BAND GEEKS Takin' Over the World! LINK TO NEW TR!! Go to last page 10/17

[Sooze]

Welcome to my TR! Here are links to individual posts. Don't forget to leave a comment if you feel so inclined Thanks for those of you who have been waiting around for it.

If you're new and want to read the PTR, just scroll on down!

Enjoy everyone!

Episode #1 The Trip

Episode #2 1st Stop EPCOT

Episode #3 Divide and Conquer

Episode #4 POP Goes the Nap Time

Episode #5 O'Hana and EMH at MK

Episode #6 AK and moving into BCV

Episode #7 An extra special Princess

Episode #8 Finally riding TSM!

Episode #9 Visit to Fort Wilderness

Episode #10 Breakfast at Akershus

Episode #10 Continued

Episode #11 TyTy Time at AK and Student Meet and Greet at Illuminations

Episode #12 Finally seeing the Fairies!

Episode #13 Bullies at Belle's Story Time

Episode #14 TRex and La Nouba

Episode #15 American Idol Experience!

Episode #16 Flower and Garden stuff

Episode #16 Continued.. Wrapping up the trip at Epcot

Hello there everyone! Welcome to my newest PTR! I'm starting this with only 27 days to go. Let me start by explaining the title.

First of all, I am technically, officially, and completely allowed to use the term "band geek". Why? What qualifies me? Well... I AM ONE!!

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Susie.

I am a third grade teacher in a suburb of Indianapolis called Avon. And, NO, I don't sell make-up or ring doorbells. I DO, however, participate in community theater:

I also LOVE the arts... all kinds! Even drawing!

And acting, of course!

All of my love for the arts started way back, back when I became a band geek. I started with the piano, moved on to flute... then to percussion. Decided to play saxophone and even did a stint as drum major. All of this lead to my desire to be in the color guard! Once that started, my life changed. I really came out of my shell, met my DH, taught color guard for a LONG time.. then moved on to theatre. I still teach color guard camps, clinics, and other special occasions. Like this past winter, DH and I were asked to teach the Bands of America Tournament of Roses Honor Band.


Here we are in sunny CA:

Here is the float our honor band was partnered with:

And here are some of the girls in my color guard:

So.. you can see. I'm pretty much a band geek. But I couldn't call a whole TR "Band Geeks Takin' Over the World" if it was ust me, right?

Well, you caught a glance of my handsome DH. That's Matt. He is an associate band director here in Avon. It's a pretty incredible band program. They just won the Bands of America Grand National Championship this past year. He is not only a band geek, he is an UBER band geek. When he is not teaching band (which is hardly EVER), he is the brass caption-head at Carolina Crown, a drum and bugle corps! His dad was a band director and his brother is a band director. Yup... Band geek through and through!

Here is another picture of us:

And my favorite one of Matt:

Two band geeks enough? How about the kiddos. OK, they really aren't old enough to be band geeks yet... but with the history of the family... they are DOOMED!!!

The first is our DS, Tyson. He is a 2nd grader. Taking piano lessons, playing basketball, performed in a few shows with me. Handsome as can be!

Then we have our little princess, Shaelyn. She just turned 3 on Valentine's Day. Her big thing right now is potty training. It'll be interesting debating pull-ups or panties on this trip!!

Here are our darlings:

But WAIT! There's MORE!

We have some dear friends that planned a vacation the SAME time we did! They live about 45 seconds away from us in Avon.... and.. YES... they are BAND GEEKS TOO!!!

Dean is a band director at Avon, as well. Actually, he is starting up their orchestra program. He also teaches drum and bugle corps and went to CA with us to teach the Honor Band! Here are Matt and Dean in the limo on the way to the airport:

Then we have Dean's lovely wife, Adrianna. She is a band geek by marriage. Maybe we could call that band geek-in-law? She adores gardening and all things flowery. She will be going to town taking pictures at the flower and garden festival!

Finally, rounding out our troup of band geeks, we have Dean and Adrianna's daughter, Abby. Again.. a bit too young to be a true band geek, but definitley destined to be one!

Here are Tyson, Abby, and Adrianna in the limo:

Dean and Adrianna at the float making tent in CA:

Tyson and Abby at the Pacific Ocean:

Matt, Dean and Abby being silly outside of the Grand Californian Hotel:

So, as you can see, our families have GOBS of fun together. Lots of laughter... lots and lots of laughter!!

