This is my very favorite photo from the festival this year! Check out the cool new banners on the stages in this and the other photos. This was my favorite banner - depicting Barton Springs, where we went nearly every day to cool off in the late afternoon. I think what was once our 'secret' place for weathering the festival's heat is out; this year there was a small line to get into the Springs! But once inside, it was no busier than it is any nice weekend summer day, and the cold water did the trick as usual to revive us for the evening.

Jamie and I - ready for day 1 of the festival. This year was much cooler than last and the lineup was terrific!

I'd liked the sound clips of Paolo Nutini on the ACL website so we decided to check it out. He was fantastic! Jamie claps along to the beat.

We met up with Senor Jefe later on day 1. It was great to hang out with him this year - we'd missed each other last year!

Awesome dreadlocks on the lead singer of the band Ghandaia!

The WaMu stage turned out to be one of our favorites this year! After leaving Ghandaia, Jamie and I ran into the actor Matthew MacConaughey. We gave him a big "Hey - how's it going?" and he stopped and chatted with us long enugh to rave about the next band playing on the stage we'd just left. Turns out he is producing the reggae band Mishka, who was quite good! If you look closely you can just make out Matthew jamming out to Mishka at the bottom left of this picture. The next day Kearson shook hands with Billy Bob Thornton in the beer line! It's always nice to see the celebs out supporting the city's events!

On Day 2, Kearson joined us. For anyone concerned with my being at the festival while pregnant, rest assured that between Jamie and Kearson I was kept well hydrated, fed, cooled, and was not allowed to carry anything but my purse and a bottle of water. I may just fake being pregnant next year - it was kinda nice! ;) This was also the first year that we brought chairs in with us. We just set them up in a shady spot and then left them while we wandered, returning whenever we needed to rest or have a place to sit and eat. On the first day, one of the chairs was missing when we returned for dinner. I was really surprised and kind of bummed, but they were inexpensive and I figure Karma will take care of whomever made off with it.

KT Tunstall was one of the acts I was most excited to see this year. A Scot, I think she was practically melting in the Texas heat. But she put on a good show anyway!

Jamie at our tree by the BMI stage. Doesn't she fit right in with her cowboy hat and denim skirt? Check out the nifty ACL key chain they were handing out hanging from her belt loop. The little guitar shape is a bottle opener!

Me making a fishy face to go along with my fabulously trucker-like Bass hat.

Jeff puts on a pirately expression in front of a fellow festival-goer's Jolly Roger flag.

The crowd checks out the Flaming Lips. I wish I'd been able to get closer - the stage show was insane with massive robots, dozens of Santa Clauses, fake blood, space ghost, confetti and all manner of other odd and wonderful characters and party favors.

Muse was the last band we saw on Sunday night. They had an amazing light show, but not to be outdone, Mother Nature concocted one of her own in the form of a thunderstorm. Jamie and I headed out just before the rain hit, but heard that they had to stop Tom Petty's performance about 1/2 way through due to the lightening.

Self portrait of Jamie and I on the last day. Ah, another ACL Festival over. Now, to find a baby sitter for next year!