Marching Band

We only have one more football game before the season is mostly wrapped up!  They will still march in the Silver Bells Parade, but only one more Friday night for this year!  Emily has loved every minute of it! 

Molly was still working on bedazzling her custom uniform for the season, so for this early game Emily was wearing one that Molly had in her closet.

For Senior Night, Molly ordered "Haven tattoos" for everyone to wear, but sadly only 12 came instead of 14.  I think Haven still felt pretty special even with just Emily, Molly, and Katie wearing them.

I think this was the night I finally finished sewing all the new appliques onto the uniforms!

Seeing Alice's discarded tag from long ago made me sad all over again. = (

Sporting her custom uniform for the first time!  It was so shiny under the stadium lights!!

Emily and Kyla like to do the dances with one hand each. It's entertaining for sure!

And on this night, Emily got a HOCOposal from Malichai!  It was so sweet!  She was very surprised (and so was I!)

She said yes, of course!

Alice has been working as a volunteer at the football games for community service hours, and the Junior drum major always come over to say hi to Alice, since they have health together.  I'm so thankful for her!

Goofing around before Molly reminded Emily how delicate the beadwork is!

Homecoming, with even more shinies!

Full hands after halftime!

It's been a wonderful season watching Emily do what she loves! I'm so excited for next week, since she will be out there with all three of her younger siblings for light show!!!  Emily is also slated for a fire baton, and I can't wait to see it!

I've also chatted with Molly about maybe starting the twins on batons, to see if they have a proclivity for it, and then I could have three twirlers on the field when they start high school!  William is not completely sold on marching band, but luckily, his first year is a band trip year, and I think he will be all in. Time will tell, who knows what the future will bring!

later days

Band Camp - Emily's Freshman Year

After a summer of two color guard practices a week, Emily finally got to march in the full band camp!

Sniff, sniff!

I dropped her off for band camp one morning, with the promise that Avia would pick her up, because Billy and I were off to Poland!  So, this is my final band camp picture, but she sure does look cute!

She loved band camp, and loves color guard, and loves marching band.  She's been doing 'freshman' things all summer, so she has very few first day jitters.  Now, if her schedule could reflect all of her chosen classes, she'd be ready to go!

Back to school in 3 days!

later days

edit 8-17-25: backdated for continuity.

Emily's Freshman Marching Drills

Last week, Emily and William finished up their school year, and Emily started Freshman Band camp at her new school!  I was so excited for her.  

Sadly, for me, Juliet's emergency dentist appointment fell on the same day as her first practice.  Luckily, Avia stepped in and was able to taxi her to practice!  She came home all smiles and excitement; definitely loves it every bit as much as I thought she would!

Fast forward to Thursday, we arrived early for her second practice so that she could be fit for her uniform (since color guard has a separate uniform than the band) but she was told to wait until sectionals.  

Grace came with me so that we could try for a third (and what would have been final) time to make sure her ice cream sundae was on display to represent Dimondale.  They didn't put up the paper (that we printed and brought with us) so I don't know for sure that it was a success, but at least the PTO will get one donation from Grace's sundae! = )

One more pose in the giant chair!  Fewer and fewer Crockers came with each trip.

We took our sundaes to go, and got to see Emily in her ranks for the final few minutes of practice.  

After practice, we had to wait so that I could pay for her band shoes (because I clicked no, she didn't need them because she could wear Alice's, not considering that color guard would have different shoes.) The financial guy didn't arrive until after five, so I volunteered my time in the uniform room to help fit the incoming freshman.

I'm so excited for Emily's new adventure, but a little sad that Alice isn't going to be joining her on the field in the fall.

Here's to high school band year one for Emily, and high school band mom year two for me!

later days

edit 6-8-25: 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