Jan 5 - Before the FCS Championship - SHSU vs NDSU

Saturday morning of the game I woke up with no voice.. well I had just a little but basically nothing.. really game day!  I couldn't believe it.. We got up early and went to Ihop to eat and then it was on to the stadium.  They had lots of things going on before the game.  We got there and got all bundled up because it was COLD!  Then it was on to the events.  Just like last year they had games set up and drills set up which Zach loved.  He went through all of them a couple of times.  We also got to welcome the players into the stadium and afterwards there was a pep rally.. then it was on to the stadium!

 

 

 

 

FCS Championship!!! Go Bearkats! Friday

This past weekend we made the road trip to Frisco or as many were calling it Frizco after our great coach Willie Friz.  Our bearkats were in the Championships!!!  I took off early and we got Zach out of school early so we could get up there for Alumni Pep-Rally that night where Brenden would be playing with the band and the cheerleaders would also be there.  All the way up there we saw fellow Sam cars would wave and show their paws and we did too.  We had gotten car flags to show our support.  We got to Frisco about 4 and when we got to the hotel Tim said there is the university police..Luanne you got the hotel with the football players.  What luck was that!!  We walked in and they the NCAA table and other stuff welcoming bearkats.  Zach was on cloud nine as players walked by us.  A couple even smiled and waved at him.  He was so cute getting excited!  We hung out at the hotel for a little bit and Tim and Zach went down by the golf course and played a little bit of football.  We decided we would get something to eat before going to the Pep-Rally so we found a nice little Italian place that was really good!  Then it was off to Hotel NYLO for the Alumni event.  It was nice they had a cash bar and a DJ playing music.  There was a nice crowd.  The band and cheerleaders got there and started the Pep-Rally up playing a bunch of the stand songs and cheers they do during the game.  It was a great time.  We saw Brenden when he came in but didn't see him after.  After they left we decided to go back to the hotel so we could get some rest for the next day.

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Brenden's last Band Banquet

Friday was Brenden's final Band Banquet.  It was very nice they had a dinner for everyone with pasta, chicken, etc.  Then it was on to the Senior Wills will was really funny the Seniors will things they have used or bought to the underclassmen.  It is always funny to see what they give away.  They gave away 3 awards.  The first was given to Brenden's roomate Will.. then there were two national awards the Louis Armstrong and the Sousa Award and to our surprise they were both given to Brenden!  We were so excited for him because these are usually not given to the same person.  After the awards were given it was time for the photo videos.. first it was photos of the year and then it was senior time.. each senior got a song that represented them and then a few pictures of them growing up along with a senior photo.

It was a great banquet.. and we just couldn't be happier and prouder of our Senior!

Class of 2011!

2010-2011 Drum Majors

Getting his awards..

Last Willis Band Concert

Tuesday night was our last Willis Band Concert.. can you believe!  It was a great concert with lots of great music!  Brenden first performed in the Jazz band.  He had a couple of solos and did great!

The middle schools have both started Jazz bands so they brought them out to play with the high school band.

Brenden also played in the last band and this is their highest band they played well also.  One special moment was when Ms. Marquart came out.  Every year during the spaghetti supper they auction off a chance to direct the band at the last concert.  This year the Seniors wanted to bring back their beloved Ms. Marquart she was their band director before this year.  So the Seniors had part of the money and Tim and I threw in the rest of the money to make it happen.  Ms. Marquart chose this beautiful 

patriotic song that had a part for speaking, this was done by their current teacher Mr. Allen.  It was beautiful and a great way to end four great years of music by the Willis Band.

 

 

Brenden tries out for SHSU Music Department

Saturday was a big day for Brenden.  He has decided that Sam Houston will be his school next year (Yippy!).  He is planning on majoring in Music Education but first he had to try out to see if they would accept (Deachi did I use that right?!? haha) him in the department.  He has already been accepted to the school but in order to major in Music he had to try out for them.  This is also where they decide if they are going to give him any money..but we won't hear about that until a little later.  So he had to be there at 8:30 and then they gave them their times from there.  He got 9:30 which was great because he had time to warm up.  Tim and his mom were so nervous but he was actually doing pretty good.  So he practiced and then 15 mins before his time he went down and got ready to go in.  All of us were outside the room and we couldn't hear a thing.. then he walks out and he was shaking and sweating and smiling.. He goes.. I nailed it.. then he told us that the director didn't hear everything but he wanted to talk to him after he hear a few more auditions.  He was so excited and we were all so excited for him.. While we were waiting the Jazz director came by and told Brenden that he wanted to talk to him when he had a chance.  Brenden did get to talk to the head director and he told him that he wanted to start lessons with him now because he felt Brenden would be in the top tier band when he got there so he wanted him to be ready for that.  That was exciting news and you could see Brenden was just on cloud 9.  He came back to us and told us what the director said and we were just busting at the seams for him.  Then the Jazz director had him come and talk to him and actually play for him too which Brenden didn't think he was going to have to do but he said he did really good for him too.  We are just so excited for him and SO PROUD of him.   

