Cal Berkeley High School Band Day

Riley had his first performance with the AHS Marching Band. Saturday was High School Band day at UC Berkeley. We had to get up at dark o'clock, to be at the school by 5:00 am. The entire band and assorted parents, took Bart into Berkeley. The bands rehearsed with the Cal Band, then found their seats in the stadium, for the football game. We also got a tour of the Berkeley campus. We all watched the football game (Cal vs. Southern Utah), and at halftime, the high school bands got to perform!! 

This is Cal's band. There are over 100 people in their band! They played Call Me Maybe, for one of their songs. The band is very talented, and they look like they have a blast. Can you see what they spelled out? Cal. 

Riley, getting ready to go down to the field, for the halftime performance.

The bands had to run to their places on the field.

The back side of the AHS Band, as they performed.

There were 22 high school bands present. They all played together: Livin' on a Prayer (by Bon Jovi), Rollin' in the Deep (Adele), and the Cal fight song, with the Cal Band. They sounded like they had been playing together for years.

When they finished their three songs, they had to run off field. I don't know why I find this so funny, but I do. It's just funny to me.

After the game, we all stuck around so that the band could march through campus. They sounded really great! There's another High School Band Day this weekend. SJSU is the host. The next weekend (9/22) , they will perform in their first parade, for Newark Days. If you are local, you should go and watch them. It's really very cool.

It was a very long day on Saturday, but it was lots of fun. Cal ended up winning too, so I guess that's a bonus (even for a Stanford fan, and since they weren't playing Stanford).  To see the rest of my pictures, CLICK HERE.

Star Wars Day With the San Francisco Giants

We went to a Giants game today. Not just any Giants game. It was Star Wars Day!!! Tons of fun!


These big baseballs are always a hit! They are in the McCovey Plaza. I am sure tons of kids jump all over them.


Willie McCovey statue, with AT&T Park in the background.


Star Wars Day came with a giveaway. Our free gift was a Death Star baseball!! Super cool!


The boys, wearing Star Wars shirts, ready for the game to begin.


It was a beautiful day in San Francisco today!


Quinn, goofing around with his orange finger.


The game went into extra innings (well one extra inning), and the Giants came out ahead!! They won 9-8.


Everybody wants to leave as soon as the game ends. Major people jam.

Today was our last family outing of summer. We had a nice summer. I think we are all ready to get back to school. We get that chance on Wednesday! To see the rest of my pictures, CLICK HERE.

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Riley spent two weeks at band camp this summer. He is in the marching band at the high school. YES, I said high school. Riley is in high school. That still sounds so very strange to me! Anyway, the camp was not a sleep away camp, it was just during the day. They put in LONG hours though: MWF 8:30-5:00 and TTH 8:30-8:00. The culmination of the two week band camp was a performance for the families and a BBQ. I was amazed at what they accomplished in just two weeks time!!

The band marched out onto the track. Note all of the geese. Freakin' geese are EVERYWHERE in Fremont. They poop all over. 

Color guard. More geese.

The band as they came around the track. Riley is the second line in, from the back. Left side, second from the end. He's the small one there. 

Assembled for their field show.

That's the drum major there, on the platform thing. 

Riley, playing his clarinet. 

After the performance, the band leaders gave out awards to some members of the band. Riley got an award for his hard work and progress during band camp. We already love the band. Such an accepting group of kids! We look forward to Riley's first season of marching band. We will be very busy, but it's going to be a great fit for him (and for us).