Senior Ball 2009

Getting ready

Leaving to go pick up his date.

Marcus with his girlfriend, Alisha Nichols.

Looking good!

Marcus' friend Karl, with his date, Jana.

Marcus' friends Cassie and Xitlalic.

Marcus' best friends, Nicole and Austin.

The guys, being so stoic.

......and goofing off.

The lovely ladies; Nicole, Jana, Alisha, and Cassie.

The whole group.

Off to the "limo".

Actually, it's my Suburban.

Beautiful sunset, Nicole and Austin.

Off to dinner at Palmer's in LaConner and the dance at Maple Hall in LaConner.

My how quickly they grow up!

Big day for Nicole

First thing in the morning she lost her tooth. She'd been playing with it for days, barely hanging on at all. I told her to just yank it out, it wouldn't take much, but she wasn't having any of that. It just fell out on to the floor after breakfast. She's already got the adult teeth growing in.

After school we went to the mall and she got her ears pierced! She's been asking to get it done, but we had to wait till after soccer was over. I think she kind of forgot about it, then this week she's been bringing it up again. She said she wanted to do it after school on Thursday.

I told her all about what they do, that it does hurt a little bit, but not for long. We got there and I really thought once she got in the chair she would chicken out. But she didn't. She did great. She was a little shocked at how much it hurt, but she didn't cry and now she has sparklies in her ears! She has asked me when she can get different earrings, dangly ones. I told her not till around Easter time. She went to bed with a mirror so she could look at her earrings. (in the dark?)

A beautiful day at Mount Baker

We took the whole family up to Mount Baker on Sunday for a day of gorgeous skiing! The weather was fabulous, with temperatures in the mid- to high-50's. I have never skied with no gloves or hat before, and with my jacket unzipped. It was amazing, especially for January!

Nicole had a lesson, but wasn't really into skiing. She was more interested in taekwondo than anything else. Here she's practicing her moves while she eats lunch.

Not a lot of new snow, but it was pretty anyway.

There was a lot of back country skiers and hikers out for the day.

Bruno in line for the last run of the day.

Up on the ski lift on the last run.

Alex had a lesson too, then after lunch he practiced some more. I took him up on his first lift at Mount Baker. He did good!

All done, and packing up. Marcus, our only snowboarder, was pretty tired. Austin had a great time too. We all did. Too bads it's a two hour drive and $350 to go, or I'd be back up there today! Although my muscles would be screaming at me........

Nicole does Tae kwon do

I had bid on a 3-month membership at a local Tae kwon do studio at a band auction last year. I had planned on having Nicole us it after soccer was over. Give her something to do in the winter months. I got her signed up and Friday (the 16th) was her first day.

She has just hit "Gene" in the throat and hit him upside the head, and is now running on to the next obstacle in the course.

Master Rhodes is teaching her the first movement of Tae kwon do.

I asked her on the way home if she liked it. She said "I loved it!" She loved it so much she was willing to give up her Saturday morning cartons for an hour and a half of class. I can see her sticking with this for a long while. What's not to like about kicking and running and hitting!?

Lunch with Great-Grandma

We had been trying to get up to Bellingham to have lunch with Michelle's Grandma, but because of all the snow it was put off till after Christmas. The roads and parking lots had cleared enough by the 30th that we were able to meet. Aunt Lin and Bill picked Grandma up and brought her into Bellingham where we met at Olive Garden. Aunt Lorna took a long lunch from work and joined us. Marcus was even able to join us!

A night at Teatro ZinZanni

Our NECA Christmas Party was at Teatro ZinZanni in Seattle. It is a dinner show filled with song, dance, acrobats, and lots of laughs. It is so much fun!!

Our MC for the show "Chef Caesar". He pulls people out of the audience to help with his skits. One of the guys in our group got picked to "help" out, it was hilarious!

Jan and Dave share a dance.

Donna and Paul.

Pete and Nancy.

Bruno and I before the show.

Me and Bruno.

I think I might have just stepped on his toes. We've had a few glasses of wine.....

After the show those of us who stayed in Seattle went to Belltown for pizza and drinks. We had such a good time.

Marcus turns 18 years old!

Marcus had some friends over for pizza, Guitar Hero and movies.

Austin, Marcus, Nicole, and Karl

Karl and Jana playing Guitar Hero

Kristen, Nicole and Austin

Kristen, Nicole, Xitlalic, and Austin

Marcus and his sister Nicole.

Happy 18th Birthday Marcus!

Christmas Day 2008

Nicole left a picture for Santa, and a note on the plate that said "These cookies are for you".

Nicole reads the message left for her from Santa.

Our tree. (We were lucky to even get this little tree. We went out after school on the 11th to the closest tree farm to our house. It's a good thing we did it then because it snowed 2 days later and we wouldn't have been able to go cut down our own!)

It's too early! Around 6:30 (Nicole was up at 5:30)

Marcus and his new watch from Santa

Alex and his new Carhartt jacket from Nonna

"I wanted one of these!"

A closet for all of her Build-A-Bear stuff

And more money to Build-A-Bear. After our morning gift opening, and traditional Christmas breakfast, we headed down to Bruno's Mom's for Christmas dinner. Every year she makes ravioli soup, which is wonderful! This year John brought the roast and the rest of us chipped in with the accompaniments.

Teresa is trying to feed little Tony some dessert. He just wants that whole pie in front of him.

Nicole at Nonna's

Alex and Marcus at Nonna's

Me and Nicole at Nonna's