monster trucks

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Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

5 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

Dear Jack,

This past weekend made our 4th time in 3 years to go to a Monster Jam show. Clearly, we are fans! However, this made the first time that Papa got to go with us. He filled in for Mommy, since she was home with your baby sister Holly, along with Nonna.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

You and Holly got Papa and me our own special t-shirts for Father’s Day. Plus, you drew Papa a special Father’s Day picture which features you, Papa, and me as dogs, as well as Whiskers; a stray cat that stayed with Nonna and Papa for a few weeks around Thanksgiving last year.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

Another thing that made this time special was that it marked the first time Monster Jam was held at the Nissan Stadium in downtown Nashville, which is outdoors; as compared to the Bridgestone Area where it is normally held.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

Not only was the noise not so bad since it was outdoors, but there was more room for the trucks to do their thing. And, you counted over 13 different trucks… maybe even 20! That’s the most we’ve ever seen at a Monster Jam event.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

This was definitely my favorite Monster Jam show so far! So much action…

We had really good seats- any closer and we may have gotten mud slung on us!

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

You were very happy to see your favorite monster truck, Zombie, was there. I don’t think the driver intended this to happen, but the truck was smoking as it flew through the air. And just like the last time we saw Zombie, the truck lost one of its arms during all the action.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

That’s similar to the case with El Toro Loco, which lost one of its horns after the truck did a back flip. To our surprise, as seen on the big screen, the driver apparently gave away the broken horn to one lucky fan.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

Ultimately, it seems that the “back flip ramp” had a lot to do with which truck would ultimately win the completion, as doing a backf lip earned the driver extra bonus points, but at the same time greatly risked putting the truck out of commission if it landed upside-down.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

The show ended with the winner being announced: Hot Wheels. Then we were all pleasantly surprised by fireworks!

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

Getting to go to the Monster Jam really made Father’s Day special for Papa and me. As always, you and I are looking forward to going back to Monster Jam the next time it comes to Nashville.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Monster Jam at the Nissan Stadium for Father’s Day 2016

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Dear Jack: We were at the 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville!

5 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack: We were at the 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville!

Dear Jack,

It’s simply family tradition by now that we attended the Monster Jam truck show this past weekend. This made our 3rd time; and both you and Mommy declared for yourselves… this was your favorite.

And I would have to agree.

As did the Fulmer family, who won the ticket giveaway on my blog, Family Friendly Daddy Blog.

Dear Jack: We were at the 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville!

They told me their little boy cried once the show was over and he realized the trucks wouldn’t be coming back out. That’s how you know it was a good show!

The action was simply non-stop. This was the first time we had seen the wheelie popping contest.

It was great being able to see these huge monster trucks leap straight into the air, thanks to the dirt ramps in the middle of the arena.

Dear Jack: We were at the 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville!

Whether I should admit this or not, it’s always interesting to watch what happens when the monster trucks flip over.

This happened at least twice while we were there.

The first time was with Gravedigger. I took this handy little video to share with the world:

And then it happened again with Zombie. I took pictures of that, as opposed to a video.

There’s a little bulldozer on standby that comes to the rescue, which flips the monster truck upright- obviously, the driver runs out of the vehicle first.

Zombie was your favorite. You loved how “his” arms waved in front of him the whole time.

Dear Jack: We were at the 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville!

Something that really caught my attention this time around is how diverse the monster truck industry is becoming. I love what I’m seeing.

I noticed that Scooby Doo, which happened to be one of the best performing trucks at the show, is driven by a female, Nichole Johnson from California.

Dear Jack: We were at the 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville!

Going back to your favorite monster truck that day, Zombie, its driver is Bari Musawwir.

This shows me that monster trucks have officially gone mainstream. I celebrate that.

The diversity of the audience demonstrated this as well. Monster trucks are for everyone and anyone who shows up to watch the action.

Dear Jack: We were at the 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville!

Our family is faithful to Monster Jam each year when they come through Nashville.

Before we had left for the show, you were imagining dragons as you took some time to draw a dragon before the show; not even knowing there was a monster truck called Dragon.

Dear Jack: We were at the 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville!

Of all coincidences, after the show we stopped by Walmart to let you pick out a monster truck. Sure enough, they had Dragon, which again, you didn’t even know existed.

Needless to say, you’ve been clutching “him” tightly in bed for the past couple of night, like you do your stuffed animals.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: We were at the 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville!

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Meet Us at the January 9th, 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville, TN!

Meet Us at the January 9th, 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville, TN

For the past two years, in both 2014 as well as 2015, our family has attended the Monster Jam event. This year will be no different. Our calendar is marked for 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 9th, 2016; just a few weeks away.

When you have a 5 year-old son, it’s only natural that, by default, your family is into monster trucks.

His collection of toy monster trucks grows every year. He draws them all the time at school. And he loves to build them out of his Legos.

That’s actually the main thing he keeps rebuilding each time he plays with those blocks.

While Nashville is known worldwide for its live shows, the one show we can’t miss is Monster Jam at Bridgestone Arena.

Just a couple of months ago, my son and I were able to experience the adventure of riding full speed in an actual monster truck, at the Spring Hill Ham Fest.

Please check out this video I spent a lot of time on. I think it’s really cool to see how fast the monster truck went and how happy my son was to be there.

The folks at Monster Jam are courteous to provide free tickets to one lucky family who is reading this right now.

The contest explained below is now closed, as the winner is the Fulmer family out of Murphreesboro, TN. 

