Spring Break

We had a great Spring Break again this year in Destin, Florida.

Here is the highway driving into Destin. I love the feel of being surrounded by ocean!

The fun part about Spring Break in Destin this year was spending it with Grandma Heelis (Mom)!

The beaches were as beautiful as we remember.

Breck and Merinda decided to try their hand at snorkeling this year.

After such a cold winter, it was so nice to relax in the warm sun!

I had almost forgotten what sun and blue skies looked like.

We had fun showing mom some of our favorite boardwalks,

beaches,

and restaurants.

Something else we did new this year was go to Pensacola, Florida to see the Blue Angel's fly, and visit the Blue Angel Naval Base Museum.

Mom and me standing in front of a Blue Angel jet.

Mom being the perfect navel museum model.

Mom the model unawares.

Merinda posing with two navy ladies (ok that sounds lame, but I really don't know their official title).

Mom, Breck, and Merinda even went on a modified simulator of a Blue Angel flight.

I say modified, because this was the real simulator that went every direction possible at varying speeds. Breck would of enjoyed this more, but the line was just way too long.

We also enjoyed watching a movie of the Blue Angel's on the IMAX

although it did make me a little nauseous. 

Outside the Blue Angel's Museum (not sure why Breck is holding his bottom lip but we don't question these things anymore).

Also new and fun this year was Brad and Breck's "Snuba-diving" adventure (half snorkeling and half scuba-diving).

They looked pretty cool in their wet suites (at least they thought so).

Mom and Merinda waiting for our ship to come in...

The "Southern Star" dolphin viewing cruise that is.

Our boat was docked right next to the Pirate boat so we just had to get some pictures of the cool-looking pirates.

Mom enjoying the ocean views and bay,

and especially the Dolphins (tons of Dolphins, even little baby Dolphins that were so cute!).

Unfortunately, the rocky waves were a bit too much for Merinda's stomach to handle.

I told her if she looked out into the ocean it would make her feel better (you can see by the look on her face that I was wrong).

At one point, our boat was right beside Brad and Breck's Snuba boat (they are in the navy wet suites). Despite my jumping up and down, yelling, and waving my arms like an idiot, they were oblivious that we were right next to them. 

We even had fun just chillin in our hotel room. Breck showing mom all the things her new phone could do (only because it was an "Android").

And Merinda was just impressed by her blanket that the cleaning ladies shaped into a butterfly (oh it's the simple things in life!).

We had a great time, but the best part was spending it with my Mom :)

Mormon Prom

Breck had a great time at Mormon Prom which was held at a Stake Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

This is how Breck asked his date, Ashton Barber, to Prom.

It was a real Beta Fish.

We decorated her room while she was at Youth Night. I was his accomplice AND the one who came up with the idea (ok, Pinterest came up with the idea but I suggested it!).

Before the dance they all went to dinner at "The Cheesecake Factory".

 

 I wouldn't expect Breck to take a normal picture.

 But the girls were beautiful,

and the boys were just being boys I guess.

"Wedding Singer"

Breck had a great time playing "Sammy" in the High School's Spring Musical "Wedding Singer".

 

  

He was rockin that "flock of seagulls" hair due!

 

 

 

Breck's love interest in the play (and good friend--he ended up giving her the beaver satchel purse that Virginia made).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Band and Braces

Other exciting early Spring events were Merinda's new braces...

And Middle School Spring band concert...

 

 

It was a little tricky, at first, playing the flute with her new braces.

Grandpa and Virginia

In February we had a wonderful visit with Grandpa Manwaring and Virginia...

 we enjoyed wonderful Indian food,

 marveled at how Virginia took the scraps of Breck's beaver pants (which she made into shorts) and turned them into a darling satchel purse,  

  were stunned again at how fast she made beautiful infinity scarves for me and Merinda,

 watched how she painstakingly taught Merinda how to knit her own infinity scarf,

appreciated how hard Grandpa and Virginia worked helping us clean and show our old house, and fixing up the new house (building walls and taking layers of wall paper off the kitchen walls),

and are just so grateful for their willingness to put up with our crazy schedule and family!

 

We sure had a great time with them, and sure love and appreciate everything they do for us!!!

Allstate Choir

In February, Breck made Allstate Choir which was held in Louisville, Kentucky. He had a great time singing in the Men's Choir, staying at a really cool hotel, and hanging out with his friends in downtown Louisville.

 View of the elevators inside the hotel.

 The Men's Choir

 The Mixed Choir