Sunday’s Birthday Party
the boy
Birthday Party Snippet
Band Competition
The Boy's school band went to a local amusement park (outside Charlotte -- I guess "local" is relative) for a band competition. All three bands (sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade bands) got superior ratings.
Twelve
The Boy is twelve today. He's nearing K's height, and he's losing the last vestiges of little-boy-ness that we've all grown so accustomed to. He's not a little boy; he's a little man. Almost.
We celebrated his birthday in a modest way today: the party is Sunday, and the Girl wasn't even able to participate because she was at volleyball practice. But we made him a good dinner, bought him a small Key Lime birthday pie, and the K took him shopping.
What he bought is telling: no more toys, not even anything guitar-related. He wanted new shoes and new clothes. He's changed his hairstyle (his choice), and he thinks about his appearance these days. No longer a little boy.
Sunday Here and There
Spring Concert
Spring 2024 Tournament Day 2
Today was the final day of our short spring tournament. They boys played their hearts out, and they had a good time -- the results (0-1-2) weren't as important.
It was a bittersweet afternoon, though: it will be the last season this team is together. There are always some new members each season, but this team has had a little core for the last three seasons, and now it's all over. Several of the boys (E included) will be too old to play on the fall team, and the coach won't be working with U12s anymore: he's moving up to the 18s travel team.
Coach M was a great coach, the only coach the Boy really wanted to play for, and we're going to miss him.
In the evening, we went on our first ride of the season.
Except for L: she doesn't like cycling, which is a shame.
Tournament 2024 Day 1
Soccer Hearts
Low Brass, High Scores
E had the chance tonight to have his newly-acquired trombone skills evaluated. We drove to Dorman High School, saw hundreds of other kids who were being evaluated as well,
and made our way to room 9 (actually B117--not sure why they re-numbered the rooms).
The Boy walked in, performed his solo piece perfectly, and walked out with the scoresheet to prove it.
His band director took a picture and told us that students who earn a "Superior" rating must, simply must, go out for ice cream.
"We were ready for the rating," I told Mr. K. "We bought some earlier today!"