• Highland Happenings. . .

    Faith is the power, Obedience is the price, Love is the motive, The Spirit is the key, and Christ is the reason.

Sunday, 17 May 2009

  • I missed a few items on the calendar:

    May 8th   Allison performs with the Legacy Elementary Chorus 6:30 pm Concert
    May 9th   Allison competes at Gotta Move Dance Competition @ Provo High School
    May 12th  Kaitlyn performs with AFHS Wind Ensemble (last concert) 7:00 pm Concert & Awards
    May 13th  Allison's Make up (due to rain) Soccer game 5:30pm
     May 14th  Jessica performs with AFJR Int. Orchestra 6:00 pm Concert
            Kaitlyn performs with AFHS Philharmonic Orchestra 7:30 pm Concert
    May 15th  Allie attends birthday party, Parents' date night
    May 16th  Allie's soccer game
    Kaitlyn's end of school friend party
    Noyce wedding reception
    May 17th  Kaitlyn graduates from Seminary
    May 18th  Allison performs accompanied by Kaitlyn on piano at Viola Recital 7:30 pm.
    May 20th  Activity Day Mother/Daughter Evening
    May 23rd  Allison's soccer game
     Family attending wedding reception in Newton, UT. 
    May 24th  Visiting with Arnells
    May 25th  Cleaning head stones at City Grove Cemetery, Blackfoot, ID
    May 26th  6th Grade Graduation.
    May 28th  Company arrives from Idaho.
            Jessica performs at Piano Recital 7:00 pm @ Piano Gallery, 10888 So. 300 W., South Jordan
    May 29th  Kaitlyn graduates from AFHS  9:00 am BYU Marriott Center and last day of school.
    May 30th  Just Dance Company auditions
    May 31st  Jessica and Allison perform with YW String Ensemble in Highland 12th Ward Sacrament meeting.
    June 1-3  YW Camp

    Soccer practice is held on Wednesday evening but it was rescheduled as a makeup game for a rained out game and week and a half ago.

    Makeup game 002    Makeup game 003-1

    Allie missed dance to play soccer.  Jessica should have gone to dance class that evening too but, instead, had an emergency visit to the orthodontist as one of her bottom springs came off the wire and was causing considerable discomfort jabbing into the gum.  After the brace repair, we went to cheer on the soccer team.  They had a commanding lead going into half time.  Coach Gibson didn't want the other team to go home with nil so he told our team to give them a chance.  Our team member kicking the ball into their goal was more than he was expecting though!

    Thursday was Jessica's time to shine.

     Spring Concert 010

    She performed with the AFJR Intermediate Orchestra 1st chair cello.  So much easier for the photographer.

    Spring Concert 007    Spring Concert 009

    The evening was capped off by a performance of a Symphonic Orchestra combining brass and wood winds with the strings.

    Symphonic Orchestra Concert 003    Symphonic Orchestra Concert 005

    Once again, the setting is more than the photographer can handle but as the french horns (including Kaitlyn) were tucked on the far back left hand corner of the stage it doesn't really matter.  We could hear them though and they did out perform the trumpets.  One last performance for Kaitlyn.  Wind Symphony is playing at graduation.  Today is the last AP test and she finished her last graduation credit on Wednesday.  She is ready to kick back and enjoy life.  Ah, but now she'll have time to clean her room!


Thursday, 14 May 2009


  • The End of an Era?

    Kaitlyn was in Fourth Grade when she began her "Band Geek" career.  She played Trumpet for three years in elementary bands, then moved to French Horn in 7th grade.  She added to her instrument repertoire her Jr. year when she joined the Marching Band and learned to play a mellaphone.  This week, that chapter of her life, came to and end.
     
    Final Band Concert and Awards 016-1   Final Band Concert and Awards 004

     Tuesday night was the final Band Concert and Award Ceremony.  In years past, these were two separate one hour events.  This year, they combined them.  Some of the Seniors (Kaitlyn) were in too much of a party mood to handle two hours.  Once they played Candid, they were ready to be done.  When this year's Seniors where in 9th grade, they had the honor of playing for the Music Educators National Conference at the Salt Palace.  They put in many extra hours after school and on weekends perfecting this five movement piece with Mr. Arnold.  It was a fitting tribute to have Mr. Arnold conduct them playing this piece one last time.


    Its really not easy getting a good picture of Kaitlyn.  I think, for sure, I have the little boxes aimed at her but, inevitably, there is something or someone in the forefront, that ends up being the focal point. Bummer.

    Can you feel the party atmosphere?

    Final Band Concert and Awards 001-1

    They earned a few awards this year.


Sunday, 10 May 2009

  • Gotta Move Dance Competition
    May 9th

    This was Allison's last dance competition for the season.  She's a member of two companies for her studio, Just Dance.  She dances two routines for each company, one Lyrical and the other Jazz.

