Thursday, November 28, 2013

So much to be Thankful for



Happy Thanksgiving!

While you're munching down on turkey (or whatever your dish of choice may be), here's me being thankful for the past two weeks! And here's why!!!

As I posted last week, it was finals week for band!!! I figured that my band needed some treats, so I made cupcakes.




55 cupcakes.
Baked and decorated.
In one night.
That's how we do.





Claire and I were totally twinning at school one day. I'm so thankful for and so proud of this girl. :)


We had our end of season family picnic the Friday before Finals, where we reherse from 3:30-6, then have dinner with our parents before doing a final run of our show on the home field.
Batgirl and Robin strike again!
Saturday was the big day, so we got to school a little early. My co DM and I hung out in our band director's office for a few minutes before the storm that would be semifinals.
It was a bittersweet day as us seniors performed with our group for the last time, but that didn't stop us from smiling!

A compilation of bus selfies :)


Now check this out - since our show was 20's themed, one of our band dads decided that the goolf cart we use to pull the rock band trailer needed to become a Model T. With a horn.


This is why we have the best band parents ever.

We were blessed enough to rock semifinals and make it to Finals, which are held at Tropicana Field.
(what?)
If you have no concept of what I'm talking about, it's where the Tampa Bay Rays play baseball.
(oh.)

Playing in the Trop is one of the best feelings ever. Everything echoes, and you feel like you own the world in those few minutes.

My directors had a bunch of faith in me, so they set me up to start our show with the opening clarinet solo from George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue. Like, holy cow. It was so much fun to play, but that slide is killer. I was so worried that I wouldn't make it, but here's a picture from our Finals performance.


It's right as I'm about to hit the top note. I was smiling so hard, and I almost started crying. It is the most iconic clarinet solo ever, and my band directors trusted me enough to play it.


After our show (which was our best run ever), we went to the mall. Kirsten and I knew what we wanted - Chinese food.


Delish!



Also, peppermint chocolate chip milkshakes are back at Chick-Fil-A!!!

After dinner, we all headed back to the Trop for awards. We had a lot of time before they started, so our directors hung out with us on the field.

But once it started, we all held our breaths...



 And then let our breaths out when they announced first place in 1A!!!!


STATE CHAMPS!!!
With this years Championship, us four year seniors are leaving with three championships.
It's been a good run.


Picture time!
Besties!

Seniors and Directors!


Me and the Parents in the Trop after winning!

"Back-To-Back State Championshiiiiiips!!"
Yeah, we're pretty excited.
Just a bit.


Leaving the Trop for the third and final time as a State Champion. :)




So, from my band family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have as much to be thankful for as we do!!



                                                                                       -SarahCate:D


Sunday, November 17, 2013

Happy Finals Week!!


Happy Finals Week!!!
 
We have band finals this coming Saturday, which means that this is the last week of marching band season :(
 
So here's a recap of the last few weeks!!
 
Two Fridays ago we had our last home football game, and band Senior night. Senior night is always sad, because it's the last time the seniors perform the show in full uniform on the field. We have a ceremony in the band room before the game and all the seniors get flowers and a framed picture. Our band director chooses a Bible verse that best fits our class, then he picks one that best fits us personally. My band director has known me and a few other seniors since we were really small, so there may have been a few tears.
 
 
 
 
Me and Mom!


Senior flowers!

Sadly, we lost our last home game.
BUT we had a band competition the next day!

I walked into the bathroom to go do my makeup and I find one of our guard girls like this...

Mista Cate!
At the competition*, we performed right behind the largest band in the county.

*It's not really a competition. It's our annual Musical Performance Assesment, where all the bands in the county are given a score from Poor to Superior.


Mi familia!!

We got straight Superiors, which is the best possible rating!! It means that all the judges thought we were really good :)


Enjoy a bunch of random snapshots from my week:
Pre-Chapel antics. Jordan doesn't like selfies.

I thought I looked really cute one day!!

Did I make black bean soup? Heck yes!!!
I made All-State Women's Choir! This was the picture I sent my friends to tell them the news!
We had a Jazz Band gig Friday night. It was a dinner and dance in honor of veterans, so they wanted a band to play swing music!
Myself, Claire, Jacob, and Taylor hanging around before the gig!
Claire and I went into the bathroom and found a shower. Not even in its own area: The shower was inside one of the stalls. Clearly, taking a picture was the only logical plan of action.
I loved my view from the stage! We got to watch all the old couples dancing!!
Finally, this is what I wore to church today! It had been a while since I'd rocked the dress and tights combo, so I thought today was a good day to wear it!! Plus, this Florida girl will take any excuse to dress like it's fall!!



 

So happy Finals week! Hopefully the next post will bring good news!!!


                                                -SarahCate:D


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Halloweeeeeen!!

Happy Happy Happy November 3rd to all!!

Yesterday was a competition day, so this blog is going to be short and sweet! :)

In case you were unaware (and you live in a cave),  Halloween was on Thursday!!

I haven't been trick-or-treating in forever (like in 10 years), and I'd never been with friends before (I was a sad child).

Anyways, I was determined to go this year!

Nikki hadn't been in a while either, so she went as Batman Batgirl and I went as Robin! Of course, it's really easy to find Batman shirts, while it's practically impossible to find Robin shirts!

So we went all Pinterest up in here and made our own.

My Robin shirt!

Nananananananana BATMAAAN!
In the middle of all this fun was the annual Egypt Day! The fifth graders at our school always learn about Egypt, then they get to dress up and play Egypt-themed games! Since the class that adopted me this year was a fifth grade class, I stopped by to listen to them play their instruments.
We had band practice early this year, so that we could all go trick or treating or whatever else. So I got to catch a beautiful Halloween sunset on the way home.
So here are our finished costumes:
Batgirl and Robin!

We went trick or treating with our friend Nikita (who I should really post about more on here. She's pretty dang awesome) because her neighborhood knows how to bring it for Halloween. She was a Minion from Despicable Me.
BANANAA!

Here are some individual pictures:





A great time was had by all, and lots of candy was acquired!

Again, this post is so shirt because I've only been up for three or four hours. I'm not sure which. Fallling back screws up my internal clock.

But on the awesome side, our band won Best General Effect, Best Music, and 1st Place in the 2A division last night! And we scored high enough to secure one of the best spots for semi-finals!! I'm so proud!

Have a great Sunday!

                                                            -SarahCate:D