We got a dog for Christmas!

Oh yeah.  We have 2 bearded dragons too!  Claire and Elvis

His name is Bandit.  And we love him.

According to Travis - BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!

He loved this day.  I don't really know why, except we spent the day as a family and did whatever he wanted. Sweetie wouldn't do laser quest, so I waited in the van with her and Chrissy had fun doing this too!  I believe it was her first time at laser quest.  Good times.  Travis is now 41. 

Princess Selfie Queen

I found these often on my phone.  Just sayin' 

Thanksgiving with Luke's family

ROAD TRIP!

Hotel breakfasts are the best!

We found snow at a gas station. 

Almost there!

YUM!

Uncle Russ and some of his family came over for the big day too!

Luke and Ayla.  Love her.  SO CUTE!

ME and Ayla!  She loves me the best!

WE saw FROZEN!  BEST DISNEY MOVIE EVER!

flat tire in TX baby!

We made it home and Chrissy had a welcome sign in her NEW ROOM done by Jessika!  Thanks!  I have great friends!

Turkey Trot 2013

My Sweetie got 3rd overall for first grade girls, but came in 1st in race one of three. 

 Ms. Jubb had a sub, but we love Mrs. Leach too! 

 My RHM avoids the camera.  It's cute and annoying at the same time. 

After a great two days of turkey trot - it was time to drive to Kansas for Thanksgiving! Aunt Chrissy is moving in with us!  YAY!

Stolen

After a beautiful Young Women program at Young Women's in Excellence, I was eating a dessert when my friend informed me that my van window was smashed and van had been broken into.  (There is a longer version, but who cares, right?) 

Three people had their car windows smashed in tonight.  Mine, the Persons, and the Ryder's. 

So sad, especially after a nice event. 

I had 2 bags stolen, but not my purse.  Nancy had nothing stolen, just a window smashed - which is enough of a pain.  Debi had her purse stolen.  Sucks!  My 2 bags were my volunteer bags.  One was my VAPO bag that had all of my volunteer stuff in that I do as the VAPO President.  The other bag was my high school band volunteer bag.  It had LOTS of tickets in the bag for the upcoming Harkins fundraiser the band is doing.  We are doing a private preshowing of a popular movie on Wednesday November 20th - 2 days before that movie comes out.  DANG!  I had $3,700 worth of band fundraiser tickets stolen.  No money - just the tickets I needed to sell.  UGH! 

So here's the really UGH part.  I had several promptings today about the bag with the tickets.  One was this morning when I took the bag out while I had the car washed.  Another this afternoon when I was loading the back of the van with items to donate.  And another when I pulled out of the garage to go to the church.  I thought to myself, well YES I should bring that bag with me in case anyone at church wants a ticket.  As I pulled into the church parking lot I passed a perfectly good space and I didn't know why.  I felt like I should move and park in that space I passed.  Then I told myself, WHY?  And finally, as I was getting out of the van to go inside for the meeting, I looked at the bag and said to myself - it'll be fine here.  I now have a broken window - 2 irreplaceable bags filled with stuff that I do to volunteer - and a renewed sense to listen to silly prompting about ANYTHING! 

UGH!

We are not in marching band. We are in Marching Band!

My kids do Marching Band, not marching band.  I mean really people.  I think an explanation is needed.  Some high school have a marching band that goes to a few competitions and has practice three times a week.  Well, my two oldest kids go to a high school with a Marching Band.  That means they practice 4 mornings a week, 1 night practice, plus football games, 2 sectional a week and a Saturday practice before they leave for a competition.  For the past 4 weeks, I have watched this band perform amazingly at Saturday competitions in Gilbert, AZ, Tucson, Tucson, and Flagstaff.  They have awards at these competitions around 7 p.m. at night, which means we get down around 8 p.m., make a grocery run until 9 p.m. and drive home for 2 more hours.  THEN they have to unpack the 2 rental trucks it takes to move this band.  We have a lot of props and a huge frontline (I called it the pit when I was in band, back in the day).  I am super proud of all bands, but especially our band, a real Marching Band.

Agent J in frontline

There is so much hard work and energy that goes into moving this band from our school to another.  We have gone to 2 away football games and it cost money!  Parents in this group are amazing.  I love this sacrifice and enthusiasm that comes together when we all help move the band.  There is nothing like late nights and a real need to build bonds.

Valley Academy student reunion

grocery run after a competition

Speaking of bonds, these kids have amazing bonds with each other.  They have section bonding that happens frequently where the flutes all get together and hang out.  Every section does it.  It is kind of cool.  The set up of this bonding and closeness starts at the top.  The director sets it up so each freshman is in a group at band camp with other sophomores, juniors and seniors.  Blending is the key - in ages, in sections and in the music.  Powerful to watch.

Princess flute group in back

Why am I telling you this?  Well, right now the band is ranked 1st in the state of AZ. We have the big state competition where each division one band that has earned a 70 or higher this season, can go and compete.  The top 10 from state move on to State Championships 2 weeks after that.  It is a BIG DEAL to be where we are right now.  First.  Wow.

Princess first one standing on left

Here is O'Connor Eagle Pride Marching Band latest and greatest performance.  It is in a dome stadium and the sounds definitely echoes. 

First day of school 2013 - 2014

Sophomore

Freshman

1st grade

5th grade

My cute kids

My last 2 kids at Valley (K-8th)

Molly on the first day

Also time to host the annual Boo-hoo Whoo-hoo breakfast for the kindergarten parents

Made up some New Parent Survival Guide booklets for each parent

later that night - band booster meeting and rehearsal for my 2 band kids in high school  This is Agent J's rehearsal

Finally time for cake - It was also RHM's 10th bday.  Busy day!

Thanks for the football helmet cake Amanda!

Happy Birthday RHM!

Night everyone!  Time to have a great 2nd day of school.