Happy Birthday Mustache Twins!!

2nd Annual Independent Film Festival

We are waiting for the last entries from Norway and Maple Valley.  Here are the submissions thus far:

Project 8

Submitted by Daniel Olson and Jane Mizner.  Two siblings return to Roslyn to visit their Uncle Geoff when suddenly things go very wrong...

 

Elf Lyfe
Submitted by Rachel Leslie, Emily Olson, Ryan Leslie and Calvin Mizner.  Using a cutting edge technique of filming, these three videographers help audiences understand the Elfin Language.  Note:  This movie is subtitled.

 

The Chili Killer 
Submitted by Andrew Olson and Sarah Olson.  From the directors of last year's winning film, this new video shows the lighter AND the darker side of a mystery.

Mortimer 2:  The Spooky Dog
Submitted by Nick Olson.  Another spectacular film from Nick Olson.  Mortimer solves another ground-breaking thriller.  Guest Star:  Daniel Olson, who basically carries the film.

Remember When?

This was a fun time!

Get Well Soon!!!

Here's to better days of running, jumping, golfing, sitting normally and playing tennis!  

Mortimer, the Film Star!

Nick, Darcy, Sarah and Grandpa star in these classic films!

Still Funny

Emily at State Swim Meet

Here's a nice shot of Emily at the state swim meet taken from the WIAA Instagram feed:

That's her in the letterman's jacket in the balcony above the Everett High swim banner.  

We're so proud of her.

Are Daniel's races this entertaining?

Comic book convention

Here's Nick with a Storm Trooper at the Jet City Comic Book Show. 15 minutes of solid entertainment before he wanted to go. Silver lining: Got to see Dirk Benedict from Battle Star Gallactica and A-Team (sitting at a booth with signed mugshots)

Cougs win!

Falk the huskies!

World's Most Boring Radio Show?

I vote for Fort Laramie starring Raymond Burr...seriously, so boring. I defy any of you to stay awake during an entire episode.
Click here for episodes: Fort Laramie

My First Video Upload

Happy Birthday, Joe!!

Yo, Bro-in-Law!  Hope you had a fantastic day!  This is going to be your best year yet.  New knee, new hip, but the same ol' guns :)

CONTEST: What is Nick laughing at?

Guess right and you'll win a FREE Cle Elum bakery maple bar, valued at $1.30, outrageously enough.

Neil. Diamond.

Neil is playing at Key Arena on May 10th, which is probably Mother's Day. Mom, let me know if you want to go again.   I'm going and probably dragging Rachel just for the purpose of seeing Sweet Caroline.  Tickets on sale Monday Oct. 13 unless you have some Ticketmaster deal...

Fire Leach

Didn't go for two points on the last touchdown.  Doesn't allow his hot quarterback to go for it on 3rd down.  Squanders time.  Ugh.  Poor kicker.

Vehicles I Own

I looked out my window and realized that I now own a green GMC and a white Jeep.  I am on the lookout for a yellow VW bug and an Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser (green).  Or maybe a blue Rambler station wagon.  And an orange Honda 90. Oh, wait, maybe a blue Mazda 626 or Datsun B-210.

Other suggestions?

Nick's talk show - debut episode

Happy Birthday Annie! Sweet Sixteen!

Wow, big numbers for a lot of cousins this year!

Happy Birthday Annie!  Now you are legal to drive in the US of A.  Next summer.  Bring the Leaf to America.  Hoping your day is doggone good!

On top of the world

Taking flight

Doggone cute

Oh, wait, that's me, Mad Martha!

Nick on the Clark Elementary Website!

He's famous!

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday Dad!

I know all you wanted for your birthday was a gas furnace, but I'll do a post anyhow.  Hope you are enjoying/profiting from your day!  Love you!!

Dad's Family (finally!)

Dad's cousins visited earlier in August and a grand time was had by all.  Margaret Ann (Alma's daughter) and Suzanne (Calvin's daughter) came from Minnesota and Texas.  When I was there we went to a picnic with Dad's coffee group.  Martha, what adventures did you take place in?

