u2 concert con't

Bono arrives...first song is Breathe. Couldn't believe my eyes.......


Here's Bono on the bridge.


Bono is back on the bridge. It was record-breaking heat this night...sooooooo hot and humid and we were outdoors in a stadium, and Bono wore black jeans and black leather jacket...he must have been roasting!


Adam right above us!!


Adam (bass player) right in front of us. He was so cool (and has aged so much!).
Enjoy this short video Bryan took of the concert:

A Dream Come True

I know it's hard to read, but this is the Facebook announcement that I had won the "front row inner-circle" tickets to the U2 concert in Tampa on Friday, Oct. 9th. I heard on the radio that they were starting a contest...all you had to do is become a fan of this radio station on facebook and you were automatically entered to win. On Monday, Oct. 5th, I received a message that I had won and called the radio station to arrange a ticket pick-up. I'm pretty sure I was just in complete shock. U2 has been my absolute favorite band since junior high...I received the cassette of "Joshua Tree" for Christmas in 1986 or 1985 and I fell in love. I've also had a massive crush on Bono since then...our "love" has lasted for over 20 years :-) I have every live concert dvd they have released and every CD. I saw then live for the first time in Chicago at the Popmart tour...I think it was 1996?? We had okay seats, but it didn't matter to me...I was finally in the same room as Bono and the boys. I could not believe I was actually there. Five years later, I saw them in Chicago again. Our seats were a little closer and at one point in the concert, the lights were turned on in the arena and I swear Bono and I looked at each other...just for a brief moment (this has been a source of much teasing and doubt by my friends...BUT I know the truth :-). Six months later, after 9/11, we saw them in Tampa. My sister Ali, her husband Rob, and I had the worst seats...second to the last row, very end of the arena. I remember Garbage was opening the concert and we could barely see them. Ali accidentally spilled her beer and the beer ran down the step and got the person in front of us wet. Ali panicked and we just left our seats before she could turn around and get upset. Luckily, Rob had connections and his company was in one of the suites, so he made a quick phone call, and we were instantly upgraded and allowed inside the suite. Awesome!! Another great concert, with an amazing finale that honored all those killed in 9/11. I didn't think anything could top that...then I won these tickets.

A long walk to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa...we could see the spaceship set.

We've arrived at the inner circle....so close to the stage! Adam and Bono walked over that bridge several times.

Woo-hoo!! We made it!


Muse was the opening band...we both enjoyed their music.

Cruisin'

Our ship leaves Tampa.



Our first dinner in the Carnival dining room...oh, the melting choc. cake was amazing!!


Since we had such a good deal, we were in a bunk bed interior room. I was picturing us being in a janitor closet, but I was pleasantly surprised by the space and the beds were so, so comfortable. Loved the linens!




Gotta love the mandatory lifeboat drill!


Water park on the top deck...pretty fun slide!!


The Serenity Deck...our home away from home. Such comfy lounge chairs and NO KIDS. Two hot tubs also and you can press a button for a waiter. The casual rest. was just above us, so we would walk up the stairs and refill our lemonades or iced teas, bring down lunch, etc.

Docked in Cozumel on Saturday.



In Cozumel, we enjoyed most of the day at Chaankanab National Park, only 5 min. from the cruise ship. So quiet and clean. Lots of snorkeling!! And let me tell you, the fish are not shy! Very used to people and being fed...got a little to close for comfort!

One of the many snorkeling spots at Chaankanub. Water was the most perfect temperature and very clear.


We found this bar only a block from Carlos and Charlies...$1 bottles of beer!!

We love to cruise!! Guess it's in our blood, as both sets of our parents LOVE to cruise as well. Last spring, Bryan came across an awesome deal...a four day cruise out of Tampa to Cozumel for only $219. We booked right away and our friend Alissa and Bryan and Andrea joined us. We left Tampa on Thurs. Oct. 1st and returned Mon. Oct. 5th. (Thurs and Fri. day at sea, Sat. in Cozumel, Sun. day at sea). We cruised on the Carnival Inspiration, which was identical to the only other cruise ship we've been on, the Sensation. The weather was awesome all 4 days, very calm seas. Food was excellent and I loved our sweet waiter Torcado from India and our crazy maitre' d, "Super-Charged" Joseph who loved to put on dance parties at the end of dinner. So much time to relax and re-charge.
Can't wait for the next cruise!!

