Band Trip

YAWN, big yawn!!
I am still not feeling fully recovered from my busy Saturday, but must press on.
Obviously I didn't post yesterday. The truth is, I was either at church, eating or sleeping yesterday...the basics were all I could handle.

I ended up getting to bed later than I wanted to on Friday night (10:30) and then woke every hour leading up to my Shelbster waking me at 2:45 needing to make a trip outside.
Both my alarm clock and coffee pot were set to go off at 3:05, so she wasn't far off of my schedule.

I chose not to bring my camera on this Jr. High Band trip, as I didn't want to have that constant responsibility.
I did snap a few pictures with my cell phone, which unfortunately began dying around 3 o'clock despite the full battery charge!

So, I had many other things I wanted to capture but couldn't.
I began with trying to shoot the glorious sunrise, eehhhh not so great with this camera phone.


I must insert here that this was THE most organized trip I have been on in my life.
I am a detail girl when it comes to making a journey, as were these band instructors.
Every little detail had been thought out from extra trash bags to tape to affix the sign to the windows. It made my corralling job, super easy...and fun.

And on top of that, the kids were for the most part...well...awesome!!!

We arrived right on schedule and the kids filed into the practice room to warm up before heading in to compete.


I dunno, maybe it is just my mommy sense, but they sounded amazing!!!
Actually, I will blame it on that mommy in me.
How do I know??
Well, when my kid is joined together with a band to create music, it gives me chills, breaks me out in goosebumps and brings a tear to my eye.
I can't say that the band your kid is in would do the same thing for me.
Sorry, that is just the truth of the matter.
It is something about my offspring bringing me joy!
Hmmm, would that fall into the love category???
Yeah, I think it would.

I had my phone out ready to take a picture during their performance but had to put it away, because that was one of the rules read off prior to their playing.
I am a bit of a rule follower!
This was the one time during the trip that I wanted my real camera with such a desire that I could almost taste it!!!
All of the shiny brass instruments were catching the red, blue and green stage lights on their reflective surfaces calling out to be frozen in time.
I kept clicking away in my mind, hoping to hold on to that image.

Ha, crazy artist!!! That's me.

Amidst my goosebumps, chills, tears and brain clicking, I was able to pick out the distinct sound of a real shutter clicking.
There was a fellow behind me who had his ginormous camera out, shooting with a super lens.
I couldn't help but wonder just what in the world his settings were for shooting in such a dark auditorium with only the lights on the stage to work with.
As soon as the kids finished playing and were heading off of the stage, I headed back to ask him.

Sometimes I can be so shy...and other times I surprise myself at my boldness.
I told him that I just had to know what his ISO was set on.
He quickly told me that it was set to 3200, which made for a grainy shot, but was pretty much the only way to work in such a dark room.
Ahhhh ha!!! Of course!
My highest ISO is 1600, which really makes me wonder if I could have gotten anything worth keeping.
I asked him a few more questions, wondering specifically why he had his settings done just so.
He finally just handed me his (very heavy) camera and encouraged me to take a few shots!!
It was too late for the colorful shiny picture I desired, but I was able to get a few of my kid!

I gave him my email and sure enough those images where there for my viewing this morning!
Too cool!
I can't say that they were great shots, I was soooooooooooooooooo nervous holding his majorly awesome camera, but...good enough for a mom!

Our next stop was a professional photo op for the band as a whole.
I couldn't help but be distracted by this!!!

All of the kids wildly threw their music binders and drumstick holders down so they could only have their instruments in the group shot.
I didn't think to watch their scurrying when they tried to figure out which was theirs after the photo was done! Yikes.

I hope this isn't boring you to death!!
I only have 3 more images, hang in there.
The kids have just been set free to return their instruments to the bus, I love the reflection.



After everyone was done playing and had discarded their fancy uniforms for shorts and the trip t-shirt, we loaded the buses again to head to Fiesta Texas!


I did some inquiring among the other Moms as the morning progressed.
I was specifically looking for someone who would run around the park with me like a sophisticated crazy!!
I partnered up with a super fun, bundle of energy 5'2" glamor girl.
She was also a Mom of three (girls) who is into healthy eating and being a housewife, so we had plenty to talk about as we waited in line for extended periods of time.

You know what I am talking about, right?
You get in the queue and wait 40 minutes to an hour to enjoy 60 seconds of thrill, then you do it all over again because it was so much fun!!!
We chose to ride the Superman roller coaster first!

Ohhhh, man!!
I hope I still enjoy roller coasters as I get older, cause this was still super fun to me now at 40!
I do believe even more so than when I was younger.
So much of the "fear" was gone, replaced with anticipation and that surge of adrenaline which can only come from speed and being whooped uncontrollably upside down and hurled down hills!!!

8 o'clock finally rolled around which was the time for the awards presentation.
Whoa, thinking about how long I had already been awake after a very short night of sleep was starting to make my head spin more than a roller coaster.
I am so proud to say that our bands did amazing, even taking away the coveted Overall Outstanding band, as well as raking in Best in Class for all three of our separate categories.
So, mommy sense or not...these kids could play!!!
10 p.m. saw us driving away from the park and 11:40 saw me unable to keep my eyes open any longer!!!
I would say I slept about and hour and 20 minutes on the bus with dream of ice storms because the air conditioner was set so cold that I was a constant popsicle for hours!!!
We pulled into the school parking lot to unload at exactly 1:29 a.m.
What a whirlwind!
I laid my head on my pillow at 2:30 glad to be home and able to catch a few hours of sleep in a bed.
So there you have the tale of my weekend.
Today is Laundry Day, so I will be catching up on that as well as heading to the grocery store for our weeks worth of food.
I have my camera ready and willing for our photo of the day when it presents itself.
Cross your fingers that it can be something of interest!