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!

Summer's In Full Swing

Went to the Buena Vista Library Park today. Lots of swinging and playing in the sand... not much else to report, but here are some pictures!

The Birthday Party That Wasn't

Today the kids were looking forward to a birthday party for Brian, Deacon's best friend at preschool. A "Dinosaur-themed Water Wonderland" birthday party! Derek packed up the kids in their swimsuits with their towels, extra clothes, etc. Deacon neatly signed the birthday card and drew a great picture of a pterosaur (a winged dinosaur, for those not currently obsessed with dinosaurs.)

When they arrived at the house, Brian's dad was on the front porch letting people know that the party was canceled. A lovely stomach bug had hit the family the day before and, having given a lot of invitations out at the preschool, they didn't have phone numbers to call everyone. The Dinosaur Water Wonderland party wasn't to be.

I had stayed home to try to clean up our messy house, and when Derek called with the news I heard Deacon, heartbroken, wailing in the background.

Fortunately, I had some cake left over from Susie's party yesterday, so that helped everyone feel better. Derek set up the pool out front and we had our own Water Wonderland!

Susie and Molly Say Goodbye

After some good food, great company and a few tears, it was time to say goodbye to Susie and Molly as they prepare to make the move to North Carolina.


Ever the entertainer, Susie had a BRILLIANT plan to clean out her cupboards: North Carolina Trivia. Whoever correctly answered a question got one item to take home; if you got it wrong, you had to take two items home!


Asking the questions...









Even if you lose, you win!











Since I somehow knew the name of one of the U.S. senators from North Carolina, I got to take home some much-needed vegetable oil. Seriously, I was just going to get some at the store!

















There was plenty of cake, as we celebrated an early 11th birthday for Molly!











We played Horseshoes and there was even a mini putting green, and kids and grownups had a lot of fun.















Eventually the time came to say goodbye to dear Susie and Molly. We'll be praying for a safe trip as they drive to their new home!

61 Days Away

By now, it's June 9th on the East Coast, meaning I can officially say there are exactly two months until our favorite time of the year: the start of NFL Preseason Football.

Let the countdown begin!

A Trip to the Zoo

Went to the L.A. Zoo today. My shoulders are sunburned and my feet hurt, but we had a great time.

There's a new exhibit called Spider City. It was everything you'd expect from something called Spider City. Lots of furry, scary spiders! The kids loved it.

As if Spider City wasn't enough, we got to see hippos, zebras, monkeys, a rhino and an elephant. They're building a new elephant habitat after much hoo-haa with the city and I guess they'll bring in more elephants then. It's generally agreed that the elephant there now is sad. Hopefully some friends will make her happy.

BREAKING NEWS: Maren Eats Cheetos

Okay, so it's not really that exciting. I just thought it was a cute picture.

There is some marginal significance, however, in that this picture marked the moment the camera rolled over the 10,000 picture count for the third time. That's 30,000 pictures in 5 1/2 years! Just be glad they're not all on this blog!!

Weekend Report

Not much of a report, really, but here are a few pictures. Deacon had fun at the Colfax Elementary School Fair (a perplexingly large-scale event culminating in a raffle of such items as a 50" Plasma TV, a diamond, and a walk-on part on ER)...

Despite the relatively cool weather, Maren wanted to put on her swimsuit ("swimsoup", as she says), and play with the hose outside.

All for now!

Maren's 3rd Birthday Party Invitation

Posting for purposes of right-hand column clickability...

It's Official!

Hallelujah! Today Derek joined Pastor Tim and Jim Cacciatore to sign the Lease Option and Purchase agreements between Calvary Chapel Burbank and Bethany Presbyterian Church for the new church property at 2707 N. Glenoaks. Of course Derek brought his trusty camera to document this momentous occasion!