This Is Hardcore '13

Elinor has been to fests before but not since she started walking. I was worried about this one and figured we wouldn't be able to stay for long periods. I packed multiple bags for her. Her normal diaper bag, a bag of snacks and her backpack full of toys/chalk/crayons/coloring books and more. She did awesome. She is such a people person that she thought everyone was there to see her. 

We have a pretty laid back schedule anyway but for these days bed time, naps, meals and even pacifier times (which is reserved for bed) were out the window. Whatever would make her happy and comfortable. The iPad of course came in handy. I downloaded a few more educational games and her normal Yo Gabba Gabba episodes. The only time she really lost it was after the last band on Sunday. We had to wait for Dave to pack everything up and she was completely over...totally understandable. Oh she also was mad at me when Dave's band was playing. We stood on stage behind his amp. All she wanted to do was run out there with everyone and I wouldn't let her! How mean am i?!

 So many kids were there. Her BFF Travis came on Saturday and they had so much fun together.

 We took a few breaks each day to go on an Elinor adventure. 

Dave and I exchanged numbers at This Is Hardcore '07. We always have to find our friend that introduced us and thank him. Look how we have changed over the years...

TIHC 10

TIHC 11

TIHC 12

sound & fury

Like I said before Elinor had so much fun at the fest. It was 3 days long and Dave's band headlined on Sunday. She had seen him play but in a small venue that was extremely hot and we were standing in the back. This time we were on stage right behind him. She kept peeking around his amp to watch him and then stare at uncle Shawn playing drums. She did great for about half the set but it was about 10pm and WAY past bedtime. She started to fuss a little. We went outside played with a puppy and finally she fell asleep in the ergo.

BBB new hats

watching Barney with Kitzel of Reaper Records. She loved hanging out with him!

friends from Japan

nap time

baby whisperer. We can't wait to meet this baby!

first barrette

watching bands on Daddy's shoulders

cuddling with Daniel

wearing his bands onesie

my favorite shirt Dave is selling

playing in a box of shirts

meeting Daddy's old friends

reading the BBB fact sheet

more friends!

working sound

 

and watching Daddy play!

Richmond

We left for Richmond Friday morning. Elinor was perfect on the flight. We meet up with Garvey as soon as we got there, rented a car and headed to the hotel. We stayed at the Omni which was a couple of blocks from the venue. Perfect for Ellie and I to come and go if she wasn't into being at the show. She probably could have stayed all day watching bands and people but I didn't want her being around constant music the whole time, even with her headphones on. In between bands I would take the headphones off to give her a break and every time she would jump and look around super wide eyed like she was hearing for the first time. We need to take a video of that soon. 

 watching planes and playing on a blanket trying to wear her out for the ride

we were upgraded to a penthouse

 she liked watching the kids dance and the lights on stage

 taking a break at the hotel

 she found her thumb this weekend

 just wearing a sleeping baby and trying to make myself look decent

 watching bands sound check

 dancing on the bar with other cool kids

 hotel room break 

 family elevator pic

 she was so smiley right before and after this pic but I kept missing it (also since we were out of town we used disposable diapers. Of course she had a huuuuge blowout as soon as we got back to the show. She had to be stripped down and changed outside before we went back in!)

 sleeping under the merch table on shirts. She took a 3 hour nap like this!

 on the way home

It was such a good trip. I thought her and I would end up sitting in the hotel room the whole time. We have a couple of other fests to go to this year so I hope she still likes going as she gets older. 

The headphones Elinor has are baby banz.