Willis Christmas Concert

Last Tuesday was Brenden's Christmas concert he played in the Jazz band and in the Wind Ensemble. They did so good and played lots of Christmas music.

Regionals 2010

We went to our final Regionals Concert last night for Brenden.  This became an annual concert as Brenden has made Regionals every year he was in High School.  That is not a easy feat as he competes against many 4A schools around the Houston area.

These are friends of his and then his Willis Band Directors.

Our big 18 year old!

Today is Brenden's 18th birthday... it is hard to believe he is a man today.. he was just a little boy when I met him 11 years ago.  We are so proud of him as he has really grown up and been a really good kid.  So we decided that for his birthday, Christmas and graduation we were going to get him something that he would be able to use during college and to help him get a good start at adulthood.  We had a friend who had a truck he used just as something to get around while working in another town so if something happened to his wife or kids he could get back down here.  So he decided that it was time to put it up for sale and we decided to jump on it for Brenden.  Brenden has a great car that has done well for him but it is something that we weren't sure we all wanted him to drive back and forth with.  So we have been working on this for a while but last weekend we picked it up and brought it home and Tim got it all cleaned up and checked out. 

Tim decided that we should surprise him with this so he told him that we were going to get his car fixed up and that he was not going to recognize it.  He had this hugh story going one about this car getting fixed and that it was going to be picked up while we were gone to eat it was so funny and I couldn't be around him when he would talk about it because I would just giggle.  So we figured yesterday would be a great day to give it to him. His day started with a Christmas parade in Willis.  We planned on taking him to lunch at Salt Grass in Conroe so we took the truck over there first and then it was on to Willis.  We got there and the parade was great and of course the band did a great job.

After the parade we picked him up from school and we took him to lunch at Salt Grass.  Tim didn't talk much at lunch he was so nervous about everything and I tried to hold a little bit of a conversation.  So finally we got through lunch and I had told Tim that we needed for him to open something up so Tim got him a bag full of things to help clean his car up we told him it would be great for when he got his car back.  Then it was time for the surprise.  Tim had parked the truck way in the back it was a great spot out of the way. So we walked around the back and we acted like we were going to get in the truck and then Tim tells Brenden that I wanted to take a birthday picture of him by the tree (the truck was  next to it..)

Us walking to the truck...

Him taking his picture in front of the tree..Little did he know I was taking the picture of him with the truck.

Tim is looking at him and he is looking at Tim and Tim threw him the keys they are still looking at each other..

Then he realizes oh it is is mine...

Then he goes to check it out

He was just shaking the whole time and Tim said he was still shaking 30 mins later.

It is a great truck and I'm so glad we were able to do this for him.  He is a good kid and we are so proud of him and all of his accomplishments and I can't wait to see what he makes of himself as an adult. 

Happy Birthday Brenden!  We love you!

Willis vs Port Neches-Grove - Playoff game 2

I think this post should mostly be pictures..

This past weeks game (played on Saturday) was against Port Neches-Grove which is near Beaumont and they won the toss so they got to pick we were would be playing.. you guessed it Beaumont ISD stadium and let me just say WOW what a stadium.. it makes the new Woodlands one look cheap.. We did win the flip for home so that was nice. Tim said going into the game it was really anyones to win..

Thought their sign was funny..

our boys were ready!

It didn't take long for us to make a touch down... but then they made a touch down...

It was back and forth..

and at halftime it looked like it was anyones game..

They were the Indians so the drill team, mascot, and girl drum majors had beautiful outfits.

The drill team did a great job.

Look at that handsome boy! 

The Drill Team came out with the band again this week.

Halftime was great as normal

The second half of the game came and our boys fought hard and the game was back and forth until the end and in the last minute we came back with a touchdown but..

But in the end we lost by 3 pts it was a sad hard loss. We have enjoyed going to games the past 4 years watching the football players, drill team, cheerleaders and of course our favorite part the band.  There were tears in my eyes that night thinking that this would be the last time I see my baby out there on the field in Willis purple.  He has grown up so fast before my eyes and these four years have flown by.  But in that same moment I thought about the new chapter that will be opening and we aren't finished watching Brenden at the football games because he will be marching for the college he goes to..so as of now we could be watching him in green and white (UNT) or orange and blue (Sam Houston).  We are so proud of him and all the kids we have watched over these past four years.