Band, again, and then on to the rest of our lives...

This is becoming a band blog...although marching season is nearly over (it would be over already, but the BHS football team is undefeated and has a playoff game at home tonight, as well as a likely home game Saturday). Aubrey found out yesterday that she is 4th chair clarinet in the top concert band...which means she beat out all of the upperclassmen but one! She and two of her freshmen friends were 2nd, 3rd, and 4th chair. Pretty awesome! Not sure that the 22 seniors, juniors, and sophomores they beat think it's awesome....

Our competition at Central Missouri was an eye-opener. We looked like a pretty rinky-dink operation pulling in with our three rented buses, gooseneck trailer and u-haul rigs next to the bright, shiny coaches and semi trucks most of the other bands had. We parked next to the Branson band...let's just say they are well funded. Several of the bands that were there compete on a national level. I knew our band was good, but I didn't realize just HOW good we are. We took second place to the Golden Regiment from Blue Springs, MO, a band that has year-round practice, only allows juniors and seniors, and has a budget of over $100,000. We were so incredibly proud of our kids; all their hard work showed!

On to other things...

Luke has basketball tryouts this week. There were 48 7th grade boys signed up for basketball, and the team cuts to 20. After the first day of practice yesterday there were only 41 boys left; apparently there's a high attrition rate when they start running suicides! He'll find out Friday if he made the team or not. Luke is relieved to be done with the marching part of his band and is ready for concert band also. Mostly, he is obsessed with hunting season's fast approach. He is finally long enough in the arms to be able to shoulder the 30/30 rifle as well as the .243. Look out, deer!

Jackson and I are going to the newspaper tonight for a tour along with his cubscout group. We're excited to be there on election night and see how busy it is!

Love to you all!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIsylSPVG4o&feature=mfu_in_order&playnext=1&videos=rTJuZZJCqsY

A link to a video of the Buhler Marching band at the Southern Plains Marching Festival in Andover- the band took top honors. Kind of a windy day, sound is not the best. Don't ask where Aubrey is - I have a terrible time finding her on the field - just when I find her she moves!

Band Season

Last week and this week are marching band competitions for Aubrey and the amazing Buhler Marching Crusaders. They have scored higher than any other band at both of their competitions so far; KSU Central States Marching Festival and Andover's Southern Plains Marching Festival. I can't tell you how much I love that she gets to be part of such an excellent group. Some quotes heard yesterday from other students in the crowd at Andover:

"There goes the Buhler band, I just want to touch one of them!"

"I wish I could transfer to Buhler to be in that band." and from his friend: "I bet they cut off your toes if you mess up in the marching, dude!"

"Has Buhler marched yet? I don't want to miss them!"

"Here comes Buhler, prepare to be amazed!"

The Andover festival was mostly 4A and 5A schools from around here. The KSU competition was 34 bands with predominantly 5A and 6A schools from the Kansas City area.

Tonight both Aubrey and Luke march at Buhler's home football game, then Friday Aubrey travels to Topeka to march at Washburn Rural's stadium for a showcase. They spend the night there and travel to Warrensburg, MO for the toughest competition of all at Central Missouri State. We'll let you know how it goes!

Proud Mama

Luke received a special honor today; he was selected to participate in Youth Leadership Reno County, which brings students in 7th and 8th grade from all over Reno County together to develop leadership skills, tour sites/businesses, and participate in community improvement. It's a big deal for him, as only one seventh grade boy and one seventh grade girl are selected from each school. Luke's class is right at 200 students. I'm not sure what exactly they will get to do this year, but looking at the schedule I see they'll be at the State Capitol on Kansas Day. I think I'll volunteer to go along on that trip!

In other news, we're looking forward to a visit from Mom and Lane this weekend. Aubrey will perform with the marching band at the Homecoming football game Friday night, and then Aubrey and Luke will both march in the Buhler Frolic parade the next day. After that we plan to load up and head to Kansas City so we can go to the "Myths of the Highlands" day at the Renaissance Festival. The boys are looking forward to lots of weapons.

We're enjoying gorgeous fall weather this week, as I hope you are too! Jerry is busy building a cover over the "pit" window well in our back yard, and I'm permanently attached to my paintbrush. We're sprucing things up a bit for all you Bernings - see you at Thanksgiving!