    Extreme CoExtreme Co

    The Jazz routine for Extreme Company was "Raining Men."  They took 1st place in their division.
    They also captured the "High Point Award"     and "Best Technique" for
    all amateur/intermediate division routines (73 teams). High Honors.

    Extreme Co  Extreme Co

    The Extreme Co.Lyrical routine was "If No One Will Listen."  They took 1st place in their division.

    Jr

    "Its About That Walk" for the Jr. Pro Team Jazz routine.  Another 1st place performance.

    Jr  Jr

    The Jr. Pro Team danced to "Held" for their Lyrical performance.

    The awards on this one are a little confusing.  They were awarded 2nd place in the division but then were give the "Judges' Choice" award.  Did they get marked down for being too good?  Their director says, "they placed 2nd place only because they were penalized 3 points for being to good....??!!  WHAT?! seriously...we followed the competition guidelines and put them in the appropriate category, but the judges thought they were to good....when do you ever get penalized for being to good.... so if they weren't so good they would have taken 1st in their division."  Go figure.  The Judges' Choice trumps the placing anyway.

    Awards 004
    Regardless, is was a great way to end the season.  I don't think those smiles could have gotten any bigger.


Saturday, 09 May 2009

  • Legacy Elementary Chorus Spring Program
    May 8th

    Chorus Concert 018

    Chorus is open to 5th and 6th grade students.  They practice at 7:25 to 7:55 am or 3:30 to 4:00 pm depending on the student's tract.  Those students, like Allie, for whom school beings at 8am attend Chorus before school.  The music selection was nice.

    Chorus Concert 015

    Allison had solo part in "Honor to Us All" from Mulan.  She did a great job.

Thursday, 07 May 2009

  • We're busy.

    David is working long and hard hours with two businesses he has started.  He continues to serve in the temple each Wednesday morning.  Being there by 5:00 am has not gotten any easier.  Lately, he's been taking Jessica to do baptisms Friday mornings.  They leave the house about 5:15 am and pick up a friend or two of Jessica's, depending on who can go, and are back around 7 am, plenty of time for Jess to make it to school.  And he's been an assistant coach to Allison's soccer team.

    Kaitlyn has finished 3 college courses and taken three of six AP Exams in her Herculean effort to complete an Associates degree before she starts school at BYU September 1st.  She'll take the other three next week. She continues to teach horn lessons and is preparing for her 2nd Dan Black Belt test in September. 

    Jessica has dance, cello and piano lessons. She can't wait for school to be out.  Allison has dance, viola and piano lessons.  She's looking forward to 6th Grade Graduation.  They generally keep up on homework as long as they are reminded but prefer to spend out of school time with friends or each other in an effort to not have to practice their music lessons. Our Ward YW Camp is the M,T, W right after school is out.  Allison will be going for the first time.  Both Jess and Allie will then spend the next three weeks involved in School String camps from 9am to noon Monday through Friday and preparing to perform as field dancers for Stadium of Fire.

    I'm chief cook, bottle washer, chauffeur and reminderer of all things.

    Here's the calendar for the month.  If you are in the neighborhood, join us.

    May 8th   Allison performs with the Legacy Elementary Chorus 6:30 pm Concert
    May 9th   Allison competes at Gotta Move Dance Competition @ Provo High School
    May 12th  Kaitlyn performs with AFHS Wind Ensemble (last concert) 7:00 pm Concert & Awards
    May 14th  Jessica performs with AFJR Int. Orchestra 6:00 pm Concert
            Kaitlyn performs with AFHS Philharmonic Orchestra 7:30 pm Concert
    May 18th  Allison performs accompanied by Kaitlyn on piano at Viola Recital 7:30 pm.
    May 23rd  Family attending wedding reception in Newton, UT. 
    May 24th  Visiting with Arnells
    May 25th  Cleaning head stones at City Grove Cemetery, Blackfoot, ID
    May 26th  6th Grade Graduation.
    May 28th  Company arrives from Idaho.
            Jessica performs at Piano Recital 7:00 pm @ Piano Gallery, 10888 So. 300 W., South Jordan
    May 29th  Kaitlyn graduates from AFHS  9:00 am BYU Marriott Center and last day of school.
    May 31st  Jessica and Allison perform with YW String Ensemble in Highland 12th Ward Sacrament meeting.

