The campus is beautiful and the amenities are plentiful. Steven has access to a world-class gym with lap pool, basketball courts, racquetball courts, and bowling alley. His dorm is on campus, so getting to classes shouldn’t be a problem as Steven is used to rolling out of bed at the last possible second.

Here is a short video tour of Steven’s Dorm:

This was a very bittersweet weekend. We are all very excited for Steven, but we will certainly miss his effervescent presence. We can’t wait to see him again and hear about all of his college adventures.

Steven, if you’re reading this- don’t forget to brush your teeth, go to your classes, and above all else- make the most of your time there. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you should enjoy every minute of it. We love and miss you very much.

Shamir Merino

Yes, there were a lot of zeros on that check…

Anyhow, as usual- here is a slideshow of the party:

(Annalia, if you want to hear music while watching the slideshow, click play on this box, then click play on the slideshow)

Shamir Merino

It was a fantastic performance that left us breathless and speechless. David had small roles in the production, but was thrilled to be a part of such a moving and meaningful piece.

Here is a video of the entire performance, which is an hour and sixteen minutes long (!) Enjoy it, if you dare…

It’s over. Officially Steven Merino is no longer a High School Student. He is officially a Freshman at San Diego State University.

This year, Steven blossomed into the man I knew he could be. His confidence has transformed him from a timid, invisible, lazy little boy to a funny, charismatic, lazy adult. I contribute much of his growth to his new BFF, who gave him the attention he needed just when he needed it most. I thank Liz from the bottom of my heart for helping Steven realize his worth. What I’ve been trying to do for 18 years, you achieved in 6 months.

One of Steven’s greatest strengths has been his ability to choose the right friends- most of which are moving on to UCLA, Berkley, USC, etc., scholarships in hand. Marshall Fundamental’s class of 2010 is truly remarkable, ranking 23rd among 27,000 public high schools in the United States. We will be paying close attention to Jack and Erin Colletta, Michael Carrandi, Josephine Kinney, Lance Ridenoure, and Randy Watson, all Don Benito Alumnus who have been with Steven since Kindergarten. I am happy and proud to say that they are the future of our nation.

We now are tasked with trying to prepare Steven for college life, where he has to feed himself, get himself to school, wake himself up, wash his own clothes, and live with someone else who won’t be as tolerant as we have been. I have a strong feeling that we will be making frequent trips to San Diego in the Fall to keep him on track…

The scariest thing to me is imagining the Merino Household without Steven. He is definitely the spirit of the house- keeping everyone entertained and with smiles on our faces. His absence will be felt deeply and constantly. I really don’t know how I’m going to deal with it. I’m crying just writing about it, so I will stop…

Here is a slideshow from the Graduation and the Family Celebration:

Steven, we are very proud of you and love you dearly. Congats on your completion of this critical stage in your life. On to the next stage…

Love,

Dad.

Next up: Graduation!!!!

If you have LOTS of time to kill, below is a LONG Slideshow with over 400 pictures. If you want to browse the photos for yourself, click here.

The weather was perfect for Barbequing my special hamburgers and hotdogs and watching the kids frolic in the yard. If you watch the slideshow below, you may even catch a glimpse of Truck-a-saurus Rex,  a future Diva, and the elusive Sasquatch lurking in the shadows…

Enjoy:

Christy saw this as an opportunity to spruce up the backyard, prepare some ‘Mock-tails’ and snacks, and give the crew a proper send off. I saw this as an opportunity to take a crap load of pictures so the kids didn’t have to worry about paying an exorbitant amount of cash for a junky picture with a cheap background.

I guess I wasn’t the only one with that idea as all of the kids’ parents arrived at our house with cameras in hand ready to snap away. With 26 students and at least as many family members, our backyard resembled a post-Oscar party. The cameras were going off like the Paparazzi around Brad and Angelina.

Here is Steven with his date, Liz:

Here is a slideshow showing all of the fun of the Pre-Prom Party:

It’s that time of year where we turn the tables and shine the spotlight on the one person that is usually the one pointing the spotlight on us- our mothers. This year, the Kimerindeztein family celebrated at the Merino home base and relished on our favorite Hawaiian Food. The food was plentiful, the kids well behaved and the gifts well received. I was scared that Christy would not be happy about her new iPhone, but she warmed up to it after a few days.

Pictures from the event:

(Click Play to watch a slideshow, or click on a picture to go to the webpage to download the image)

Shamir Merino

Check out the pictures by clicking here