We flew home this week so that we could spend our weekend with the girls for the CSU Parent and Family weekend. Things have changed a lot since the last time we were home. We are really starting to see some beautiful fall colors as the leaves are changing in Colorado. This is a time of year that we truly love here, but it also reminds us of what is coming next. Snow.... and this year, being an El Nino year, they are predicting a lot.
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| It doesn't get much prettier than this. Beautiful summer roses, and fall sumac all at once |
As we started trying to put the details for CSU Parents Weekend together, it was just not working well. We talked to our youngest daughter (who goes to CSU) and she just didn’t really seem like she was into parents weekend after all. She said that she enjoys it more when the campus is quieter, and we can just enjoy time as a family, so to make a long story short, instead of us going up to Fort Collins, she ended up coming home.
It is such a blessing to be able to talk through things, change our minds at the last minute, change our plans, and do something completely different than we had originally envisioned. We love the willingness of our children to do this, and our ability to do this because of Steve being retired.
As Steve and I started talking to friends in town, we found out that there was a marching band competition this weekend for our girl’s former high school marching band. Our girls were both drum-majors at their high school, and we all have a great connection with all of the staff and many of the parents, so we all really enjoy going back to see everyone. When we told the girls about the competition, they both got excited, and we all decided that it would be really fun to go and watch this year’s show.
As Steve and I started talking to friends in town, we found out that there was a marching band competition this weekend for our girl’s former high school marching band. Our girls were both drum-majors at their high school, and we all have a great connection with all of the staff and many of the parents, so we all really enjoy going back to see everyone. When we told the girls about the competition, they both got excited, and we all decided that it would be really fun to go and watch this year’s show.
For those that aren't familiar with the marching band world, the bands start putting their shows together during the early summer, and then compete throughout the fall in an attempt to make it to the state finals in October. So they are currently near the end of their season and their show should be polished and should be looking very good.
We all left the house at about 9:30 this morning and headed to Henderson, Colorado for the Prairie View Friendship Cup Marching Band Competition. The band was not there yet when we first arrived, so we just took our time and looked around. Shortly after that, the band trailers pulled in, and then the buses with the kids. None of the kids know our oldest daughter anymore, since she graduated 5+ years ago, but some of the kids still remember our youngest daughter, and both of our girls know all of the staff very well.
We were all greeted with a very warm welcome by the staff and parents. We had a great time catching up with so many of them, and just reminiscing about our band years. They are all such welcoming people, and make us feel so at home, even though it has been several years since either of our kids went to that school.
We enjoyed unloading the trailers and getting the equipment ready for the kids, and once the band started warming up, our girls both jumped right in, as if they had never left. They immediately started working on uniforms and polishing shoes, and just having a great time with the kids. They love both of the band directors and other staff and help them out in any way possible.
When the band headed toward the stadium to perform, our girls were right there with them, and went out into the stadium with the band (with lint rollers still in hand). We sat in the stands and watched their incredible show about the composer Aaron Copeland.
We sat with all of the other parents from our high school and cheered on the kids. They did such a great job. It makes us all so proud to see how this program continues to get better every year!
After the competition was over, the four of us went back to the car and ate a picnic lunch we had packed. Our youngest daughter's boyfriend plays hockey for CSU, so we listened to his hockey game (in Michigan) which was being broadcast on the internet. It was so relaxing and cool in the shade of the trees. After spending much of the fall in the Arizona heat it was nice to have the cooler temperatures. We then said goodbye to everyone, and headed out as they headed into their final performance of the day. It was such a nice day!
We went home for a few hours to relax, and then went to Bonefish Grill for dinner. It is a family favorite, since they have fairly healthy, great tasting options and great service to match.
It is always so nice to get together with our girls. It was so much better than fighting the crowds at parents weekend, and just having a special day with the four of us. We also got to talk to our oldest daughter’s husband several times throughout the day, which made everything perfect!
We all left the house at about 9:30 this morning and headed to Henderson, Colorado for the Prairie View Friendship Cup Marching Band Competition. The band was not there yet when we first arrived, so we just took our time and looked around. Shortly after that, the band trailers pulled in, and then the buses with the kids. None of the kids know our oldest daughter anymore, since she graduated 5+ years ago, but some of the kids still remember our youngest daughter, and both of our girls know all of the staff very well.
We were all greeted with a very warm welcome by the staff and parents. We had a great time catching up with so many of them, and just reminiscing about our band years. They are all such welcoming people, and make us feel so at home, even though it has been several years since either of our kids went to that school.
We enjoyed unloading the trailers and getting the equipment ready for the kids, and once the band started warming up, our girls both jumped right in, as if they had never left. They immediately started working on uniforms and polishing shoes, and just having a great time with the kids. They love both of the band directors and other staff and help them out in any way possible.
When the band headed toward the stadium to perform, our girls were right there with them, and went out into the stadium with the band (with lint rollers still in hand). We sat in the stands and watched their incredible show about the composer Aaron Copeland.
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| A close up view of their prop, the composer in his house working on his latest composition. Notice the details of the coat rack, desk and player piano. |
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| The entire band, drum major on the podium, pit in front, band and color guard in the distance |
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| Toward the end of the show, notice new banners coming from the composer's house, signifying his completed composition. |
We sat with all of the other parents from our high school and cheered on the kids. They did such a great job. It makes us all so proud to see how this program continues to get better every year!
After the competition was over, the four of us went back to the car and ate a picnic lunch we had packed. Our youngest daughter's boyfriend plays hockey for CSU, so we listened to his hockey game (in Michigan) which was being broadcast on the internet. It was so relaxing and cool in the shade of the trees. After spending much of the fall in the Arizona heat it was nice to have the cooler temperatures. We then said goodbye to everyone, and headed out as they headed into their final performance of the day. It was such a nice day!
We went home for a few hours to relax, and then went to Bonefish Grill for dinner. It is a family favorite, since they have fairly healthy, great tasting options and great service to match.
It is always so nice to get together with our girls. It was so much better than fighting the crowds at parents weekend, and just having a special day with the four of us. We also got to talk to our oldest daughter’s husband several times throughout the day, which made everything perfect!
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