Maren's Birthday Party!

Today was Maren's 3rd Birthday Party, at the Discovery Museum of Sacramento Science & Space Center (http://www.thediscovery.org/)! What a fun day we had. Lots of pictures today, so I'll get right to them (sorry if the formatting isn't ideal... I'm still not very good at this!)


Cake and presents...

Exploring...

Astronaut Micah!

Enjoying the Animal Show, featuring a Screech Owl. Did you know that they are common in Sacramento, and that because of their small brains owls are actually not very wise at all? Most of us didn't know that.

Having fun on the way out of the museum...

Pizza for lunch!

Thanks to everyone for making Maren's birthday so special!

Happy 3rd Birthday Maren!

Maren turned 3 today and enjoyed a "mini-party" at Bakers Square in Auburn. The "real" party is tomorrow, but today she was able to see Great Grandpa Papa, cousins Olivia, Dain and Chase, and all the Coders!

With Deacon, Dain and Chase...

Maren and Papa: add their ages together, and they're 100!

Stay tuned for big birthday party news tomorrow!

Ready To Go

Rented the car for the trip tonight. The kids pretended to have a slumber party in the car.

See all of you Sacramentans soon!! We can't wait!

Deacon's Recital

The good news about Deacon's recital today was that after the whole audience waited while he went to the bathroom, he and the boys from his class put on a great show.


Yes, it was announced right as his class was to take the stage that one of the performers was taking a bathroom break. "Surely it's not Deacon," thought Derek. "Of course it's Deacon," one of the other moms told me.


His teacher, Ms. Sharon, even got his shirt partially tucked in before the curtain opened.


The boys sang, rang bells, and played piano beautifully! What an accomplishment. Everyone appreciated their efforts except Maren, who had to be removed by Grammie when she got too noisy.


The boys on stage...

Deacon's piano solo (video)




With their teacher, Ms. Sharon...


















The Trophy!



Afterward, waiting for a table at Olive Garden (Deacon's choice)








Deacon and Daddy at Olive Garden

Go Avengers!

With 46 days to go until the start of the NFL preseason, Derek and I ventured into the world of Arena Football last night.

For some reason we didn't take our camera, so these are cell phone pics.

We went with a group from church and had a great time! After a tour of the Staples Center and a pep talk with Avengers Coach Winter, we enjoyed the sort-of hard-hitting, sort-of fast-paced, kind-of high scoring game of Arena Football.

Having already clinched a playoff spot, the Los Angeles Avengers played their second string most of the evening and lost to the Utah Blaze by 10. We're sure they'll be back in full force for the playoffs in two weeks. Go Avengers!

Preschool Program

Just some pictures and video from this evening's program at the preschool, celebrating Father's Day, 4th of July and Kindergarten graduation!

(Note: I don't know why, but some pictures are clickable and some aren't.)

The kids get ready to sing...

Maren gets an award for Potty Training! (Video)





Checks out her award...

Deacon and best friend Brian...

Maren with her awards

A pot luck after the show...

The kids with Mr. Mario and Ms. Sonia... Is Maren making some kind of socio-political statement??









Discovered a flat tire on the Honda... Deacon helps put on the spare. For Deacon, it was the perfect ending to a great day!

Blue Dinosaurs

A short update this Thursday evening... Maren loves to color. Here are some beautiful blue dinosaurs!

Happy Father's Day!

We celebrated with a "Finding Nemo Underwater Party" this morning (Deke's idea). He drew pictures of sea creatures and we hung "seaweed" from the ceiling.

Turn on your sound!

Testing this new feature: Video Upload.

Derek and the kids at the park today.

Hangin' Around

I saw this picture Derek took at the park today and couldn't resist.

Also, Maren shows us her "surprised face."

Movin' In

The Calvary Chapel Burbank offices have officially moved out of the space on Olive and into our new building on Glenoaks!

Derek gave the kids and me our first tour of the building. So many rooms, so many pianos to play, so many toilets to clean!

After moving the pastors' offices, the next priority was of course to hook up the plasma TV. Derek and Steve wasted no time getting video and sound plugged in and fine-tuned to rigorous THX specifications.

It will be several weeks before we can start having Sunday services there, but until then Calvary Chapel Burbank will be officially operational from our new HQ at 2707 North Glenoaks! God has blessed us indeed!