An Amazing Day of Firsts

Last autumn, I saw on FB that U2 had added another stop to their 360 tour. This stop just happened to be in Pittsburgh, the area that I grew up in....where most of my family still lives. This is where my sister lives and she is the biggest U2 fan I know. I have never been to a concert. ever. But I thought "We should do this". I sent her an email and apparently she saw it on FB too and had already been thinking this was an opportunity she did not want to pass up. When our wonderful mother found this out, she decided to get the tickets as our Christmas presents from her!

The tickets went on sale, my mom grabbed up a pair and we were set! Now all we had to do was continue living life as before .......and wait about 7 months for the actual show date. Easier said than done, but luckily we both lead pretty busy lives and it was nice to know we had this to look forward to.

We planned our summer trip to PA around this concert. Things fell into place beautifully. Both my nephew and my son have birthdays around the same time....same time as the concert, too. So on our visit we enjoyed birthday parties, a day at Kennywood and this amazing concert!

On the day of the concert, I had to get my kids where they needed to go. Two of them stayed with my brother, his wife and their kids.....sleepover! And my teen and my son stayed with my mom and my sister's family. I am still so thankful to all of them for pulling together and helping us out. This would have been impossible without them.

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Once the kids were all settled, we were on our way. My sister drove. She's brave like that. We went down in the afternoon, to get good parking. The day was gorgeous! Absolutely perfect! No rain, low humidity and still warm temps. Amazing!

Parking was practically magical. We got into the lot we wanted....the one that would be easiest to get out of. We were second in line for when the lot opened!

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Once parked we headed towards the stadium. I, playing the role of tourist, took many photos. It was so beautiful! We checked out the stadium then headed to the casino. My first time ever in a casino! How cool is that?! Grownup playground! Under 18 not admitted. I tried to get carded but it didn't work. :/

We walked around, checked out the machines, played penny slots and decided where to eat dinner. We also signed me up for a casino card. They just happened to be running a promo, so I got 15 bucks to play around with on the slots! Fun! My sister and I talked, laughed, enjoyed games and free drinks (non alcoholic, of course) and then enjoyed a great light dinner at one of the casino's restaurants. It was a "grown up" blast! I even left with 11 dollars! Woo hoo! (yeah, I don't get out much)

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We then headed back to the car to drop a few things off. We arrived at the stadium and found our seats. Of course I took more photos. We were still plenty early so we went to shop a little. We got mini buttons and key chains! Very cool! Neither one of us wanted to fork out 3o bucks for a T-shirt we will probably never wear, but I proudly show off my key chain every chance I get!

My sister-in-law had tickets for this concert, too. She was coming with a couple of friends. We waited for them on the rotunda, where I took even more pics! (And we munched licorice.) The view of the city and the river was amazing. And it was kinda cool watching all the traffic and crowds we were NOT in. Then we spotted my sis-in-law. They came up and after introductions and hugs, a kind couple took our photo. So nice of them....surprising considering they were from Cleveland. ;)

We had to go our separate ways since our seats were not together. It was nice seeing/meeting them and it was another thing that worked out well! My sis and I found our seats and waited. The concert start time was 7 but U2 didn't come on until 9.

Then it was time......they were about to emerge.

From where?

Right. Near. Us. Awesome! They began the show as the crowds roared! It was a fantastic show! Amazing! I've never been to a concert before, but I just can't see how any other concert could compare to this. Bono brought up a couple to slow dance during With or Without You. And he brought up a young boy during another song. They let the audience sing the first verse of Still Haven't Found What I'm Lookin For and it gave me chills. 60 plus thousand people were there. I would do it all again. Actually I would LOVE to do it again! The whole day was amazing.

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We left a tad bit early to try to beat the traffic. We got to listen to the last song as we walked to the car. We got out of the parking lot just in time, before the crowds got too crazy.

And another first on our way home..........

We both saw a shooting star! It was a fabulous day. Just fabulous!

That night, I snuggled next to my little boy and drifted off to sleep with dreams of my sister and I and our BEAUTIFUL DAY!

TTFN

Have a great day, everyone! Make it special!

~Tina.

The Highlight of My Summer

This summer has really been amazing. So many wonderful experiences and memories being made. We are truly having a good time. Partly because I am making a conscious effort to not waste away the days. But despite all the fun we are having here, the highlight so far for me was definitely the trip to PA to see family and enjoy summer with them. John wasn't able to come with us, so it wasn't perfect, but it was awesome, none the less.

