Fall Festival

Our church had a fall festival last night. The girls had so much fun. There were lots of cars in the parking lot that did "Trunk or Treat" and fun games inside for the girls to play and to get candy. Maddie loved the magic mirror because it told her she was "fancier" than Snow White. Becca loved the bounce house and Rylan, well she just wanted that scratchy skirt off and wanted to eat more candy.

Becca IN the bounce house, Rylan outside of it. She was too scared to go in with Becca, so I just held her right on the edge and let her jump.

As they stood next to Snow White and talking to the magic mirror (which was so awesome! Way to go Jamie and Susan!) Rylan kept sneaking candy out of Snow White's basket and putting it in her sack. It was crackin' me up.

We have called Rylan our little ladybug since she was born. She had a ladybug birthday and so it was only fitting that she was a ladybug for Halloween. I added the big poofy skirt on to her costume.

Mckenna and Rylan

Becca had originally wanted to be a ballerina. But one day at Wal-Mart, she saw the leopard mask and decided that is what she HAD to be. Add a leotard, skirt and tights and we have a little Leopard.

Maddie was the difficult one. But she has been every year. That girl comes up with some crazy ideas. This year, she decided to be Fancy Nancy. It's a series of children's books that Maddie loves. Nancy wears LOTS of different Fancy clothes, so we looked at all of them before deciding. She went with the dress that was on her birthday plates from this past spring (we actually didn't end up using them because Maddie chose to take 2 friends to see the Hannah Montana movie instead). So you be the judge. Pretty close huh?

It took a LOT of hairspray to get her hair to stick up like Fancy Nancy's.

Maddie and Jaylee


Maddie was pretty excited because she got 3rd place overall for best costume. She's placed 3 times now. She is a very creative kid. I have let her pick her costumes every year since she was 3 and she has done a great job. It will be fun to see what she comes up with next year!

U2 concert

Last night was one of THE coolest experiences I've ever had. Russ and I got to go to the U2 concert in the football stadium. We had gotten general admission tickets, so we would be on the field...standing. I was not looking forward to the standing part. In fact I kept questioning Russ on why we didn't get seats. But after Bono walked by us the first time, we were so stinkin' glad we didn't get seats! Being on the field (and getting there early enough to get a good spot) was AWESOME!!! Even with the rude people trying to push in front of us. I just pushed right back. And I was so happy when the weed smoking girl beside us got too high and had to sit down and then didn't feel well and left only 3 songs into the Black Eyed Peas. I couldn't take a whole concert of that.

I admit that U2 sang a few songs that I didn't know- from their new cd. But this concert was so impressive, I didn't care what they sang. I did get goose bumps when they sang "Amazing Grace". That was cool.

Black Eyed Peas opened for them. They were really good. I'm not a huge fan of them, but I really like a few of their songs (especially "I've got a Feeling"-I was sooo ready to do the flashmob dance) and they were an awesome band to open for U2. They really got the crowd excited.

This tour is called U2 360. Their stage spun around so the people that were "behind" the stage could have a front view too. There was an inner circle of people and then a track around them. There were two bridges that went from the stage to the track. We were on the outside of the track. It was amazing! So here are a "few" pictures. Since Russ is so tall, he was able to get above everyone else and take great pictures:

This is what they called their spaceship. See how there is an inner ring of people, then a circle around them? We were just on the outside of that circle directly across from the stage.

The monstrous stage.

We got there an hour early, so we sat for a while.

We were so excited to be at this concert!

Having a concert outdoors in a football stadium is so awesome!

That black ring is a huge screen.

Once it got dark, the Black Eyed Peas started.

That's Fergie.

I think Russ liked taking pictures of Fergie. :)

All 4 of the Black Eyed Peas.

You can't really tell, but the lighters are no longer. No people pull out their cell phones as lights to wave at a concert. It was neat.

The beginning of U2.

We were so excited!

Bono just came out on stage!!!

Edge walked right past us on the track quite a few times. It was so cool!!

Edge and Adam.

It rocked when they were just RIGHT THERE!!

There were two bridges that went from the main stage, over the inner circle people, out to the track. This is Edge and Bono each on their own bridge as the bridges are moving together.

I thought they were going to crash!!

Bono pulled a kid up on stage and sang to him. He even got to run around the track with Bono and in the end, Bono GAVE the kid his sunglasses. Can you imagine being that kid???

I was so excited when Bono (and the kid) stopped right next to us to sing. I made Russ take a picture of me with Bono in the background.

What a Rockstar!

Now this is a really cool picture. That is Bono on the huge screen and right under it you can see him on stage singing.

Edge and Larry.

Here they are again on the track, right next to us!!

The big screen was so awesome.

Bono playing his green guitar.

A red circular microphone came down for Bono to sing in. His jacket also had red lights that shot out from it. He even swung on the hanging mic.

Singing into the red mic.

The end of the concert was just awesome!

Everything lit up.

Bono walked the rail while holding the mic (which had now turned blue)

This was amazing. They are one of the world's greatest bands. I am now a true blue fan. I even bought a cute tshirt!

For those of you who may be interested, here is there set:

U2's Set List : Breathe, Get On Your Boots,, Magnificent, Mysterious Ways, Beautiful Day - with snippet of God Only Knows, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Stand By Me, Stuck In A Moment, No Line On The Horizon, Elevation, In a Little While, Unknown Caller, Until the End of the World (lyrics), The Unforgettable Fire, City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight (remix), Sunday Bloody Sunday, MLK, Walk On
Encore 1: One, Amazing Grace, Where the Streets Have No Name

Encore 2: Ultraviolet, With or Without You (lyrics), Moment of Surrender (lyrics)