First college band concert

Thomas loves being involved in music, and we were thrilled that he wanted to participate in the concert band at college.  He was asked to switch from alto to tenor saxophone, and has taken that as a compliment as well.  Tonight was his first concert, and I'm so glad that we were able to be there.  This particular band is an eclectic group of people, and we are so glad that Thomas is enjoying it.  We've always told him that no matter what, music can be a part of his life! 

I haven't missed it one bit

This weekend is the wreath pick up weekend.  It is the first time in many years that I haven't been worrying about/working with band wreaths.  And I am absolutely thrilled!  Last year Andrew needed to pick up his mother, and I begged him to see if the neighbors could help and meet him so that he didn't have to be away overnight.  This year, Andrew really wanted to go and watch the Steelers home game against the Bengals, and he went with my blessing.  Today, Andrew and I wanted to swing by the shop where the wreaths are picked up, and I stopped outside to buy a gift for my grandmother.  I chatted with the new chairperson for a bit, and then we went along and finished our shopping.  

It is so wonderful to be able to do whatever I want this weekend.  I haven't missed the wreath sale, or any other band function AT ALL.  I've come to realize that I had actually grown resentful of the time I spent, although I'll always be grateful for knowing the kids and that I was able to be so involved with my kids.  It is nice to be done though.

It's been ten years since we didn't have to attend

I found out last evening was a middle school and high school marching band concert.  I realized it had been ten years since we didn't attend this annual fall concert.  I'm not going to lie, it didn't make me sad.  I mentioned it to Andrew, and he commented that not only did we not have to attend, but he didn't even know about it.

I've really missed nothing about not being involved with band, except for not getting to know the kids.  To be honest, I didn't really realize how resentful I had begun to be about how much time and effort I was putting into it.  And to be honest, no one seems to care.  I'm incredibly grateful that awesome people have taken over and they don't need me, but even though it took three people to fill all my roles, the directors and other board members never expressed thanks or gratitude.  Many parents were always quick to do so, and although it's not why I did it (it's about the kids), the fact that I'm not particularly missed makes it even easier to just walk away.

I would love to attend the chili supper next month, but I have a meeting.  Hopefully I'll be able to attend the band concert at the holidays.  That one was always one of my favorites because it was one of the few I could attend and not have responsibilities.  But now, I get to enjoy any of them that I choose to attend!

Turned it over!

As of 2:00 this afternoon, the Treasurer items left my house.  I was so excited I practically did a dance!  There are so many things that need to be done, and many things I want to do, and I'm sure I'll get around to them.  I really didn't realize the amount of time and stress I felt, especially during this past year, but it's all done!

Turning it over, and what I want to be doing now

This weekend, I will officially be turning over the band stuff to the new Treasurer.  To say that I am excited is absolutely an understatement!  There are six boxes full of things that will be leaving my house.  None of us are sad about that.  After 8-1/2 years, it is time for the boxes to move out, and for me to move on.  I'm doing sponsorship this year, and maybe next, but that will be that.

I am thrilled beyond words.  I look forward to having time to work more on my genealogy, and catching up on my magazine subscriptions that are crazy old at this point.  I want to work on scanning family photos.  I am so excited about the opportunity to do something crazy like work a jigsaw puzzle, or even READ A BOOK.  My husband gave me an e-reader last year for my birthday, and I've read it once.  While it has been an honor to serve the students, I didn't realize what a burden it had become to me.  I am so, so excited to have this all off my plate!

So much has been going on

It's been a very long week, and there is still so much more to go!  This weekend is Thomas's senior prom, and of course Mother's Day.  It's never been my favorite holiday, and I intend to just rest from this week and get ready for the next week of craziness.  That is the thing about May.  While it isn't as crazy as some years because we only have one kid in school and not three, the fact that so many things haven't happened for the last two years makes this year seem more active.  I'm also working full time at a school where there are plenty of activities happening as well.

Catherine was home for the last week, and work has been pretty stressful for her.  There have been some challenges at work for her, and a few other issues have come up for her.  Her semester is finished, and I think she'll be in and out over the course of the summer.  It's a bit of a new phase, but we are learning.

