Tree decorating

On Sunday, we decorated the tree. Instead of snow or rain falling outside, we got a beautiful sunset and  warm temperatures.


Amazing colors !


Seriously, will I ever be able to get a decent picture of the kids together?


Well, at least they portray our "real" life.


Okay, so this is funny. Luke and Allie pulled out this ornament with a picture of them when they were little. They thought it was hilarious and wanted to pose like the picture and have me take a picture of them.
Man, they've grown up! Luke thinks we should do this every year.

1st Band Concert

Allie had her first band concert last night. It was incredible! This was the 6th grade band at her middle school. There are just under 400 kids in the band. The concert was in the gym and the band took up the whole basketball court. There are 9 French Horns. NINE! (And the school has all of these horns, plus horns for the other bands). I think there are 3 more bands at the school for the 7th and 8th graders. When I played in high school we only had a couple of good horns and some a few terrible ones. There are 4 different directors that work with the kids. Can you imagine teaching 400 6th graders in band? AMAZING! This is definitely one of the things we like most about Texas.



Most of the kids just barely started learning their instruments at the end of August so I think the fact that they they could play anything was amazing.



I have to brag a little bit because Allie is a natural at the French Horn. Yes!


Allie's cute BFF joined us for the concert. Allie got to go to her choir concert last week.


Kate likes to photobomb.


I seriously can't say how happy I am that Allie chose horn. I tried not to influence her and it was her own decision. It brings me so much joy to have a horn in the home and to hear her play. I look forward to the day when we can play some duets together.

Here's the first piece that they played. Keep in mind that they have only been playing their instruments for 3 1/2 months. After the kids played, they got to choose 1 parent to come up and try to play. I don't have video of that, but it sounded terrible. You can't really see Allie, but she is in the third row and her head is right under the tuba to the left.
ODE TO JOY

Each instrument group played a selection. Here are the horns. 

JOLLY OLD ST NICHOLAS