Provo!

 We get to see Audra!!!! Woo-hoo!!!

Her roommate gets headaches if the temps aren't super cold, so Audra is always freezing in her dorm. I bought her this "quilt blanket" and Audra decided she needed to be an evil genius/witch as a result.

Moving On Up

 It's been a rough week as Audra tries to find her way at BYU, but she called me ecstatic today to tell me the news of this email she got:

Hello Audra,

I would like to invite you to enroll in Symphonic Band MUSC 325R. This is an audition-only class, but your marching band audition was impressive enough that I would not require you to audition separately for symphonic band. Additionally, marching band members who participate in Symphonic Band receive an extra $200 Scholarship per semester (both semesters would be expected).

 

The Symphonic Band meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:00-2:50. Please let me know right away whether you are interested or not. If you are interested, please go ahead and register for Music 325R - Symphonic Band.  

All the Best,

Dr. Seamons

Nate Seamons, DMA
Associate Director of Bands
Assistant Professor, Music Education
Brigham Young University School of Music
Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician

Chair, Western/NW Division, National Band Association

Varsity!

 On Monday night, Claire got a phone call from the varsity coach asking her to play with varsity in their fall league game tonight! This is kind-of the moment she has been waiting for- and definitely the moment she has worked incredibly hard for. She played really well, though she didn't know many of the offensive plays as she hasn't practiced with them. We are hopeful this will be a turning point for the varsity coach to start letting her practice with varsity.

The JV coach told Claire that he was offered a varsity head coaching position, but he turned it down because of her and one other player. The JV coach is really, really good. This is a massive compliment to her and her abilities. 

We are so proud of all of her hard work to get to this point! Go, Claire!

Red Rocks

 We haven't done this hike in decades, so when Ben's friend Matt asked us to go, we were very excited. It ended up being a perfect hike for a little bit of a gloomy day, but beautiful hike.

Marching Band Devotional

 Sunday was busy! We started out by going to the dorm and doing a lot of unpacking. We actually got most of it done before heading up to Sandy to go to church with Jeremy and Hallie.

Then, even though it was Sunday, we did a lot of errands (she forgot a towel! I told her a million times to pack a towel, and she still forgot so we had to go buy one) and went out to lunch- check out these gorgeous crepes!

She said it doesn't feel like home, and I told her it's because she doesn't know what HER home feels like. Now she gets to figure out her style and what she wants, not what I want.

Then we went to the Marching Band Devotional. It was awesome! We sang the opening song, "We Are Marching On To Glory." I sat there next to Audra just so incredibly proud of her. She's in the BYU Marching Band! It has such a storied history, and Audra is now a part of it. It's incredible.

She met some people and I totally embarrassed her by talking to Preston and suggesting they walk back to Heritage Halls after late games and practices, and Audra said I was embarrassing and awkward, and I said that I then did my job and she'll miss me embarrassing her when I'm gone.

Move in Day!

We got to the dorms at 8 AM, hoping we could check in early. Nope. They said not until 5 PM.

So, we toured campus. We walked through all of her schedule and went to every one of her classrooms so she could start to get the lay of the land.

We bought her textbooks. Only 2 aren't on-line.

We found snake plants in her bio building, which reminded Audra of Ben, so we had to get a picture. I told her every time she sees those snake plants to think of dad.

She was also able to get fitted for her marching band uniform! We had to ask a lot of people until we finally found out where the marching band room is. It's funny because it's at the stadium. My job for 4 years that paid for my college was cleaning the Marriott Center and the stadium. I thought I knew every inch of that building, but I never knew this marching band room was at the stadium! And it's really, really cool!

Audra started to feel some excitement when she came out with her sheiko! Doesn't it look great on her?!?

Then, finally, we could unload everything into her dorm. She was the first roommate to move in by several days. She had a social event with the trumpets so we didn't have time to unpack very much, but we decided to work on her bed.

We were very, very proud of ourselves for raising the bed higher! It was tricky and took a few YouTube videos and some ingenuity, but we did it!

And, she made her bed! She is very happy with how the bed turned out!

But because she's the only one in her dorm, and it's a little creepy by herself and very lonely, so she spent the night in the sketchy hotel with me again! Woo-hoo!

We went to Cafe Zappa's for dinner and we loved that they give a chocolate strawberry with each meal!

As we laid down, she looked a little sad. I asked her what was wrong and she said, "I miss Claire and Camille and dad."

Happy/Sad

Audra played "Happy/Sad" from The Addams Family Musical for us and that has been our theme song for the week. We are so happy for this new journey she gets to go on, but also so incredibly sad. 

We loaded up the car last night. I went to work for my half day of work. I came home and ate lunch and then it was time. Ben kept stalling us. "Maybe you need this, I'll go get it" over and over. But eventually we had to leave.

Saying good-bye was awful. Ben cried and cried. It's so impossible to let her go, even though Ben and I both know we need to. It was rough.

But then Audra and I headed out.

We stopped at a really pretty rest area. We loved this view!

The hotel we stayed at was pretty shady. I mean, really scary at times. So, we brought everything out of the van into our hotel room because we were both afraid my van would get broke into.

We will definitely never stay at this hotel again.

It wasn't a terrible drive, but the first thing I did after carrying all her stuff to our room was purchase plane tickets for our trip in two weeks when the whole family comes to watch the football game. I don't want to make this drive again anytime soon!