There's no place like home...

Busy is an understatement around here right now but time was on our side for some family time this weekend.
First up was the homecoming football game. Always a great time with friends and family. Chem-girl arrived safe and sound from her second home (college) to attend as an alumni.

Our home school won the game and so the festivities began.




Daughter #1 joined in the fun when work allowed. She's the one wrapped in the afghan because good ole mom wouldn't turn up the heat in order to save money ;).

By the way for the knitters out there, the afghan is the Rambling Rows by Cottage Creations. Excellent pattern and a fun knit (warm too). I can't seem to find the link but for the ravelers out there it's an easy find in the pattern section on Ravelry.
Time was found for a good game of Hands and Foot.


There was some girl knitting time and like a bunch of hens, we chattered and laughed while catching up on the family news. Cooking and baking produced chicken casserole, roast dinner, cookies and potato candy. Yum.

Chem-girl is back at school, DD #1 has a busy week and DH begins another week of work. As for me, it's a time to reflect and catch up on the never ending laundry and cleaning around here as well as some busy time with DD #1. We're looking forward to family time at Thanksgiving. Only 2 + more weeks.
I must also find time for gift knitting....or else put an ad in the paper for some knitting elves ;).

Anticipation

GO Steelers GO!!!!!!!!! Mr. Bettis ready and waiting. I had a piece of Steelers fleece and I tied it as a scarf around his neck. Although he is not cooperative for clothing (he and Sissy have a lot of the same traits) he's looking mighty dashing at the moment.
It took 20 minutes of following him and putting up with his jumping etc to get this one photo.





Homemade chili and cornmuffins are on the menu for the game. We're going to my parents to enjoy the party. The DH is thrilled. They have a big screen tv and apparently watching a game on a big screen is the best.
I don't get into football quite as much as he and the DD but I join in the fun anyway:)


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Enjoy the game if you're watching it. If not, enjoy the day anyway.

The Game is On

Our team went to State Championships yesterday. The Field Captain was Drum Major for the day. She was so excited and had a lot of fun.
Multi-tasking she's trying to watch the game and direct stand tunes.
The very last band game performance for this Drum Major/Field Captain. She's a senior.




A fun picture.
The opposing team is a team from a city magnet school. I have my opinion on magnet schools. Although I'm sure there are benefits I disagree with a magnet school competing against a non-magnet school. Just my opinion.
The opposing team was arrogant and rude until.........we scored. There was a comment made to our coach earlier in the week from this team stating they were going to whoop our a$%es. At halftime we were winning 13-12. Their team had a different approach to our team in the second half and the opposing team actually exhibited good sportmanship conduct.





This is the acting Drum Major for the day at halftime. She had an awesome salute and was cheered by the fans. There were approximately 5,000 fans from our small hometown to support the team, band and students.
The second half of the game was a lip biting experience. We were 19-18 until the last 2 seconds of the game. We lost. 19-20. In the last 2 seconds.






This says it all.








p.s. There was a pep rally downtown for the boys when they returned. They were escorted by the city police and the band played for them. Text messages were flying on the DD's phone last night after the pep rally. The kids are resilient and have planned for Monday to be a red & white day. Meaning? They will show up at school in their school colors. School Pride dominates once again:).

Thank you, my blogging friends, who have supported us/our daughter through this year. You guys are awesome:)
A Very Special Thank You goes out to my BFF and my parents who made a very special effort to support our daughter and actually attend her senior events. It has meant more to her and us than you will ever know. Thank you so much.

The Last Homecoming II

The band director took a picture of the band/dance team seniors in the football players helmet. The first and the last to be taken in the helmet for these kids.






Playing the Piccolo is one of the many instruments the Field Captain plays. She also plays steel drums and the tenor saxophone. This kid loves music.






Cheering her team and loving every moment of it.

And this folks, is the winning score. We WON! Our team was the guest this year and let me tell you, both teams played an awesome game and gave this town something to talk about and to enjoy.

Not only did our school take the Traditional Kettle back from the opposing team but ESPN Great American Rivalry was on hand and presented our school with a trophy. Only 20 rivalry teams are chosen a year for this honor and the winning team of this game recieved the trophy.

This young man is a classmate of the Field Captain. He was a star football player until a tragic car accident last Feb. An awesome and quiet young man who has nothing but respect for others. The team wore the #2 (his football #) on their shoes and another player wore his jersey in this game. This is the true meaning of friendship and team spirit. This was a very special Homecoming.

A picture of the Band Field Captain and the #2 star with the trophy.

Play Nice or......

Friday night Football again. I certainly don't mean to bore you but it's our life.
We are trying to enjoy this year in spite of adversity and impending medical issues.






Our daughter/Field Captain/Drum Major marching to the beat. The Band was excited and upbeat and ready for a big game. There were predictions we would lose and in spite of losing any game our fans/kids still have fun.






A funny moment with the band director right before she directed the fight song.









