marching season 2015…

millard west marching band performing “Ready, Set, Go”  Burke high school, Omaha marching invite…

EDIT***  I just posted this, re-read it & watched this video & I have to add one more thing… everytime I see them perform I cry. tears of joy & pride. this music touches you down deep. maybe it is that I know the hard work that goes into it now. maybe it is because our daughter is out there & I know what this performance means to her & I know how nervous & excited she is. maybe it is because all of her best friends are out there & I know how much it means to all of them. whatever it is, I cry every time…

they won this competition & they so deserved that win. this is the final product (almost) they change little parts of their show all the way up until the final performance at their state competition. this year they took 3rd. at the Nebraska state marching competition. they were amazing!!! I know they want to break that third place barrier so bad but truthfully, it isn’t what matters. and 3rd. place in the state, they should be proud of that.

it all begins at band camp in early July. this year Mikayla was on leadership team so she had to be at freshman band camp, to help out the JV marching band & of course the varsity band camp, where they learn the pieces to their show. they work soooooooo hard. all day long…

Sophia’s first flute circle…

at the end of the week they have a cook out & an indoor concert of just the music from the show. I love this concert every year!! then we all walk out to the field to watch what they have learned of their show. it is usually about 2/3 of their marching show & by the end of the season they have usually made so may changes to the marching that it only slightly resembles this first show that they learned…

after band camp they start their usual summer practice schedule. more looooooong days. about a week after school starts is march a thon weekend. that Saturday they march all through the neighborhoods around the millard west area. along the way giving lawn concerts, marching & playing music the whole way & collecting donations for their band program. it is a loooooooong day but the kids love it!! march a thon is always one of my favorites!!

the night before the march a thon each section has a spaghetti dinner (early) so the kids are all carbed up for their long march the next day. they start at millard west at 7 am so that is why they ask you have the dinners early. this year the flute dinner was at our house & we had a great time…

march a thon Saturday…

I think they were getting a little tired & thirsty…

after lunch…

meme & papa got the best “lawn concert” ever…

what a great march a thon.

the next Saturday is millard days parade. this year was great because it wasn’t 120,000 degrees outside…

the next Saturday is their 12 hour practice day. 8 am to 8 pm. but they went until 9 pm this year I think. they work so dang hard…

a few football games later. it was Alex’s last year as a cheerleader so we knew Sophia & Nova had to participate in this. the little girls go to a clinic with the cheerleaders earlier in the week & then they get to perform before the football game that Friday. so so stinkin cute!!

we got to see the little girls cheer. we got to see alex cheer in her last cheer season at millard west & we got to see Mikayla & the band perform their whole show at half time. what a great night!!

Papillion lavista marching invite September 16,2015…

October 9,2015. Millard West homecoming game. this year Mikayla was nominated as homecoming princess & she was so excited. we had tickets to see Taylor Swift this night & I never thought that she would choose to go to the game & walk the field instead of the concert. I have to say, I was a little bit disappointed not to go to the concert with her because when we saw Taylor Swift before, we had SO MUCH FUN. but, after walking the field with her, I understood. it was a big deal & it was SO MUCH FUN. proud of you Mikayla.

a couple weeks later, Nebraska state marching competition, where they placed third…

what an amazing marching season.

I have to say, these kids, they are all amazing. the things that they are learning in band is so much more than music & marching.

they are learning dedication & perseverance & hard work & ethics & pride & defeat & friendship, life long friendships.

what an incredible group to belong to.

I am so very thankful that Mikayla has this in her life.