Band Camp

Band Camp deserves its own blog post, as it encompasses three full weeks of summer.  The kids attend from 8:00-4:00 each day and learn marching techniques and their upcoming show.  This year's theme was "Mixtape: Music from the 80s", and it was SO MUCH FUN!  Songs included Final Countdown, Careless Whisper, Smooth Criminal, and I've Had the Time of My Life, and the props were incredible. A 90 foot-long boom box, transformable Cubert platforms and a huge Rubiks cube made for a colorful, totally rad show. 

Band Camp is hard work, and this year, the Viking Band had the largest group of students in its history, with over 160 musicians and color guard.  These kids sweat outside in hot summer weather as they practice marching drills in the school parking lot.  It is an intense 3 weeks which culminates in a Friends and Family event on the final evening, when the kids perform their show in front of an audience for the first time.  This year, I signed up to help with multiple mornings of band camp, and I loved watching the show come together each day.  Luke was on the Leadership Team, and was a field commander this season:  

Field Commanders keep order on the field and are role models for the students.

This was Leah's first year of marching band, and she seamlessly adjusted to hanging out with high schoolers.  She LOVED her mellophone section, and immediately found a great group of friends in the band:

In addition to working hard, the kids have a lot of fun.  There are themed days during band camp, and everyone goes all out each day.

 80's Day:

America Day:

McMath Day:

Brian McMath is their beloved director.  They all transform into him on this day.

"McMath-isms" written on his shirt, and McMath's tattoo drawn on his arm.

Pink Day (Mommy's favorite!):

Section Theme Day:

Luke's sousaphone section chose inflatables. He is the shark.

Leah's mellophone section chose Beauty and the Beast.

Friends and Family Night:

What a joy to be a part of the Viking Band family and watch these kids create living art! 

Summer Lovin'

We weren't home for much of Summer 2023, but when we were, summertime = both kids biking to the pool independently to meet friends.  There were lazy days of sleeping in, lots of books read, ice cream eaten, and snuggles given.  Summer was patriotic pancakes and birthday celebrations (Mark & Millie), doggie lake days, and Leah's first sleepaway camp.  Enjoy these pics of our summer days in NC:

Leah and Asher are ALWAYS reading- even at the ice cream parlor!

Happy Birthday, Daddy! 

Millie turned 4!

Millie's birthday ice cream treat.

So. Many. Cute. Puppy, Poses.

Who needs goat yoga?  We've invented Doodle Yoga here.

Leah attended Middle School Week at Camp Linn Haven with a group of kids from our church.  She declared that it was the best week of her life!

Sweet Cabin Mates.

Fountain of Life Middle Schoolers.

Millie turned into a swimming dog this summer with a few trips to Belews Lake.  Our neighbors have a boat and they invited us to join them several times.  Their doodle, Pepper, taught Millie how to swim, and the dogs donned matching pink life jackets on their lake excursions.  Pictures do not adequately capture the cuteness factor here, but it was a hoot watching these dogs swim and play together. 

How we love summertime!