The FINAL FIELD SHOW Performance 2011

BAND FEST 2012

The bands that are invited to march in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade are also invited to participate in BAND FEST.  The band who opt to participate are divided into three groups.  Our band performed iin the last of the three performances.  We were able to do the float preview in the morning then head to Pasadena City College for the afternoon session of BAND FEST.  Ryan and Tammy were able to come watch the performance with us. 

The fire department and military were honored at the opening ceremonies, so we had a flyover of fire department helicopters.

Band Dad's, Mom's, brother's,  and sister's help to get the band all onto the field.

Richard and Jessica

That is it.  The final performance of the 2011 Field Show Season.  It has been a GEAT season.  Being crowned Utah State Marching Band Champions,  2nd place at the Bands of America Regional Championship, and performing at Band Fest.  We are so lucky to be a part of such a wonderful band!

After the field show, the band lined up at the edge of the track and played their parade tunes as they marched past the crowds in the stand.  I liked that they lined up the way they do at home for our parades.  Rifles, band, then flags.  What a Great BAND and FABULOUS COLOR GUARD!

Thank you, Ryan and Tammy for coming to watch Rachael and her band perform today.

The Making of a Rose Parade Float

We all watch the Rose Parade every year.  We hear the announcers talk about the floats and how many flowers are on it.  They tell us about seeds and leaves that are used to decorate them.  I hear all of that, but until you see it all happening you have no concept of all that it takes to truly make the beautiful floats.  It is quite a process, we spent the morning touring a couple of warehouses that are used to make the floats.

What a beautiful bouquet of roses!  I wonder how they are able to color them so that theyare half red and half white?

The Rose Parade President and his wife will be in this car.

Grandma and Grandpa Anderson

The woman in the blue hoodie is getting the head ready to put on this person.

Yound and old get involved in the decorating.

The head is in place.

He is attaching little red petals to this car.

There is so much going on in this warehouse. 

Rows and rows of flowers line the floor.

The detail on all of the floats is amazing.

This float has the tower part on a pulley system and once they take the float out of the building, they will raise the tops.

I will appreciate all the work that goes into this floats each year as I watch the Parade.  It amazes me all of the different "REAL" things they use, flowers, seeds, grasses, leaves, to create each and every float.

Here is a link to a story from our local paper about a couple of woman from the area who went to Pasadena to help build a float.

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/north/american-fork/two-utah-county-women-lent-florist-talents-to-rose-parade/article_f3e89fd8-d0fd-56f7-97ee-d6679461e0c1.html

I am excited to watch the parade on Monday to see the completed floats.

Disney's Christmas Parade

The rest of the Disney Parade was pretty fun.  I really think that if I lived in Southern California, that I would have to have an anuual pass to Disneyland.  I could go there to just watch the parades.  I get such a kick out of watch the different characters interact with the people lining the parade route. 

Watching the little kids wave to Mrs. Claus, brings a smile to my face every time.

I love Winnie the Pooh!

I thought of my friend Lexie when all of the Princess came out.  She would love this part of the parade.

or maybe, this part better.  I don't know any one who is a bigger fan of Toy Story, than Lexie.

We all love DOPEY!!!

Santa!!

While wandering around the parks I saw a number of men who you could call Santa Claus.  Big White Beards, long white hair, one guy even had on a red shirt.  As he walked by, I said a little loud so the kids near me could hear,  "EVEN SANTA CLAUS COMES TO DISNEYLAND FOR A VACTION"  These kids got so excited to see Santa Claus on vacation.  It made my day!