Current Loves

Brady LOVES hanging out on the dog bed in our bedroom. I really don't know what the attraction is, but if he disappears for a moment, he is almost always just sitting on the dog bed. Occasionally he also rolls around on it...again not, sure why. It's his favorite place in the house.




And Katelyn LOVES the Jonas Brothers, esp. Nick Jonas. Her favorite song is "Burnin' Up," and she's having a Jonas Bros. birthday party on Oct. 25th. Our friend Kelly got her these pj's as an early birthday gift and she couldn't wait to put them on!! They also brought her luck...she was wearing them when we stopped by a radio station (it was Pajama Day at school...I wasn't letting her just wear pj's out and about) and the receptionist noticed her pj's and gave her the Jonas Brother's Concert Experience on DVD. Let's just say that DVD has been playing pretty much non-stop since then!!

Who needs a playground when you can climb over and under the kitchen table chairs?? Brady loves to climb!!


Some funny comments/moments I don't want to forget:

Katelyn: In ballet, she calls 1st, 2nd, etc. positions "magicians." EX: "This is how you do 1st magician."
Katelyn calls her hamper, "hamburg." I crack up at this. "mom, I'll bring my hamburg into the laundry room."
The other day, after I mentioned something to her (can't remember what it was), Katelyn told me "you are downright confusing!" Where did she get that one????
Brady loves to dance to Miley Cyrus, "Party in the USA." He also LOVES having his hair brushed and if you say, "Brady, brush your hair..." he will pretend to brush his hair.
He has also discovered light switches and will point and beg to switch the lights on and off. When we arrive home, he likes to press the button of the garage door.

More pics

Bryan brought home a bag of goodies from an expo he attended through work...here Katelyn is sporting her safety sunglasses and holding her cow (now named "Kate") and her own cowbell. Yes, it's loud!!

Sunday morning, I decided to make pancakes for breakfast. B was SUPER fussy, suffering from an upper-respiratory infection, fever, and most likely beginning of ear infection. To keep him happy and near me in the kitchen (he didn't want to be separated from me), I tried the classic bowls and spoons and he LOVED playing with them. This occupied him while I cooked and ate! There's a reason moms have been pulling utensils out of their cabinets for decades!!

Just a snapshot of pandemonium. I'm laying on the floor, Brady comes up to kiss me and K is stroking my hair. I'm holding the camera and took this picture by accident.


This Thomas couch has been worth every cent!! We have gotten so much use out of it!! Now Brady has learned how to climb on it and sit like a big boy and feels so proud. At first, if K sat next to him, he screamed on the top of his lungs until she moved. He did not want to share it at all!

Brady playing with a mini-bottle of Southern Comfort. Good parenting!!


K was so, so proud of this craft made in Sunday school of a flower and seeds. She INSISTED on me taking this picture!


The love of baby Einstein continues.......

Go Browns!!! We celebrated the first home game with the local Browns Backers in Winter Park. Bryan came down with a stomach bug or a touch of food poisoning during the game and Brady would not sit in his high chair and was a royal pain and Katelyn hooked up with a little brat who kept trying to get her in trouble...okay, not such a great afternoon. We'll try again.

On the road to walking...

Brady is now pushing K on his car and she loves being carted around the house. She will lift her feet and hang them over the steering wheel, not helping him at all. He may be small, but he is a strong little guy!!

And the parade begins down the hallway.............

Tried to capture his blond curls, but you can't really see.

14 months old...not walking on his own YET, but he can run behind this toy! He goes the distance of our house and back. He is also standing unassisted for longer amounts of time, but hasn't taken a step. Come on Brady!!

Catching Up...Movin' and Shakin'

Band leader tunes the instruments...ready to play!


What is the Peanuts' character who plays the piano? Schrader? Brady reminds me of him!

Move over Partridge Family....the Burless sibs are cooking up a band of their own!! Katelyn organizes rehearsals and concerts at home with Brady. They switch off their instruments and trade the xylophone and piano back and forth. Sometimes there are lyrics, other time it's an instrumental...wish you could hear the lovely music! Joyful noise!