Signs of the Season...

There's this:

Oh, yes! *Starbucks* Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back! I received an email from them yesterday announcing the return of the pumpkin latte as well as their new Toffee Mocha Latte.  Naturally, I had to stop on my way home this morning to try one. Just to make sure they were as good as I remember.  I think they are but I might have to try another one or twenty just to make sure.

It's definitely the season for this:

The first day of school - one senior and one freshman! Don't worry - that's not a gang symbol they are flashing.  The name of their high school starts with the letter "R" - so the school spirit symbol is a combination of the American Sign Language symbols for "I love you" and the letter "R." 

Then there's the sounds of the season:

Drums beating... my center tenor playing his way through the fall of his senior year.

Wondering why Burrito has a buzz cut?

That's because the back of his head has his drumline logo shaved into it.  All the tenors decided to do this as a team bonding experience.  One mom was not as thrilled about it as I was.  (Did I mention it was my idea? Definitely earned me "cool mom" points.)  Hey, if that's the worst thing he does during his senior year, we're in good shape!

There's cheerleaders cheering.

Did I mention she was selected as captain of the Freshman squad? Oh, yes, she is! 

Now, if we could just convince this Texas weather that it's truly time for Autumn.

And the answer is...

This...

is the inside of this...

And is the new instrument being played by this happy boy...

Who used to play this...

Signed,

One very proud percussion mom

The Best Drumline In Texas!!! (Again.)

We headed to the Dallas area yesterday for the outdoor drumline competition of the year. Our drumline was ready to defend their title as The Best Drumline in Texas.

First, let me tell you that yesterday was the coldest day of the fall season. In addition to record breaking lows, we also had 20+ mile per hour winds to contend with for our entire day in the great outdoors. It was tolerable during the day, but was almost miserable after the sun went down last night.

There were hours of practice once we arrived.

Lots of practice.

And more practice.

Lots of flying mallets.

Bass #5 is my personal favorite this year. (Just though I'd share.)

Soon, it was time to perform.

They won first place again this year - and retain the title of BEST DRUMLINE IN TEXAS!!!

Our cymbals also won their caption as did our snares. The basses tied for their caption.

Everyone was very, very happy. (And cold.)

We ROCK! (Or, several weeks in fast review.)

We ROCKED homecoming. And, we WON!

We ROCKED the part and were appropriately dressed.

Our homecoming court ROCKED the evening!

Isn't she gorgeous? "A" is our neighbor and she's beautiful on the inside, too. Last year when Burrito was a freshman and she was a junior, she made sure that Burrito's first days of high school went well. She walked and talked in the halls with him. She even invited him to sit with her and her girl friends at lunch. Umm... hello! A freshman guy walking, talking and lunching with gorgeous junior girls. Yep, that had to help Burrito's reputation! (We reminded Burrito to "pay it forward" when he started his sophomore year this fall.)

She deserved the crown - don't you agree?! Sadly, she wasn't crowned the queen. (We demand a recount!)

We ROCKED with the cheerleaders. (We love the cheerleaders, right Kat?)

We ROCKED in the stands.

Our drill team ROCKED the halftime show. (Go, "H"!)

Then we ROCKED with parties.

Kat's best friend "M" attended homecoming with us (an annual tradition) and then spent the night. "M" wasn't available to attend on the date we'd planned to have the birthday sleepover, so we had a "party-before-the-party" after the homecoming celebration. After all, a girl can't celebrate her 13th birthday without her best friend!

Bud headed for the coast the next morning and ROCKED on the water. (Not to be confused with walking on water!)

The next weekend, we ROCKED the "second" birthday sleepover with Kat's school friends.

We ROCKED several band competitions. (With another one this coming weekend.)

We ROCKED with success!

We're a ROCKIN' family!

The end of drumline season...

Burrito's high school drumline recently competed in the TCGC Indoor Drumline State Competition in Houston. They had been bumped up into a new division just one week earlier as a result of their high scores all season. That's good, on one hand. On the other, it was a bit daunting to enter the final state competition in a new, advanced level. They placed third with only .6 of point difference between them and the 2nd place team. You guys ROCK!

FYI... Burrito is in the "pit" - the section of the drumline that does not move. He plays the timpani (5 kettle drums) and stands in the back right of the group, in front of the first white door when the pit area is in the video. (Kind of hard to see!)

Thank you to Kat for making this video of their performance! This was her first attempt at making a "real" video with her new digital camera. Her camera makes great pictures but poor quality video. But it does have surprisingly good audio.

The show is called "Doors" and you'll see why. Enjoy!