Now THIS is Spring!! April 6th

Hard to believe just 5 days after coming home from the ocean (did I mention it snowed on the way home?) we had a few days like this one. It was a balmy 72 degrees on the 6th. Nicole was just wilting from the "heat" and wanted to go swimming. No pool up yet, so she had to compromise with the sprinkler.

"Spring" Break to Ocean Shores, WA

Between Cinderella performances Marcus only had a couple days off during Spring Break, so we took that time and spent a couple days at the Ocean. We brought Marcus' girlfriend, Allisha, with us.

We drove down to the end of the spit, where the Pacific meets Grays Harbor. Out there at the end where this is no protection the wind was brutal. It wasn't just windy. the sand was blasting us like crazy. Nicole was so freaked out she just curled up in a ball until after the picture was taken. Oh, it was raining too.

Alex and Bruno

Marcus and Allisha

Cold and blustery

View from our hotel.

On the last evening the rain stopped and we took one final walk on the beach. This is as close to a sunset as we got.

Checking out a jelly fish that washed up on the beach.

It was so cold and windy.

Marcus and Allisha

Cinderella at McIntyre Hall

Marcus is in the Theater Arts Guild production of

We went last night with a good portion of the Padilla Family.

This is the Step Mother's House

Here the King and Queen are lamenting that their son, the Prince, has not married yet and made them Grandparents. Marcus plays one of the King's Counselors. He is 2nd from the left, in the bright blue costume.

Marcus and the other Counselor's.

In the Ball scene, Marcus plays Lord Ames. Here he and Lady Ames are being announced at the Ball.

After the show, with his girlfriend Allisha.

Being greeted by Uncle Tony, Little Tony, Aunt Teresa, and Nonna. Uncle John is in there too.

Marcus with Nonna.

Me, Nicole and Marcus.

The production will be moving to Byrnes PAC in Arlington for three performances, May 8, 9, & 10th. I will be going again on the 9th with my Mom and Richard if anyone else would like to go. Let me know and I'll get tickets.

Marcus and the MVHS Synergy choir

See Marcus and the MVHS Synergy choir sing. The Mount Vernon Superintendent had this segment filmed to enter the choir to sing at the National Superintendents Conference next year. Althought Marcus wouldn't be able to attend since he's graduating, the others might have a great opportunity next year if the choir is picked. Good Luck Synergy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCxX7JUKGA0

Woo Hoo, Alex!!

First thing after school, get your braces off.

Next, go take your driver's test.....

and pass!!! Yeah Alex, congratulations!

Nicole passed her test-receives her new belt

Nicole went to class on Monday night and learned she had passed her test.

She's an official (low)yellow belt! Good job, Nicole!!

Nicole tests for her yellow belt

On Friday, March 13th, Nicole tested for her low yellow belt. The white belt students have to do their Form and their One-Steps.

Her favorite thing to do in class is kick the red bags.

But she especially likes to practice her running jump kicks. She has amazing force for someone so little. She kicks and hits harder than the two boys in her level.

The kids who were testing bow in.

Nicole and Ross wait their turn.

Nicole, Ross and another girl testing for her black belt all performed the white belt form at the same time. I was not prepared for that (I thought they would be doing it individually) so didn't get any pictures.

Nicole is doing her first one-step.

The fellow student here is just giving Nicole a target for her one-steps.

We didn't get any feedback after the testing, so I guess we'll find out on Monday if she passed and gets her yellow belt. I'm sure she did, she's ready to move on to new forms, and she's looking forward to doing contact sparing.