Memorial Day 2025

Our Memorial Day usually only entails grabbing the camping chairs and trekking the couple of blocks to the parade, but this year both Alice and Emily marched, but in two different parades!

The 8th graders in Potterville were invited to march with the band in their parade, so Emily and I were up and out the door for a 930 roll call.

Alice wasn't quite ready for her parade when we left, and I don't know where on earth we put her music binder. = (  So it was a tough morning.  I left her band polo and shorts out for her and sent a screenshot of the band director's email* to her and Billy. Billy ran up to Sarah's to get a flautist's music binder, but when I saw Alice in the parade, she was the *only* one out of uniform. = ( 

I am glad that Emily's parade was over and done with in enough time for the two of us to make it back to see Alice's parade here in the village!

One of the candies from the parade was a Bazooka gum! I haven't seen one of these in years, and they were old when I was young!!!

Since Alice has voluntarily ended her Band tenure, this was the beginning and end of an era.  If you haven't picked up on it so far, I'm a little sad about that. = (

So next year, it will just be Emily, but then the number should increase from there, since the twins start their musical journey this fall!

Happy Memorial Day everyone!  Thankful to those who served and didn't return, as well as those who did!

later days

*things were a little different this year, because the Holt parade was cancelled.  I joked with Alice, asking her if I were expecting members of the American Legion at her Cold War birthday party, because she bribed them with an invite if they cancelled the parade.

edit 6-8-25: backdated for continuity.

Alice Spring Band Concert

The night following her awards night, Alice played her spring concert.  Sadly, it was her final concert, as she will no longer be a part of the band. = (

After the concert, Alice and Grace were the only two who stayed for the awards.  Grace had time to decorate the table with her candy.

She did win an award because her band earned a I in the equivalent of UIL rankings.

Night two of her wardrobe standing out.  She sported a very "vintage" smocked dress.  At least she didn't have duct taped shoes.

I'm super sad that Alice will not be in band next year, but she is not, and has grand plans!  Emily will be in band, so at least it's not an absence for yours truly.

A smile at the end of a long night was a win, and next year Alice will do other great things, even when not in band.

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edit 6-6-25: backdated for continuity.

Talent Show and Emily's last Middle School Band Concert

Last Tuesday, we had a double header evening.  Grace and Juliet had their second, and final, talent show.  Kennedy came home with us for a quick sandwich dinner, then we headed up to the high school.

When we arrived, I asked them to check to see if the doors were open, but not disappear into the school while I parked.   This was my view as I approached. goofballs.

The rehearsal was closed, but I got a good seat when they opened the doors.  Grace was one of the Emcees!

I took some video of her, Juliet, Kennedy, and Heleena's comedy act, but didn't snap any stills!  It was short and cute though.

**********

While I was enjoying the twins' show, Billy came home from work, then headed back out the door to get Emily and William to their band concert roll call time.  Once the twins finished, we drove straight over from the high school.

Poor William didn't get to play, thanks to his tooth extraction, but he still got to sit with his band.

I couldn't see him while the band was there, so had to take one as they filed in.

Emily's 7/8 grade band is tiny in comparison to the 6th grade band, which is good news for the band, but sad for the high schoolers.  And Emily is also changing back to our home district, so she is contributing to their dwindling numbers. = (

The saxophone section is healthy though, with four of them, which makes them about a fifth of the entire band!  They played quite nicely though, especially Emily, of course!

I was so happy that Alice got to hang out with her friend Melony during the reception!

The twins were also happy to see Melony. = )

Billy was able to leave early, since we brought two cars, but all five of my dear ones wanted to stay and socialize.  It was a late night out, for a school night, but I enjoy the spring concerts way more than the winter ones!

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edit 5-14-25: backdated for continuity.

Spring Band

February and March were busy months for Band!

Alice had a pre-competition concert to help the band get out some jitters.

I was able to volunteer on the day of the competition, but could not get there early enough to see her perform, as the concert was set to play at the same time as drop off for the twins. = (  I did get to see her later in the day though!

Later in the month was the spaghetti dinner fundraiser, where all the bands in the district play in turn, so that everyone has a chance to eat and watch their children play! (And you don't have to sit through dozens of songs without your child on stage.)

Alice's group was the last to play, so we were there for the duration of the event.  Emily ran into an old friend, so she was walking around most of the time, and Alice had to go warm up, so the remainder of the family did what we could to entertain ourselves.  William knocked out his multiplication game, and Billy used AI to entertain the twins for a bit.  It was a long night though.  Next year, I'll have way more on stage, since Emily and William are moving back to our home district.

Emily also had a band 'workshop' day in there, but since it was her party day, I was home setting up for her guests, and Billy had to go pick her up.

I think Alice, Emily, and William all have one more concert this year, in May, and then we are gearing up for summer marching band season again! Alice has decided that she does not want to do band again in the fall, so she will be leaving, but Emily wants to join the color guard, so I'll still have one in marching band.  William plans to continue to play trombone at the Jr. High, and the twins will both be on Clarinet in beginner band (though Grace wants to change to percussion in seventh grade.)

The list we received for High School band events felt impossibly long when he sent it, I absolutely can not believe that we are nearing the end of it!

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October, So Far

Once we set up the Halloween village, all of us started feeling the Halloween 'spirit!'