Thomas has had an pretty amazing week.  On Monday, we visited Wright St.  I was glad that I was able to see the campus, and I think he'll really enjoy it there.  Last evening he had his final concert band concert of his high school career.  Since it was May 4th, they played some Star Wars songs.  It was a fun finish.  He still has a steel band concert next week, and then there is an event at an amusement park next weekend.  He is spending today and tomorrow at the state FFA convention where he was selected to be a member of the State FFA band.  We are so proud of how well things have gone for him with FFA these two years, and I only wish he could've started earlier.

It's so hard to believe this is all almost over.  I'm so grateful for all of the opportunities that my children have had, and I'm so incredibly grateful to be their mother.  I knew there are many transitions coming, and I look forward to getting to know them as adults.  Hopefully we will make many family memories this summer!

The music moved me to tears

Ugh...this was supposed to be posted last night.  I am more distracted than I even realize!

Tonight was the final December band concert in our family.  It's often one of my favorite concerts each year, because I especially love the holiday music and my favorite years are the ones where the orchestra is also included.  This year, our band director is also responsible for directing the orchestra.  The final number was Christmas Eve 24/7 Sarajevo, a song made well-known by the Trans Siberian Orchestra.  It was moving, and then about 1/2 way through the back curtain was pulled up and all the instrumentalists joined in.  I was moved to tears.  I was touched visually and audibly.   

Steel drums

I'm late in posting this, but that is the way life is right now.  A week ago we had the annual chili supper for our bands.  It's a fun fundraiser, but it was often an evening I was a little resentful as I never had a child performing, but there I was for hours anyway.  Not this year though!  I was still there, but this year I had a performer!  Thomas has is participating in the steel drum band for the first time this year.  It was fun to be able to see him perform, but also a little comical.  Part of the "performance" is the dancing/movement of the kids who are playing, but we will just be referring to my son as the "statue on the left".  I give him credit for wanting to do it at all though, because he doesn't really like people looking at him.  We actually had a decent amount of help to set up and tear down this evening, so it was a pleasant evening!

The end of the marching band years

This evening Thomas is in Indianapolis performing in his final marching band competition.  I'll be honest, I never understood the appeal of marching band, nor did I particularly enjoy watching marching bands.  However, for the last eight years I have poured a significant amount of blood, sweat, tears (yep, there have been some) and TIME into our marching band program.  I've had a marching band student for eight consecutive seasons, and this is the end.  This is the last time one of my kiddos takes the field in a high school marching band.  I'm so grateful for how much Catherine and Thomas enjoyed it, and my favorite were the two years they were able to participate together.  Having said that, I know there are SO many things about marching band season that I won't miss.  I wouldn't have traded one second though, because it was so important to the kids.  It's the end of an era!

Grateful for today

I am so grateful for this day.  Don't get me wrong, I am always grateful for each day, but sometimes I forget to be truly grateful.  After this past week, I am especially grateful for today.

The kids and I were on the road home yesterday by 6AM.  Ugh!  With it being Thomas's senior year, I had promised him that I would get him home if he wanted to attend his band competition yesterday.  He had to leave for the high school by Noon, and I didn't want to cut it closer than necessary.  Andrew got home about 6PM last night.  His mother send tons of food, so we ate some of the pasta that was sent.  Tonight's dinner is chili, also complements of his mother.

Today is bright and sunny, which is much appreciated.  It's cool though, and in fact there are no high's in the forecast higher than the 50's.  Our woods are still very green, but the town is gorgeous.  Since it is Halloween, I bought some candy apples for our dessert this evening.

It was a tough, tough week, but I am so incredibly grateful our family has today before things get too crazy again!

Final Friday night marching

Tonight was the very last evening I'll have a kiddo perform during the halftime of the high school football game.  My goodness.  It's so, so hard to believe.  It's hard that Andrew can't be here, but I wasn't going to miss my kiddo in his last Friday night performance.

I won't miss marching band and my responsibilities, but I will miss how much my kiddos have enjoyed band.  It's been a great experience and I'm grateful. 

