yet more musical news

Michael and Adrienne are both in marching band now.  They had their first and only official parade last Saturday during our city's yearly celebration.  Now they'll learn the music for the fall season, and later this summer they'll bust their behinds learning the field routine.

It was a bit humid, so M & A were glad to get out of those toasty uniforms.  The theme for this season's show honors our longtime head music director, Mr. Gottwig, who is set to retire after the 2015-16 year.  They designed t-shirts with his image...

Right after the parade we buzzed up to the northern 'burbs so the kids could play with uncle Andrew's band at his backyard summer solstice party.  Low Rider was a big hit.

And last but not least, Saturday morning Nicky received the letter we'd been waiting for.  He'd auditioned for Minnesota Youth Symphonies on June 12th, and the letter offered him a spot in their String Orchestra.  Though it's the lowest of their 4 orchestras, it's an intermediate level and we weren't sure he was ready for it with his 3 years of violin lessons.  But, we're gonna be spending our Saturday mornings at rehearsals in St. Paul this coming school year!

Heron poop?

Stop right now if you have a weak stomach. I've warned readers of this blog not to eat before reading Crayziee Life, and today is no exception. Since I'm not too easily grossed out, and somewhere in my psyche lives an 8 year old boy (ask Nate about the Whoopee Cushion), I'm starting off with giant bird poop.

The suspected culprits are Great Blue Heron(s) or Great Egret(s)

Guess I'll be scrubbing this off later today. Oh, the unexpected joys of living by a pond. Actually, it's not the first time it's happened, though I think last time there were only huge puddles of bird dung on the deck. This is more in-your-face. I wonder what we did to deserve this? I haven't fried any of their chicken cousins on the grill yet this year, only cows and pigs.

But enough about bird feces.  It's the end of the school year around here. Nicky and Zach finished yesterday, Adrienne's at Valleyfair today, and after a half day tomorrow, she and Michael are finished. May was full of year end events. Camp Pepin for Nicky, field trips, numerous concerts and recitals...

Trumpet solo? Nicky killed it at his 5th grade spring band concert, and again at the Music Academy recital.

Michael worked hard at his audition for next year's band placement, and scored a spot in the top band, Wind Ensemble. Yee haw! Though it'll mean even more required concerts and contests. The number of incoming freshman band kids this fall is quite large, so Adrienne's 8th grade class was given the option to audition for placement outside of 9th grade band next year. She did, and was placed in Concert Band. We are so proud of our musicians!

Seems like I just posted those 'first day of school' pics from last fall, and here the younger two are on their last day. Yesterday was the last time Zach and Nicky went off to the same school together. Except for the year Nicky's a freshman when Adrienne's a senior, both of them will be going it alone from here.

Happy summer! It'll fly by like it always does.