End of school goings on

Miriam's jazz dinner: Monday, April 13

Miriam got to perform on her jazzy vibes during the annual Hillcrest/Bonneville band fundraiser. Andrea contributed as a band mom by (with Canva) designing the posters. I love contributing BEFORE the actual event. Everyone watched the kids perform and enjoyed delicious smoked pork sandwiches. 

The name of this Canva template is "Jazz Music Saxophone Festival Poster." That's the most trumpet-shaped saxophone I've ever seen. 

Miriam rocking the double mallets.

And clapping when there isn't a vibraphone in the number. 

Miriam and Winnie waiting to hear the theme for this fall's marching band show. It will be "Sun, Moon and Stars."

Winnie being harassed by a bunch of Hillcrest boys. JK. They're all tuba players, and they were excited to hear about a freshman girl who would be joining their ranks. It was actually the most heartwarming thing. As it turns out, Winnie will be playing trombone in the marching band instead. 

Miriam's state solo and ensemble competition: Friday, May 1

Miriam participated in two percussion ensembles, and they both qualified for state. That meant she got to ride a bus to Post Falls, and we followed in the van. We experienced clear roads and lovely weather and scenery on the drive, and Miriam's ensembles both placed.

Miriam playing marimba in her small ensemble. They performed "Time Dilation." Miriam started the whole piece with a little solo that introduced the melody. She accidentally "double bonked" (that's a term I made up that means she hit two notes at once) at the very beginning, and she was sure she had totally ruined her ensemble's chance to place.

Miriam with her small ensemble. In every picture I shot of her during this number, she was visibly upset because of her misstep.

Miriam performing "Rush Hour Samba" with her large ensemble.

She played the vibraphone and obviously felt better about this performance because she actually smiled/had fun during it.

Seth and Andrea on a walk in Post Falls. We walked part of the Centennial Trail between events.

And we got these AMAZING Navajo tacos from a taco truck. they had bison smoked salmon.

Miriam receiving her award for FIRST PLACE. Yeah, the song she was sure she screwed up for everyone else? It took the top place in small percussion ensembles. Her large ensemble took third place.

Miriam enjoying a loaf of French bread on the drive home from Post Falls.

Miriam's "Not Prom": Saturday, May 9

Bonneville's prom was held the Saturday we were traveling home from state solo and ensemble in Post Falls. So any choir or band kid who went to state didn't get to go. Miriam had a group of friends who organized their own dance: "Not Prom." They held this at a private venue the week after prom. Miriam got asked to the dance by Nathan Brown, a fellow percussionist.

Nathan asking Miriam to prom. He used his tunic from marching band as a costume and embraced the whole Robin Hood theme in his ask.

Ana giving Miriam some helpful instructions for pinning a boutonniere. 

Miriam and Nathan.

Miriam's group.

Winnie's Festival: Saturday, May 16

The middle school band kids get to attend Festival and play their numbers in front of judges every year in May. Then the band spends the day at Lagoon. Every other year, we've sent our kid off on the bus and let them do their own thing. This year we totally horned in on the fun. Winnie rode down with us to the middle school in Salt Lake where they performed. In fact, we got there before the bus full of kids because the Rocky Mountain Middle School choir teacher showed up way late. The kids rushed into the school, warmed up, then performed. Afterward, we all headed to Lagoon. We occasionally saw a band kid or two from our school, but our little family unit just stuck together and enjoyed the rides. 

Winnie sleeping (or meditating?) in the van on the way down. We had to leave before 6 a.m. to get to the school in time.

Winnie, her tuba and Seth in front of the richiest middle school we've ever seen. 

Winnie and the rest of the band preparing to perform.

Getting ready to ride Wicked. Because we were there on a Saturday, because there was a dance competition at Lagoon that day, because there was an area-wide band festival, and because it was some college's engineering students' day at Lagoon, there were a million people in the park. But we still managed to hit all the major rides.

Andrea and Miriam on the swings.

Seth soaring.

Family selfie at Cannibal. It was Winnie's first time riding Lagoon's most intense rollercoaster. She liked it.

Final band concerts: Thursday, May 21

Bless the band directors for coordinating. After making a few changes to the schedule, they arranged for the final middle school band concert to be performed immediately before the final high school band concert. And in the same venue. So we spent a good three hours at the Hillcrest Performing Arts Center listening to our girls perform with their bands for the last time in their eighth grade and tenth grade careers. 

Winnie soloing with the middle school jazz band. The middle school only has jazz band during the last trimester, but it was worth the wait. Winnie enjoyed playing the trombone and playing improvised solos.

Winnie and the brass section of the jazz band. This group had seven saxophones (!), one trombone and one baritone. Gotta love middle school jazz bands. Winnie also played tuba with the symphonic band, but you can never see her while she's playing.

Miriam performing her state solo and ensemble pieces during her final concert.

Cute Miriam on stage.

Playing "The Great Rubber Chicken Galop." It was a hit.

Miriam receiving an award for being an awesome sophomore. Normally the entire band votes for a favorite from each class. This year the band director forgot to include the percussion ensemble (which is a separate class from the rest of band) in the voting, so they came up with their own recipients.