  urlLink Laurie Berkner was at urlLink Ravinia Festiva l for a Kraft Kids Concert on Saturday, July 17, 2004. This was the first kids' concert I had seen at Ravinia. I've been there previously for classical and pop concerts. It's an outdoor festival kind of place with a pavillion and lawn seating. For classical concerts, we usually spring for the pavillion seats. My dad's not real big on picnicing on the lawn.
Neither is my husband. We arrived early and got rock star parking. That was great. We found a spot on the lawn and spread out blankets to claim some real estate for the families that were going to join us. Tommy and I went to the rendevous point at the gift shop. Then the skies opened up and it rained.
A nice soaking rain that had been threatening all week. Although it was nice for the parched flora, it did not do too much for the spirits of the fauna including all of the toddlers and preschoolers in attendance. Of course the kids were not quite as put out as the parents. Come on - Laurie Berkner and puddles to splash in - what could be better. The gift shop did brisk sales of umbrellas. About 20 minutes of rain later, the clouds parted and the sun shone.
We returned to our grassy patch where Steve has spent the rain shower under an umbrella with Abigail. He actually said she was pretty good. She can be a bit fiesty. We had hooked up with Michelle, Jacob and Ella. One of our playgroup friends. No one else was to be found.
The concert started right on time. Steve brought Tommy up close to the pavillion so he could get a look at Laurie. That way he didn't think we had come all this way with thousands of other people to sit around and listen to a Laurie Berkner Best of CD. I think he twigged on to the fact that it was really her. She started off with "Victor Vito. " A cute, funny song.
Abby even seemed to enjoy the music and start bopping along in her strangely rhymic way. The kids all around really did enjoy the music. Nothing is cuter than seeing a bunch of little kids jumping around to kids's music. And Laurie has really great songs. She played all of her hits - "We are the Dinosaurs," "Let's Go Swimming," "Buzz, Buzz," "Song in her Tummy," "Pig on her Head," "Moon, Moon, Moon" and a bunch of others I'm forgetting. I never thought I would be able to suffer through children's music.
Some of it I just can't stand - I'd put my eyes out if I ever had to see the Wiggles in concert. But Laurie's songs are sweet and a little quirky. You'll find yourself singing a tune when the kids are down for naps. For about a year, I sang Tommy "Moon, Moon, Moon" every night before bed. I miss doing it actually. Laurie Berkner is pregnant and due in September.
(cograts Laurie and Brian! ) As someone who vaguely remembers last summer as a hugely pregnant woman, I'm amazing she still has the energy to perform for kids. Besides playing her guitar sidesaddle, I didn't really notice anything different about her. If you ever have a chance to see her live, I would suggest it. I think she's just wonderful. And I'm not even three years old. 
