Band: Marching Season!

Marching season is in full swing, and Emily is loving it!  It's pretty late when she gets out of practice on Wednesday nights, 8:30, but this time of year that means beautiful sunsets!

On the first day of school, I stayed at practice with her and sewed five patches onto the guard uniforms, and managed two more before the first football game (on a Thursday?)  but didn't take any pictures of my handiwork, so here's my smiling Emily holding my tools as we left.

As I just mentioned, the first football game was on a Thursday night, which made Friday feel off, but the night was fair and warm!

The drum major runs along the band asking if each section is ready.  Since Emily is alone in her section, she answers alone. 

Emily is at the very front!

The night was exciting, though Holt was losing for most of the game.  The final quarter was a good one, despite being a loss.

The light up batons will be switched out for fire at the light show!  Emily has some practicing to do before then though!

I think they were doing the wave?  Just having fun on the track during the third quarter!

Football season is so exciting!  Emily did a great job, and I love volunteering so that I can watch her up close!  I'm also happy that all the other games are on Friday nights!

later days

Band Camp

I'm starting this post before camp is officially over, so there may be some disconnect mid-post, please ignore.

The first picture was actually from pre-band camp, last week.  She's been looking forward to marching season since last year ended!

This year on Sunday night, I had to talk her into a picture with the sign, but I was happy to get one!

And last year's for fun!

I also had to chase her down to capture one with her baton.  I was waiting for instructions from the color guard instructor about uniforms, so I didn't have anything better to do.

Monday morning, Emily was ready to march!

Today was twin day at band camp, and Emily was twinning with River, but wanted to bring 'her twins' to practice too!  With the additional children in tow, I forgot a morning picture of Emily today.

The parking lot looked really pretty when the band went on break, and the instruments were all carefully marking positions on the practice field.

Twin picture!

And what the twins did for most of the time while I was 'working.'

One more picture during lunch, since three of us were leaving after I helped clean up the tables!

Maybe because next year Emily will be driving, so I can feel that the end is near, Band camp felt really, really long.

On Thursday, the seniors 'decorate' for their senior prank, this year's theme was Halloween.  It's the longest day of band camp, at 14 hours, since they do senior celebration and band awards after the official camp is complete.

Emily was awarded "Little Miss Sunshine in My Pocket" by the drum majors, and a separate "Little Miss Sunshine" award from her section leader!  Both well deserved, in my opinion!

Today was a half day, with a performance for the parents at noon. 

Avia joined us in the stands, and walked the kids* over to the Kona Ice truck, where they ran into our favorite twirler!!!

It was her first ever performance as feature twirler, and she did an amazing job!  She smiled and exuded confidence throughout!  I took almost 300 pictures and just couldn't dwindle it down anymore, so there are still so many!  These were my absolute favorites!

All sweaty, but happy, with her boyfriend Malichai!

In true Emily form, she woke up excited and happy each morning, despite long days and late nights!  This afternoon she's at a friend's pool party which will have a sleepover for the girls at the end.

It's kind of sad to think that she is now halfway through her high school band camps! = (

later days

*Alice didn't want a snow cone, and so just stayed with me in the stands, but she was there, cheering Emily on!

Emily is Busy

The final couple of months of the year, Emily has been busy!  She's been taking private twirling lessons, and tryouts were at the same time as drum major tryouts.  Luckily, she didn't have to wait nearly as long to find out her results: she will be the featured twirler next fall!

This is not an unusual sight: She needs two bags filled with clothing and supplies to go from a color guard event to a birthday party!

In her history class, she debated her way against others in her hour, into the multi-class debate, to which parents were invited! 

She did not win, because JFK was not as widely influential as some of the other historical figures.

On her very first drive during driver's training, her teacher let her drive to 711, where she bought a Slurpee.  The smile on her face when I picked her up was so happy!

While we were waiting on her to finish the requirements to get her permit, I would have her move the car around in the driveways and backyard.  She likes driving a lot!  I don't know which of us is the most excited for her to get her license. 

Once we got her paperwork, I made an appointment for her to get her permit on the penultimate day of school.  Since it was a half day, we had time to run some errands afterwards, and she wanted to drive and get some celebratory Chinese food.  And before her siblings complain that they don't get the same treatment, she paid for it!

School ended on Wednesday.  Since then, she has gone to a sleepover, an open house, a hangout with her boyfriend, and tonight she has been invited to a youth group.  She is one busy girl!

later days