San Gennaro Fest

This past weekend we went to the San Gennaro Feast. The San Gennaro Feast is an Italian food festival with all kids of rides, food, bouncy houses and a petting zoo. It was a perfect family day, well, besides the fact that we spent $30 on an unlimited ride pass for Brandon and the poor guy was only tall enough to ride like 3 "cool" rides. Jeff and Alyssa rode everything. Some took a little bribing to get Alyssa on them, but she ended up loving them. I'm looking forward to the next one already!

I didn't eat the chocolate pudding...

Guilty! The evidence is all over her mouth (:

Gabriella

Finally its cooling off enough to visit the park. Gabriella, of course, had a blast. Shes such a social butterfly and quickly makes "friends". Its fun to watch her play and interact with other kids.

Las Vegas Academy

Ever since Alyssa was in elementary school she has always wanted to go to the Las Vegas Academy for high school. I remember a time when high school seemed so far away, like everything else in the last 14 years since I became a mom, high school came in the blink of an eye. Last November we submitted our application for her. They checked GPA, attendance, teacher recommendation and then, if you're still qualified, they set up an audition. She auditioned on January 21st with about 300 other dancers. The audition was the easy part. The hard part was the waiting to find out. We received her acceptance letter the first week in April. She was one of 50 dancers selected...wow! Now, we are about 4 weeks into her freshman year. She is enrolled in all honors classes and still participates in the dance intensive program at her home studio, dancing at a senior level. I think she loves the school. She has met many new friends all with passions of their own. LVA is an international studies and performing arts school. This includes vocals, piano, guitar, theater, of course dance, and creative arts. The kids that go to that school want to be at that school and you can tell. It’s a big change from just a "regular" school. I'm proud of her for applying. For breaking out of her comfort zone and moving away from kids she has gone to school with since kindergarten and doing what was best for her, both to pursue her love of dance and to get a better education. LVA was one of the only high schools in Nevada to receive the distinguished 5 star rating. They average a GPA of 3.6 with a graduation rate of 98%. This is where she belongs.

This is one of the main academic buildings known as main (seems like a fitting name) the campus itself is HUGE. much like a university campus would be.

Here is a map of the campus. Imagine having to go from main to the dance center. Guess thats why they have 7 minute passing periods.

Just a random post...

I thought this was cute. Brandon's very first time watching one of Alyssa's shows and the most recent show. (I believe it was also the first show he stayed awake for the entire time too) It's fun to see how much they have grown and a little sad too. Time passes much too fast

I have got to be better..

I miss the blogging world. I swear I say that every time I update after a few months. But really, I do. It’s like a journal of my life...hectic as it is. So here I am. In the time since I last updated we sold our house. Bittersweet. We had lived in that house for 12 years. Alyssa was 1 when we moved in. We, of course, brought Brandon and Gabriella home to that house. But the reality was...It was simply WAY TO SMALL! So now we have a beautiful new home, everyone has their own rooms! What a beautiful thing. I LOVE it. I love the location, I love the layout, I love the SPACE! Alyssa started high school! She was accepted into the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies and Performing Arts. So far she loves it. The work load is crazy and the kids attend school and hour longer than the average high school. Still, she is eager and has met a lot of great kids. All like minded, all as passionate about their major and all drama free. So far... Brandon is in the 5th grade. He also changed schools, but so far seems to really like his new school too. He rides the bus home and let me tell you, for Brandon, that is a BIG deal. Gabriella missed the cut off for school by 15 days so she still is home with daddy. We've been busy with dance (both girls are dancing now) and of course wrestling. It’s crazy and sometimes overwhelming but at the end of it all, it’s all worth it.

First Communion

Brandon and I have been taking classes together at church to prepare for his first communion. I've actually enjoyed this time with him. He will take his first communion this Saturday, March 24th. I'm proud of him. He's also pretty excited because some of his friends from Sunday school are also in his group, including his buddy, Ethan. Brandon and Ethan have known each other since they were one! Its been fun to watch them grow together.

Changes...

Life is full of them.
Its been busy. That seems to be the general theme of all my posts. I like being busy though, busy means blessed. Blessed that we have three healthy kids that have the ability to keep us on our toes. Blessed that we have the means to provide these things to them and blessed that we have each other to share this crazy life with.

We're selling our house and looking for something BIGGER! When we bought our house Alyssa was 1. It was perfect. That's not so much the case anymore and though the thought of leaving is bitter sweet to me, I realize that we will make new memories in a new home.

Alyssa just started the last quarter of Jr. High. She auditioned for the Las Vegas Academy in January and we should hear in the next month or so if she was accepted. If not, she will attend Green Valley. Both are excellent schools and I'm sure she will thrive at either one. The last few years have flown by... I will plot in the next three ways I can convince her to never leave home.

Brandon continues to excel as well. He has a gift for writing. I'm telling you, one day he will have a book series similar to Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Of course hes still wrestling. Hes a great kid and very funny..always on the go.

Gabriella is just as sweet as always. Shes our thoughtful child. She really likes to do things to please everyone.
She loves to follow her big sister around and share stories of her "boyfriend", Jason. Shes obsessed with Justin Bieber!

Life continues as a pace so fast that sometimes I lose track of it. Still trying to find a way to slow it down.

Winnemuca 2012

Well the USA Wrestling Nevada State champions tournament has once again come and gone.
Brandon had an amazing wrestling season. He finished out on top, placing 1st in all three styles. (Greco Roman, Freestyle and Folkstyle) That's right, my boy triple crowned!
To make things even better, his team took 1st overall as well. I love Team GV, they are like a family and I'm proud to be a part of them. We really have outstanding coaches and the drive and discipline these boys (and girls) have to be the best really is amazing.

Anyways. The "local" tournaments are over but practice continues. Brandon will be heading to Boise, ID to wrestle for a week over spring break and will be heading to Pocatello, ID in June for Western Regionals. The season never really ends. I'm proud of him and all his hard work.