But what is even MORE special.. the MOST special.. is this:

Even though band eats up a majority of our lives... DISNEY is JUST as important to all of us!! When we found out that we were both planning a trip at the same time, we couldn't stop smiling, planning, anticipating, and celebrating!!

Now, we are not traveling or staying together. They are hauling a camper to Ft. Wilderness. We are staying at BCV (We have been DVC members since 2004). We plan on doing some things together, but mostly plan to have our own family time.

Stay tuned for our joint plans, separate plans, and pictures of our Disney planning meetings!

Yes... we have Disney meetings...

You love us already, don't you!

Sign in and let me know you're along for the ride!! I'll be baaaaaack!

 

[Sooze]

If you REALLY want to get to know me and my family, feel free to click on any of the trips in my signature that are underlined. They are linked to their corresponding Trip Report!!

You're impressed... aren't you?!

 

[dddisrunner]

I'm in! I LOVE your reports Sooze! How fun to have friends at WDW at the same time, we have experienced this as well...soooo fun! Love the first picture of you, it is beautiful. Shea has gotten sooo big! I think the picture of the 2 of them laying on the floor together is PRECIOUS!!

 

[shordiebecka]

I am you in the future! fellow band geek here looking forward to your PTR and your trip report! It's so soon!

 

[Sooze]

I'm in! I LOVE your reports Sooze! How fun to have friends at WDW at the same time, we have experienced this as well...soooo fun! Love the first picture of you, it is beautiful. Shea has gotten sooo big! I think the picture of the 2 of them laying on the floor together is PRECIOUS!!

Glad you found me again! I tried sending a PM to a bunch of my usual readers but it only let me send 5 at a time! Yes, I look back at the TRs I've written and just can't believe how fast they are growing. And my DISfriends have been watching them grow with me!!

I am you in the future! fellow band geek here looking forward to your PTR and your trip report! It's so soon!

Welcome! Glad to have you along. What instrument do you play? Are you going to marry a band director?!

 

[Blueyed Girl]

I'm in!! Love the start. You are too funny.

 

[jorem1]

Wow, you are a busy gal! I wish I had half your energy. Can't wait to hear more. Is it as cold in Indianapolis as it is in New York?

 

[timandlesley]

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm in, love the title and intro but we loved you already Can't wait to read all about the planning (coming up so quick) and trip!!! LOVE how you have your previous TR's in your siggie, you have to teach me how to do that, pretty please ?
Lesley

 

[Sooze]

I'm in!! Love the start. You are too funny.

Thanks, Blue! Glad you're here!

Wow, you are a busy gal! I wish I had half your energy. Can't wait to hear more. Is it as cold in Indianapolis as it is in New York?

Being busy keeps me in line! If I'm not doing something, I'm too tempted to do NOTHING! Know what I mean?

Yes.. it is VERY cold here.. but the sun is shining and there is no snow to be found! So I think we have it a bit better than you!

Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm in, love the title and intro but we loved you already Can't wait to read all about the planning (coming up so quick) and trip!!! LOVE how you have your previous TR's in your siggie, you have to teach me how to do that, pretty please ?
Lesley

Hi there DIS friend. Glad you're along for ANOTHER one! Aren't you sick of me yet!

Ok, I will ATTEMPT to tell you how to do the links in your siggie. Good luck following this!

1.Open a new window and go to the 1st page of which ever TR you're trying to link.
2. In another window, go to my "edit signature" found in "quick links".
3. Click in your signature where you want the TR link to go. Click on the "insert link" icon (the earth).
4. Go to the window with your TR in it. Copy the URL.
5. Paste the URL into the "insert link" text box back on your siggie page. (erase the http//.. just paste your TR URL right on top of it)
6. After you click "OK" or "enter", you will see the url in your siggie with a portion of it highlighted... that is the text you can CHANGE to say what ever you want. So you can change it to "2007 POFQ" or whatever. You can also change the font, size, color, etc.
7. When it shows up in your siggie, it will automatically be underlined, indicating a link.

Are you lost? Cuz I am!! Good luck!

 

[Sooze]

While we were in CA over Christmas break with Dean, Adrianna, and Abby, we decided that we have WAY too much fun together and need to set aside time for our families to hang out. Since we knew our Disney trip would be upcoming, we decided to try and have weekly Disney meetings!

In the beginning, we used our meetings to make ADRs and decide what things we should do together. Here are a few of our plans:

The night both families are in in Disney together, we are kicking off the week at O'hana's. Nothing like stuffing yourself silly on the 1st night!

We have purchased tickets for La Nouba. Matt, Tyson and I have seen this (Ty was only 3!) but our friends haven't. We are looking forward to sharing this amazing show with them!