Here she is, directing the Alma Mater at the beginning of the game.
Jessi, I promise I will get a video clip and post it but probably not until the Homecoming game when I can get the complete band show in daylight hours.

p.s. This post has been updated due to some not-very-nice comments that have since been deleted. I don't normally respond to nasty comments but I must ask that unless you attended and witnessed the ENTIRE pre-game and the game itself, please reserve judgement.
Hopefully the Truth will prevail and it did. The opposing team was reprimanded for bad behavior.

It's All In Fun

Friday night Football.
We take our school and our football serious in this part of the Appalachian mountains. Our first football game and band performance were held at the stadium last night. The weather was perfect. Hurricane Hanna stayed away and allowed us to enjoy the evening.




The student without a hat is our daughter, the Field Captain aka assistant Drum Major. I have mentioned in previous posts about the band director (who I know personally and actually admire as a young man) and his inconsistent decision making process. He decided at the last minute that she cannot properly conduct wearing the hat so he decided to eliminate the hat for her. I must say it is easier to spot her on the field:).


She not only conducts the band during the show but she also runs back to the band line when she has finished conducting to play the piccolo. There are 4 movements in this show and she runs back and forth 4 times. She directs the Alma mater, the fight song and the dance team performance music. She is also Flute Captain and Woodwind Captain. Although she isn't wearing a hat she is a girl with many hats.:)

This is a pic of her conducting the Alma mater. She did an awesome job and even the director shook her hand and complimented her performance. She was sharp and professional. She was pleased and we were proud.
The football team won their first game of the season. YAY!

I hate to add a damper on the whole event but I have one pet peeve. When spectators bash a band/sport performance. I want to say, "Keep in mind your child/grandchild could be in a performance/sport event and you wouldn't appreciate disrespectful, rude behavior if the shoe was on the other foot. Learn the word R-E-S-P-E-C-T & practice it."

On the home front:
We decorated for fall and came home the other day to the tree on the floor. Lights and tree ornaments were everywhere and one of the glass ornaments was broken. I must admit, I blamed Mr. Bettis......until.........I was knitting last evening and this is who was stalking the twinkling lights on the tree. Mr. Bettis's owner aka the DH was very quick to point out who was at fault with the tree, Miss Aurora.

And then there was this..........Miss Aurora climbing the tree! It started to topple and the DH jumped and grabbed it in the nick of time. He thought I should apologize to Mr. Bettis for falsely accusing him of knocking the tree over while we were gone. Not-on-your-life. What about the bag of styrofoam peanuts that were all over my living room the other day? And the paper that was shredded? And........? well you get the picture.


p.s. Thanks to all who have supported our Field Captain/assistant Drum Major. She reads and hears your comments and truly appreciates your support.

The Sock Yard Pirate

It's Spirit day for Homecoming 2007 around here. This is the youngest daughter heading out the door for school. It is dark and although you can't see, it is snowing this morning.
We made the signs and the husband has a huge flood light that is lit every evening to show off the sign.








This is the attire she wore and before you say anything, all of the girls dress like this for spirit day. Personally, I wouldn't have been caught dead in this get-up ( as my mother would have said) but it's the "thing" to wear today.

This is a picture of the finished pirate socks. She wore her clear clogs to show them off. See? I really do get something finished.

This is a pic of more decorations at the school. There is a pep rally tonite and believe me this kid is excited.

The eldest son had the nerve to call me last evening to see if I could make his wife a pair of red mittens for the game..............tomorrow........does this boy think I have knitting elves here?

I'll have to make them for Christmas........next year.

Homecoming Week

Homecoming week is B-I-G around here and NFL Hometown Network chose our school rival football game to be televised. The two local high schools have been rivals for over 50 years. It started as the Turkey Day Game back in the 1950's. It was moved to the first of November in the 1980's. The Blue school wanted it changed so their band could attend competitions. They lost school unity over that decision. But the Red school has persevered and the band is respected and loved by the Red school fans.

Homecoming week consists of locker decorations, yard decor, school decorations, pep rallies, powder puff football games and a lot of fun. The theme this year was the Pirates for the Red school where I, my mother and my 4 children attended. My youngest daughter is now in the school and we decorated her locker in the Pirate theme. She is in the band and the band halftime show coordinates with the Homecoming Theme of Pirates. It is awesome with ship flags and pretend sword (instrument) fights. I love it.









My daugher in law, my youngest son's girlfriend, my oldest daughter and my sister were on hand to help with the decorations. It is a surprise to the students when they attend school on Monday after locker decoration day which was last Saturday.




While we were decorating, little daughter was decorating the band room. This is one of the walls the band students decorated.



These are replica Pirate flags hanging from the band room ceiling.

Pirates have conquered the school! The Band Ship Rocks!



I did get the Pirate socks knitted for her locker and I'd take a picture except she wore them today. I made a treasure chest and filled it with sweets and candy along with the Pirate socks. I had a sweatshirt made just for her, dressed one of her teddy bears in Pirate clothing and filled a kettle with candy. She was surprised and loved it all.

The game is on Saturday so I'll let you know if we win.