(This post is going to be out of order from what we did on the trip, but that's just the way blogger works. I never remember to load my pictures last event first, so it is what it is.)

KENNYWOOD! My mom, my brother and his family joined me and the girls for a day of fun and fast rides, superdelicious food, and games. We woke up to rain on this day, but we went for it anyway. We didn't have much choice, given our busy (yet superfun!) schedule while on this trip. Glad we did!
Tattoo for Taylor ....oh yeah, she wishes it was real.

Alexa was painted into a beautiful butterfly.Evan.....thrilled to death that he won this penguin (aka Pengwee)

THE RACER

We rode the Racer. For Evan and Alexa, it was their first coaster EVER!

Both gave this one a major

thumbs down.

I have never seen Evan so petrified. The look of sheer panic on his face was unmistakable.

He wanted to ride it, honest he did.

I didn't sugar coat it. I told him up front that it went fast,

but that it was one of the milder coasters in the park.

I even showed him POV youtube videos of it.

Still, it was a big "never again" for him. I felt bad for him and tried to help him get through it.

I covered his eyes and kept talking to him, trying to comfort him.

He didn't actually cry....just looked extremely freaked out.

After it was over he said....

"That was a dumb ride! Why'd you take me on such a dumb ride?!

I hated that dumb ride!"

Yes, his fear went to displaced anger immediately after exiting the coaster.

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LOG JAMMER

Evan and Alexa rode this for the first time, too.

Alexa...thumbs up!

Evan.....thumbs down!

(I think this boy likes to go fast, he just wants to be the one in control)

Skylar's beautiful facepaint! "Starry Sky"....haha...get it?

PIRATE PARROT.....a legend around here.

THE PITTSBURGH PLUNGE

We didn't actually ride it, but you get wet just as a spectator.SHOWTIME

There was an empty stage just beggin for a show, so the kids thought they'd pitch in and help out a bit.

POTATO PATCH FRIES

yuuuuuummmmyy

Brayden and Evan

Cousins hanging out in KIDDIE LAND.

I think the rides in this part of the park get a thumbs up from both of these little dudes.

Evan and I lookin' "so cool" in our 3D glasses.

We were on the Garfield ride.

It was a fun day. We love this place. So many memories of being here as a kid and a teen with friends and even with John when we were dating.

I am feeling my age, though. I could not take the fast rides like I used to. I felt like I had to recover each time I got off of one.

But it's still all good.

My teen and preteen girls were off on their own doing the daring rides.

It's their turn to be the wild ones.

They can have it. More power to them. :)

This trip also had some fun in the "down times". Like pillow fights with Pap Pap and icecream, hugs and chats with Nanny.

Dinners out with family at Kings and Eat-n-Park

(two of my favorite restaurants)

We celebrated my nephews 3rd birthday while up there.

He's so cute!

The kids practiced their aquatic skills and cooled off in their pool. I didn't go in.

I refrain from putting on a bathing suit whenever humanly possible. I like the water, I just don't have a flattering bathing suit right now, so I decided to spare everyone.

Evan's 5th Birthday was celebrated at Kings Restaurant. Pretty much the whole family was there.

Special days are so much more fun to celebrate when you are with the people you love.

Grandma got Evan a Phineas and Ferb cake!

He was thrilled!

My big 5 year old boy!

I have lived away from my family for many years now. We look forward to the trips home, enjoy them while we are there, then we are sad to leave.

But once we get back here, back into our groove, we adjust and I get over my homesick feeling rather quickly.

This time, well, it was different. I don't know why.

It could be that we had such and amazing time...

but we've had great times before.

It could be that we didn't stay long enough for me to miss this place.

Or it could be that I am getting older and realizing how short life is and how invaluable times like these are.

It's been a week now, since we returned here. The homesickness is just beginning to subside. And I am so thankful for technology that keeps us in each others lives.

(BTW....my sister and I had a fantastic day together when I was in PA. I hope to write a whole separate post about it. It needs it's own post. It was a beautiful day!)

Well, I hope your summer is filled to the brim with beautiful days.

Take it all in! Enjoy it!

Make it special!

TTFN

~Tina