Wednesday, 25 February 2009

  • Wedding Plans

    You can tell when sleep deprivation sets in sometimes.  The other day Kaitlyn asked if Aunt Jan had calmed down.   When we gave her confused looks, she proceeded to tell us that Uncle Brent had called and said the plans for the wedding had changed and the menu for the luncheon was now completely different.  Aunt Jan was adamant that we were NOT to bring Goldfish crackers anymore as our food assignment.  She was quite upset about it and wanted to make certain we did not show up with Goldfish crackers for the luncheon.  Our looks of puzzlement got more pronounced and as she got to the Goldfish crackers part, it dawned on her the lunacy of what she had just said.  She paused and said, um, maybe I was dreaming this?  Yeah, that sounds like a safe bet.  Another safe bet is you NEED MORE SLEEP so you can distinguish reality from your dreams?  Could make for an interesting wedding meal though, and since I am a permanent nursery leader, I am quit familiar with Goldfish being prominent on the menu!  Here is to hoping this kid survives the next three months and makes it out of high school!  Sleep can be more important than she thinks sometimes!  LOL

Friday, 09 January 2009

Monday, 17 November 2008

  • From John Miller, Director of AF Marching Band

    "The last bus just left the high school, all our students are home safely and hopefully we can all get a good nights sleep. This has truly been a remarkable weekend for the AF Band family. Our performance at Semi-Finals was incredible and the best we have ever done. When the students walked off the field we knew we had done our very best and we all felt good about our efforts. As one of their directors I could have not asked for more and they gave us all they had. It was an amazing performance and as I have watched it several times I am impressed with what the students have accomplished this season. As we listened to the finalist bands being announced I fully expected our name to be among them. We were all devestated when we were not included in the final 12 bands. The students as well as staff were stunned and it was a very emotional time for everyone. I want everyone to know that not making finals was not a result of lack of effort or commitment on the students part. They truly acheived what was given them. What kept us out of finals had more to do with overall design and composition of the show. We thought we had designed a package that was a "BOA" show and in many respects it was. We received rave reviews from BOA judges at the Las Vegas regional but we were not in direct competition with the top BOA bands. I don't always agree with the visual and musical design being rewarded at the BOA shows but if we choose to play in that arena we must play by their rules and expectations. I hope we all have learned from this experience and by watching the top bands we have gained an even stronger knowledge about what we need to do in the future to compete at this level. Being 14th out of 92 of the nations best bands is nothing to be ashamed about. It was an amazing weekend and the students were first class not only on the field but at all times during the trip. These are incredible youth we work with and I thank you for allowing us as a staff to spend so  much time with them. Words can never express my appreciation to all those who were with us on the field in the stands or packed in the band room at home cheering us on! We must now move on to other things and it is my hope you will support us in all the musical activities throughout the year. I have never been more proud of the the AF Band as I was this weekend. More closure information will follow in the days ahead."

    Kaitlyn got home about noon yesterday.  She had the house to herself to catch up on sleep and decompress from travel.  It was after midnight before the rest of us came dragging in.   We're still recovering from a day of travel.  Haven't had time to look at the pictures taken.  I'll update later if any are worth it.

Saturday, 15 November 2008

  • We Made It!

    So the American Fork High School marching band marched at the Bands of America national competition yesterday.  There were 91 bands and some of them were spectacular.  These kids have put in an amazing amount of work!  We made the semi finals so the kids march again this morning.  We are hoping things go better today than yesterday.  They did okay, but the new stadium also has new astroturf and it is slick.  With all the quick turns and running while playing an instrument, we had four kids go down yesterday.  Not good for the score.  Even so, they made the semi-finals.  Hopefully we will want to use our tickets for the finals tonight.  We paid several hundred dollars for those tickets for four of us to get in--we really hope we have a family member on the field to justify that!  The Colt's new stadium is something else!  It is an indoor stadium (which is very, very nice since it has rained the entire time we have been here).  The difference in the sound is surprising.  They actually sound much better outside than in this stadium.  I am not sure if it is the echo or if the roof is sound deadoning, but they still sound good.  They announce the bands that made the semi-finals in random order.  We were one of the last ones announced.  We were very disappointed that we went that long because our hearts were getting sad thinking we had not made it!  But the bands screams revived us!  Wish us luck!

Thursday, 06 November 2008

  • This is what is happening with our family.  Performance itinerary:

    November
    14 & 15  American Fork HS Marching Band @ Grand Nationals in Indianapolis, IN
           22  French Horn Recital @ AFHS Band Room 12pm to 2pm
                (Kaitlyn is scheduled to perform just after 1 pm. 
                 I'm hoping to move her time earlier because it conflicts with TCO.)
                TCO Strings Concert (Jessica on cello) 1pm @ Mountain Ridge Junior High School

    December
     1  Viola Recital (Allison) Place and time to be announced.
     5  Just Dance (Allison) @ Festival of Trees 6pm South Towne Expo Center
     6  USU HS Honor Band (Kaitlyn on French Horn)  Time and place to be announced
    10  AFHS Band Christmas Concert (Kaitlyn) 7pm
    11  Legacy Elementary Chorus Christmas Concert (Allison) 6:30pm
    12  AFJR Orchestra Christmas Concert (Jessica) 6pm


    Anyone is welcome to attend any performance.  No one is expected or obligated.  If you need/want more information, let us know.

Pulse

  • "The highest motive for keeping the comandments is a love for God and for His children."  Marilyn Bateman, Christ Is the Reason, 16 Jan 2001