Ben ~ University of Arkansas Band Camp

Ben knew last summer that he had to go to band camp this year.  A few of his friends went last summer and he felt like he had missed out.  He was determined to get to go.  As much as he loves  music, I was determined for him to go too.

You know the story by now.

After hearing all of Abby's stories about her week at camp, Ben was even that much more excited about his week!

I was excited for Ben that his friend, Sam (from Hutchinson), was able to go to band camp as well.

It made me happy to see these two long time friends playing together for the first time ever!  It brought tears to my eyes.  I couldn't be happier that Ben and Sam have maintained their friendship over the last five years since we moved.  The fact that they have both gone the band route is simply the icing on the cake!

We finally made it to Fayetteville and all Ben wanted was to get his audition over with.  He had only had his music for about three weeks, and it was super hard.  He just wanted to get it done.

After the audition, I asked Ben how he did.  As usual, he said that he could have done better.  He is so hard on himself.  He expects perfection.  Is that a good or a bad thing???

Now the waiting began.  He wouldn't find out for several hours which band he made it into.

We decided to wait for the rest of the Bartlesville kiddos to finish their auditions so that I could drive them to lunch. 

Of course, on the way to lunch we had to stop for a photo op!

I loved that I was able to go to lunch with these amazing kids!  (As well as Jaden's mom and brothers.)  They are a few amazing musicians!

Ben and his roommate, Nathan.

And, of course, Ben and Sam.  (Who also got to be roommates)

It was finally time for me to leave, but it was good to know that these kids were in good hands and knowing that they were going to have an amazing week that they would remember for the rest of their lives!

Shortly after I got home, I received word of which band Ben made.  FIRST chair in the SECOND (out of five)  band!!  YAY!!!  I knew that audition couldn't have been as bad as he thought!

Fast forward five days, and it was time to go back to pick Ben up from camp.  I couldn't wait to see my boy and hear all about his week.

 This is what happened during lunch with Ben and Sam.  Ben stole my iPod and took a few pictures...

I love those boys!

Finally time to listen to the fruits of their labor.  (:  Sam was up first.  (He made it into the fourth band.)

 It is truly amazing that these kids came together only five days ago!  They sounded amazing!

 FIST CHAIR!!

 During the concert there was a presentation where captains were chosen for next summer.  Captains are chosen for their leadership qualities and receive a partial scholarship to come back next year.

Ben was chosen as a captain!!

To say that I am proud might be a slight understatement.

Such a great group of kids!!

 

This picture makes me so happy!  I know I say this all the time, but I am so proud of the fact that five years later, these boys are still such great friends.  I love that they are both in band and that they love it so much.  I love that they have the band bond.

After Ben's band was finished performing and was packing up to leave, the director caught Ben.  He told Ben that he was a great musician, that he had a bright future ahead of him.  He, then, offered for Ben to come back in the fall, sit in the stands and play along with the University of Arkansas marching band at a football game.  Seriously?!?!?!  WOW!!  That is something that we are definitely going to have to make happen!!  What an honor!!

Ben's week at band camp was fantastic.  He learned a lot and made memories that will last forever.  He is already looking forward to going back next year!

Abby ~ University of Arkansas Summer Band Camp

As soon as Abby heard about summer band camp for the first time, she wanted to go.  I was happy that she wanted to go, but concerned as to how it would be able to happen financially.  Once it was official that she could go (You can read about that here. It's a great story!), we were both very excited!

The time finally came!  Off to Arkansas!

We arrived at camp, got Abby checked in and got her all settled in her room.

She was happy to discover that her roommate was someone that she already knew from her school.  (Although, she later told me that she kind of hoped that she would room with someone that she didn't know so it would force her to meet someone new.)

Prior to camp, Abby worked very hard on her etudes and scales in preparation for her band camp audition.  We wanted her to get her audition done and over with so that she could get it off her shoulders.  

   She sounded great, but was very nervous! She spent a lot of time warming up and practicing.

Finally...the audition was done.

Then...the waiting game began.

Ugh!!  The waiting is the worst!  She had to wait until after dinner that night to find out which band she would be placed in.  There were 10 bands.  The first band is the best and goes down to 10.  And we waited...

It felt so weird to leave Abby at camp and head home, but we knew she was in good hands and was going to have an amazing week doing what she loves!

We finally got a text from Abby saying that she made 1st chair in the 5th band.  I couldn't be more proud of my baby girl!!  This was her first time at band camp and to make it into one of the top five bands was awesome!   Abby was slightly disappointed, but she was ready to make the best of it and have a great week.

Throughout the week, while Abby was gone, it was so fun for me to open Facebook and see that I had a message from my girl!  I loved, so much, that even though she was at camp playing music, having fun and making new friends, that she actually took the time to communicate with me!  I could tell from her messages that she was having the time of her life!  It made me happy!

I couldn't wait for Friday, when we would go back to Fayetteville, pick up Abby.  I couldn't wait to hear all about her week and attend her concert.  I was so looking forward to hearing her band perform what they had learned during the week.

I have to say, I wasn't prepared for the way Abby looked when we showed up at her dorm room on Friday morning.  I knew she would be dressed nice, but I fully intended to see her hair up in its normal bun.  Abby hasn't quite grasped the flat iron or curling iron, so I tend to do her hair for her when it's not up. She told me that she would just put it in a bun for the concert, so that was what I expected when I saw her.  

That was not what I saw!

What I saw was my gorgeous girl in her pretty dress with her hair CURLED!  She looked absolutely amazing!  I, actually, had tears in my eyes!  I know she had only been away for five days, but it looked like she grew up while she was gone!  Oh boy...

I wish I had a picture of what Abby looked like.  Unfortunately, the camera was dead.  ):

(There is a group picture below.)

We had some time and it was too early for lunch, so we drove around Fayetteville a little bit.  We stumbled upon the Fayetteville National Cemetery.  Neither Jon nor I had ever been to or seen a national cemetery, so we wanted to check it out.

 It was breathtaking.  It was so neat to drive around and look at the dates on the headstones and think about what these men and women had been through for our country.

 We finally made it to lunch!  You just can't go wrong with Chick-Fil-A!!

 Look at my girl!!!  She is gorgeous!!!

 Concert time!

 That's my girl!  1st CHAIR!!

  It is so hard to believe that these kids came together less than a week ago and were able to master four songs for a concert.  Totally impressed!

I know Abby was tired from a long, busy week at camp.  I'm not sure why Luke was so tired.  That's ok.  Jon, Ben and I were able to enjoy the rest of the concert in peace. (If you know what I mean...)

Band camp was a great experience for Abby!  My, normally, fairly quiet child that doesn't say a whole lot was full of stories about her week when we picked her up.  I think she talked for two hours, nonstop!  That's how I know she had a great time!  That, and the fact that she is already looking forward to going back next year!