Campfire thing with Chip and Dale. Dean is planning this, but we are going to head to the campground one night... have a cook-out with our friends, then head over to the Chip and Dale fiesta... mmmmmm... s'mores!!


Another meeting we had, we just made lots of food and played Disney Scene-It. I'm proud to say that we took 'em down!! Although, they did kick our butts on several questions... most families can't do that!

Our most recent Disney meeting was our craft meeting. We got supplies to make our COUNTDOWN CALENDARS!! Check out the food we had:

Can you find the hidden Mickeys in my fruit pizza?

Adrianna and Abby brought a princess cake!

And Mickey cheese and crackers, of course!

Here we are making our calendars:

And the final products!!

We've already peeled off several days. It's getting here soon!!!!

 

[Blueyed Girl]

I am so jealous that you guys have friends that you can do Disney trips AND Disney meetings with!! How cool!! Love the countdown calendars. It looks like you all had a lot of fun getting together doing that.

Ok, what does the fruit pizza consist of?? What is the bottom made of and is the white stuff whipped cream or cream cheese? It looks SO GOOD!! Oh, and I found the hidden Mickeys!

 

[shordiebecka]

haha- i am not going to marry a band director, my bf actually highly enjoys making fun of my geekyness! he loves it though. I played the flute. I highly enjoy all the parades at Disney bc of the marching bands in them from time to time! Your mickey pizza looks soooo yummy, I found the hidden Mickey in the blueberries!!

 

[PrincessV]

Hi Susie! I just love vicariously traveling with you guys - one of these days I hope our WDW paths cross so we can actually meet IRL!

This sounds like a GREAT trip already! And this...

... is just plain GORGEOUS!

Looking forward to this journey

 

[Sooze]

I am so jealous that you guys have friends that you can do Disney trips AND Disney meetings with!! How cool!! Love the countdown calendars. It looks like you all had a lot of fun getting together doing that.

Ok, what does the fruit pizza consist of?? What is the bottom made of and is the white stuff whipped cream or cream cheese? It looks SO GOOD!! Oh, and I found the hidden Mickeys!

We are very blessed to have lots and lots of Disney friends... these guys are the greatest because they live so close!

The bottom is sugar cookie. I just bought refrigerated dough and rolled it out. The 'sauce' is actually just a tub of fruit dip! It's supposed to be a cream cheese mix, but I was short on time! The fruit dip worked ok, but it was a bit too runny! VERY quick and easy to make!!

haha- i am not going to marry a band director, my bf actually highly enjoys making fun of my geekyness! he loves it though. I played the flute. I highly enjoy all the parades at Disney bc of the marching bands in them from time to time! Your mickey pizza looks soooo yummy, I found the hidden Mickey in the blueberries!!

As long as BF understands and accepts your geekiness, you should be ok! Did you ever march in a parade at Disney? I did Magic Music Days WAAAAYYY back in 1990. It was a blast!

Thanks, the fruit pizza WAS yummy! Now, see if you can find the hidden Mickey in the strawberries around the outside

 

[Sooze]

Hi Susie! I just love vicariously traveling with you guys - one of these days I hope our WDW paths cross so we can actually meet IRL!

This sounds like a GREAT trip already! And this...




... is just plain GORGEOUS!

Looking forward to this journey

Thanks V! I certainly would love to meet someday. I think our boys would have so much fun together!

Welcome aboard... again!

 

[timandlesley]

I guess "One time at band camp" is more of a lifestyle, than a t-shirt.

Band geeks rule, haters drool!
Tim

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Hurrah! I'm in. Can't wait for this one!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

where did you get the mickey cheese, did you cut it out like that.

 

[Sooze]

I guess "One time at band camp" is more of a lifestyle, than a t-shirt.

Band geeks rule, haters drool!
Tim

Dang.. I forgot about that famous quote... I totally could've used it in my opening post!

Hurrah! I'm in. Can't wait for this one!

Glad to have you along again!!

where did you get the mickey cheese, did you cut it out like that.

They actually sell it just like that. It's in the cheese section of the grocery store hanging with the bags of pre-cubed/ sliced cheeses. Disney actually has quite a few grocery items now! The other day I made Mickey and friends shaped pasta!!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

They actually sell it just like that. It's in the cheese section of the grocery store hanging with the bags of pre-cubed/ sliced cheeses. Disney actually has quite a few grocery items now! The other day I made Mickey and friends shaped pasta!!

going grocery shopping