gaffney/limestone

We spent last weekend in Gaffney, SC. Luke was selected to participate in Limestone College's honor band, so off we went. Anytime that he can play next to people who are better than him is a chance we just can't pass up. Being with those who are better, only serves to make us better! I think he may have been the only freshman in attendance.

He was really impressed with the school and their music department as were we. The school is small as is the town, and seemed to be a good fit for him. However, we have three more years before that decision has to be made, and who knows? a career choice may change between now and then. They do offer a hefty scholarship during this weekend to all seniors in attendance who wish to try-out. This year, Luke's friend and drum major for NCH, Dylan, won the scholarship! We were so excited for him as he is so deserving.

Before the final concert on Saturday we decided to have lunch with Dylan and his parents. While riding through Gaffney's downtown area, we had seen a HUGE sign on a restaurant window that said, "Featured on Food Network". We figured it was one of those places that Guy Fieri goes on his show:  Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. We were right, and asked the waitress what he had come to taste. She told us the chili-dogs and chili hamburgers. So, okay, I ordered a chili-dog and Dylan's dad got the chili-burger. YUCK! The hot dog was boiled with chili on top. Steve makes a better chili-dog and a better chili! The chili burger was basically a sloppy joe with one meatball (albeit small) on it. We were sorely disappointed. My advice is, if you ever go through Gaffney, don't bother to stop at Harold's.

All-in-all though, the weekend was full of fun and bargains (Belk was having a killer sale where I found Luke some jeans for $8).  The concert was great.....of course! Luke enjoyed himself, and we did too!

driver's beware

Yep, that's right....my little man is now a driver. I cannot believe that he is already 15. What an incredible young man he has become!

SCARY!!

Socastee competition

WE MAY BE SMALL, BUT WE ARE LOUD AND PROUD!!

NORTH CENTRAL MARCHING KNIGHTS BAND

band

You guys know that when it comes to posting pictures, and especially videos that blogger hates me. So, I will instead direct you here to hear Luke's band at the Homecoming game--which wasn't much of a game, but the band was good!

a funny story

Luke has been exceptionally tired every day since school started, and has gone to bed nearly as soon as he's walked into the door at 6 from a full day of school and band practice.

However, this past Wednesday, he was tired like I've never seen before. He doesn't have practice on Wednesdays, so he was actually home by 3:30. He went into the small TV room to eat a snack and promptly fell asleep in the chair. So much so, that Steve had to kick his foot to wake him up and tell him to take out the trash. After he did that, Steve asked him to bring the SOL cases of milk over to the church as I was busy preparing the sacks for this week's kids.

Thirty minutes later, Steve and I are over in the church and realize that Luke hasn't made it with the milk so Steve goes to investigate. He finds Luke SOUND ASLEEP with his feel on the ground, his body folded over the cases of milk in the backseat of his car, and his head on the seat. Again, he had to kick his foot to wake him up! He ended up sleeping 14 HOURS STRAIGHT that night.....

Now, that's what I call TIRED!

the gift

Uh, yeah, This kid







Amazes. Me.

Check him out at http://the-gift-of-what.blogspot.com/

the last middle school band concert

for Luke, that is. I am so proud of him! He has played the sax for the past three years. He's pretty good, too..............remember that band award?? Well, he has now decided that he also wants to play the trumpet and started his lessons with that last Monday. Here's a few pics, and if you go to Steve's blog, you can see a short video. If you look really closely you can see him in this first picture in front of the tubas.

stage debut

The stage debut ended up being a "staged reading". The play itself was a little strange, but since this was an "acting boot camp", I thought it was pretty good. Luke really enjoyed it, and plans to audition for The Wizard of Oz this Spring.



We actually have a short video clip, but as you know, I have had problems getting blogger to upload pictures. I'm going to keep trying to get the video uploaded so that you can see his 3-minute scene which was really funny.

band

This is a picture of the band, but I don't even see Luke in it! Taken with Steve's phone...my new camera has not yet arrived!
Luke is in the middle school band. He plays the saxophone, and we love listening to him. We love the band, and can't wait for those Saturdays next Fall and Friday nights when he is in high school in the marching band. Although, it will be much different from our previous experience with Stevie where the band was large, as NCHS has about 15 members! They do go to competitions and they actually placed second a couple of weeks ago. So, while we wait for that, we had the opportunity to hear the pep band for the middle school play at the JV football game last Thursday. They were actually good, and we enjoyed it. I really wish their band teacher instilled a little more confidence in them or maybe she needs more confidence in herself, because I'd love to hear them more often. Ahhh....Fall, there's just so much to love about it, and this is just one more thing!

our weekend

Shea surprised us last Thursday evening by calling to say she was coming to see us. It ended up being a good weekend for since we already had several things planned. She had just spent the week at Disney with her "alternate family" and since she had a few days left of her vacation, we were the beneficiaries of those. It's okay, though, we don't mind the leftovers!

On Friday, Luke got out of school early for what was suppose to be a teacher workday, but ended up being a teacher furlough day. Poor teachers.....they don't get paid enough as it is, and now they have to take time off without pay :( I hope they all left and went home and didn't hang around working for free!

Anyway, we had already decided to use that day to take advantage of our zoo membership. The weather was a little cooler so the animals were quite active. We got to see several of them up close and personal as evidenced in these pictures:






We then went to see Couple's Retreat. Well, Stevie and Luke went to see Toy Story which they liked. However, Couple's Retreat? Just. say. no. Not funny at all, really and I generally like Justin Bateman, but his character was just annoying with his paralysis of analysis.

Saturday was a sad, sad, day. Georgia got beat......AGAIN. Come on, Tennessee? For real????
LSU lost............hate Florida. Enough said.

Sunday was homecoming at our church and we had a wonderful service, great crowd, and good meal. When I finally pulled Steve away, we headed out to McLeod's Farm to go to the corn maze and eat peach enchiladas. Although, now they have apple crisp so I will have to try that next time. We didn't buy apples, but we should have. They are the best place to get fruit, and their prices are great! The corn maze was not really hard, but it was fun. The weather was perfect as I have really been missing the Fall temperatures that we have grown use to!

We had a weekend to remember. These are the times in our lives that we cherish--family, friends, and good times. Life doesn't get any better does it?