Happy 10th Birthday Jessica!!

Jessica is turning the big 1-0 today!!

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We enjoyed celebrating with her yesterday at her birthday party.

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This isn't Jessica, but since it was a cute picture of Maren I had to include it!

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This is cute, too.

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Should we do a caption contest for this one??

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Time for the pinata. Maren inspects the rope.

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Experienced pinata putter-upper Michael rigs the latest pinata, themed High School Musical 3, for its beating.

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After William knocks it down, Deacon busts the pinata open.
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Candy grab!

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The ultimate February sport: a boogie-board-on-a-skateboard ride in the garage.
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Jessica's cake, decorated by... Jessica, of course.
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Maren is closest to the cake.

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And finally... here's David, full of sugar and having the time of his life wearing only socks, a diaper and a helmet.

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Happy 10th birthday, Jessica Mae!! You are a great young lady, and we love you!

Celebrity Sighting

The editorial board here at the AFB decided that today's celebrity, Fuzzball, indeed qualified as such because we saw the actual puppet used in the film/Disney parks attraction Captain EO.

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From Captain EO, here's Fuzzball in 1986.

From the Disney studio archives: Fuzzball today, February 27, 2009.

Derek with Fuzzball (and Disney archivist Becky).

This Day In History: February 26, 2005

Deacon on February 26, 2005

Art Showcase: "Deacon at Age 107"

Deacon at Age 107, by Deacon

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Deacon's class recently celebrated their 100th day of 1st grade and as part of the festivities, they drew pictures of themselves in 100 years. Paging Willard Scott! I think we'll go ahead and submit this to the Today Show for a broadcast sometime in 2109.

Ice Skating!

Deacon and Maren's latest adventure with Burbank Park & Rec: ice skating lessons!

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Pickwick Ice Center, Burbank.

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Maren's class is ready to go.

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Deacon's having more success with ice skating...
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...than he did with roller skating.

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Ladies Man.

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Ready for their triple lutz!

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If there were a bucket-pushing event, Maren would win the gold!
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Or maybe the silver... I think the judges mark off one-tenth for that.
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It's cold in here!

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Quite a pair: ready for Vancouver, 2010!!

Mismatch Day

Today is Mismatch/Bad Hair Day at St. Paul's!
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The Alff kids have been enthusiastic participants in their school's Spirit Week festivities this week.
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Two stylin' dudes: Deacon and similarly mismatched Mr. Z.

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Deacon and his first grade friends (and Maren, of course).

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Picture of a picture: yesterday was Sports Day. This picture of Deacon (taken yesterday) was posted on a display board in front of the school.

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Deacon struts his stuff.

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Maren comforts Baby Fi-Fi, who will certainly remember to dress up for Mismatch Day next year.

Surprise!

Valentine's Day is also Carol Ross' birthday!
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Jessica planned a big surprise party for her on Saturday the 14th.
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Derek snapped this picture of me emerging from the party store with 26 balloons, per Jessica's request.
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SURPRISE!!!

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Queen for a day.

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The party planner is revealed.

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Wait, there's a party?

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It was decided that the grownups would take swings at the pinata.

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Holly was particularly determined...

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Ouch. Decapitated!!

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Holly poses with her kill.

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The kids swooped in for candy, which lasted on the ground for exactly 4.8 seconds.
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Time for cake.

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Make a wish!

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When I saw this picture in the batch the next day, I thought for sure that the hat belonged to a ghost. There was no way in the world Derek would take a picture with the back of someone's head blocking the shot! Doesn't the hat look a bit out of place?
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Upon further examination of the pictures, I discovered that Sean was the young hat-wearer. Derek said that he stood up in the frame at the last second as he took the picture. Mystery solved!

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Cutting the cake... this is the traditional Maren-Stands-Right-Next-to-the-Cake picture that we include in every birthday party post here on the AFB.
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Opening presents...

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What every busy mom needs - a snuggie. Hare Krishna!

Art Showcase: "George Washington" by Deacon

In honor of President's Day today... here is George Washington, by Deacon.

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This portrait of our first President is embellished with fireworks, confetti poppers, and a depiction of him chopping down the cherry tree.

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Happy President's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

The AFB wishes everyone a very Happy Valentine's Day!
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Deacon, 2004

Art Showcase: "I Am a Princess..." by Maren

Maren says the title of this drawing is I Am a Princess - the First Public Princess.

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Deacon is a prince and Maren is the princess, and of course there is a castle, complete with moat and drawbridge. She also wanted me to credit guest artist Deacon for his contributions: the window on the right and the flag.

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She was vague as to the meaning behind her reference to a "Public Princess", perhaps evoking the term "People's Princess"?

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Of course, it is never wise to question Maren's pronouncements and declarations. Try as she might to cultivate her image as a "Public Princess", we know that deep-down she'll always be the formidable Queen of America.

This Day In History: February 10, 2005

Maren on February 10, 2005

Sunday Morning

This morning Deacon sang with the St. Paul's Canticle Choir.
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They sang an African song based on Psalm 27. We are singing, for the Lord is our Light.

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A short movie!

Art Showcase: "School Supplies for Maren" by Deacon

School Supplies for Maren, by Deacon

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Maren won't be in Kindergarten until September, but Deacon decided it wasn't too early to show her what supplies she'd need for school.