The Eternal Band Concert: Megan's Year

At long last...its Megan's year. To be seen, heard and celebrated. 

If only she had known she was actually going to KU when the office asked where she was going to college.  Whoopsie!

It's a pasta bar...and it's not half bad!

That singular moment where they get to say out loud that they have BIG plans. BIG.

Laney in concert band! 

And the very last time we will ever see Megan on stage rocking the percussion. It's been so fun to watch her love her time in band and make such strong friendships. 

Not we settle in with our drawing pads and contraband snacks...it's gonna be long night.

 

Band and the Brick Wall

 I've said before and I'll say it again. 

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas with out concerts. 

Megan and Laney both performed tonight. 

Concert Band:

Wind Ensemble:

And we couldn't miss the opportunity to get another iconic picture by the brick wall. 

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!

The end is near

Megan has loved marching band. 

And the season is coming to an end. Its bittersweet...mostly bitter.  I think she'd be happy to participate in a front ensemble of some type for the rest of her life. 

Tonight was her Lights Out show....they play the entire piece in the dark, from memory!

Check it out...I spy a cute clarinetist in the stands!

My days of crying at football games aren't over!

Pack it up

 Is it even October if you aren't rushing home from camping to make it to a marching band festival?

Old Settlrs

 You know we've been to Old Settler's before. Many times. 

But we've never really BEEN to Old Settler's. Not really. We had no idea what we were missing by showing up just for the parade. 

This year we went to the Falcon Regiment's  preview performance on Thursday night. 

Did you know that Thursday night is the perfect time to go to the fair? Nobody is there and the lines are super small. We also learned that the Sikhs give away a free yummy dinner. Curry and rice!

I introduced the kids to the lovely neon glow of the carnival.

Merry Go Round for Ethan and Everly!

And the Tilt a Whirl for Anna and Laney....look at that! She's tall enough!

Was one night of carnival fun enough for us??

Oh no! 

We went back for more on Friday night!

I haven't been down for riding any spinny rides since that fateful day in 1993, "Zero Gravity" at Payson Onion Days taught me what happens to your stomach once your inner ear grows in. El Barfo.

Megan took Anna. She's an adrenaline junkie!

We settled in on the curb with a big fluff of cotton candy

Saturday morning we left bright and early to get awesome seats for the parade. We found the best 2 dollar breakfast burritos at the Cub Scout booth. Yum!

Falcon Regiment! 

And the best one of all! Megan on cymbals!

And just for good measure.... another plate of curry from our friends, the Sikhs and one more ride on the Tilt a Whirl. 

The person on the outside gets smashed!

Megan and her band buddies heading back to the school after the parade. I can't get enough of those cute kids and their braces. 

Old Settler's! Who knew?

Sneak Peek

It's Megan's Senior year. She means business. 

She is determined to make this percussion section the best they can be. 

She's geared up and ready to make it happen. 

 Senior Megan!

Megan in the spotlight

Megan's senior year is quickly coming to an end. We are enjoying her successes and attending all of her assemblies and ceremonies. 

One of the last band concerts:

Her art displayed at the Education Center:

Getting recognized for her awesome grades and consistent hard work:

Documenting one of her go-to expressions: 

 I am proud of this girl!

Florida Bound

Megan is off to Florida with the Falcon Regiment. 

This is the stuff you look forward to, the stuff that makes the other stuff worth it. 

And someday, if you're very very lucky....I might tell you the very very questionable, possibly morally wrong thing I did to make sure she was able to go on this trip. It will never be written and I will deny it fervently in a court of law...but I'd do it again and it's pretty freaking awesome.

The Unstoppable Band Teacher

 Covid has effectively stopped it all. 

But this middle school teacher WILL FIND A WAY.

The weather suddenly gifted us one of those fabulous warm days in November, so that man planned the fastest CST Pops concert in history. 

He set it up like a Drive-Up Movie. 

The kids seats were up on the hill next to the parking lot and we all pulled up and listened from our cars.

You can't make this stuff up.

In truth, it was pretty fun! My hat's off to Mr. Evans and his unstoppable drive to not let Covid stop the middle school band. Laney was part of the one and only Drive-Up Pops Concert!

The shortest marching season & Mathew's Senior Moment

I feel bad for ever complaining about the many rehearsals and festivals involved with the Falcon Regiment's regular marching season. The kids love it. And they feel like they are part of this awesome program. 

This year we are really missing it. Their season was pared down to just a handful of outdoor, socially distanced rehearsals. 

And the season was completely cancelled. 

No festivals. No competitions. No field show. 

So what they were left with was two home football games. They were arranged 6 feet apart on the track. It wasn't what it was...but it was something!

Mathew on the bass drum!

Megan on marimba!

During halftime, they were able to go out on to the field and perform the songs they chose from Queen. It wasn't what we're used to, but it's something!

And because it's Mathew's last season, they recognized him and the other senior with a photo on the big scoreboard. If he had had the opportunity, he would have stood and said that he is graduating early in December and then doing his first semester of college in April. (At least I think that's what he would have said...the kids always seem to surprise me). 

Look how old he's looking! 

 

Head Shot

Mathew is a senior!

It's a monumental thing...and it's been totally hijacked by this insane year. So many of the rituals and traditions that he would experience in his final year simply won't occur.

Prom?

Probably not.

Senior sluff day?

How do you sluff from your living room?

His final year of marching band would have included the big final concert and the opportunity to stand and announce his post-graduation plans. There won't be a final concert and there really isn't much of a marching season. But this Saturday there is a football game and the seniors will have their photo put up on the giant screen and they'll let him step forward and Mark and I will be able to stand up in the stands.

It's not what it was....but it's something!

I guess that might as well be our 2020 motto: "It's not what it was, but it's something!"

And anyway...pretty great to have his cute mug on the jumbotron!