Thankful!

What am I thankful for?

I don't want to undermine the important things like my husband and family, my home, food, God and all the things that we always come up with right off the bat.  But this year, I have something different to be thankful for.

Yes, I love my job as a mom, but that's not what I'm talking about this time.

I am thankful for my new job!

Getting a job wasn't something that I necessarily wanted to do.  It was one of those things that Jon suggested I do.  With Luke in school all day, I understood, but still didn't really want to.  I wanted to still be able to be a mom.  Go to Luke's class parties, be able to help out in his class and go eat lunch with him periodically.  I wanted to be at home and make yummy meals and fun treats.  I didn't want to be gone all day everyday.

The Lord knew what I needed!

He has provided me with a job where I only work two days a week and I only work during the hours that the kids are in school.  If the kids are out of school for any reason, then I am off too!  Not only that, but he put me in a room full of precious little toddlers!  I get to play with, snuggle and love on little ones and then send them home!  (I imagine that's what being a grandma will be like someday!)  This job couldn't be more perfect!

I am thankful for my job and that the Lord knows exactly what He's doing!

Marching Band Banquet

I know, I know... So much band stuff.  Well, this is the end.  (For marching band, anyway.)  This past weekend was the marching band banquet.  The kids look forward to this fun night every year.  It is a chance to look back at the whole season, receive awards and tell funny stories about their fellow section-mates.  It really is a fun night!

I LOVE these mini versions of the big props that were used during the show!

The table decorations at the banquet were great!!

Ben finally received his band letter!

Every year the section leaders pass out silly awards to their section members.  Ben's was a slightly embarrassing story.  I will spare him the embarrassment here.  :)

This is most of the trombone section.  A great group of kids!!  Ben is really going to miss those seniors next year!

The friendships made in band are priceless!  Ben has made some amazing friends!

Not only friends, but the memories and lessons he has learned in the past 3 1/2 months are ones that he will carry with him for the rest of his life!

It was an exciting, hard, sometimes disappointing, yet, fun marching season.  Now we all enjoy a little break from the chaotic schedule and look forward to next year!

Ben's All-District and All-State Audtions

Ben doesn't shy away from a challenge.  He is a great trombone player and is always looking forward to the next performance or audition.  He works really hard and practices a lot!  

Unfortunately, All-District auditions and All-State auditions came the very first weekend after marching band ended.  Whoever came up with that idea was, clearly, not thinking about all that these kids have had going on all fall!  Still, Ben practiced as much as he could.

With weekly lessons and practice at home, Ben felt somewhat confident and hoped for the best.

Let me just say, I don't enjoy audition days.  It is purely selfish.  I hate waiting all day for the kids to find out how they did or if they made it into a band or on to the next round of auditions.  Completely nerve-racking!  A lot of praying goes on all day long!!  Ben claims it doesn't bother him.  I don't know how he does it!

After several hours of waiting Ben found out that he made it to the next round of auditions!  YAY!  (There are two rounds on this particular day.)

I am thrilled to say that, after several more hours of waiting, Ben made first chair in the NBDA Concert Band!  He also found out that he was invited to participate in the next round of All-State auditions four weeks later.

I cannot even express how proud I am of this boy!  I can't wait to see how the next round goes!

OBA State Contest

OBA is huge!  It is the last contest of the season and puts you up against all of the bands in the state.  We were having a great marching season, so we were all very excited about how things would go this year! 

(I keep trying to add a video of the marching show, but it won't seem to work.  I will try again later.)

 Ben and his "senior" from last year.

Sadly (very sadly!!), things did not go at all like we all thought they would.  The Bruin Brigade did not make it to finals.  I have no idea where they ended up, but it was devastating!  The kids and parents, alike, were all in shock!  We all really thought we had a great show and a great shot at finals.  Apparently, it just wasn't meant to be.  Sad!  These kids worked their tails off all season, so it was hard to see them so deflated.

I guess there's always next year...

Pure Beauty!

I love the colors of fall!!

Halloween ~ 2014 Style!

Jedi's and Wonder Woman...oh my!  

Halloween was slightly different this year.  Ben had marching band rehearsal and wasn't able to dress up.  He was disappointed, especially since he and Luke were planning to dress alike.  Oh well...what can you do?

Luke couldn't wait to try on his costume as soon as it arrived! (Grammy made it and I brought it home from St. Louis!)  Ben tried his on too so they could compare!

 And have a light sabre battle!  I love my Star Wars loving boys!

That has to be the cutest little Jedi I have ever seen!

He was more than happy to let me take pictures of him in all kinds of fun poses!

And...my favorite superhero girl!  Wonder Woman!!  How cute is she?!

I was super excited to make a tutu for Abby! I told her I would be happy to make her Halloween costume as long as it included a tutu!  :)

I

I got to take these cuties out trick-or-treating!

Even though the marching band had rehearsal, some band parents came up with the brilliant idea to plan a trunk-or-treat event as a surprise at the end of rehearsal.  It was so much fun!!  The kids were surprised and the parents had fun putting it together for this hard working group of kids!

Even though the kids weren't allowed to dress up, Ben and his friend, Ben, dressed up as twins.  Do you see the resemblance?

I love Halloween!  Such a fun, fun night!