At first chance I bought lime Jello to make some festive jigglers.  The came out of the mold okay, but it turns out that none of us like the thicker jello mixture.  Who knew?  So, with the second box, I made just regular jello cups, which were gone in one evening.

Grace wanted a 'spooky ring' braid.

Alice had band practice, and Emily didn't feel well, so it was just William, Grace, and Juliet who went to the trunk or treat this year.  

Grace was a witch.

William was Batman.

And Juliet was a pirate!

Since we didn't have a car 'home base' this year, I found an as out of the way spot in the cafeteria as I could manage, and sat while they went through the trunk line, hit up the donut stand, and went to dance!

It was a good night, and I think they enjoyed their last year trunk or treating!  I know I said this last year, but this year is really the end! lol.

Once upon a time we had a pirate hook, but must have gotten rid of it at some point, and I'm not paying $6 to get a new one, so Juliet crafted a new one! I thought she did a really good job!

Emily wanted to make zombie cupcakes.  She used a box mix for the cupcakes, but we didn't have any white frosting, so she made her own.  I thought they came out really cute, and the frosting was pretty good!

It's been a busy October, and the start of November is looking busy too!  As of the writing of this post, Alice is done with marching band practice and football games for the year!  Freshmen year: check!

She does have a final concert on Monday, but it is indoors.  And there is a parade near Thanksgiving that they are going to march in, but regular season is over! woohoo!

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A Very Short Nature Post

It's been getting a little chilly, so I've been walking less, but had a few fun things to share.

The first was a picture that Alice took of the harvest moon.  It was HUGE!  I was not able to get a picture on my way to get her from band, but it was impressive.

I think I may have actually taken this picture at Horrocks, but they flowers were so pretty, I couldn't help myself.

This leaf in our yard was giving me Land Before Time vibes. = )

 See, short and sweet!

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Band: Senior Night

I signed up as a volunteer, while the weather was still warm, because once it gets cold I hibernate, in as much is possible.  It just happend to be senior night!

While not completely sure, I think Alice was happy to have me there.  

Up here, bands don't travel with their teams (at least in our area) so the home band plays the opposing school's fight song, then their own.  I'm guessing, that's how this band does it anyhow, I've not been to an away game.

Alice had me braid her hair, but it turns out that she is supposed to have it up.  I had no hair ties or brushes or anything, so this mess is what she ended up with, to meet the uniform dress code.

Senior night is really neat for the band.  They play one song from this year's show.  Then, the sophomores, juniors and seniors come together in a semicircle, where they play one sone from last year.  After that song, the sophomores go back to their position in the last set.  Then, the juniors and seniors play a song from two years ago, then return to their set.  Finally, only the seniors remain and play a song from their freshman year, before returning to their set.  It's super emotional, and I only have a freshman!

Senior parents are also honored, by the band boosters, with a yellow rose, which is another heartstring pull that I can most definitely wait for.

I'm glad that I got to go, though my Alice is making noises about not doing band next year. = (  We told her she has to be in a 'performance' club of some sort, be it band, swimming, robotics, theater, debate, or any other group that meets regularly enough to compete or perform.

The weather has been fair enough that I might volunteer one more time this year, especially since Emily is chomping at the bit to join the color guard next year!

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edit 9-30-24: backdated for continuity. 

Band

At the end of July, Alice had band camp. The week before, they had pre-band camp, which was only 2 half days.  But up here band camp starts on Sunday evening, and goes through the following Friday.  Monday through Friday the days are 12 hours long, but they do have a bit of fun. 

We read the list, but each day I felt like Alice brought along something else.

For the senior day, they did 'Christmas in July.'  They wrapped anything that could be wrapped, put up Christmas trees and Christmas lights everywhere, made a giant Christmas tree out of band chairs and stands, and had Christmas music playing on several speakers.

By the last day, Alice was in the groove and was totally ready for the parent/family exhibition!

We didn't arrive nearly as early as I would have hoped, I'm not sure what we were doing ahead of time, it's been too long now.  Emily was there, but I don't have a picture of her (?), and Billy had to meet us there during her lunch break.

Alice was at quite the disadvantage, since they were given music at freshmen camp*.  So, she didn't get her music until full band camp started.  She's been practicing since then, but obviously didn't yet have it memorized.

She still looked good marching with her band, and considering she is being 'forced' to participate, has had the best of attitudes about it! 

Can't wait until next year when two of my babies are out there!

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*Sadly, that date wasn't on my calendar, because the director puts it on the previous years' calendar.  So, next year, I already know what to expect for Emily!

edit 9-9-24: backdated for continuity.

Pre-Band Camp

This past week, my incoming freshman started marching band!  Despite the fact that she is forced into it, she's had a fantastic attitude, and looked good out there with the clarinet section!

After her first day, we ran home, collected William and EGJ (after Kristy dropped them off from swim camp) to meet up with Billy at a pancake dinner fundraiser!  They tossed the pancakes at you.  lol.

Billy's first pancake was a trick shot, but he managed to grab it!  He's got some good hand-eye coordination!

Day 2!  She knew what to expect, and still had a good attitude!  I cannot believe that my little Alice is going to high school - next month!!!!!!

Next week (starting Sunday night) is full fledged band camp, and it is some intense commitment!  They go 12 hours a day!  It's not overnight, but they are spending lots of time together.  The schedule is lots of work, but a little bit of play too. = )

I hope she loves it and finds her people.

later days