I was very emotional as I drove up to the game.  It sounds as though Andrew's dad is down to hours.  That is hard, and it's hard that we can't all be together.  It's also hard that Andrew can't be here for the end of the season.

Looking forward to sleeping well tonight!

Band camp is officially a thing of the past in this house

By 7:00 this evening, Andrew and I had returned home from serving dinner at band camp.  For a variety of reasons, this band camp was the toughest we've had.  Part of it was that I am currently working.  Part of it was that we had to be upstairs, which meant lots of up and down.  Part of it was lots of other roadblocks during the week.  Part of it was COVID, and part of it was just that we are two years older than last time.  We were absolutely exhausted when we got home, but I was so, so excited about being finished.  Because being finished this evening meant being finished...for all time!

Thomas got home just about an hour ago.  That means band camp is officially over for this year, and officially over for this family.  This is our eighth marching band season which included seven band camps.  Whether they went away or stayed at our school, it was a tremendous amount of work and stress for me.  There are many things I will miss about not having kids in high school. Band camp in any form is not one of them!

Band camp week with roadblocks

One thing I knew I didn't miss during COVID last year was band camp.  I was so, so right.  This year, it seems as though we've had added roadblocks thrown at us.  The school decided that we couldn't feed the students dinner in the cafeteria.  Not only that, but we couldn't even walk through the cafeteria.  That meant we had to take everything outside to move it to the upstairs auxiliary gym, which is where it had been decided we could eat.  We managed to push & lug the coolers to the trainer's room where we found that the ice machine had no ice.  We then managed to push & lug the coolers to the outdoor trainer's room.  We also found out that the elevators weren't working and the custodians hadn't moved the tables upstairs.  To be totally honest, Andrew began swearing at that point (obviously no kids were around).  We got it all handled though, but we are definitely exhausted.

The rough part is this is Monday...and camp lasts all week.  The thought of taking those coolers up and down those steps every day is a little overwhelming.  It's our last year though, so I keep telling myself that next year it will be someone else's problem!

Our eighth (and final) parent meeting

Tonight I attended the eighth (and final) parent meeting for marching band season.  I vividly remember the very first parent meeting I attended.  I remember the parents and how things were done.  We've made changes to so many things, but the excitement of the very first day remains the same.  I can't believe this day has arrived...the unofficial beginning of my youngest child's senior year.  It's going to be a great year. 

Almost time for the Holidays

Catherine was planning to come home tomorrow, but I asked if she would come today.  She doesn't have any classes this week, and we could use some assistance around the house.  She got home in the middle of the afternoon, and I must say it is wonderful to have her here!  So very wonderful.

This past weekend was the culmination of the fall band fundraiser that required I spend 13 hours at the nursery with wreath disbursements.  That doesn't count the paperwork or driving around to handle deliveries.  Because of so many circumstances, we sold less than half than we normally do.  I'm not sad though, because overall it made things go more smoothly.

Now, time to finish up band stuff, try to work on some church stuff, and then have Thanksgiving so we can decorate for Christmas.  It's pretty crazy! 

Really looking forward to a nap today

We have almost made it through our week!  I have 105 minutes until the final bell rings, not that I am counting or anything!  I am looking forward to some fun things this weekend, but also to some time at home.  I'll be honest, I miss my house.  Having a 35 minute commute each way is a big adjustment for me, and I've never done it before while being a mother.  Always though, I am grateful for this unexpected opportunity to have an income.

The marching band is performing at the football game this evening, and since Thomas is in the band, I am allowed to attend the game.  Catherine and I are going, although we could be sitting in hurricane remnant rains.  Wouldn't be the first time.  My plan is to leave as soon as the band performs at half-time.  Andrew has to work at the cross country meet in the morning.  I also have to work at church, but can be flexible.  Tomorrow evening we are hanging out with our very good friends (also my new boss!), and I am especially looking forward to that!  Laundry and housework are also on the agenda, but there is no 5:15 alarm (or even an alarm for me at all!) until Monday.  Looking forward to our weekend.

