An Update

So, I haven't posted in quite a while, and I think it's about time to post an update on what we've all been up to lately. I'm a Sophomore in high school this year, and Sam is a junior. I can't believe I'm this old already... I remember being in 8th grade and wondering how other people ever waited long enough to become old enough to drive and go to college and stuff like that, because I just felt like it was taking me forever to grow up! Time seemed to go by so slow back then, but now it's going by really fast! Sam joined the cross country team this year. He played football his freshmen and sophomore years, but this year he decided to try running out. Not only is Sam on the cross country team now, but so are pretty much all the young men in our ward. I think Sam was a little reluctant to join the team because even though he knew it would be fun, he loved football and always has. But now that he's been running this year, he loves running now and actually thinks it's better than football! I'm not sure why, but it's like he's obsessed with running now! He loves it! I personally don't understand why he loves it, but I guess it's better than crashing into people to get a stupid ball!

This is a picture of Sam running in one of his cross country meets!

A year or so ago, I posted about how I was auditioning for WYSO--Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras. I don't remember if I posted this, but that time that I auditioned I did not get in. Well, this year I auditioned again, being MUCH more prepared that I was the year before, and I got in!! I was very excited!! I worked my butt off to get in, and I'm so glad that all that work paid off! My first rehearsal was in September and it was 5 hours long! It was a hard 5 hours, too. When we first got the music, I opened up my folder and saw a whole page that looked totally black with music notes... I've never seen so many notes on one page before in my life! I was a little overwhelmed when I got home that day. I couldn't stop thinking "What did I get myself into??!!??" The first rehearsal felt a little crazy mostly because sight reading is almost always crazy. But, it was kind of nice to know that I wasn't the only one who was bad at sight reading... But, after that first rehearsal, I was able to go home, practice and get help from my teacher, and at the next rehearsal I didn't feel so completely overwhelmed. My first concert was in November and it went great! It felt so good to know that I went from feeling completely overwhelmed with my music to being able to play it all without a problem at the concert! That is one of the things I love the most about music-- it gives me such a great feeling of accomplishment once I put a lot of hard work into the music and finally being able to play it right. On a different note, though, the thing I dislike the most about music is sight reading, which is of course what comes next after a concert. We got new music, and of course I wasn't comfortable with the music at all yet, but this music was a lot easier than the previous music so I wasn't nearly as overwhelmed as I had been with the other music. My next concert is on Saturday, March 12th and I cannot wait! We are starting to sound really good in rehearsal and it feels so good! Also, another fun experience that is to come is that we get to go on a tour for WYSO! We get to go to 3 different schools and perform! I am so excited! It's only about 4 weeks away, and I can't wait! Here are a few pictures from my first WYSO concert...

I have come across a couple of websites over the past few months that I absolutely love. They are . everydayfoodstorage.net and foodstoragemadeeasy.net. The sites are loaded with information and check lists to help organize food storage. Along with recipes. Check it out sometime, you can learn alot. Foodstoragemadeeasy.net has a new program called "deals to meals" which you can sign up to receive information on sale prices at costco, sams, walmart. And LOTS more great info.

Potowatami Presentation

Here is a video of a guy named Art (I forgot his last name), who came last night for Mutual and gave a presentation about his culture. He did a few dances, 2 of which were with people from the crowd. One of the dances, the Fish dance, I got picked along with Sam and a bunch of other youth, and we had to dance around to this one song, and it was so fun! I don't have a video of that, but if one of my friends put a video up of it, I will get the code and put it up on here! It was harder than it looks! He actually mentioned that something else that it's called is "Indian Aerobics." This video is of the last dance that he did, which was somewhat modernized than the other songs that he did.

Mormon Comic

I found this comic on a blog (Zarahemla times) with tons of Mormon comics... (to see it bigger click HERE)

I thought it was funny and it reminded me of my little 2 year old niece. She says her own prayer every time, even if someone else is saying the prayer, and once she says Amen (usually) she is done, and will move onto something else.

Here is a link to the blog I found it on: Zarahemla Times

100 ways to know if you've been in Marching Band too long...

Well, since I AM a Marching Band geek, I thought this was hilarious. If you aren't familiar with marching band, you might not get it. But, if you are, then it should be funny.

