Time for School! Fall 2023

We turn the calendar to August and BOOM! Marching band season is in full swing. Friday night lights quickly start up and lead us into Fall. Such a wonderful, fun time of the year!

The Moline Marching Maroons participate in a few parades and showcases too (see pictures below).

Senior Year for the twins - some fun traditions (including going to the doctor for a meningitis shot, Haha!).

First Day of School - Senior Sunrise (held at Browning Field) followed by classes. I included their kindergarten first day pics. 

And Whitey's - no better way to kick off the school year!!

Maddie snapped this photo during school one day - Will playing chess with another chess club member.

Senior Night for Band Members, Cheerleaders and Football Players. 

Late September, the kids traveled to Chicago to see Hamilton. They enjoyed their time away, exploring a bit of the city (Maddie loved all of the Christmas decorations already on display at Macy's) (Toys R Us!!!) and watching the production. 

Maddie started a photo business this fall - she is taking senior photos of friends for free. She has completed quite a few sessions with plans to do many more once the weather warms up again in the Spring. I am not being biased when I say that I am really impressed with the shots she is getting!

I enjoyed decorating the house for Fall - inside and outside (see the 2nd picture, ha!). Getting the house ready for winter is always a chore - cleaning out gutters, putting furniture away, raking leaves (multiple times!). I love it when our to-do list is done for the season. In the meantime, I LOVE the fall colors and the cooler temps (as the Indian Summer holds on as long as possible). 

Matt & I attended a Hymn Sing at First United Pres with my parents (this is the church I attended for many many years). What a great evening of prayer and singing powerful words of His Truth. Seeing my church family was such a blessing to my heart - this church family will always be near and dear to me. 

The girls & I got away for an afternoon, Goodwill shopping and pizza at Manny's! These are always fun days.

A week after marching band concluded, we attended 2 band concerts. The first concert was a combination concert of all band / orchestra students from the Moline school system (5th - 12th Grade). The Philharmonster Concert is a fun one with lots of students, all dressed in costume and great Halloween type music. 

The second concert was combined band & orchestra. Will participated in Concert, Symphonic and Full Orchestra. 

We close the book on Fall and start our transition into Winter - lots of family traditions as we prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas!