Guard Pics and the Surprise

A busy, busy week of Guard... This first picture was taken at the High School before the first Marching Band Competition, so a little step back in time. And the second one was at Caldwell where they were taking group pictures of all the bands. {PS from Tiff: Caldwell was the first competition, just so all you first time readers, or behind people know. We didn't do so hot at that one, last in every thing. Oh well, loads of improving!!!}

{PS from Tiff: This was the funny one that Hill Photography took. In the colorguard half circle: Julie, Becca, Lorena, Tori, Chey. Then Zach, me and our mascot, the moose. Don't ask me why, just go with it - that's what I do.}

{PS from Tiff: Now presenting the Kuna Gold Marching Band in all of their zombie glory. Hooray!!!}

This past Friday night at the game was Senior night. All the senior Band and Guard students were recognized after the half time performance. {PS from Tiff: Woot woot! Senior year!!! In this beautiful group of people whom I have known for who knows how many years is (to name a few) Tori, Shahayla, Brynn, Ana, Bethany, Dallin, Zach, and the list goes on and on and on... JUST KIDDING! It is only about 20 people. Haha...}

{PS from Tiff: Hey, you. Yes, you. Remember those beautiful people I was talking about? That is them, right there! Shh... Don't tell anyone. Why? Because I don't think that they know they are there. Btw, this is supposed to be read in a whispery voice to achieve the full effect of what I am writing, so make sure you do that. K? K.}

I told Tiffani I wanted a picture of her & Zach for the blog/scrapbook... She told Zach "Mom & Dad are weird and want a picture of us." Zack shrugged his shoulder and said "Ok." and put his arm around Tiffani for a picture. Sweet. :) {PS from Tiff: That's pretty much the gist of it. Umm... Well, not quite, I was trying to get his attention and everybody in the world saw that but him. Know how I know? He kept walking away, haha... Anyhow, so everybody else in the stands and on the track started calling his name, and he goes, "So many people calling my name, what?!?" And he turns around and sees me and I go, "That's because I was calling your name." Right here is when, if you like, you can read what mom wrote above. Again. Which  is a rather unnecessary waste of time since a: you already read it, and b: if I see you in the near-ish future, I will tell you. Haha... Sorry mom. :) }

And now for the DIII and the Surprise... {PS from Tiff: Boy what a surprise that was too!}

A while back Brianna had said she would come down for DIII. As time went on she realized she couldn't make it. She called Tiffani to tell her - sad day! Tiffani of course understood, but Brianna could tell she was disappointed. Then about a week or so before DIII Brianna had an Ah ha moment and figured out she had the dates mixed up and she really could come down for it. We decided not to tell Tiffani, because it would have been horribly disappointing to back out again if for some reason Brianna couldn't come. {PS from Tiff: All week long... All stinkin week long I was thinking, Brianna is gonna miss my senior year's D3 performance. All. Week. Long. Torture.}

Friday night after the performance at the football game we went to the Firehouse Cafe for dinner. While we were all sitting at the table Les got a phone call (10:00pm) and went outside to take it. When he came back in he showed me his phone as he made some comment about hating to get late night phone calls from work. Lucky for me (I can be a little slow sometimes...!), I didn't blurt out that the name at the top of his call list was Brianna. She was calling to confirm that yes she was coming and would be leaving at 6 in the morning. {PS from Tiff: I am gullible. If you didn't know. Now, you do. I totally believed it, I had no doubts. Not a clue in the world, no idea, no hunch, no nothin.}

Saturday, Tiffani was off to the high school for practice and getting ready to go to BSU. Les & I did a few things & went to Costco. As we were driving home from Costco Brianna called to say she was in Kuna. We met her at the house and all drove down to BSU. We decided at that point that we would NOT tell Tiffani she was here until after the performance because she would be WAY to excited and have a hard time concentrating. That was a really good plan! Although it took a little creativity to get Brianna in the stands without Tiffani finding out. Lots of people know Brianna - she had to tell them all not to say anything to Tiffani! {PS from Tiff: Best Friend EVER knew before I did!!! Are you kidding me?!?! All this covert operation was going on, and I had no idea. None. Not a clue in the world. I even texted Brianna, while she was in the stands and we were walking into the stadium. I even made a comment after our performance to somebody who wanted a pain reliever that, "... if my sister were here, she'd have one for you, but she's in Lewiston." Nooo... She's not in Lewiston, now is she?}

Here's Tiffani on the field ready to perform. {PS from Tiff: Best performance ever. In my life. Despite not having a complete show.}

Almost the very end. {PS from Tiff: Woot. I dunno if mom mentions this, but I screamed my lungs out at the end of Thriller when Zach gets eaten. Yeah. I rocked that. In the D3 judges video, taken from the SKY (emphasis here) boxes at BSU, I screamed over the cheering! Woot. }

Here are some really good pictures that another band parent took... District lll ~ BSU, October 14, 2011

In one of them it shows Zach playing his trumpet while Tiffani is laying on the ground. She said she had "smurf poop" on her cheek afterwards. Apparently blue fuzzies stuck to her face!  {PS from Tiff: Smurf poo: noun; little black/brown pellets on turf BSU turf. Smurf is the turf. When I die, I lay down, and then they got stuck to the side of my face. Adds to the effect of dying, I guess. Haha...} (OK - apparently I slightly misunderstood that story!)

Brianna wanted to go down to the bus after the performance to surprise Tiffani, but I HATE the BSU bleachers and refuse to walk up and down them more then absolutely necessary. They are very steep and not good for a person who doesn't like heights much. So we told Tiffani she needed to come up and see me after she was done. {PS from Tiff: How rude... She could have come to see me sooner!?! Fine. Just fine. Well, the way that I found out was way better anyway.}

Here's Tiffani coming up the aisle - look at that nice calm face. {PS from Tiff: Not for long. Just sayin.}

So here's the conversation after she sits down beside me (Brianna is crouched down in the row in front of us, "squished" between Jen & Sam.). Les and I are telling Tiffani good job and all and then...

Les:  "And we even heard your scream. It was loud enough Brianna could even hear it in Lewiston."

Tiff just kind rolls her eyes and they continue talking. I glanced down at Brianna & she's grinning away. {PS from Tiff: Remember that whole gullible comment? Yeah. Still applies.}

I asked Tiffani if she heard what Dad said. She's giving him a curious look, so I motion for Brianna to get up. {PS from Tiff: I seriously was thinking, why bring that up again? Why? I don't wanna think about that.}

Tiffani didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I'm pretty sure she was doing both! {PS from Tiff: I was. I was bawling my wee wittle eyes out. And laughing. And in shock. And I couldn't believe my eyes. I just couldn't do it.}

They hugged for a long time. Tiffani didn't want to let her go and was shaking from the emotional high and the nerves from performing. This was huge for her. {PS from Tiff: I was bouncing Brianna up and down. Like really. I was so shaky anyway. Oh man. That was intense.}

Tiffani still can't decide if she should laugh or cry. We were explaining all the "close calls" - Les's "work" phone call, all the people at BSU, the fact Brianna couldn't go down and get food until Kuna's Band had left the stadium to practice so she wouldn't be seen. It was an exciting moment! And amidst all Tiff's happy tears, Brianna had shed a few that her baby sister is a senior and this was the only performance that Brianna got to see. Middle of the Marching Band Competition and I don't think any of the 4 of us had a dry eye. {PS from Tiff: Awww. You make me wanna cry just reading it! Just so ya'll know, I wanted to perform again so that I knew for sure that Brianna saw it, because I couldn't believe it. It was impossible.}

These next few pictures are just for memory sake - all 26 bands (we watched all but 3) on the field for awards. {PS from Tiff: On the 50 yard line, I couldn't stop smiling. Ever. I was freezing my butt off, but I didn't care. I kinda knew that Brianna had seen us before. Only kinda though. Still in shock. I couldn't explain it in real words that people could understand.}

{PS from Tiff: So. Many. Bands.}

Kuna on the 50 yard line... {PS form Tiff: Rachel and Tori in back, Shahayla, Brynn, and me in front. Oh my dear friends.}

...with the Boise State logo and blue turf in the background. {PS from Tiff: This has got to be one of the best nights of my life. Just sayin. Like. Holy cow. Once again, that's from a Kuna kid's point of view. Haha... I love that saying.}

We went out for frozen yogurt Sunday afternoon. Brianna and Tiffani sat in that really cool bench that was so deep, their feet just dangle over the edge. :) By the way, USwirl Hershey's Kisses Chocolate frozen yogurt is the best! {PS from Tiff: It really is, I like to have that, graham cracker on the bottom, and then cookie dough on top. Delicious. At this venture, I learned a new sentence in sign language. Stop. Eat more tacos! Haha... Brianna, I love you, and your spontaneous surprises. Even though half the time they give me a heart attack... Or every time. Whatevs...}

Wow, I really must say, Tiffani I love your extra comments. Such a great, happy weekend! So very thankful for my girls and for those few snippets of time we all get to spend together as a family.

And on another (sort of unrelated) side note:

Tiffani just came back from youth group where they share their highs and lows for the week. I'm sure you can guess her highs - Senior night, the performance at BSU, BRIANNA! Anybody want to guess her low...

She doesn't weigh enough to donate blood at the high school blood drive! She was told for her height she had to weigh at least 130 pounds to give blood!!