Happy Memorial Day

Scenes from our Memorial Day Parade. Don't E and N look spiffy in their brand new white Drum Major uniforms? The new white jackets came in 2 weeks AFTER last season ended - so this was their first opportunity to wear them.

And oh, how I love the "featherhawks"!

Holidays with Friends

I hate to tell you how long it's been since I've been to an "all grown ups" party. It may have been back BK (before kids) and then, I don't think we were really grown ups! (I don't count work parties!) We had a blast at a party for band volunteers last night! The K's hosted, and their home was beautiful for the holidays. We visited and laughed and ate. I could go for more "grown up" parties like this one!

Merry Tuba Christmas

My sister is a star....

This morning she and Phil (I don't know Phil - but he's a fellow tubist) were on WHMI promoting an event that is taking place in Howell this weekend. My sister is an avid tubist, and a member of the Michigan 5th, a Civil War re-enactment band.

Here's the link to listen to their bit this morning:

http://whmi.com/files/mp3soundfiles/MerryTubaXmas121708.mp3

And I lifted the photo from their site of Jen and Phil in the studio!

Here's the promo bit from their website:

MERRY TUBA CHRISTMAS

Howell's 3rd annual "Merry Tuba Christmas" is coming up this Saturday at 1:30pm in the downtown amphitheater. Approximately 100 tubists from across the region will join together to carol passersby with holiday tunes "tuba-style". Phil Bertolini and Jennie Ross will be two of them and they joined us in the studio on Wednesday. Click Here to hear the Merry Tuba duet!

Feels like this month has been all about E!

Perhaps it's because A's transition to 7th grade has been easy and smooth, or because she opted not to audition for a show this fall, but this month all events in this household seem to revolve around A's sister E. Although, A was asked to sing a solo at the October Choir concert - so that's pretty exciting!!

Fall is always crazy around here because of Marching Band and JV Dance. It means we're going, going, going pretty much every week/weekend! It's also meant that when I'm home and at the computer - I'm usually trying to get something productive done - and thus, the blog has been a bit neglected!

And, although I've taken probably more photos this month than any other - I don't have most of them, because I acted as the assistant photographer at our Invitational, and I took them all on Lance's camera! But I'll send you some links!

Here are some links to some great shots of E taken by either me or Lance:

At the Game on 9/19:
E in an amazing toe touch during the JV Dance performance at pre-game!
http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/slideshow.jsp?auto=0&aid=768a5498cf3c441c8079&idx=26

E with Jake Jabootie - the dance team spirit monkey:
http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/slideshow.jsp?auto=0&aid=768a5498cf3c441c8079&idx=37

A is silly in the stands:
http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/slideshow.jsp?auto=0&aid=768a5498cf3c441c8079&idx=4

E conducts in her dance team uniform:
http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/slideshow.jsp?auto=0&aid=768a5498cf3c441c8079&idx=15
http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/slideshow.jsp?auto=0&aid=768a5498cf3c441c8079&idx=52

At Invitational...
E conducts the band:
http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/slideshow.jsp?auto=0&aid=768a5498cf3c63115faa&idx=84
http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/slideshow.jsp?auto=0&aid=768a5498cf3c63115faa&idx=86

E salutes:
http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/slideshow.jsp?auto=0&aid=768a5498cf3c63115faa&idx=89

E and N lead the band in review after their performance. N's plume fell off as he and Em switched places during the show - too difficult to reattach in the no time that they had!
http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/slideshow.jsp?auto=0&aid=768a5498cf3c63115faa&idx=197

Football Season Begins!

School hasn't started yet... but that doesn't mean we don't have football!

I spent the whole game working concessions - so I'm glad Lance snapped this pic that I can share with you!

Band Camp

How to sum up Band Camp? Well, for E, I'm sure it could be summed up in the sore limbs, sunburn, and cameraderie of her friends. For J, it meant eating hotdogs nearly every night, because I was up serving dinner to the band. For A, it was the week the braces went on - so she spent a lot of time with popsicles and the tv! For me, it was early mornings to fix breakfast, and evenings serving dinner to the band! It was a lot of fun - I did a lot more to help out this year than last year. We have a great group of boosters that were a lot of fun to spend time with and get to know better.

E and her partner Drum Major N, are splitting the show this year - marching half the show, and conducting half the show. The week of band camp was spent learning some intricate drill for the 1st half of the show - so E never made it up onto the podium during camp. She did have special conducting classes, and did spend time at sectionals conducting the different sections on her 2 peices. She also enjoyed playing her mellophone. She says that N is the "super drum major" and that now that she is starting to conduct her peices, she has big shoes to fill!

Here's some pics:

E on her mello during the camp final performance.

E with her mello.

The mellos reflected.

N conducts the camp show.

With friends like these....

...who needs enemies? LOL

We went out for ice cream with N and his family - his mom was at work earlier today, and so we went out for a celebratory cone.... while we were gone, our houses were ATTACKED!
All in good fun, and we let the kids clean up....

I don't have a good shot of what we saw as we drove up the street - but we had been forewarned, because N's family beat us home... but here is what we discovered when we reached the front door!

And our front porch...

and the big tree out front....

Oops - they left the bag behind!

Even lil' sis got into the act helping clean up (cuz mom and dad weren't!)

And, when they were almost done... the culprits turned themselves in.... a giggling, giddy bunch!

Lots to report from this weekend.... but here's another "proud mama" moment!

Pictured are Mr. Garvey, the Band Director, and the two new DRUM MAJORS!! E and her buddy N!!! We are SOOOOOOOO proud of both of them. The field of candidates was very strong, and E is so honored to have been selected.

Sorry that they are already out of uniform... but marching in the parade today in wool uniforms was HOT!!!

edit

As it turns out - because E & N play the same instrument - they marched side by side today and I DO have a pic of them in uniform.... looking all stern and drum major-like.