Impromptu L.A. Trip and The Chain of Poncho-Giving Kindness

Part of my New Year's list of plans/goals is a ballet summer intensive program for Isabella. She is very dedicated and passionate in this art form and I promised her I will give her all the support I can give. Around mid January, I started searching (googleing) for schools offering dance summer programs (San Francisco Ballet does not have one for her age level). The two other premiere ballet schools in the U.S. offering summer intensives for Isabella's age group are the American Ballet Theater (ABT) in New York and the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. We missed the audition date for ABT (and I thought I was starting early with my planning); luckily, Joffrey Ballet has a schedule for an audition in L.A. on January 30th.

We did not decide to go until Thursday, the 28th, when I went ahead and booked a hotel room for the following day (my Worldpoints from Amex came in handy:). I asked the boys if they will accompany us for the trip. Even Immanuel who is almost always busy with his own schedule was willing to come with us.

On the day of the trip, I had to miss bible study...Isabella stayed home from school with a tummy ache. I took Ian to school for his Finals. Then it was on to housework and preparations for the trip. I drafted an itinerary complete with driving times and fun times for after the auditions.

We pretty much followed the schedule I drafted but we also remained flexible for a stress-free mini vacation.

We picked up Ian from school at around 2:30pm and left straight from there to San Luis Obispo where we met up with Phil for dinner at Firestone Grill around 6:00pm. Phil helped maximize our time by ordering dinner for us before we got there. The boys rode with Phil back to Pismo while Belle and I went to get gas at Costco. We left Pismo around 7:30. Phil drove and we arrived in our hotel in downtown L.A. at around 11pm. We had no trouble going to sleep.

The next day we rushed to the auditions after continental breakfast and power prep fighting for one bathroom. We made it to the audition site at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the L.A. Music Center just in the nick of time for the 9am audition time for her age group.

Isabella said she had fun at the auditions and learned new combinations. The teacher was "very nice and very good." She said he called out her number and said: "great job number 29!"

here she is posing outside the venue after the audition

We debated where to spend the rest of our mini weekend vacation...it was a toss up between Universal Studios and Disney. We decided to go Disney because it is open until late while Universal closes at 6pm.

here the kids obliged to pose for a photo before our first stop in Frontierland

They even got me to ride Splash Mountain.

The rest is blissful history of fun family time at Disneyland until 9:30pm (we did not make it until 11pm as planned:).

And from 11am to 2:30pm the following day, Sunday, at California Adventures.

There is one particular story I want to share that happened during our last ride before leaving California Adventures. In my schedule, I had planned for us to leave the park by 2pm. And by 2pm, though we started an hour late, we accomplished all that we planned and we're right on schedule. But after our last supposed ride, "Soaring", Isabella begged us if we could go for one more last ride and go on the "Rapids" ride again. She won, of course, but Ian and Immanuel did not want to go...they didn't want to get wet (can you imagine they're scared of cold water lol) As we were handing them our bags and sweaters, a lady asked us if we want their ponchos. So Ian and Immanuel got to join us at the fun ride complete with ponchos to protect them from getting soaked (bless that lady's heart).

Coming out from the ride, Phil asks: "hey mom! are you going to pass on the ponchos to others who may want them?" What a great idea! I started offering the ponchos to incoming "rafters" but no one wanted them. As we were walking to go out of the park, a man in a wheelchair asked us if we still needed our ponchos. We were very happy to give it to him and he was delighted saying "yay! now we won't get soaked!". Phil called it the "Chain of Poncho-Giving Kindness".

We had lunch at a buffet outside the park and finally bid goodbye to L.A. around 3:30pm. We dropped off Phil and left Pismo around 7:30pm, arriving Union city at 10:30pm. Again, we didn't have any trouble going to sleep.

It was a indeed a blessed impromptu audition and mini weekend vacation!

(More funny photos of this trip if you click on the photo tab)

SF Ballet Class Observation

Twice per year, parents/guardians are invited into the studio to observe class. This is an opportunity to experience ballet class from start to finish: barre and centre. This observation is NOT open to the public (friends, etc.), but is for parents/guardians to observe their student's progress.

Last night we had the privilege attending our first class observation at SFBallet. It was a thrilling experience for Russ and me. We are so proud of Isabella's focus, dedication, and overall progress. We are also very pleased with, and in awe of, the quality of training SFBallet provides. The live piano accompaniment is awe-inspiring, not to mention the teacher's prominent training, experience, dedication, and passion, evident in her superb teaching technique.

Isabella has been very fortunate having been blessed with the great training she has had thus far. Besides classes at SFBallet 3x a week, she also has the benefit of training at Ballet Petit twice a week. And of course, prior to SFBallet (before our move back here in the Bay Area), the root of her ballet inspiration, her two and a half years (1/07 - 6/09) of superb training from CDMA in the Central Coast.

Next week is evaluation time at SFBallet.

Every student in Levels 1 through 8 receives two written evaluations per year. The evaluations will include information on the student’s technical development, attendance, conduct, and potential. In addition, each student will have one conference with his or her primary teacher and the student’s parent/guardian.

We'll keep you posted. Ballet is here to stay for Isabella and we are here to support and encourage her in any way we can.

Phil....Hero at the Beach

Last Sunday our son, Phil, decided to go boogie boarding at the beach. It was his first time back after a long time since he started working last August. When he was about ready to go home he heard voices calling for help. He saw a man drowning with his clothes on. Apparently the man jumped in looking for his kids who had gone surfing. According to Phil the waves were fierce at that point and the man's clothing did not help the situation. Phil did not hesitate to come to his rescue and lifted him up to his board. According to Phil he was already tired at that point since he had been boogie boarding for quite a while. He hoped for a push from the waves and it came for them. The paramedics and lifeguards came as well. He said people were congratulating him all the way to his car. When Russ told co-workers at their work, one of the Sys. Admin. said he saw the whole thing at the beach from afar and did not realize it was Phil. They all congratulated him at work as well. I believe Phil was sent back to the beach that day for that very purpose. God is so good.

