Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012 

 

The Kalls in Flower Mound had another great Christmas. We missed our family in San Antonio, but will hopefully see everyone soon!!

 

The boys got new nutcrackers and advent calendars on December 1st (family tradition)

We have quite the collection growing

 

A few days later we had hot chocolate and decorated our tree.

 

We went to church on Christmas Eve, than spent the evening with Grammy and Papa. We ate pizza, played a game and the boys opened one present.

 

 Charles was very excited about these walkie talkies from Grandma and Grandpa Kall!!

Joshua and Thomas loved the new basketballs too!

 

Next it was PJs and tracking Santa on Norad.  Then off to bed!

 

Christmas morning...the boys must have been good this year!

 

Thomas got a new guitar! An airsoft gun a plasma ball and some clothes.

 Charles got some games, a bow and arrow, an ihome and a razor flash rider. He also got an airsoft pistol.

Josh got a new airsoft gun, a kindle fire HD some video games and clothes.



 

Christmas breakfast.

Candy cane shaped fruit and a napkin folded like an elf shoe!!
(thank you Pinterest)

All the boys also got this popcorn popper!! Just like at the movies and Carly got a stocking full of stuff including this huge candy cane bone!!

Then later that afternoon, it began to SNOW.  We thought we were going to get just a few snowflakes, but we actually got a few inches! It was so much fun.

We headed to Grammy and Papas for Christmas Dinner and more presents!
 

Charles got a metal detector and a new robe!!! He loved it.
We ate our Winton traditional dinner of Beef tenderloin with bernaise sauce and twice baked potatoes. Yum!

 

The next day the boys played in the snow before it melted and shot their new airsoft guns!!

 

 

Merry Christmas!!

 

 

 

 

Chicago Midwest Clinic - Shadow Ridge Band

 

Joshua's middle school Shadow Ridge Honor Winds band was selected as one of three middle schools in the country to attend the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago.  They started rehearsals in the summer and spent many hours preparing.  They prepared 9 pieces that were technically very difficult and even  played one song that was composed especially for them.  The world premier of that song was in Chicago, the composer was in the audience.

 

This was a BIG DEAL!

 

The band program at LISD is excellent. In fact, Marcus High School in  Flower Mound was also chosen to attend. There have never been two schools from the same school district to attend the clinic in the 66 year history.  The level that Joshua's band played at was unbelievable...I think they were better than my high school band.

 

The band boarded two charter buses and also had an equipment truck that headed to Chicago on December 17.  They drove all night and arrived in Chicago the next afternoon.  The kids did all sorts of cool stuff while they were there: Sears Tower Sky Deck, Ginos Pizza, shopping on Michigan avenue, Art Museum, Field Museum of Natural history and the aquarium. They performed at the clinic, participated in a clinic session, saw the Blue Man Group and even went to the Chicago Symphony! 

 

It really was a trip of a lifetime. I think Joshua slept for 24 hours when he got home.

 

Steve and I flew in for a couple of days to see the performance and had a mini vacation in Chicago.

Boarding the buses at school

Joshua's group was on bus loading duty.

Scarves made for the kids

Chicago was beautiful all lit up for Christmas.

Coolest Walgreens ever!

 

The big Concert. Sound check.

 

Post concert congratulations. They were Awesome!

 

The trombone section were featured at the exhibition hall...Eastman found out they were all using Eastman trombones.

Conductor batons

Colorful trombones

We walked around the exhibits and saw all sorts of cool instruments and band gear.

Michigan Avenue shopping

Finishing off with drinks at the W. Steve and his martinis!!

 

It snowed after we left and it wasn't all that cold while we were there.  It was a really fun, quick trip.  We were so glad we were there to see the kids perform.  Most of the song composers were in the audience along with band people from all over the country (and world).  Shadow Ridge Middle School is definitely on the map now!