There's something in the air...

Meet Gertrude.



We found Gertrude in the 90% off bin at Michael's a few years ago. She cost a whopping $2.50! James had to take her home with us. He even buckeled her into the back seat for the ride home.



Then he started posing her in random places and taking pictures of her.



She's really become part of the family.



During the Halloween season, Gerturde sits on a chair on our front porch so she can greet all our visitors. Today, she and Poppy decided to spend some quality time together.



How sweet!

(Gertrude wants everyone to know that she loves visiting other people, so if you'd like her as a guest just let us know!)

So...October, is it?

When I bought our U2 tickets back in May, October seemed so far away. Now we're already half way through the month! Sheesh. I'm getting old if I'm constantly commenting on how fast time is going by! Wait, let me chase those pesky kids off my lawn. :P

So what's going on around here? School is good for all of us involved with a school. Madeline is loving her guitar lessons and her teacher says she is getting better every week. Isabella and I go over to the library for a "big kids" craft time while Madeline is at her lesson, and I'm consistently amazed at her "out of the box" creativity. She *definitely* gets that from James!

I've settled very nicely into the preschool year. I love my aide (she's a kindred spirit for sure!) and my kiddos are a fun challenge. It's definitely a different dynamic than last year, but I'm becoming a better teacher because of *this* class, and that's always a good thing. We're heading into the Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas AXIS OF EVIL (she said with tongue firmly in cheek) where the kids will be hopped up on sugar, consistently sleep deprived and totally out of any normal sort of routine. On the flipside, it *is* a very fun time of year, and I'm looking forward to it (for the most part).

James' VPP Program tenure in the Safety shop ended at the end of September, so he's now back to his regular Leaderman duties in the paint shop. While in the Safety Shop he rewrote and/or revamped over 200 procedure programs. He really impressed his supervisor and his supervisor's boss (i.e. the Colonel at the base in charge of the entire Maintenance Center) and I'm really, really proud of his hard work! He was also elected as Union Chaplain and as a Union Steward, which basically means he gets to say all the prayers at the Union meetings. I told him I thought it meant he should get his union dues reimbursed to him, but they didn't go for that idea!

All in all, things are pretty chill. It's almost my bedtime i.e. my favorite time of day! James just walked in the door from YM, so with that I'll say adios for the time being.

Last post dedicated to the awesomeness of U2, I promise

James and I are slowly coming off our high from this week's awesomeness. We both agree that it was the MOST FUN we've ever had together, including our honeymoon, so that's saying something.

With our run of luck this year I kept waiting for something to spoil our plans but really, things couldn't have been more perfect. Our hotel was lovely and confortable, MARTA got us where we needed to be when we needed to be there, the Cheesecake factory was yummy (Even though we had to walk 2 miles to get there- The MARTA train let us off on the right street, and we didn't realize how far away from the station the restaurant was or that a bus could have dropped us off practically in front of it! We made sure we road the bus *back* to the station!).

Of course, the best part of all was the concert. We got there about 6:30 for a 7:00 start, but Muse (the opening act) didn't go on until almost 7:30, and U2 didn't go on until 9:00. We had a fun time watching all the drunk people (including one lady in super high heels who had five beers before the show even started- we were sure she was going to go over the railing at some point when her "dancing" got a little out of control.)

U2 definitely needs to be seen live to be fully appreciated. Bono's voice sounded amazing, and the show itself was pretty incredible. You could see the band from all points in the arena (hence this being the 360 Degrees tour) and they had HUMONGOUS video screens so you didn't miss a thing. Technologically it is pretty dadgum impressive!

U2 played for a little over two hours, and the time just flew by. We didn't want it to end! The best part was the encore where they played With or Without You, and James put his arms around me and we danced together. *sniffs*

We ended up walking back to our hotel from the Georgia Dome (just a little over a mile). The night was just gorgeous the skyline was beautiful, and it was so much fun to be walking with probably 1000+ people up International Blvd to various hotels. All in all we had the time of our lives, and it's something we'll never forget.

*Happy Sigh*

Two One Day MARTA Passes: $17



Hotel and valet parking at Hyatt Regency Atlanta: $78






Dinner and two pieces of Cheesecake from the Cheescake Factory: $35



Listening to U2 play most favorite song EVER live with your most favorite person in the world's arms around you as you both sing along: PRICELESS

This.

This right here is why U2 is amazingly awesome.



This, too.



And then there's this.



This time tomorrow James and I will be with Bono and the boys in the ATL.

*SQUEE!!1!!!!!!11!1!!!!1!*

IT'S COMING!!! OUR TRIP TO ATLANTA TO SEE U2 LIVE AND IN PERSON IS ALMOST HERE!!!!11!!!1!! I DON'T THINK I CAN CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT MUCH LONGER!!!!!

(And if you try and rain on my parade, NANCY, by saying "The anticipation is greater than the realization" then I will set you up for a nursing home so fast the drool won't even have time to collect on your hairy chin!)

In other news, how good looking is Larry Mullen, Jr??


VERY good looking, I'd say. They years have been kind to my favorite drummer.