Marching Band 2019

First of all. Happy Thanksgiving. I'm working my way through November and enjoying every post that is put on here. Today has been an amazing day full of family and food. But instead of blogging about that, I'm going to take you into the past. Marching Band is a funny thing that spans many months of work and performances, so it is best to blog about it in November when it is all finished.

It really starts in the summer when all the kids are marching through the parades. If you recall, Ivory was in the color guard, but she was too young to continue into the fall. Robyn picks up the season in late summer going to band camp in August and starting the rigorous process of learning a program and memorizing music. The season goes all the way to the end of October or beginning of November finishing with the Redrock competition in St. George.  Quite the journey.

Robyn played the vibes again just like last year. In fact, her vibes from last year were still there. She spent a lot of time with 'Phillip' and she was happy to see him again.

Every year there is a different song and theme to the show. Last year was the James Bond/Spy theme. This year the show was called El Dia de los Muertos. The show was about the day of the dead and honoring ancestors. The Pit were the ancestors. They wore period clothing and had a whole photo shoot to take pictures to create some of the banners that were used on the field. Robyn got to dress up in different costumes. She took some photos of herself during the shoot.

When the season started, the kids were still working out the kinks but sounding really good. I was able to go to the first competition, but only the practice in the morning. The kids were wearing their shirts. I really like how the shirts turned out, but I think they could have done the colors differently so the design stood out better.

Robyn spends a LOT of time moving 'Phillip' here and there. Definitely not as easy as a clarinet to move around.

Check out one of the cute banners that was used on the field. The kids look so great.

One of the bigger performances is at BYU each year. I went to help out, so I was able to get some pictures. The band practiced out in the parking lot before the show. It was cool to watch them up close.

Then after helping them onto the field I was able to record the performance from not too far away. This video is focused on Robyn. Especially watch for the cool part in the video at 7:24 when Robyn and Sam play together on the vibes. It took them a long time to get it right, but it looks so cool.

Throughout the season, the show gets better and they add more details. The drum majors always had face paint but the pit added in face paint as well, so they could look the part of the dead ancestors. Robyn always had fun on the bus trips to the different shows.

The week of the final show, they had a family band night. The parents and family got to come to a special performance and come down on the field to be right up close. At the beginning of each show, the pit members hide behind the banners and come out at the beginning, greeting the band as they go to their instruments.

It was fun to be up close to the kids. My kid is always in front, but it was great for other parents to be up close to their kids and march with them on the field.

Here is another of the cute banners. Can you spot Robyn?

Okay, it took me a while. She was so disguised that I didn't even realize she was the one with the glare on her. This is a little better.

Finally, it was time for the tour. The first day the Marching Band went to several schools to play, so I went down to watch them in the band room when they came to my school. They can't really march in a small room, but they do a different show where they mark time and still do some of their movements.

Then they were off to St. George. It just so happened that I was down in St. George on the same weekend. Just my luck. So I went to see the big final show. It was nice and sunny even in November. St. George is the perfect venue.

The kids are almost ready to go. The Pit is about to head back behind the banners.

Since I was there, I recorded the show again, so Robyn could see it all. Obviously she doesn't see much with the band behind her. They did a great job and I was so proud of all of them.

They came in 6th overall. They did the best they've done, so Robyn was happy with how it all turned out. And she should be. So much hard work. These kids give up a lot of other things and plenty of time to be a part of Marching Band. It takes a lot of dedication and talent. And I'm pretty sure Robyn will do it all again next year.

Jaker's at Dusk 2019

Last year, we were missing Robyn when we went to Jaker's so I wanted to get all the kids there this year, but with all the busy schedules, we didn't get over there until the sun was low in the sky. That meant we had only an hour or so of light until it was time to leave.

We went straight to the HIVE area where they were cooking hot dogs. We could tell we were late, because we got some of the very last hot dogs. Thanks for saving us some. They were actually quite tasty although there was no chili to go with them to Robyn's chagrin.

Here are the normal things we do:
Corn Maze
Corn Pit
Large Maze with Sardines
Pumpkin Picking
Cutouts

With our abbreviated timeline, we didn't get the full experience. We hit the corn maze first. We divided onto teams and since there isn't any rhyme or reason to the maze, we made our own guidelines and goals. The task was for each team to travel through the maze, at least out to the power line towers, and then return and try to be the first one back.

There seemed to be even fewer turns than usual, so we were in a pack for a while, but eventually we all found our own space. Pearl and I were fast and we got out to the power lines first (I think). Once there, it seemed we needed some proof, so we took a picture.

Just a few steps away was the road that led out to the pumpkin patch, so we took a different way out. We ran around to get back to the front. I'm not sure that is legal, but I paid for it with stitch in my side. Whew...I don't run a lot. But we were the first ones back. And no one else thought to take a picture so we were the clear winners. (Or at least the only ones with proof. Same difference.)

From there we raced over to the large maze. Sardines is one of our favorite parts of Jaker's. We sent Daisy in first and then everyone took a turn. We had a lot of fun and we were joined by some Turner's and Wiszt's. It is hard to tell from the dwindling light, but Ryder and Cruz looked super pale and ghosty. They had been playing in the corn pit for so long, they had a layer of corn dust all over themselves.

We found Ivory. Someone always hides behind the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Classic.

And then it started to get dark quickly. The littles ran to the corn pit for two minutes and then we ran over to find pumpkins. It was a bit of a dash at the end. We didn't even think about going to take pictures at the cutouts and it would have been too dark anyway. I guess next year we need to go a bit earlier. But the ultimate purpose was accomplished. We left with pumpkins that we planned to carve...

Somewhat Super Nova

Nova is our dog. For the time being. We have tried to get rid of her twice. But she seems to stick to us, and for all intensive purposes, we really do love her. She can be quite the sweetie and she is very playful and fun. She is also super protective and that leads to her barking rather loudly and viciously at strangers. She doesn't play very well with other dogs, but she fetches a ball like a champ. There are many great qualities about her.

I have seen so many pictures of her on everyone's phone, it seemed like it was a time for a post all about her. Here's what I've noticed about Nova. She loves to be near people. She will snuggle with anyone and will sometimes just rest her head on your foot or hand to show she loves you.

She sleeps so weirdly. She likes her bed just fine, but often she is only half in it. Or she finds a weird position somewhere in the house.

She likes to lie with her legs out behind her. Her legs looks like little chicken legs when she does that.

Nova adores the ball and will chase and jump for it all the time. She will bring it back to you, but not give it to you. She teases you and wants you to fight for it. But sometimes she will just drop it next to you in hopes you will play.

She loves a good belly rub. You can use your hands or feet. She doesn't care.

We noticed right off that she doesn't like the kennel because she doesn't want to be away from people. When we were painting June's room, we put up a barrier so she wouldn't come in and make a mess. She didn't understand and really wanted to be involved in what we were doing.

She curls up or sprawls out wherever she wants and she just assumes you will walk around. She doesn't even twitch if you get near. She is that self assured that you will not step on her. When she picks a spot in front of the sink, it's a little tricky to wash dishes.

One of her favorite spots is on the window seat. She will sit there for hours watching, barking, and guarding. The window always has little smears from her wet nose going  back and forth.

I do worry that one day she will attack another dog and it won't end well and we will have to get rid of her. In the meantime, we'll just love on her.