We were those parents...

who had their small child out way past his bedtime...at a huge concert...that was really loud...singing along to...

Taylor Swift!

but let's back it up there before you go saying how children should be in bed and a 3 year old has no business being at a concert.

You see, they go way back. Well, not way back. Maybe just to Portobello Road on a Saturday afternoon.

After Brooke and I snapped a picture with her, Wil and Wiley came so I could get Wiley's picture with her. Wiley loves Taylor Swift. He just started singing her songs in the car this spring and summer, particularly "You Belong to Me." While you can't exactly tell what he is saying, you do hear the words "short skirts" and "t-shirts." (I am that mom who doesn't really have many kids CDs. We like to stick to our country songs, classic oldies, and maybe a little Usher.)

When Wiley came up to her, he said "Hi Taylor Swift. I love your songs."

I think they are discussing music, lyrics, how Wiley would never be like the mean guys she writes about in her songs...you know, the usual.

She asked if she could hold him and of course we said yes!

And while he was too shy to sing one to her...

he was not too shy to give her a kiss.

So. We have had our little 15 minutes of fame. The paparazzi were all around her and snapping pictures. Her bodyguard (wearing a UVA hat) thought Wiley was cute and was actually the one who got Taylor to turn around. After she walked away, a photographer who did not get a good shot I guess asked me if I would send him my pictures. I asked why, and he said "I'll get your kid in a magazine next week in America." "What?" "Yeah, People magazine. He'll be the most popular kid." "Um, I don't think we want him to be in People magazine, but thanks." (Confused look from photographer).

And as if it could not get any more exciting...

Her mom comes back to Wil. Yes. And says that Taylor would love for Wiley to be at the concert on Monday night. Did we have tickets? No. Did we have any plans? Um. Definitely not. How many people will be in Wiley's entourage? 6. So e-mails were given and phone numbers. And Wil continued to joke for the next day about how Taylor really just wanted to go on a date with him.

We hear back from the tour manager that they have 2 tickets, which we ask nicely if they could do 6. And they did. And boy did they come through!

We were sitting on the first row of the side seats, right by the stage. Wiley was able to wave to the guitarist in the band, wave to Taylor, dance in front of us, and lay down on the floor when he was getting tired at the end. The screaming pre-teen girls really left all of our ears ringing. Wil and I felt old when we had to ask who the opening act Justin Bieber was to some young Brits (Who is this? Who? Oh. Is he American?) who assured us that he was relatively new, making us feel a little better.

But that concert. Girl left it all on stage. She rocked that place. She literally gave it everything and I can only imagine that she probably just collapsed at the end of the show. I don't think I have seen that much Girl Power since the Spice Girls. And after seeing T.Swift, I think the Spice Girls version of Girl Power is totally watered down. Plus she doesn't run around in revealing outfits that the 11, 12, 13 year olds who love her would then try to emulate.

And talented? Oh, yes she is.

We had a mild breakdown at the end because Wiley was upset he didn't get to "say goodnight to Taylor Swift." I am pretty sure he thinks she is just another one of his friends, so why wouldn't he be able to give her another hug and say goodbye?

So there it is. We had a wonderful time. Wiley has gone to his first concert. I could go on and on about how great I think Taylor Swift is. But I'll stop here. Hopefully this all fills in the stories and pictures we have been sending yall the past few days!

{pictures from Zimbio and PacificCoastNews.com}