We Headed to the Big "D" and I don't mean Dallas!

Last weekends competion in Duncanville ended this year's marching season. They came in 11th out of 23 other bands. This not being a state year, means that the show is usually more theatrical. Which LCHS band is not! According to Drew and Hunter, they are a marching band with precision.

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Sunday, Joe and I headed home to get ready for our church's "trunk or treat". We were supposed to set up a beach theme for Drew to sit and pass out candy. Half way home we found out the band was running behind. Sooooo, I passed out the candy!

Dressed as Santa! One guy said I should have been Wal-Mart!

Monday night Hunter dressed in his go-to "Justin Beiber" outfit and went out with a sweet girl in a morf suit. Drew grabbed his banana and hotdog costumes and trick or treated with friends.

Having no kids at home, guess what Joe and I did? Closed every drape, turned off the lights and pretended we weren't home. BEST Halloween ever!

Parents Weekend

It's not just for college kids anymore :) Our Mom's blessed us with a visit last week and we did a TON of fun stuff. After picking them up at the airport our first stop was lunch at Yia Yia Mary's , so good!

Our football game was Thursday night.

Joe, his Mom and Hunter

Our Happy Drew, he REALLY didn't want to have his picture taken. He was trying his best to hide it, I think he did well. You can barely tell........

Friday we headed for a drive in the country to Round Top. We ate lunch here, my Mom and I shared a shrimp BLT and each had a mug of Chicken Corn Chowder. We thought it went better with Joe's Jalapeno cheese soup, so we mixed the two together. We were right!

Everyones knows when you're out to lunch you have to stop by a cute shop, so we did! The Apotheacary doesn't disappoint!

Then if all that wasn't enough, Joe indulged my wander lust and went in search of this and came up with this too!

Saturday Drew and Hunter marched in their UIL Region 27 Marching Contest. The band did great getting all ones for the 22nd consecutive year.

Saturday night we celebrated Hunter's birthday at one of our all time favortie restaurants, Shogun

Sunday we said Goodbye to Joe's Mom and headed to Austin. First stop was UT to check out a sweet friend's dorm.

My Mom and I have read about and seen this airstream/foodtruck for years and have wanted to visit! Only problem, there was a 45 minute wait once you placed your order:(

We had lunch at The Oasis, which has beautiful views and even better company! Coming and going we always stop here!

Monday the guys went back to work and school:( My Mom and I headed to Pappadeaux's for lunch and of course more shopping :)

For dinner we tried a new recipe. It was a hit....for those who ate it!

And finally today was my Mom's last day, we squeezed in one more restaurant. This time we went with an urban theme and headed downtown to The Bombay Pizza Company which was AWESOME! And because we have that go-to-a-cute-store-after-you-eat rule. We crossed the street and went to CVS and bought some killer lotion that makes your hands sooooo smooth!

It was a great visit and we can't wait to do it again!

PS I think our dogs will miss Grandmas the most!

It's Not Easy Being Green

Once upon a time.....Drew took a chance and shared his green friend with the world by taking him to MYF.


The trio on the far left of the couch are leading the group in Praise and Worship. It moved Drew's friend so much he sat up. I think the guy on the far end would like to trade places with him. Laying on the floor, that is, covered up in a green morph suit.


The evening ended with an outside prayer at dusk. And everyone one went home, had quaintly time with their parents, got in bed at a decent time, and lived happily ever after. The End.

Drew and his friend being green of another kind:

Katy Marching Invitational Festival

Say that fast 5X, Katy Marching Invitational Festival,Katy Marching Invitational Festival,Katy Marching Invitational Festival,Katy Marching Invitational Festival,Katy Marching Invitational Festival

Saturday was one of those all band all day days. The schedule went like this:

7:00am - Call Time which means get there 30 minutes early always
8:15am -Load - Shower - Eat
9:15am - Depart for Rhodes Stadium
11:15am - Warm Up
12:00 - Perform
1:30pm - Return Langham
2:30pm - Arrive Langham - Down time until we leave for game
4:00pm - Leave for Pridgeon
5:00pm - Arrive Pridgeon
6:00pm - Cy Falls Game
10:30pm - Approximate Pick Up time

The game got rained on and the band loaded up early leaving a few instruments to entertain the crowd and support the team. After the game Drew headed to IHOP with a group and Hunter came home and went to bed!

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Here's the results for their performance:

Congratulations to the Langham Creek Lobo Marching Band. This past Saturday our band competed in the Katy ISD Invitational Marching Festival and earned a 1st Division trophy for their performance. In competition with 17 other Class 5-A bands from Cy-Fair, Fort Bend, Houston ISD, Katy, Tomball, and Spring Branch school districts our Color Guard was named the "Outstanding Color Guard" of the contest and our Drum Majors Michael Greenberg and Katy Bertlshofer were named "Outstanding Drum Majors of the contest. The band also took 1st place honors in the Ensemble and Individual Marching Captions and our "Lobo Marching Band" earned 1st place overall and were named the Class 5 -- A Champion of the Contest. Congratulations Lobo Band!

