more Oct '22

 

We are the Frisco 7th Ward/ Cen10 band moms. Jenn is the Primary Pres and Dyanna is a RS teacher with me. It is fun when those worlds collide!

This is the foot of a dog who needs to visit the groomers.

She is a hot mess!

I planted these vincas last year as weed prevention. They are normally blocked by our trash cans, but here they are in their full glory!

M finally got all her gear to start learning how to play hockey.

Coach Dan at it again.

Lucy on standby in case anyone needs to go on a walk.

4th Grade art during indoor recess. Yes, I'm quite talented with markers. 

These crack me up! 4th grade is a fun place to be. (Not full time, mind you, but it gives me joy after long high school days!)

Trunk or Treat.

"Mrs Black can I run your station for you?" Yes, yes go right ahead! This is one of the 7th graders I subbed for 2 weeks.

I heard he was strict and stingy, but I didn't get too worked up over it!

Yes, I know it is against the handbook to take pictures in the chapel, but this was so nice. The YM and their leaders sang in Sacrament mtg. It is hard to take a good picture when you are being stealth... Ry is behind the microphone.

You can see how pleased Ryan was to have his mom come take pictures of him at work. However, this was his last day after 1 year and 10 months of working at Palios. Keegan has been working with him nearly the whole time. He was Ryan's first recruit! His boss is super sad to see Ry go, but she said it was good for him to go try another place and learn some different skills. I told him and his buddies that they were forbidden from all quitting at once! They have a gradual exit plan...

Oct '22

 

"Mom, Chandler just stepped on me. I think he broke my finger." This was one week after 'someone' stepped on his trombone. This was on 8th grade night, so I was already up at the school helping get the kids into their uniforms. I had the band medic look at it (she is a pediatric head nurse at Children's Hospital). She said it was hard to tell right then, but to put ice on it and she put a tiny splint it. The next morning I sent her these pictures. Yep, it's a broken finger tip. Put a full finger splint on it and wear it for 4 weeks. Do I feel bad that I didn't get my son's finger x-rayed when it was clearly broken? Kinda. But the medic said, we charge $3K for a $7 splint, so I wouldn't bother going.

Some blessings, it was his right hand ring finger. You don't need that finger to play the trombone. You can type with just 3 fingers (in fact most kids peck at keys anyways). And pencil usage is way down on high school campuses. He probably only needed a pencil for pre-cal!

Back at UNT.

Alex has been having a great semester. Lots and lots of music. But emotionally he is in a great place. He has joined the school Triathlon club and is training to compete in the Half Ironman race being held in Hawaii next June.  

Band parent night so see the progress from summer band camp. I'm not sure why these are sorted in October, but here they are anyway.

Band directors.

Such a cute little t-shirt quilt!

I got to go to two band contests in one day. UNT was the exhibition band for Bands of America competition in Dallas. I got to watch some of the best bands in the state of Texas while waiting for Alex's group. 

It was awesome to get to see my boy up close in his uniform. I also got to chat with last year's roommate for a bit. 

Meanwhile Ryan was in DENTON (where Alex goes to college) for his band competition. I scooted up the I-35 and got to watch his group perform in the finals. They got 4th place at this competition. 

Skating is so cool. 

In a few weeks M has to decide her 4 year plan for high school. We went to the career center and checked out all the classes. She was still undecided when we left. But she did get to make house plans with Dan.

The band president decided what the kids really needed before going to UIL was a room full of balloons. The kids were happy. I was less so when they were told 'hey, band! pop the balloons!' 

The band got straight first ratings for their performance.

While I was at UIL with the band, M and D went to a UNT football game. Macey claimed it was the boringest thing ever!

Hockey practice with items found around the house!

Dan got us tickets to an FC Dallas (Major League Soccer) playoff game. It was an awesome game that went into overtime and then PK shootout. Dallas won! So fun. It was also like 60 degrees and we were feeling very cold!

At one of the last games of the season the YM and YW showed up to support the Cen10 band kids/football team. I love this pic of these kids who have been friends a long time.

Spork won this staring contest. Every time the lizard is on the floor Lucy acts like she has never seen a lizard before.

Our last Wester Halloween Concert. We've been going to these since 2015 (minus COVID year of course).

Area marching contest. I spent a lot of my time hemming (snapping!) pant legs. 

Chaperones with the buses.

Most of these awesome ladies go to game after contest after game after parade etc. I only tagged along on a few key events where looking good was vital! These ladies are saints, and I really appreciate them slogging through the heat and stink of 150 band kids on buses!

This competitive season ended with the band getting 8th place out of 19 in our region. This is probably the hardest region in Texas. Since we've been going to Area with Alex to now, we have always gotten 5th at this event. The competition has really upped their game (including their dues and time commitment). Our kids are awesome and did their best. Can't ask for more than that!