January 22, 2008

It's 4:30 p.m. on our second snow day. I took the boys sledding today which was so fun!! Ben screamed and laughed the whole way down every time he went. Matt nearly had a melt-down on his first time down. He sat on the sled, looked down the hill, and started freaking out. Right before he was about to leap off the sled I yelled, "quick, grab the sides of the sled with both hands!" He had a puzzled look on his face, but did it anyway. I gave a little shove and down he flew. He couldn't get enough after that.

Saturday we went to "the New Forest" to shoot their .22s and do some hiking. That's when I feel most alive. It was one of the best days of my life.

Today I was remembering how the heat was one factor in the lack of preparation for marching band. Now snow's canceled 2 days, and more snow's in the forecast. Will we allow that to be an excuse for a lack of preparation?

Oh yeah, and I'm pumped about the spring trip. We're going to the University of Florida on Saturday before we head home for a master class with one of their band directors! Not to mention an entire day at the beach, fly-fishing, surfing, fly-fishing, Medieval Times, and fly-fishing. I need some input from you: 30 minute fan boat ride OR boat ride out to a deserted island where we can collect shells and snorkel around a ship wreck? It's about the same price, but I need to make reservations soon.

Time Off

So some time off has been really great. There's not been much sleeping in because Chloe wakes up at 6:30 am whether we have school or not. It's been so good to be with my family. I'm reminded how blessed I am; incredible wife, beautiful daughter (who doesn't appreciate sleep yet), and 2 beautiful boys that are actually super heros. When they team up on me, which is every stinkin time, the kicks and punches to all areas of my body really hurt. I'm also blessed to be teaching at BC. I love it here, even though it's far from "easy."

I'm glad things have been tough. The finished product tastes sweeter. It's much more rewarding having to work hard as opposed to having it handed to you on a silver platter. I hope you are learning to appreciate music and band and playing your instrument, but that's not all that important in the big picture. I hope that you are learning that hard work yields much better things than laziness. Plus, hard work is just good for the soul.

I look forward to being back with you. Clean your oven, and we'll eat cookies together soon.

December 8, 2007

This has been a busy week. I've either been at church or school until late every night. It's hard when I don't get to see my family much. I never realized how much kids would change me and my priorities in life.

You guys sounded great at the game last night. I'm not real big on ball games (in case you didn't know that), but I had fun with you all. This past week was a great rehearsal week. It was a different experience to look at your faces and it was all work. I'm proud of you when you work hard so that you can achieve something great.

A new direction?

Our time in rehearsal has been neither efficient nor productive. In order to have a truly incredible concert, each member of the family must be prepared to rehearse the next day, and that only happens through effective practicing. Today we heard the saxophone quartet during class. When the group first started to meet together, it was a reflection of what was happening in band.

Then the group got serious and wanted to do great things. Now they eat up everything that's put in front of them. They were asked to work on a new tune for the first time YESTERDAY. Today when we played through it, it was nearly perfect the FIRST TIME. That did not just happen; it was a result of each person doing what was asked of them. Had one member not been prepared, the piece could not be played at Monday's meeting. Right now that small group is a model of efficient and productive use of time. Those kids are no different than the rest of the group.

Imagine what would happen if...