This is Luke. I have had three cross country meets so far and have got a medal in two of them. I had noticed that mom hadn't posted in a while so she said I should so that is what I am doing now. The State Fair has been in town this week and I have gone twice so far. Aubrey's band played at the Bretz Law Arena (the old AT&T arena), the band was of course amazing!

Hmmm....

So last night I was laying in bed about 9:30 or so (early, I know), when Aubrey came into our room looking for a pair of my shorts she wanted to wear to band camp in the morning. It starts at 7:30 a.m. I told her they were dirty, and were in the laundry hamper. She looked at me, and said:

"Well, will they be clean in the morning?"

I am not even kidding. Maybe there is a laundry fairy I know nothing about? Ha!

Anyway, I know it's been months and months since I've posted. I won't even try to catch up - we've been busy as always, but we wouldn't want it any other way. Hope to see most of you at the fair this weekend! It's my 20th (gasp!) class reunion, so wave at me as I go by in the parade!

Just Weird

Luke's optometrist had some discontinued Nike sunglass contacts that he just gave to Luke. Luke was thrilled. Can you see them? They're ORANGE!

Spring has sprung

New at our house

Yep, Jackson succumbed to the family eye genes, and had to get glasses. He likes them so far... it's been almost an hour! Luke also is sporting new eye wear. He has to wear a contact in his left eye only - his vision was 20/70 in that eye, but 20/20 when he uses his eyes together. It turns out that his depth perception is terrible. I guess that might explain a few missed shots during basketball season... Jerry and I are feeling pretty guilty about not taking him sooner. He should be all adjusted by the time baseball starts though.

In the background you can see my wedding dress dumped on the couch. We came home from a fast trip to the farm to find a flooded basement - including a ruined dress box. Good news - it still fits. Bad news - we need a $700 water heater.

55 MPH

Blue and Gold Banquet

Jackson's cub scout Pack had their annual Blue and Gold banquet this past week. Jackson earned his Wolf badge at the ceremony; he is quite proud of it. He is really enjoying cubscouts this year. Tonight they are taking a trip to the Cosmosphere and Space Center for a tour of a couple of the space capsules and rockets that are on exhibit there, as well as a visit to the observatory. Here we are as he is awarded his Wolf badge:
And here he is, with the t-shirt he won as a door prize. I noticed this morning that Luke was wearing the t-shirt under his hoody...I don't think Jackson noticed though, or we would have heard about it!

Jackson's 8th Birthday

Jackson had some friends over to celebrate his eighth birthday. Here they are, being silly:
He got to have a sleepover, his first with more than one friend. I was a little apprehensive, but everything went fine. They spent hours playing Star Wars legos (with a little help from Luke!)

Aubrey's 14th Birthday

Aubrey celebrated her 14th birthday ON her birthday with a yummy Dedra cake in Leoti the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Some years, she gets pumpkin pie, but not this time! She had a party the next weekend here in Hutch with her best friends, Baylee, Loreta, and Megan.

and of course, her brothers were here as well!
Tomorrow is Twin Day at school, so Aubrey and Baylee are dressing alike. Aubrey says they get asked a lot if they're sisters, and her answer:

"Yes, she's just three inches taller!"

Shocking, I know...

Pictures and a blog update from me??? I know you're shocked! I have a backlog of pictures so I'll spend a few days putting them up here; wouldn't want to overload you! Here we go; the last three months condensed:

Jackson finally got his own blanket from Grandma Ann. All the other kids had to wait until they were ten, but he got his a couple of years early. He LOVES his blanket and can usually be found wrapped up in it mornings and evenings! Luke loves his as well; he was sick last weekend and had to stay with Mick and Stacia while the rest of us spent the day at Aubrey's Sousa honor band performance in Lawrence. The only thing he took with him was his blanket... not even a book! And if you know my kids, they are never without a book nearby.

Jackson's cubscout den had a float in the Hutchinson Christmas parade. Here's Jackson and some buddies:
Aubrey's junior high band marched in the Buhler Frolic parade back in October. Can you spot her?
There she is!
More pictures tomorrow...birthdays and basketball...