 Dad holding Uncle Calvin's sword

 Dad and Margaret Ann

Pre-Picnic photo with Margaret Ann and Suzie

What?  How did this photo of Gracie get in here?

Update

Uncle Joe has finally "fixed" his knee 

Happy Birthday Natalie!

This little monkey is 18 today! 

Spot Natalie

In a follow up to my Jane post, I thought it would be good to add some pictures that show the difficulty in spotting Natalie as a child.  

Natalie is seldom seen alone in a picture.  She uses other cousins as camouflage.  Seen here, Natalie has carefully selected her seat based upon a cousin of similar height--nice job Baby Nat!

Here is Natalie, hiding her face behind her thumb.  It is probable that she was headed for the two cousins who are gambling in the background.

At times Natalie literally hides in plain sight.  Can you see her in this picture?

Finally, here she is in her best disguise.  It's a Jane costume.

Happy Birthday Natalie!!   We love you even when we can't tell it's you!!

Coming soon...Nick's first day of first grade picture?

Spotting Jane

To atone for my misidentification of Jane in the Katie post, (or Natalie whichever way you look at it), I decided to post some "spot" Jane pictures.

Here is Jane with her manager, who is trying to avoid paparazzi.

Here is Jane again with her manager, trying to remember if she wore pants.

This isn't Jane...what the...

And finally, in case you have to identify Jane from the back. 

Happy Birthday Katie!

Happy 22nd Birthday Katie!! 

I was able to find your very first lesson as a teacher and am posting it here so you can document it for your new class!!  Here you are showing Natalie how to find the most eggs!

Happy Birthday Mary Kate!

Happy Birthday California Girl!  We wish we all could be California girls by the way!

We love you because of your dedication to the environment (shown here thoughtfully planning to knock down rock ponds for bull trout).

Please see previous Ruth Post about pictures of certain people!!  More photos of Ruth AND Mary Kate needed!

Happy Birhday Jane!!

Happy Birthday Jane.  We hope every birthday is like the Fourth of July!!

Happy Birthday Ruth!

This year I thought we'd highlight Ruth's humble origins.  Here is a quick video of Ruth and her kinfolk.

Happy Birthday Ruth!  ps  we need more pictures of Ruth.

Exclusive "Pippi" backstage videos and photos

Warm-up exercises before the show. Click to expand

Parrot posing with a pirate

Backstage with the parents

Makeup

The pirates all agreed Nick was their favorite parrot.

Quick clip of the show...he's in the middle of the frame

Nick's Stage Debut this weekend!

After a hectic final rehearsal week, Pippi Longstocking and the Wayward Pirates opens tomorrow at Meydenbauer a Center in Bellevue. Nick and I have thoroughly enjoyed this experience. It has been so fun getting to know the rest of the cast and their families as well as the Bellevue Youth Theatre staff and volunteers. What an amazing group of people! Anyway, I thought I would provide the show time and ticket info if you are interesting in attending one of the shows.

Show times are:
7 pm Friday (8/15)
2 pm and 7 pm Saturday (8/16)
2 pm Sunday (8/17)

Tickets are $5 and you can order them in advance by calling the Bellevue Youth Theatre box office at (425) 452-7155. There are no assigned seats at any of the shows, so I recommend arriving about 30 minutes prior to the start to get a good seat.

Happy Birthday Ryan!

My little camper turns 26!

Good investment!

Well, I converted some old movies to DVD's and got some interesting results as I neglected to watch them first. 

Here is an example of what I paid for...

Happy Birthday Darcy!!

I went back to pull a photo of you from old Sweet Martha posts and then got distracted by such classics as "Nick Ponders a Teeth Cracker" and "Nick Rocks the Boat".  So I'll have to rely on the oft-used "famous people with your name".

1. Darcy from Thor

2.  Various Mr. Darcy's

3.  And  famous hedgehog named Darcy

Have a wonderful evening!

Gammy's Still Got It!

Mom and I went hiking in the Middle Fork of the Teanaway River last weekend.  She crossed the river in her bare feet, hiked in 90 degree whether, and dodged lightning strikes along the way!

Oh, and we saw some cows.