Lauren - Marching Band

Lauren waiting out in the cold for the stadium to open for the competition.

Plainfield Marching Band on their way into the Stadium prior to the start of the event.

Plainfield Marching band receiving the 6th place trophy.

All ten bands lined up on the field for the awards presentation.

Lauren's band after their preformance watching other bands perform.

Plainfield band on the big screen during their performance.

Lauren's band performing.

It has been a very busy Marching Band season for Lauren (and for Mom & Dad!). Lauren's Plainfield High School Marching Band recently made it past Regional and Sectional competitions to qualify as one of the top ten out of 50 or so "Class B" size bands in the state. The top ten bands from each class got to compete on Saturday in the Indiana State Marching Band Finals competition at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. All ten bands got huge trophies just by reaching State.

In spite of being one of the smallest bands in their class that made the final ten, Lauren's band did very well and came in sixth. Their show was titled "Hunting Wabbits". Kathy, Travis and I attended the competition and had a great time. Our school had a good size group of fans at the event to cheer them on. Luckily, Lucas Oil stadium has a roof, so we were out of the cold. After the competition, band members and their families had a huge potluck in the High School cafeteria. Now that Marching Band season is over, Lauren will be participating in Concert Band, Pep Band, and Academic Super Bowl.

Concert for Justin

Justin and the cast of Disney's Imagination Movers. Justin's favorite cast member is Rich, who is kneeling to Justin's left.

Justin waiting to for the cast to appear for the meet and greet session.

As a late birthday present, Kathy and I took Justin to an Imagination Movers concert in Downtown Indianapolis. This is Justin's favorite TV show from the Disney Channel's "Playhouse Disney". Kathy found a lady in town that was selling special VIP tickets that she had won in a contest (and couldn't use) for only $25 each. The tickets included VIP parking, snacks in the VIP lounge, third row seats right up next to the stage, and a backstage visit with the cast members following the performance. Justin got to talk to his favorite cast member (Rich) after the show, have a picture taken with the cast, and have another picture that he had brought along signed by all the cast members. Justin had a blast, as did his Mom & Dad!

Justin & Travis: August, 2009

Shooting Activity - July 2009

Last weekend, Jared's Dad, Grandpa and Scout leader took the 11 year old scouts in our ward to an outdoor shooting range about an hour away from Plainfield. Besides Jared, there is only one other 11 year old scout in our troop. The shooting range is at the Atterbury Fish & Wildlife Area and next to the Camp Atterbury National Guard and Army Reserve training installation near Edinburgh, IN. The boys got to shoot a .22 pistol and rifle. We also brought along a .45 pistol, but the boys weren't brave enough to shoot it!

After our shooting activity, we visited a gun shop in Mooresville, and the boys got to meet the Scout leader's son who just returned from service in Iraq for a brief leave.

Jared's 11th Birthday

Father's Day 2009

Civil War Days - June 2009

Lauren, Jared, Grandpa Norton, and Daddy drove out to Rockville, IN for Civil War Days at Billie Creek Village. It was warm and humid, but we had a great time. Lauren and Jared decided to spend their allowance on these sabers. We haven't been to this event in a couple of years. Kathy was sick last summer, and we weren't able to make it. We love Civil War and Colonial history. In March, we are planning to spend a day at Gettysburg as part of our trip to Washington DC.

The cannon fire is painfully loud!