Competition #2 - West High School

The Winter Gaurd season is in full swing, and competition #2 has come and gone.  I enjoy Winter Guard, it is inside, I don't have to worry about bad sitting in the bad weather.  I wish this season was longer.  I enjoy watching all of the guards perform.  I like to clap when the rifle or sabor is tossed high and caught.  I like the big moments when all of the flags are spinning at the same time.  I like watching the Band Dad's work so hard helping every guard. 

I like looking across the floor and seeing the girls enter the floor and do their cheer.  I get so excited when I get tha first glimpse of them.

I love this pose of Rachael.  I can totally see the SWAN in her.

Such a Great show and I just love watching Rachael every week.



We Love our BLACK SWAN

Rachael sure makes a beautiful Black Swan.  I am really enjoying this year's Winter Guard show.  The costumes/uniforms are beautiful.  (Laurel Gilbert - you did a GREAT job on them).  Our Rachael looks great!

Tonight was the FAMILY and FRIENDS Fundraiser.  The Guard girls all sell tickets for a spaghetti dinner and as a bonus everyone who comes gets to see all five of the American Fork Winter Guard shows. 

 We are so glad that Grandpa and Grandma Anderson were able to come and watch the show.

The FIRST COMPETITION 2012

Here it is - the FIRST COMPETITION of the 2012 Season.  It was held at West Lake High School.  This will be the first time we see the whole show, uniforms, flags, sabre's, rifles, the painted floor, the lifts, the spins, the dance moves.  It was an exciting night!

First the bus was late picking up the girls, then one of Rachael's best friends got hurt, and left during the warmup time in an ambulance for the hospital. 

Richard is back at his hard work job - BAND DAD - helping the guards with their floors.

But the girls rallied together and had a GREAT performance.  The show this season is titled  "The Lake of Divided Swans".  Rachael is a Black Swan.

What is that in Rachael's arms?  A RIFLE!  Yes she gets to spin her rifle in the show this season!

 

WOW! What a show!  I really liked it.  I am excited to see how it changes each week.  They always seem to have something new and different to add to the show for every performance.

Awards time - the captains with their saluate. 

CONGRATS  - AMERICAN FORK HIGH SCHOOL OPEN GUARD - you were awarded

FIRST PLACE!

One of the traditions that the Guard Captains have it to "lick" the awards plaque.  Each girl picks a spot and they "lick " the same spot every time. 

The Captains with their first FIRST PLACE award!

Now a BIG BEAR HUG among the captains.

OH NO!

Rachael and the rest of her Winter Guard group unfolded their floor to use it for the first time and found this



the paint had peeled off of the floor.  DISASTER!!!!!!  So after a little bit of debate about what needed to be done to fix the floor.  This is what we did.

down on our hands and knees peeling all of the WHITE paint off of the floor.  Next the white area of the floor got a light sanding and the painting began again.

We painted late on a Saturday night, we came in on Sunday evening and put a light coat of baby powder on the floor, hopefully that will help it to not stick when it is folded.  The Guard had practice on Monday morning, so they folded it after practice. 

HAPPY DAY - When the guard unfolded the floor the following Wednesday, the floor was GREAT!  No peeling paint! 

It was a lot of work, but worth it all in the end, to have the floor be painted and ready for the guard to use at their first show!

So Glad We Could Help!

Part of having a daughter in the American Fork High School Winter Guard is the opportunity to help with things.

Like uniforms,

We finished 14 white feather pieces  and 13 black feather pieces for the tutu skirt.

 

And painting floors

first you repair the holes in the floor

then you let a bunch of people start painting

Even Rachael got in on the fun.

Then you move to the other gym and start on the 2nd floor, after the holes have been taped, the floor is moped. 

Then the painging begins, even Briggs, came by and helped.

 

Rachael playing supervisor.

 

It is a beautiful BLUE floor - the Independent Guard will use this one.

 

 

This floor will be used by Rachael's Guard - it is looking GREAT!