I was so grateful they had nothing to do but rest on Sunday until I say Hunter's facebook status, IM SO BORED IM GUNNA DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just when I thought it was all too much for them, they once again proved my wrong. It's too much for me! They love being busy and aren't going to know what to do with themselves after marching season!

Homecoming?

One word, it's all you need to ask a girl to homecoming. Homecoming?

Here's the 411. It can be very involved and require several steps. But can be Lot's of fun and stress free if you're a guy and have a Mom who'll take care of everything...... Love ya, Drew and Hunter :)

First, if you're a guy, you have to decide if you want to go. I don't know if for girls that's ever a question. Then who to ask, in our case it was easy.

Now for the tricky/fun/what is everyone else doing, how to ask her part.


Hunter's girlfriend is in the Lobo drum line and likes penguins. He put yellow sticky notes on his drum set saying Homecoming? and finished with giving her a pillow pet penguin.

Drew has a love of road reflectors. He wrote Homecoming? on one and gave it his girlfriend when she was over watching a movie.

Other friends we know decorated yards and bedrooms.

Next step, the mum! Which I have come to love and really want to make next year. The Thursday before the game/dance guys and girls exchange mums/garters and wear them the next day to school. I'm kicking myself, everyone was here that night and I didn't get ONE picture....I forgot!


But we were ready Saturday night! Hunter left first. They opted to do something just the two of them and had dinner at a sushi place. Which means Hunter really likes her, because he doesn't like sushi!


Is was fun seeing them dressed up:) Can you see their "band tans"?


Drew and his girlfriend went with a group and had Italian. When he heard where they were going, he said he'd probably get food all over himself. His girlfriend told him she'd bring a tide to-go pin, take him to a bathroom men's or woman's, it didn't matter, and clean him up, funny stuff!


Me? Homecoming? You betcha!

Shine

This is what Hunter did after band practice yesterday.


It reminded me of one of my favorite Newsboys songs:

Shine
Dull as dirt
You can't assert the kind of light
That might persuade
A strict dictator to retire
Fire the army
Teach the poor origami
The truth is in
The proof is when
You hear your heart start asking,
"What's my motivation?"

And try as you may, there isn't a way
To explain the kind of change
That would make an Eskimo renounce fur
That would make a vegetarian barbecue hamster
Unless you can trace this about-face
To a certain sign...

Shine
Make 'em wonder what you've got
Make 'em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let'em see good works, and then
Let 'em glorify the Lord

Out of the shaker and onto the plate
It isn't Karma
It sure ain't fate
That would make a Deadhead sell his van
That would make a schizophrenic turn in his crayons
Oprah freaks
And science seeks a rationale
That shall excuse
This strange behavior

When you let it shine
You will inspire
The kind of entire turnaround
That would make a bouncer take ballet
(even bouncers who aren't happy)
But out of the glare
With nowhere to turn
You ain't gonna learn it on "What's My Line?"

Shine
Make 'em wonder what you've got
Make 'em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let'em see good works, and then
Let 'em glorify the Lord

You SHINE Hunter!!!

Oh, Drew

Do you really think it's a good time to take apart the computer when your Dad's out of town,it's 9pm and Hunter needs it for home work? Apparently you do, cause that's what you did and in Drew fashion it all worked out.

Broom Ball!

One the THE funnest things our youth group did this summer was a Thursday night, 7:00pm-2:30 am almost all night lock-in. This was after a day of band camp, the day before a band all night lock-in I did think Drew and Hunter would make it. I was wrong. First they met at church for games and snacks. At 10:30pm everyone loaded up to go play........

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Broom Ball! So fun....afterward was breakfast at IHOP. We opted for go home and sleep before the 7:30am wake up call. It felt so good to be cold! Fun Times:)

He Hangs Out At The Car Wash

Drew had the best time at the Band's Annual Car Wash fundraiser. The trombones worked the first shift and decided to come back at the end of the day to help with advertising.


They brought their instruments and played on a street corner. Sweet G even helped!


Oh yeah and costumes too. Like a banana, hot dog and king outfit.

This sweet 3 year old boy got his mom to stop the car, get out , give a dollar, not knowing that it was for a car wash (oh no, you get a car wash with this kind of entertainment!), with 3 other little kids in the car, to watch them play.


So, OF COURSE, they had to let him give it a try! Drew's my favorite today!


Tuba Kings, present and accounted for!

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Music To My Ears

Hunter gave me the best gift today. He's going to a quinceanera and needed his clothes ironed.



Guess what he said? "I'll do it", sweet music to my ears. I thought I heard wrong, so I asked again. He had the same reply, "I'll do it". He's my favorite today :)



Joe and I think he's a keeper :)



Lucky for him, his ride was none other than Sweet G!

