Dispatch...in Vancouver, BC

When Jeff found out that Dispatch was touring featuring their new album, America No. 12, we jumped at the chance to get tickets.  Seattle sold out in minutes, Portland had tickets (but the show was on a Tuesday night), but Vancouver BC (their first concert of their tour) had tickets and Jeff and I concocted a plan to get there.  Our sweet parents tag-teamed on watching our kids and Julie offered to help us reserve a time-share condo--and WHA-LAH! we had a weekend of fun, just the two of us.

We dropped off kids Saturday morning at S & C's, then proceeded to take the day to get to Vancouver.  We stopped at dinnertime in Bellingham to peruse a bookstore, see a tree-lighting, and consume some tasty pizza and beverage, then we got to the condo late that night.  Here's the view from our condo window that we saw the next morning!

Jeff took a run Sunday morning, then we trekked around the downtown area--consumed an amazing brunch--and I finally talked Jeff into sitting in front of our TV in our condo for a couple of hours (which is quite the feat, as he likes to experience EVERYTHING in a city)--before we went out again in search of dinner and the concert.  I walked SIX MILES my sassy boots, people, and let me tell you, I was feeling it the next day!!!

And then, THE CONCERT.  It was A.MAZING.  We ended up getting there early--whaaa??--and were near the front of the line when the doors opened.  Open seating + front of line = FRONT ROW SEATS!!!  I wasn't sure I was made of front-row concert material, but Jeff assured me that I would be just fine--and I was!  It was so amazing to see music created right before our eyes.  They played their entire new album, straight through, for the first half of their concert (we couldn't be happier!) and then they played their classics--like The General and Flying Horses--after intermission.  It was SO GREAT.

The kids love their new album, too, so they asked us to record their favorites.  I couldn't remember exactly which ones were requested, hence the SLEW of videos...

Jeff got one of the band's playlists that were taped to the floor--yay front row seats!--and had it signed by one of the main guys after the concert.  It was such a fun night!

On the way home, we took a picture for a couple inside this lit Christmas sphere, and they offered to take our picture, too.  Kissy pictures aren't usually in our repertoire, but when they insisted, we obliged.  I think we actually look good in this pose--why do our kids groan whenever we kiss?!?

 We took pictures of the condo for our kids to see...

Monday was the big trek home.  No fun stops, just highway miles under our tires.  I got another good pic of Jeff sleeping for my collection: