On the Town

Two Crazy Ladies
(It's really hard to take your own picture...)

My mom came to visit me.  She actually came to see Porgy and Bess, but I'm pretty sure she was happy seeing me and my family, too. I really, really like this woman :-)

My Mom and Patience

It's not too hard these days to find places to eat that cater to our annoying gluten-free diet. 

 On the train home.

Once again, I botched the self portrait. 

Looks like someone was taking a picture of my mom and I jumped in ;-)

Loved the show, loved New York, loved the company. I'd say it was a pretty good day.

Eric - 2011

It's all about the music.

MARCHING BAND starts in August--even before school begins. Then it's marching band nearly every hour of every day until November.

JAZZ BAND starts in November and continues through the Spring.

REGION BAND takes up December and January.

WINTER DRUMLINE is a winter/spring activity.

WIND ENSEMBLE goes throughout the school year and overlaps everything.

The band program at Eric's school is outstanding and he's had some wonderful opportunities to be involved in competitions and concerts all over the area. His proudest musical accomplishment for the year was making the Region band. (All State auditions are this Saturday. Good luck, Eric!)

Now it's movie time!

This is a one minute section from the middle of this year's Marching Band show:

Here's part of Eric's solo (starting at 24 seconds) in a little ensemble at a Barnes & Noble band fundraiser. (This was thrown together at the last minute with practically no rehearsal so it may be lacking in polish, but I love it anyway!):

And here's Eric with his new Christmas toy, a plastic trombone. It weighs practically nothing, but it sounds pretty good, don't you think? (Eric will probably be embarrassed that I put this up. He's just playing off the top of his head. Don't you love the Christmas carnage in the background?)

Besides music, Eric's new loves are Physics and Calculus. He comes home from school some days just bubbling over with enthusiasm for a new theorem or concept. 

Here, he explains the first fundamental theorem of calculus to his new nephew. He was so animated in the telling, that Emerson watched Eric intensely for a full ten minutes or so. 

I'm sure proud of this guy. He's a talented boy with a good heart. What more could a mom ask for?

Neil - 2011

• Getting Fit: pull-ups, push-ups, running, snowboarding... (The dude is strong!)

• Finishing high school--finally!

• Public Speaking

First day of school traffic jam

• Starting college

• Halloweening

• Becoming an uncle