Speed Racers

Gabriel and Daddy celebrated Corryn, Jadon and Kiana's birthdays by heading to the race cars at the "Golf N Stuff" in Ventura with uncle Dave and Julian. Gabriel loved it and can't wait to go again.

Gabriel's Name Art

Nino Rick and Aunt Cindy got Gabriel a beautiful piece of Name Art. Here's the artist at work.

Okay, we're bloggers now

Well, first we were subject to peer pressure. I think my friend, Dawn, said that "all the cool kids are doing it (blogging)." That didn't work. But, then someone brought to my attention that people were being deprived of pictures of Gabriel. It was at this point that I saw the light. Why would we do such a horrible thing. So, we're a blogged family now.

Welcome to the Highland Park DuBransky's blog.

XOXO, Love, Tom, Barb and Gabriel

Design Review

04/04/08 - Our architect, Lisa, came over to show us the "elevations" of the downstairs extension, the new stairs, the balcony, deck and backyard and some follow-up layouts (window and door placement and design, etc). Based on our approval the four contractors can give us detailed bids. And, hopefully we'll be off and running with this remodel.

The garage extension, bathrooms, and kitchen will be a later phase.

Gabriel's Sad Dance Class Story.

At the beginning of March we decided to take advantage of the Stardreams Dance Class that's offered every Tuesday at Gabriel's School, Celebration Kids. He has enjoyed putting on little performances for us at home and sometimes will dance for hours. So we asked him who goes to dance class.

He answered, "All the children."

Believing that he didn't understand I said, "Okay, who stays in the classroom with you?"

He replied, "Teacher Jenine and Teacher Sarahi."

"No, which CHILDREN stay in the classroom with you?"

"No children."

That day Tom inquired about the dance class attendees only to find that Gabriel was absolutely right. He was the ONLY child not attending and would stay back and help his teachers clean the classroom. Poor guy. Who knew!! We felt so bad and, as planned, signed him up immediately.

A friend of mine suggested we start his "therapy fund" over this incident. Some for his being left behind and even more for us not believing him when he told us he was left behind. Ah, MAN!

Needless to say he enjoys it. I went one day to observe. He and the other children had a great time. Despite the grouchy teacher who told Gabriel, "I heard you the FIRST six times," in response to his attempt to try to tell her that he liked the stamp she put on his hand. I'm not sure if she knew which kid was mine when she asked me to "please be invisible because this age group is not easy to keep focused," but she is lucky that I would never hit someone in front of children.

Zoo with Clara

Gabriel went to the LA Zoo with his best girl, Clara. Clara has recently moved on to classroom 5. Gabriel misses her back in Room 4, but will join her in Room 5 in June. They had a great time running around the zoo and we had a great time with her parents: Robin and Mike.

Gabriel went to Disneyland with Nina Robin, Uncle Kevin, Uncle Dave, Grandma Marianne, Kale, Corryn and Jadon.