They got their game on!

Guess who marched for the first time last night and who was named "New Marcher of the Week"?



The Sousaphone, second from the right..........HUNTER!

I was so unprepared! My camera died during their performance and I didn't catch them saying his name!

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They played one of their stand tunes on the field, but I missed it!!!!
Oh and we won 60 something to 20 something!


Pictures compliments of a really really nice lady, she got waaay better shots than I did!


Hunter's legs behind bass #5

He IS......!

Hunter turned this in as homework today. Drew wrote something similar ealier this year about his love of band.

I AM

I marched in the scorching heat of the day hoisting my sousaphone with pride.

I belted out the numbers of the counts given.

I held my sousaphone as if it was mounted upon a statue of gold.

I raced toward my water bottle in search of hydration and dashed back as soon as I could to perfect my marching style.

I powered through the torturous pain in order to build up the finest muscle in order to hold my sousaphone up.

I focused with laser like precision toward the band directors.

I practiced day in and day out twenty four seven so I would not let my fellow band members down.

I visualized some of the finest bands in the nation from the Cavaliers to our own Langham Creek Band.

I persevered through the toughest of practices and remembered the happiest of laughs, I am a Langham Creek Band member.


Hunter and Joe last Friday night at the end of Summer Band camp picnic and "show your parent what you learned"


Hunter's the middle tuba. I love I'll be able to see/follow him of the field. Drew is always lost in a sea of trombones!


Drew and Joe. He's wearing the same light blue and white hat again this year, it's one way I can spot him in the crowd :)

It Must Be Heaven....or Session Seven

Drew and Hunter had another great week at Camp Travis!

This years theme was;

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
2 Timothy 4:2



Nicknamed Breezy, his counselor had this to say about him; one of the activities was to walk across a tightrope, many gave up. Drew didn't. He had;

Persistence

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. Ephesians 6:14

He was also;

Good-natured

And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Luke 8:15


Sleeping just a few cabins away was this sweet face:)


That hat....... it's made an appearance every year he's attended camp.


His first year 2006

His coach had this to say;

One day on the lake, Hunter was being pulled on an inner tube. He hit a wake and went FLYING 9feet in the air! The coaches looked at him; he had a huge smile.

Joyfulness

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
Habakkuk 3:18

He was also a good;

Listener

My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment
Proverbs 4:1

Seasons of Change

Today is one of those "step change" days. Drew turns 16. Hopefully by this time next week he will have his drivers license, another step to growing up, towards Independence.



It makes me wonder, while the window was wide open, when he thought his parents hung the moon, did we teach him everything we wanted him to know, love on him enough, convince him he can be and do ANYTHING he sets his mind to? So many questions, few he will answer.

Does he know we're crazy about him and so proud of the man he is becoming.

Does he know:

We'll love him forever,
We'll like him for always,
As long as We're living
Our baby he'll be.



He's ready, so ready. It's us who's not. Drew, be easy on us, you're growing up before our eyes and as awesome as it is to have a front seat, it's also bittersweet!

A Blind Man Would Have Been Glad To See it......

Hunter was very doubtful of our vacation, he thought all we were going to do was "look at things". Lucky for Drew and Hunter, Joe researched fun things to do in Orlando and came up with this........

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Day 2 We headed for Kennedy Space Center, the reason for the trip, to see the last shuttle launch. The launch was scrubbed so we enjoyed the exhibits.


Drew and Hunter scored 4 free tickets to IMAX showing of "Transformers-Dark Side of the Moon" a day ahead of its opening....



Day 3 DAYTONA!!!!


NASCAR'S biggest fan, standing at the finishing line


FYI, it's not the one in the Grizzly t-shirt.


Standing at an 18 degree incline, you need to go 95 mph to stick to the track. Daytona wins the award for the best BBQ of the trip at Woody's.

Day 4, St. Augustine, The oldest continually occupied city in the US


Turning back the clock and the "Fountain of Youth"

Day 5 Savannah, Georgia We took a breath and spend a few days in one spot. This our second time, the first was ALL about Paula Deen.


This time we explored the 24 beautiful and the houses that surrounded them. This house was the first in Savannah to have electricity and is said to be haunted.


John and Charles Wesley, founders of the Methodist church opened their first first in US church in Savannah.


Don't think we forgot about Paula Deen, we ate at The Lady & Sons' and her brother's resturant "Uncle Bubba's" and did a little stalking, that's the roof of her house in the middle of the picture.


On the way out of town we stopped at Harbor Town, Hunter was collecting golf balls for a sweet friend.



Day 8 Charleston, South Carolina


We went to Fort Sumter, looked at more historic Mansions, celebrated the 4th of July and ate good food. It was a fun trip with lots a great memories made. Hey Hunter, we're thinking about Yosemite next year- how do you feel about that?