Send In The Clowns

photo from The San Francisco Chronicle

photo caption:

Even the youngest dancers invest their "Nutcracker" performance with vigor. The ballet plays through Dec. 27. in San Francisco.

And The San Francisco Examiner writes:

an amazing cast of disciplined little dancers that own the show at times, and the scene-stealing performance of the high-flying "Russian Trepak Bear", who comes out of Madame Du Cirque's dress....

Full article available here

SF Ballet Nutcracker Opening Night...Magical!

I cannot even begin to describe my excitement over the Opening Night of the much anticipated Nutcracker production of SF Ballet. Our excitement have been building since last September when Isabella auditioned for a role in this magical production. Isabella's enthusiasm and dedication is so evident in her attendance. She never missed a single rehearsal and was on time and ready for each call. And last night was her most anticipated call...the curtain call for opening night. Isabella had the time of her life performing for a packed audience at the War Memorial Opera House.

Our day was just as magical as the Nutcracker. We will cherish and remember it for years to come. My mom and dad Dennis were with us to share in this magical day for Isabella (Russ was in San Luis Obispo; we're scheduled to watch as a family on the 19th).

Isabella's magical day started with a dress rehearsal from 12:30-3:30. As soon as we entered the intersection of Grove and Van Ness and saw the War Memorial Opera House adorned with giant Nutcrackers, we couldn't contain our excitement. Isabella and I started screaming and giggling.

After dropping Isabella off, we decided to calm our excitement and headed to Macy's in Union Square. We somehow found ourselves in the cosmetics department where we ended up having our make-up done (my mom and I). After our own magical moment of skin care and make-up application, we were off to pick up Isabella. She was so excited to tell us that they rehearsed with a full orchestra.

We then headed for early dinner at Max's Opera Cafe together with two of her fellow clowns and their families.

After dinner we rushed to their normal ballet class. Their regular class time is from 5:45 to 7:00. The three of them were allowed to leave class early to head to the War Memorial Opera House across the street. They were instructed to sign in like little professionals and head on to their assigned dressing room where they were to wait for hair, make up , and wardrobe calls.

As for us adults, we went to the War Memorial around 6:00. We met up with Owen and her family. Her two sons, Josh and Troy (my godson), are very sweet kids. Troy is so precious and couldn't wait to see Belle. It was also nice to have met Owen's boyfriend, Paul.

It was our first time at the beautiful War Memorial Opera House. I made a mental note of the moment...where we were seated, what we were wearing (including my special purse which I will talk about in a separate blog), the decor, and everything else I could remember. It was surely magical...not only was it my first time, my darling daughter was part of the performance!

As soon as the music from the live orchestra started, I had goosebumps all over. It was truly a wonderful production. Act I ended with beautiful dancing "Snowflakes" together with very talented Snow King and Queen.

When Act II started, I felt like screaming with excitement. By the time the Russian Dancers entered (which means the clowns were on the wings), the word excitement is an understatement. When the clowns entered jumping and cartwheeling, the audience, packed with moms, dads, and kids, were all clapping (I would have done a cartwheel myself at that point... if I could). Isabella was in character. She was proud to be a clown. Her pride and joy showed in each step and gesture. And I, in all my glorious excitement, was a shining mother.

It was truly an unforgettable night for us....magical, indeed.

(sorry I don't have photos...but will post some as soon as I am able)

click here for the review from The SF Examiner

Isabella's Nutcracker Performance Schedule

Finally! SF Ballet Nutcracker casting and schedule is posted!

Isabella is set to perform at the War Memorial Opera House for a total of 16 shows including opening night and Christmas Eve.

She will be in Act II as one of Madame Du Cirque's eight clowns to dance with a big bear.

Tickets are available at SFBallet.org

her schedule is underlined in black.

Hope you can catch her and hope you enjoy the show.

Happy Halloween '09

Another creative halloween year for us. Isabella is a boom box this year (her own idea). We worked on it the night before her halloween parade after her SF ballet class.


She said it was a hit at school. Schoolmates would push the play button and she would personally play their requested song, tapping on the sides to drum the beat. Creative eh?

Kuya Phil came to help her carve a pumpkin. This year's design: "puking" pumpkin:)

Presenting...Our Puking Pumpkin

check out last year's "mooning" pumpkin

Isabella and I went trick-or-treating with our respective BFF's, dear ate Cecile with her DD, Krystn. We had fun collecting the girls' candy stash to last them the entire year (or so we hope:) We also had a great time looking at decorated "haunted" homes. Then we went home and the girls had fun trading candies.

The precious halloween night was followed by another precious day...my birthday.

My day started with a bang...precious greetings from wonderful friends and family...including birthday song from Tess and Steven from Pismo over the cell phone.

Then we were off to church. Being that it was the first Sunday, birthdays and anniversaries for the month are recognized. Isabella stood up and announced my special day. Then my dear tita Rose, my spiritual mentor, prepared a special fish dish for me (she knows I love to eat but not to cook:)

Arriving home from church I was surprised with gifts from my BFF, dear ate Cecile, including a delectable cake from Red Ribbon, my fave...choco mocha crunch...yummy!

After church we celebrated my birthday at World Gourmet Restaurant in Fremont.

My day was ended with a wonderful visit from no other than my BFF, ate Cecile.

It was a wonderful birthday for me. I am so blessed. Thank you dear Lord for the blessing of great family and friends.