Brek's Pictures

Once Brek's marching band costume was really coming together, we decided that we wanted to get some professional photos taken of him in it. But with the tightness of finances, we couldn't afford any of the people we have heard of in the area, plus I prefer to use photographers that I actually know, and that narrowed my local photographers down to the couple that runs our town's newspaper, and I really couldn't afford them either. So we decided to ask Joe's sister Janelle if she could take some pictures when we came out for Christmas. We were so happy that it worked out. She came over New Year's morning. Brek was quite the pill, considering the late night from before and being upset about cousins leaving and all, but she still managed to take some wonderful shots and dealt magnificently with a stubborn 4-year-old:

Yes. Some real, actual marching did take place during the photoshoot:

I absolutely LOVE this picture of Joe! It's hard to get a real, genuine smile out of him, especially in front of a camera. He thinks he looks all "sporty and athletic" but I think he just looks happy.

Some Father-Son shots:

This is when Brek started melting and right before he fell on the floor, because, as he put it, he "didn't have any legs."

Some family shots:

The rest of these are my favorites, and I'm hoping that we can get them blown up and printed on canvas or create some sort of gallery and hang them in Joe's band room. Hopefully we'll get a great a tax return, or otherwise we'll have to wait until we're rich and famous. They are just too awesome!

So if you're in Utah and are in need of a great photographer with reasonable prices, I totally recommend Memories by Janelle!

October - (also called Marching Band Season)

October weekends were filled with marching band competitions and Halloween festivities. And the weeks were filled with work and sewing projects.

After Halloween 2014, we suggested to Brek that his costume for 2014 be one of the old marching band uniforms at the school. He HAPPILY agreed, since this kid loves anything band. Really, all I did was cut up one of the purple suit jackets that goes underneath (you can only see the sleeves) and make it smaller. I say "really" because in the whole look of the uniform, it isn't that big of a deal, but REALLY, I had never altered any article of clothing before and my sewing skills are already limited to straight lines, so this was a HUGE ordeal. There was one suit jacket that was completely sacrificed and didn't pull through the operation. 

I thought Brek looked awesome. Brek thought he looked awesome too. As did every single other person that saw this cuteness:

Again, sorry for the sideways look. I'm working with some new computer programs and haven't figured this part out yet.

My other sewing projects were also using the old marching band uniforms to make other items for a band raffle basket. I was super proud of this drawstring backpack that I made from the old capes. I'm planning on making one for each of us, and have been approached by several members in the community that have shown some interest. I also was able to make a pillow too. (Lucky for me, Joe's sister Janelle who has some amazing sewing talent made one for us a few years ago when we first moved here, so I was able to copy her pattern.)

This is the whole raffle basket: We put it all in an old drum and just turned it upside-down. We got a nice plant and put it inside one of the old hats. Students contributed drum sticks, earphones, an iTunes gift card, a band shirt, and school colored treats. You can see the edge of the pillow in the back, and the backpack is hidden in there too. It was the best raffle basket at the event, and we were all pretty proud of it.

Marching band season went really well for us this year. We marched 50 kids which was awesome. (Last year we were at about half of that.) Joe arranged the song "Hooked on a Feeling" and it was fun. We had to do some re-scheduling of the competitions we wanted to do vs weekends when the kids weren't already committed to volleyball/cross-country/football events. But it all turned out. Brek got to come to both of our parades this year and he wore his costume/uniform (pictured above.) He walked with me on the side of the band and did a great job. And of course, he received lots of "oohs" and "ahs."

Once marching band was done, we focused in on Halloween. We had a church Halloween party that was a lot of fun. We had dinner and games.

Brek with his friend Parker

Brek with his friend Addy 

We also carved pumpkins as a family for the first time. Brek got to help pick out the designs for carving, and of course he got to help gut the pumpkins too. He thought it was pretty slimy, but he was still all smiles:

Here's the result of our carvings. Joe did the cat in the moon, and I did the silly face.

Here's Brek posing with the pumpkins. Kinda hard to see a a brown boy in the dark.

The biggest highlight of October was the birth of our new nephew, Bennett David Aaron Belt. Brek LOVES the idea of having a new cousin, and I'm so excited for my sister to have a sweet little prince to add to her 3 princesses.

One night we were having a cobbler for dessert and Joe asked Brek if he wanted it "a la mode." Joe thought that Brek would either turn it down because he didn't know what it was, or would actually ask what it was and discover that he was getting ice cream. Instead, Brek asked Joe if he was having it "a la mode." Then he followed his question up with, "I just like to copy you."

Actual Halloween night: He used this old toy drum (which used to be Joe's younger brother Dan's) to hold his candy.

He stands up here on the couch so he can look at himself in our big mirror.

It was a fun month. It was also nice for November to come so we could have some down time at home. Brek's pretty sure he'll dress up as a marching band kid again in a couple years. And another post to come where we had Joe's sister Janelle take some more professional pictures of Brek in his costume. For those that read this blog and haven't seen them already, be prepared for awesome!