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!