It's a Great Day to Be a Marchmaster!

Marching band has been a HUGE and happy part of Leah's junior year.  She loved marching and meeting new friends. From pre-performance dinners and makeup sessions to movie nights and early morning practices 5 days a week, this group had no choice but to became fast friends!

And we loved watching her perform!  We're officially a Friday nights lights family now, and the season was actually over quicker than any of us expected. 

By the end of the season the flags were moved to the front of the field and Leah rocked her front and center spot- right on the 50 yard line!

I can't see it very often, but I can see the Henscheid in this picture!

Strike a pose girly!

We cheered Leah on in all kinds of configurations- just the girls, just Mom and Dad, just Dad, just the boys with Mom and Dad.... and almost always with other friends around us! On warm nights and chilly nights, and even rain, marching band was a family event for us this fall!

One night Daddy and I scooped popcorn in the concession stands for 4 hours.... all while joking about the fact that when you have a precious little bundle of baby placed in your arms in the hospital no one tells you about reliving the high school years all over again.  But we love it!

One night Adam got to play too!  He is really looking forward to joining the marching band next year. 

I just love this music-making, joiner, brave, try something new crew of mine!

20 Year Famiversary!

We spent Labor Day in Omaha!  Sweet Leah is trying to figure out how to spend time with her FSY friend Adam while not wanting to drive herself the 4 hours round trip it takes to visit him, and on this holiday the solution was for all of us to go west together!  I've been wanting to return to the botanical gardens for years, and it worked out- with the stipulation that the kids would go one direction, and the parents would go the other direction. Boo. 

But Daddy and I actually had a lovely time wandering through the gardens as a couple who has been together for 20 years would do. 

We are very mature. 

Whenever the kids saw or heard us coming toward them (which was more often than we let on to them), we made a big show out of running in the other direction.  Leah said I looked like a sasquatch in the woods. I took that as a compliment. 

We met up at the highlight experience of the park- the trains!  This amazing set up captivated us for what felt like hours years ago- yes, this garden was the location of Adam passing out which resulted in me leaving 7-year-old Leah alone with toddler Emma and baby Noah while I got Adam into the air conditioned lobby.  None of us can decide who was the most traumatized from that day, but it sure was memorable. This time around, as is the case with so many things that change with our perspective over time, the trains were viewed as cool and a welcome spot of shade on this boiling hot day, but the magic of seeing them through the eyes of a child is a solid memory from the past.  

Still, we soldiered on and had a great time, especially once we headed back into the atrium for some lunch, air conditioning, and magic tricks.  

Adams of a feather must magic together. 

Then up the stairs we raced to see the huge trains!

It seems that we always only ever visit Omaha in conjunction with a temple trip, but since the temple is closed right now we had lots of other places we wanted to check out!  These slides on a hill were nothing like we envisioned, but I would say they were actually even better!

Apparently no matter how old kids are, they can't be kept from the lure of playing in water. It was so hot, I'm sure this felt amazing. 

Since we were celebrating the anniversary of our first date, we had to get ice cream!

Just what we all needed on such a hot day, and I am still dreaming about that delicious hot fudge. 

Cheers to 20 years!

Two thoughts on marriage to close out this post- I recently heard (maybe from a comedian?) that the hardest year of marriage is the one that you are currently in.  This feels true.  Time keeps marching on and just when we think we have figured out our current phase of life a new one arrives with its own struggles and (hopefully) triumphs.  

And second, these are the good old days.  Memories get sweeter over time and that means that  intentionally acting and celebrating is important not only for a happy today but a lifetime of memories to look back on as the years march by. 

Turning Toward School

So long lazy days of summer.  Waaaayy before any of us were ready, it was time to turn our thoughts toward school.  The first day of school temps were in the 90s, so I stuck our traditional back-to-school banner in a watermelon to remind us all that summer wasn't really over, we just had to spend part of our days at school now. Everyone is at the same school this year as they were last year, which has done wonders to help manage nerves and expectations as we have started this new year. 

Leah has been up and at 'em for color guard for weeks by this point, so getting up for school was no big deal for her.  She has been driving herself to and from practice and work all summer, and was more than ready to start driving herself to school now as well!  All around we have been quite pleased with the junior year driving milestone for Leah.  As our oldest-child-guinea-pig-baby, we definitely have pushed back these milestones for her in hopes of keeping the younger kids expectations at bay for as long as possible. Leah is ready to take on her junior year by force!  She has two AP classes, online seminary for the first six weeks to accommodate before-school color guard practice, and competitions or games every weekend through October to kick her year off with. 

Next up is 8th grader Adam!  

Adam is ready to rule the school, Chick-fil-a style!

His biggest hopes for this year are to get his learners permit and get his braces off. 

And last but not least, my elementary school babies! I'm so glad they have one more year together before Emma heads off to middle school. 

Emma is ready to be a leader and top dog at Jordan Creek, and has a great line up of activities and a great circle of friends this year. 

How is Noah already in 4th grade?!  He was a kindergarten in 2020 so right from the beginning his school years have felt all mixed up to me.  I am thrilled that he has the same teacher Emma had in 4th grade, and he is thrilled that one of his three best friends is in his class (although he would have gladly taken all three!). 

 Laney is always at a loss when the kids are at school. She watches the road diligently for any signs of their return. 

And return they all did! With smiles and tales of classes and friends and excitement for the new year and a bit of sadness for the end of summer.  

After school relaxing is a must whenever possible. 

And as is our new tradition, we got Chick-fil-a for dinner on the second night of school.  That one's always a bit tougher than the first day as we all have to get up again and do it all over again... 179 more times.  But there is so much good that comes in the school year- it's going to be a great year!