Click the report below to enlarge!
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Status Report 2013
Regular posts will continue below for the next few weeks. We'll keep our very short Christmas Status Letter right here at the top for those who have no idea what's going on with us.
Click the report below to enlarge!
Click the report below to enlarge!
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
This Day in History: December 11, 2005
From December 11, 2005: Maren and Daddy star in Gargles and Giggles!
This won't play if your browser or device doesn't play Flash. But it was worth a try. :)
Monday, December 9, 2013
Super-Thanksgiving Doorbuster Mega-Post 2013, Part 2: ARRIVALS
Since it's taken me sooooooo long to post these Thanksgiving pics anyway, I decided to change strategies and post small groups of pics by category/subject. So forget where we left off in the last post - today's post will be covering... ARRIVALS!
Grandma & Grandpa arrived the day before and made pies:
AND practiced a trombone duet.
Thanksgiving Day. NOBODY makes an entrance like Michael Ross, who was sporting a BRAND-NEW OFFICIAL THANKSGIVING SHIRT. Oh yeah.
Neighbors past and present: Kathy and Susie!
From Casa de Ribnik: Molly, Elizabeth, and Ariel.
Hmmm...
Aw.
Debbie gets an interrogation upon arrival!
And here's Debbie with Miss Miller and Seth! And Maren.
Oh, and we were already there, but here we are in our official Thanksgiving pose (I guess).
Not sure what happened to Velta and Jason in these arrival pics. But rest assured, Velta was definitely on hand to SAVE THANKSGIVING, once again. It will all be covered in our next post: TURKEY TROUBLES. Wah, Waah, Waaaahh....
Grandma & Grandpa arrived the day before and made pies:
AND practiced a trombone duet.
Thanksgiving Day. NOBODY makes an entrance like Michael Ross, who was sporting a BRAND-NEW OFFICIAL THANKSGIVING SHIRT. Oh yeah.
Neighbors past and present: Kathy and Susie!
From Casa de Ribnik: Molly, Elizabeth, and Ariel.
Hmmm...
Aw.
Debbie gets an interrogation upon arrival!
And here's Debbie with Miss Miller and Seth! And Maren.
Oh, and we were already there, but here we are in our official Thanksgiving pose (I guess).
Not sure what happened to Velta and Jason in these arrival pics. But rest assured, Velta was definitely on hand to SAVE THANKSGIVING, once again. It will all be covered in our next post: TURKEY TROUBLES. Wah, Waah, Waaaahh....
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Super Thanksgiving Doorbuster Mega-Post 2013: Part 1
There are a lot of pictures from Thanksgiving, so I am going to divide our Super Thanksgiving Doorbuster Mega-Post into parts. Today's subject: House Prep. I know, BO-RING. But next year we can look back and say, "Oh yeah, that's how we seated all of those people for dinner."
It all starts with the turkey. And the bird we're going to eat later - ha.
Maren is our go-to signage department; here, she diligently makes place setting name tags for every guest.
Maren just saw me posting this, and typed the following: "It was boring and I did not have much fun until I found the orange thingies that I could pop out :)"
Maren's Trash sign:
Deacon was tasked with setting up the kids' table this year.
Star Wars action figures make great centerpieces!
All the tables are set.
Maren and Grandma and our very classy drink coolers! Only the best for our guests.
The turkey is ready! So is the bird - ha.
Or is it???
Check back soon for Super Thanksgiving Doorbuster Mega-Post: Part 2, and see the riveting saga of the Turkey that Would Not Cook.
It all starts with the turkey. And the bird we're going to eat later - ha.
Maren is our go-to signage department; here, she diligently makes place setting name tags for every guest.
Maren just saw me posting this, and typed the following: "It was boring and I did not have much fun until I found the orange thingies that I could pop out :)"
Maren's Trash sign:
Deacon was tasked with setting up the kids' table this year.
Star Wars action figures make great centerpieces!
All the tables are set.
Maren and Grandma and our very classy drink coolers! Only the best for our guests.
The turkey is ready! So is the bird - ha.
Or is it???
Check back soon for Super Thanksgiving Doorbuster Mega-Post: Part 2, and see the riveting saga of the Turkey that Would Not Cook.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Buffy and the Snowflakes
We interrupt Thanksgiving blogging for this important Christmas message:
My friend Buffy Baggott shared with me the incredible Star Wars snowflakes she made.
The snowflakes:
Close-Ups. Here's Darth Vader:
Chewie:
Stormtrooper:
Princess Leia:
Boba Fett:
C-3P0:
R2-D2:
Yoda:
A TIE Fighter:
And a B-Wing Fighter:
OH, and it pales in comparison to her snowflake-making talents, but Buffy is also a pretty decent opera singer.
THANK YOU BUFFY!!
My friend Buffy Baggott shared with me the incredible Star Wars snowflakes she made.