The Fulmers were the first go to the Family Friendly Daddy Blog Facebook page, and leave a comment where I shared this post there on that page on Facebook (which is called, Meet Us at the January 9th, 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville, TN).

In the comment, they told me their child’s favorite Monster Jam monster truck and asked me if they are the winner of the Monster Jam tickets.

Meet Us at the January 9th, 2016 Monster Jam in Nashville, TN

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Dear Jack: We Rode in a Real Monster Truck at the Spring Hill Ham Festival!

4 years, 10 months.

Dear Jack: We Rode in a Real Monster Truck at the Spring Hill Ham Festival!

Dear Jack,

Had you ever told me, “Daddy, I want to ride in a real monster truck,” I have a feeling I would have searched the entire state of Tennessee and the 8 other states it borders; only to possibly find some outrageously priced, yet tame version of riding in a monster truck.

Fortunately, this past weekend while “ridin’ low in that Corolla”, we just happened to stumble into a perfect situation.

Dear Jack: We Rode in a Real Monster Truck at the Spring Hill Ham Festival!

While ironically attending the Spring Hill Ham Festival (I say ironically since you’re a vegetarian and I’m a vegan), we saw a sign for monster truck rides; only $5 per person.

(Plus, it was free admission and free parking!)

Dear Jack: We Rode in a Real Monster Truck at the Spring Hill Ham Festival!

It was misting, overcast, and late in the day. There was no line and we were the only riders on that trip.

This video I made shows not only what it was like inside the monster truck, Predator, but also outside of it as well.

Seriously, this was no tame ride. Plus, we chose the best seats in the truck; right there at the edge of the bed.

I would have been terrified at your age to do something so intense.

You only showed one quick look of concern, at first; to be following by smiles and laughing for the rest of the ride.

Dear Jack: We Rode in a Real Monster Truck at the Spring Hill Ham Festival!

Needless to say, we had a great time; in what might turn out to be a once in a lifetime experience.

And again, amazingly- it was just 10 bucks total for the 2 of us to ride!

While we were there, you also enjoyed climbing up and sliding down the “jumpy houses,” as well as getting to visit the petting zoo… or farm, I guess I should say.

Dear Jack: We Rode in a Real Monster Truck at the Spring Hill Ham Festival!

You also asked to play one of the games.

Basically, you spun a big wheel in which all but 3 of the options were literally labeled “Free Pixy Stick,” while the remaining 3 were simply left blank.

Dear Jack: We Rode in a Real Monster Truck at the Spring Hill Ham Festival!

Going to the Spring Hill Ham Festival was such a great experience for us as father and son!

Lesson learned: Even if you don’t eat ham, go to the Ham Festival if you get the chance!

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: We Rode in a Real Monster Truck at the Spring Hill Ham Festival!

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Dear Jack: Monster Jam 2015 in Nashville- Family Friendly Review

4 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam 2015 in Nashville- Family Friendly Review

Dear Jack,

Last January, our family drove to Huntsville, Alabama to see Monster Jam 2014 because the Nashville arena only had show dates at night, which would have kept you up way past your bed time.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam 2015 in Nashville- Family Friendly Review

However, this year, with you being 4, Mommy and I can get away with letting you cheat your bedtime every once in a while like we did a few weeks ago for Marvel Universe Live.

Well, turns out that this year in Nashville for Monster Jam 2015, there was a Sunday afternoon show date. So we went!

Dear Jack: Monster Jam 2015 in Nashville- Family Friendly Review

Yes, that is an anteater in your arms. That was one of the specific things you asked for your birthday in November.

You named her “Annie.”  And she apparently loved the monster truck show as much as you did!

One of your favorite monster trucks was there: Grave Digger.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam 2015 in Nashville- Family Friendly Review

Not to mention, Son-uva Digger showed up too.

Something I have learned after seeing two Monster Jams is that the location of the venue determines which trucks will show up, because I supposed that’s based on which drivers live closest to the arena it’s being held. (We were at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.)

As you can see from the shots of the crowd, it was a packed stadium! Nashville shows up for monster trucks, that’s for sure.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam 2015 in Nashville- Family Friendly Review

I think your favorite part was seeing both Grave Digger and Captain’s Curse flip over and have to be rescued by the machine.

They also had some ATV racers there as well. Which, speaking of, I hate it that we’ll miss the Arenacross event at the end of this month. However, that’s the weekend we move into our new house!

We sat next to the winners of the ticket giveaway I did on the Facebook page for Family Friendly Daddy Blog. They had a blast as well.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam 2015 in Nashville- Family Friendly Review

Granted, I should define “had a blast” when referring to 3 and 4 year-old little boys like the two of you.

You weren’t necessarily screaming and cheering the entire time… That’s because typically when something overwhelmingly entertains you like that, you just sit there and soak it all in.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam 2015 in Nashville- Family Friendly Review

From there, you will go on to tell all your friends and teachers  about it at school for the following weeks. Going to the show also feeds your ongoing interest in playing with your growing collection of toy monster trucks.

Dear Jack: Monster Jam 2015 in Nashville- Family Friendly Review

It was no surprise that as soon as you got home, you began racing your Monster Jam trucks on the bedroom floor: “Vvvvvvvrrrrroooo! Eeeeeeccckk! Jch-jch-jch!”

You are a kid who loves Monster Jam. And your anteater, too… at the same time!

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Monster Jam 2015 in Nashville- Family Friendly Review