1. When you hear music and you start marking time.
2. When you walk behind someone and you're in step with them.
3. When you try to guess the tempo of your favorite song.
4. When all your friends are in the band.
5. When you don't mind changing clothes on the bus.
6. When you point out key changes and dynamics while listening to the radio.
7. When every guy/girl you're interested in is in the band.
8. When you like wearing your uniform.
9. When people ask you about your social life and you say, "Oh, you mean my flute/trumpet/drum/etc.?"
10. When you consider your drill book a fashion accessory.
11. When you've had a "trombone-ectomy"
12. When you practice your instrument more than you talk to your dog.
13. When being mauled by a drum is a normal part of life.
14. When people worry when they see you without you instrument.
15. When "armed guard," means a girl with a pole instead of a guy with a gun.
16. When band camp is FUN
17. When you respond to "band fag"
18. When someone says the word "box" and you automatically put your head up.
19. When you remember flats and sharps more easily than your name.
20. When you dress the lunch line, and urge others to do the same.
21. When you're alone and you suffocate because there's no one telling you to breathe.
22. When slides feel normal.
23. When your instrument has a name.
24. When you remember your instrument's birthday and forget your mom's.
25. When making a line is you biggest accomplishment of the day.
26. When back marching no longer reminds you of ballet.
27. When you give your instrument a birthday party.
28. When you can make brown shoes look white.
29. When your uniform fits.
30. When white feathers become a fashion "do".
31. When you see your section more than you see your family.
32. When everyone wants to kill the other football team...and you want to kill the other band.
33. When you have dreams about selling Woody's Wings.
34. When you think evening practices should last a half-hour longer.
35. When you accidentally call your band director "Dad".
36. When you CAN sight-read.
37. When you can put on you uniform in less than 10 minutes.
38. When reeds taste good.
39. When Woody's Wings are part of you daily diet.
40. When you think your plume is alive.
41. When marking time is your favorite form of exercise.
42. When you have a neck strap/harness/dot book tan line.
43. When you subconsciously start practicing with a pencil.
44. When numbers past 8 aren't important.
45. When you're more opinionated about the Madison scouts/Phantom Regiment Rivalry than the O.J. trial.
46. When you roll-step through the cafeteria so you don't spill your lunch.
47. When you'd rather practice than read this list.
48. When letters past G aren't important.
49. When you CAN AND ARE WILLING to fall asleep on the band bus.
50. When you hear music and start conducting.
51. When your non-band friends have disowned you.
52. You've named your plume.
53. You attend a game only to watch the halftime show and then leave once it's over.
54. Your social life includes memorizing music.
55. You've practiced so long the color gaurd is together.
56. You memorize stand tunes for fun.
57. You know your school fight song by heart.
58. You root for the other football team to lessen the time of your season.
59. You don't mind singing on the bus so long as it's the show music.
60. You step on the field again after summer vacation, kiss the ground and yell "I'm home at last!"
61. You can sing not only your show from three years ago, but the other band's show that beat you.
62. You invest in a mouthpiece warmer.
63. Wide open spaces urge you to march your show.
64. You have at least 2 insturments - a junky one for marching and a good one for concert band.
65. Dreams of marching are constantly in your head.
66. Seeing the sun rise and sun set standing in the same spot on the same field doesn't seem odd.
67. You come back after graduation to watch the band on their first day of summer band.
68. You practice the show so much people think you have eyes in the back of your head.
69. You purposely get demerits/fail so you can have extra marching time.
70. You wear your marching shoes to school.
71. The most exciting thing in your life is marching band.
72. It feels odd to wake up in the morning when there is light outside.
73. You start to call the "football field" the "marching field".
74. You call to ask for marching advice from people who graduated years ago.
75. Your senior year you buy your own uniform, hat, and plume as a momento.
76. You no longer think of yourself as a person, but as a dot on a drill book page.
77. You remmeber each year of high school by the show that you marched in and not the grade.
78. You sit in ready position...at the dinner table.
79. You march in the summer to keep up good marching skills.
80. You have good marching skills.
81. You "Plume Kiss"
82. Your homecoming mum says "Go Band!" not "Go Team!"
83. You miss homecoming for a band function and don't mind.
84. Everyone fights like family.
85. Your band locker has more of your personal items in it than your closet.
86. You forget your sister's name but remember the first, middle, and last name of everyone in your +200 member band.
87. You see your section more than your family.
88. You know everyone in band's business.
89. You have no secrets.
90. Your pets enjoy hearing you play.
91. You can tell who's in the bathroom by looking at their sneakers under the stall.
92. The furniture is dented from your drummer friends banging on it.
93. You can still play your horn for 40 minutes straight after being awake on a bus for 40 hours.
94. You add "English Royal Gaurd" to your job choices after you graduate high school.
95. Changing your oil means opening up your case.
96. You think of sabatoging instruments at the solo & ensemble festival.
97. You can have an interesting conversation with a tuba player or a drummer.
98. You go trick or treating in you band uniform and can think of something your uniform could be (Royal Gaurd Uniform, Police Man Uniform, ect..)
99. You can tell someone's band jacket just by looking at the patches.

And finally the 100th way to tell if you've been in band too long...

100. You actually read through this whole list because it was funny and you got most of the jokes.

Happy 52nd Birthday Dad!!

Dad has turned 52 whopping years old! His birthday was on October 12th. We had family over and had a cake (which I so lovingly made for him, being the awesome daughter I am) and we gave him his present... a GPS! He says he really "didn't need it," and that we "really shouldn't have." Here are a few pictures of the occasion!

Wow dad, you're pretty old.

Isn't it beautiful? It's the thought that counts...

Dad's GPS! I think it's pretty sweet.

I was going to upload a video of him opening his present, but it will not load! So, the lovely pictures above will have to do.

New Computer!!!!!

So... we just got a new computer! I LOVE IT!!! I just wanted to post some pictures of it to let you know what I will now be blogging on (not that I blog all that much anyways)! Enjoy...

So, while saving the best for last, here is the keyboard! I love the keyboard, too! The keys are a lot softer and easier to type on, and they are also kind of like a lap top keyboard, like in the way that they are shaped and feel.

Here is the actual computer... pretty sweet, huh? I like that it's white--it looks more elegant... well, I guess black does too, but this is less common, so it's way cooler.

Here is the AMAZING screen!!!!!!! I am just SOOO excited to have a "skinny" screen!! Our old one was a thick screen and it was big and bulky and just ugly. And, it wasnt nearly as wide as this one!! This is huge!! It seems like we are one of the last ones to actually upgrade from the old, stupid computers from back in the day, even though it did have Windows XP. Anyways, this is probably my favorite part of the whole thing.

Aaaaaaaaand... savind the best for last.... our computer!!!! It looks pretty sweet all together, doesn't it?? I guess I'm just a technology geek, so i like freak out over all of this kind of stuff.

"I'm so gansta, you can find me bakin' cookies at night..."