The craziness kind of snuck up on us

I know that school has been on the calendar to start next week since June...and actually it was originally supposed to begin today.  However, it was also obvious that I wasn't going to be working, and we weren't too optimistic about extra curricular activities.  It felt like school was beginning next week, but that I still had an expanse of time.

Then last week the bands decided to plow full speed ahead with one of our fundraisers, and instead of doing it in October, it's happening NOW.  All paperwork needed to be in the hands of the students by tomorrow and collected again in three weeks.  I finished last night to make that happen.  Then of course on Friday I got a phone call that offered me an opportunity for this fall.  It's official as of this afternoon, and it's full time, with a 45 minute drive each way.  The pay makes up for that though, and it's a wonderful opportunity until I can get back to subbing in school here.  Today though, I found out that instead of beginning on Monday, I actually begin Friday.  All of a sudden, tomorrow is the end of my summer!  I've spent several days running around to get things in order, but I'm ready to go.

The governor also outlined requirements for extra-curricular activities yesterday, and since it is pretty much a go with extra restrictions, Andrew is very, very busy with his supplemental.  Wowza!  On top of it, our church decided to hold an outdoor service this weekend.  It's all a little overwhelming.

I'm so grateful though.  We are still being very safe and working with our new normal, but I am grateful we won't just be sitting around.  It's exciting, even though I know I'll be exhausted!

I miss it more than I thought I would

Thomas had his second band rehearsal this evening.  The director has them broken up into three different groups, and each group practices twice a week.  I'll be honest, it's kind of nice not to have the major commitment that band usually brings into our lives each year, and because of restrictions, I can't be there at all.  Honestly though, as I drove up this evening to pick up Thomas, my heart ached a bit.  While I don't miss the major commitment, I do regret that I can't be there at all.  I so much miss the kids that I know, and I regret not getting to know the new students.  It really drove home how much I'm going to miss being at the school this year if the year is mostly remote.  And if that is the case, I'm most likely going to ultimately end up with a job that has me leave subbing all together by next spring.  It makes my heart hurt, but I'll be okay.

Planning the band budget

Tonight is our annual band planning meeting.  It has been at my house for the last several years, but because my house isn't very large, it is being moved to the house of the current president who has a very large garage.  I have spent the last two days working on the budget.  I take my responsibilities as Treasurer very seriously, but this is ridiculous.  Do we have band camp?  Can we feed people?  Will there actually be a season?  One fundraiser may not be allowed to happen because we have to use the school and it may not be allowed.  Another fundraiser has to be completely overhauled due to supplier issues.  Oh. My. Goodness.  It is like throwing darts at a target behind me while I am blindfolded.

I just lost my mind

This was an extremely busy weekend.  It made it very difficult to feel in the holiday spirit, but we will get there.  I love Thanksgiving, and I plan to enjoy it.

We had a very nice lunch with my grandmother Saturday.  She never ceases to amaze me!  I was at the barn for our band fundraiser in the morning, and then again in the evening.  I also tried to get the house picked up since Andrew was having guests yesterday, and of course my in-laws are coming.  Yesterday I was up to make sure Catherine got off to work, and then did LOTS of house cleaning before heading off to the fundraiser...and this is where I just lost my mind!  I totally got confused about the time and was still sitting in my dining room when I was supposed to have been there ten minutes earlier.  Oh my goodness!  The day went along though, and it was fine.  As is always the case with this fundraiser though, even after spending four hours, I came home and basically spent the rest of my evening working on handling "issues" that resulted from it.  I even had to leave home at 8:30 last evening to drop something off at a house.  It felt like it would never end.

It seems as though losing my mind actually started a week earlier.  I went to do laundry this morning, and when I opened the washer, there was a load from last week still sitting there.  Ugh!  Everything obviously needed to be re-washed.  I wondered where several things had gone.  I can't imagine how this happened, but I guess it just shows I've had too much on my mind.

I am ready for a few days of family and fun.  Catherine is home sick today with a terrible cold.  I am hoping and praying that nothing more develops and she can still enjoy the week!