last hour we were stuck on the off ramp. It was seriously just crazy.
When we finally parked in the mall parking lot next to the stadium, we found Aunt Marcie so mom could hang out with her while Linds and I went to the concert. We had Aunt Marcie drive us a little closer to the stadium, and then Linds and I walked the rest of the way.
I don't know why I was still shocked at the number of people there, but it was seriously amazing! So many girls. I think Linds and I were the only ones over the age of 25 that didn't have kids with us. But it's okay. I'm sure we fit in.
I didn't really know where we were sitting, but as we finally got into the stadium, and started walking down towards our seats, I was pretty excited to see how close we were. If we were at a football game, we would have been about the goal line, two rows up. It was awesome. There was only one row of girls to look over. Seriously, these pictures don't do justice of how close we were.
My first time being in an NFL stadium. It was HUGE, and AMAZING! So loud too! They had some music videos and some ads showing on the big screen while we were waiting, and anytime the One Direction fragrance commercials came on, the girls would just scream. It was insane.
It took a little while for the opening act to come on stage. I knew the band, not really well, but I did know some of their songs. This is their second year touring with One Direction, so there were a lot of girls with 5SOS shirts on. My favorite songs of theirs (and really the only ones I really knew) are "
She Looks So Perfect," "
Amnesia," and "
Don't Stop."
There is Michael Clifford...
Calum Hood
Ashton Irwin
Luke Hemmings
For an opening band, they were really quite good. They were fun, and I really like their music. My only complaint is that they went really long. It was probably about an hour, but it was hard to really rock when you don't know their songs, but they were really good. I was just ready for One Direction to come out.
When 5SOS were done, there was a short/not really short intermission. I told you we had great seats, well during this intermission, a bunch of little girls (and they were really like 12), started clustering in the aisle next to us. Super annoying. Eventually the lady (a mom) behind us went and grabbed a security guy to stand there and make sure no one starting lining up again.
It was a really long intermission. The people checking the stage and equipment took their sweet time. Heaven forbid the stage collapses and the boys get thrown off and into my arms! But it was just building up the excitement I guess. And I have to admit, I really was extremely super excited. It's one thing to just see video of them, but to be in the same room as them. It's pretty sweet. As soon as the lights went down, the screaming began. They had this little video introducing the boys.
And then you hear "Straight off the plane to a new hotel...." Followed by a few thousand girls screaming. I didn't cry, though I nearly did. I just kept smiling and saying, "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh" over and over. It was crazy. Of course I know all their songs, so it was a bit easier to let loose and sing along. I didn't scream or anything, but it sure was loud in there. I could seriously feel the bass beating in my chest. It was awesome.
Louis is my favorite.....
They were so fun to watch. They just look like their having so much fun out there. I can't even imagine the rush of going out on a stage and having thousands of girls just screaming for you. They even interacted with the crowd a bit. Harry was the best. He called out some kid who was their with his sister. He had asked him if she was his girlfriend, and he said no I'm her brother. Then Harry goes on to say how sweet it is that he would bring his sister, and what a good looking kid he was. He was just so sweet and genuine.
Then, he asked some girl whose birthday it was what her name was. I SWEAR he said Breanne. I will let you listen to the video that I found on instagram. It sounds like he said my name, but then it sounds like he said Reanne, however, I still know what it's like to have Harry Styles say my name! (Don't judge me!)
There was this cute dad who was there with his little girl. He just sat their totally bored, but about half way through, he left and came back with some memorabilia for his daughter. It was really cute. Then there was a part in one of the songs where Nial made a somewhat inappropriate gesture, and of course all the girls screamed, and I look at the dad and he is just shaking his head. It was pretty funny. Such a sweet dad.
There was also a group of 15-16 year olds in front of us who kept getting the boys to wave our way. I must have missed it, but I guess at one point Harry did look our way and wave, because the kid in front of us started FREAKING out. "He looked at me! He looked at me! Did you see that?" Keep dreaming boy. (Yes it was a teenage boy.)
Ahhh..I just still can't believe I was there. It was an amazing concert, and I really am so grateful for all those who helped get me there. And Linds, it was fun to go with you. I think we should make this an annual thing! ;)
It was pretty hectic getting out of there. So many people. We just had to make it across the street to where my mom and Marcie dropped us off, and when we did, we just waiting in the parking lot forever! I don't know what was going on. They seriously need to rethink traffic around that stadium. But it was fun to be able to talk with everyone and keep the fun night going. Mom and Marcie said they could hear the screaming all the way to where they were. It was so loud. Even after we got to Lindsay's van, it was still probably another hour before making it out of the mall parking lot. We didn't get home until like 1:30 in the morning. But, it was totes worth it. Like I said, Linds....Let's make it an annual event!