The snowflakes:
Close-Ups. Here's Darth Vader:
Chewie:
Stormtrooper:
Princess Leia:
Boba Fett:
C-3P0:
R2-D2:
Yoda:
A TIE Fighter:
And a B-Wing Fighter:
OH, and it pales in comparison to her snowflake-making talents, but Buffy is also a pretty decent opera singer.
THANK YOU BUFFY!!
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
The Day Before Thanksgiving - Part 2
Grandma and Maren rehearse their epic trombone duet on the Day Before Thanksgiving.
I will probably divide the annual Super Thanksgiving Doorbuster Mega-Post into multiple awesome segments, leading up to Christmas. There are just so many pictures!
Hope everyone is having a good December so far!
I will probably divide the annual Super Thanksgiving Doorbuster Mega-Post into multiple awesome segments, leading up to Christmas. There are just so many pictures!
Hope everyone is having a good December so far!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
PIES with Grandma!
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
While I'm gathering pictures for the big Thanksgiving Doorbuster post, I thought I could share this picture of Maren and Grandma. It's their annual tradition to make pumpkin pies every year on the day before Thanksgiving.
Will update soon with the full Thanksgiving post!
While I'm gathering pictures for the big Thanksgiving Doorbuster post, I thought I could share this picture of Maren and Grandma. It's their annual tradition to make pumpkin pies every year on the day before Thanksgiving.
Will update soon with the full Thanksgiving post!
Friday, November 15, 2013
Turkey Tactics
It all started with this ad in my Vons phone app, this morning.
I went to Pavilions.
This $3 coupon is in addition to the weekly special advertising 16 to 24-lb Butterball turkeys for $15:
So I was determined to purchase a 22-24lb turkey this morning for $12.
To get the extra $3.00 off, I would need to purchase a mix/match assortment that included 4 of the following:
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
Green Giant Canned Vegetables
and...
Betty Crocker Stuffing.
But there were a few small problems with this offer. I didn't want crescent rolls, I wanted FLAKY LAYER rolls.
Also, I didn't need canned vegetables.
But I DID need stuffing. So when I inquired as to the location of the Betty Crocker Stuffing, I was taken directly to Mr. Tom Fardig, Pavilions store manager. "In my 47 years in this business I have never heard of Betty Crocker Stuffing," he said. "It doesn't exist."
I explained that we had a slight problem, because in that case, they couldn't make good on their offer. Unless, I asked, I could substitute 4 Grands Flaky Layers rolls for the required Crescent rolls, thereby fulfilling the 4-item purchase requirement without actually purchasing any of the items in the ad!!
And Store Manager Mr. Tom Fardig said YES!
So now BEHOLD, in all its frozen glory: this year's 22lb Butterball Turkey, for which I paid $12!
But I admit, I was curious. Why would a major grocery chain (Safeway/Vons/Pavilions) advertise an item that doesn't exist?
A quick google search revealed THIS:
Apparently, "NEW" Betty Crocker Homestyle Stuffing is available somewhere.
Just not at the Burbank Pavilions this morning.
And so begins Thanksgiving 2013. Did I mention I will be LIVE-TWEETING Thanksgiving this year?? Should be EPIC... in fact, it already has been! Epically Cheap! HA
I went to Pavilions.
This $3 coupon is in addition to the weekly special advertising 16 to 24-lb Butterball turkeys for $15:
So I was determined to purchase a 22-24lb turkey this morning for $12.
To get the extra $3.00 off, I would need to purchase a mix/match assortment that included 4 of the following:
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
Green Giant Canned Vegetables
and...
Betty Crocker Stuffing.
But there were a few small problems with this offer. I didn't want crescent rolls, I wanted FLAKY LAYER rolls.
Also, I didn't need canned vegetables.
But I DID need stuffing. So when I inquired as to the location of the Betty Crocker Stuffing, I was taken directly to Mr. Tom Fardig, Pavilions store manager. "In my 47 years in this business I have never heard of Betty Crocker Stuffing," he said. "It doesn't exist."
I explained that we had a slight problem, because in that case, they couldn't make good on their offer. Unless, I asked, I could substitute 4 Grands Flaky Layers rolls for the required Crescent rolls, thereby fulfilling the 4-item purchase requirement without actually purchasing any of the items in the ad!!
And Store Manager Mr. Tom Fardig said YES!
So now BEHOLD, in all its frozen glory: this year's 22lb Butterball Turkey, for which I paid $12!
But I admit, I was curious. Why would a major grocery chain (Safeway/Vons/Pavilions) advertise an item that doesn't exist?
A quick google search revealed THIS:
Apparently, "NEW" Betty Crocker Homestyle Stuffing is available somewhere.
Just not at the Burbank Pavilions this morning.
And so begins Thanksgiving 2013. Did I mention I will be LIVE-TWEETING Thanksgiving this year?? Should be EPIC... in fact, it already has been! Epically Cheap! HA
