Spirit Week Day 5: Blue and White Day!

Celebrating school spirit today with Blue and White Day!

The weather wasn't cooperating with our planned photo shoot, so this was the best I could do this morning. Maren's ensemble included a blue squid hat, face and body paint, my quilted sleeveless jacket from 1980 (we FINALLY removed the ski lift tickets attached to the zipper), and blue rain boots.


This was the best shot I could get of Deacon - a blue shirt and my white pants. (The very same pants that served as Derek's "Glam Luke" pants for our Power Converter Song.)




A little weather adventure on the way to school! It's been forever since it rained here, so it was quite the scene on the streets of Burbank/North Hollywood. We need the rain, but YIKES!


Will update this post if I get a 4th grade class pic today.

UPDATE: Here's the group pic!



UPDATE 2 3:00 PM - Here's Mr. Z!!

George Washington

Maren in her George Washington costume for her book report today.

Spirit Week Day 4: TV/Cartoon Character Day!

In addition to today's theme of TV/Cartoon Character Day, Maren also has an oral costumed biography book report (George Washington) and the annual Spelling Bee; Deacon is participating in the spelling bee as well.

Here they are, off to school - Maren is a TV weatherman, and Deacon is a stick figure.



We should write a book that tells new parents things you're going to need. "Beyond the Bassinet: Here's What you REALLY Need to Have on Hand, for those Last-Minute Emergencies." Featured items would be duct tape, electrical tape, foam core, cotton balls, 6 yards of black felt, body paint in every color, old Airborne tubes, crazy stuff from your own closet that you were about to give away, 110 Sharpies (available everywhere in your house), fake facial hair, wigs, safety pins, and of course, baby wipes. For kids of any age.



Maren in character showing a dangerous weather system



And from Maren's 4th grade class:



Tomorrow is Blue & White Day.

Spirit Week Day 3 - Best-Dressed Day!

Today was Best Dressed day at school.



Deacon had a field trip, so he didn't get to participate. But Deacon didn't mind.



Maren's 4th grade class! Those boys look sharp!!



Tomorrow is TV/Movie/Cartoon Character Day. As of 4:20 PM Wednesday, we don't know what we're doing. And it will be pouring rain tomorrow... stay tuned, we'll have a full report!

Spirit Week Day 2: 50's Day!

It's 50's Day today - here are the kids this morning!



And look who's in the building in Maren's 4th grade class!



Awesome. Check back tomorrow for Best Dressed Day!

Spirit Week Day 1: Pajama Day!

It's that time of year again at school: Spirit Week! Today is Pajama Day. (Why is it harder to figure out what PJs to wear than their regular clothes??)





Maren's 4th grade class


Tomorrow is 50's Day. The AFB will be on the scene.

St. Paul's Girls' Basketball

The St. Paul's Girls' Basketball team (grades 4-6) played HARD today but narrowly lost the championship game to a really good team, St. Martin's.

Congratulations on a great season, girls!

Escape (The Power Converter Song) Video!

Here is the full performance video of "Escape (The Power Converter Song)" from Taco & Talent Night 2014, 1/31/14!

Earthquake 3.0 Hollywood

Report from AFB Earthquake Central:



This quake was felt by Derek & Terri at AFB HQ in Burbank this morning at 10:13. Were watching Olympic figure skating and the house moved with a quick jolt, just for a second.

Taco and Talent Night 2014

Taco and Talent Night 2014 was a huge success and very popular! It was a packed house.

We were very very busy the whole time and didn't get any pics. But Karina sent me this one - thank you, Karina!



Derek was very convincing in his Glam Luke getup. Steve Kwant's video accompaniment was a huge hit. We're so thankful for all the friends and family who loaned us equipment, video editing time & talent, and came to see the show last night.

Will try to have video posted soon... it was a truly groovy, transformative experience for Derek!



ROCK ON!!

Happy Birthday DEACON!

Deacon is 12 today! We can't believe it.



Happy birthday, Deacon - we love you very much!!

Taco & Talent Night is Coming

This is all we can give away...



January 31, 2014
Tacos 6 PM
Talent 7 PM

Taco plate $5 each

St. Paul's First Lutheran Gym

Taco and Talent Night 2014

Taco and Talent Night 2014 is almost here!



We will be performing original lyrics to a well-known pop song from the BEST YEAR EVER in music - 1979!

To quote Lando Calrissian: Everyone is invited, of course.



Our previous Taco and Talent Night performances:

2011

2009

Happy Birthdays!

From December 31, 2013... happy belated birthdays to two of our favorite people:


Ethan, who turned FOUR...


And Grandpa, who turned EIGHTY! 8-0!

We'll soon get our act together and catch up on Thanksgiving and Christmas, December, etc. etc. 2014 is here already! Yikes!

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!

Christmas Card 2013

Front


Back

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. :)

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....

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.