Disney, Dogs and Drama

We had a grand time in Anaheim with the Mt. Spokane Band! It was fun sharing this last trip with Alex and while it was a whirlwind of activity that resulted in exhaustion - it was a happy tired! Here's the Reader's Digest Version:

Day 1 - arrive in L.A. Take in Long Beach Pier and Medieval Times. Settle in Anaheim Plaza Hotel (one block from the main gate of Disneyland).

Day 2 - Band Competition at Fullerton College. Off to Disneyland for awards ceremony and fireworks. Wind ensemble got a gold award and second place. Alex's percussion ensemble got a gold award and first place! He even got to get his photo taken with Merlin!

Alex and Chris playing "Bejing" (percussion ensemble)

Day 3 - All day at Disney (and I mean ALL day!) 8:00am-12:00 midnight. It is true that it is the happiest place on earth!

Day 4 - The kids all spent the day at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Keith and I (not big coaster fans) did a little shopping at Disney downtown and took a much needed nap.

That's Alex on the left with his drumline buddies!

Day 5 - Back at Disneyland at 8:00am. The band did a neat workshop with the Disney folks where they sight-read music to which the staff put to animation. Very cool! Then it was load up and head to LAX - arrive Spokane 12:00 midnight.

Day 6 - Sleeping in!

Great fun was had by all and it will be a trip Alex will always remember fondly.

For the downside, Whitney and Travis were at home saving Sydney's life and leg. The vet THINKS she may have been bitten by a brown recluse spider (YIKES - I didn't know we had those here!), which turned into a flesh eating infection. We almost lost her, then almost lost her leg. We're still playing doctor every day - she has en eight inch section of leg that has no skin, but she is healing and the prognosis is good. Why do these things always happen when we're out of town!? Poor Whit was beside herself all the while trying not to tell us how bad it really was.

Anyway - life is good and back to normal. Alex is back in school, Keith and I are back at work and it all kind of seems like a dream!