Well Done, Cora

 Stace and I went to Back to School Night on Wednesday, and got to hear from school administration and from Dr. Porter and Ms. Packer, Violet and Cora's teachers, respectively.

We loved Cora's name card for her desk - she wrote about what makes her special...

 ...and our favorite part was the back, which was facing out when we came in.
":( Closed.  :(
Come back later.
Cora's Desk hours 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m."

 I also loved what she wrote on her goals:
Under the prompt "My goal for the school year is," she wrote "to be more positive while I'm at home doing my chores or playing with my little sister."

The next prompt said, "I will use these steps to help me accomplish my goal."
She wrote, "I will fake it until I make it. I'll always try to put on a huge smile and be very helpful at home."

Yes, please, Cora darling!

While we were at the school, Cora made these gorgeous and delicious chocolate-covered strawberries, with two types of chocolate. Yum!

Cora also received in the mail the book she made, from her miner's biography project a few months ago.

Her biography was excellent - truly a great piece of writing from a 10-year-old.We also had such excellent photos to work with, from our day with Wylie, Cooper and Pam at Placerita Canyon.

She expanded the story a bit, and added in photos we took in Cornwall, where Cora's miner comes from when he heads to California's Gold Country.

The finished project - My Golden Dreams - is such a fun read, and something we'll treasure, like the gold those miners were after.

Cora's writing skills were documented by the state testing results we just received, from late spring. She actually scored the very top score possible for English Language Arts - 2663. She exceeded the state standard in math, as well, but that ELA score is breathtaking.

We are so proud of our big girl!

Dodger Fun

Our friend Pam asked us if we'd like to go with her and Cooper and Wylie to the boys' first Dodger game Saturday. 

As you can imagine, she didn't have to ask twice. I don't need an excuse to head out to Blue Heaven on Earth, especially this year, when the Boys in Blue are running away with the league. 

We couldn't get all four kids to look at the same time; I assure you that Wylie is much more excited than he looks. This is the new statue honoring Jackie Robinson, unveiled in April.

Nice group shot, Pam.

Hey, can I see my foursome up closer?

There we go.
Thanks!
(Wherever Pam is, she plays the role of official photographer. Thanks always for sharing!)

Cora and Wylie got a closer look at the action on the field - and the beachballs in the stands, and the paper airplanes floating down.

Later, they had fun with peanuts. Part of the joy of visiting Dodger Stadium is the nachos, the Dodger dogs, the peanuts, the Cracker Jack, the pretzels, and the chocolate malts.

Our seats were really good - nearly behind home plate. We didn't see a Dodger win - a very rare occasion this year - but we saw an amazing running catch by Yasiel Puig, and a great hit by him, too.

Wylie, Pam, Violet and I took the escalator. But Stace, Cora and Cooper took the stairs less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.

Cooper was flanked by two Kershaws.

Cora sat by Wylie on the way to Dodger Stadium, and Cooper on the way home. She found plenty to talk about with both boys, and nary an electronic device came into play the entire night. That, these days, might be considered a minor miracle. It was fabulous seeing kids interact without a screen.

Week in Review

On Monday, much of the United States experienced that rarest of occasions, a full solar eclipse. Southern California only experienced a 65% eclipse at its height, so it was still very light, but with an odd hazy effect.

The girls learned about the eclipse at school, and Cora's class viewed it outside through its shadow on the ground, through a hole in a sheet of paper.

I met up with my dad at Central Park, where the astronomy club set up telescopes and offered special glasses that made it safe to look at the sun.

I found friends in line, and borrowed their glasses and a cereal box pinhole camera viewer. They both worked well, and it was great to see the eclipse.

My dad took this photo through the glasses - pretty cool!














And I learned this old-school technique for viewing the eclipse, by seeing its shadow through your own interlaced fingers.

We had Sophia over Tuesday after school, and the girls were responsible and got their homework done together. They sounded so old, doing math together. Then we went to the pool, soaking up the summery weather.

Later Tuesday, Cora went to her first flag football practice of the season. Yes, you read that right. She's trying a new sport, a sport she's been wanting to try two years since watching our friend Chris's game.

On Thursday, we continued our medical journey this year with both girls, as we tested Violet to see if she's putting out the proper amount of growth hormone.

She was hooked up to an IV, so the nurse could draw her blood multiple times after she took medication designed to stimulate the pituitary gland into producing the hormone.

We were in the office about five hours total, and Violet was such a trooper. She relaxed comfortably and watched the TV in the room, and even took a nap.

The nap was partially because she also had a 102-degree fever from the onset of a cold. Cora had the same illness, so she stayed home with Grandpa.









She was such a good girl, and so brave, that she earned a new Beanie Boo on the way home.

Music and Playtime

After a (short) week of Back to School, we enjoyed a very summer-like evening with Colleen, Rigo, Lucas and Liana on Friday evening, with dinner and an outdoor concert.

We met at Mod Pizza, with hopes of having dinner on the patio and watching the Beatles tribute band from there. But the patio was full, so we ate inside and then headed out for the last bit of the show.

Always great catching up with these guys!

The best playdates are those that turn into impromptu sleepovers!

We had no plans Saturday morning, so it worked well to have Liana spend the night.The girls were great - they went to sleep fine, and played quietly when they woke up around 6.

I always love seeing the Calico Critters getting love. We have quite the collection at this point.

Photographic proof that every blue moon, I DO make a good breakfast, in this case, blueberry pancakes. (A cooked breakfast is more Stacey's, and now Cora's, domain.)

Later in the day, my heart nearly burst out of my chest as I watched and listened to these two playing together. For well over an hour, maybe two, they cooperated and had fun like little girls.

Cora is definitely in that in-between phase - there's a reason they call 10- to 12-year-olds "tweens." She loves reading and watching Youtube videos and playing games on her Kindle. Playing? She'd still like to, but it doesn't pull her in the same way. Anyway, I'll cherish this Saturday afternoon memory.

Another New Start

Our girls continue to grow up! Now we have a fifth-grader and a second-grader, both excited for their first day of school.

We were really happy to find out that Violet would be in Dr. Porter's second grade classroom, as Cora had a fabulous learning experience with her three years ago. 

Normally students aren't placed in a split class two years in a row, and Dr. Porter is teaching a 2nd/3rd combination class. So it was a great surprise to get the news. I don't mind Violet being in a split at all, especially if Dr. Porter is the teacher!

Violet wore a dress that Cora also wore for her first day of second grade with Dr. Porter. Cora wore black flats, while Violet chose these shimmery, sparkly high-top sneakers. A very cute look indeed.

Cora, meanwhile, was happy to find out she'll be in Ms. Packer's class. Ms. Packer was the teacher for Student Council last year, so Cora already has a great relationship with her. 

She was on the hunt for a plaid shirt for her first day outfit, and found this one in England. 

She has a few friends in her class, like Trent, Wylie and Cami. It will be tough to top her fourth-grade experience with Mrs. Shafarman, but I'm sure this year will be a good one too.

Violet, meanwhile, will get to make new friends, even with the big third-graders. Go get 'em, Vi!

Final Hurrahs

All too soon, we've come to the last few days of our summer break from school. Jen, Sue and I took the kids to Carpinteria for one last beach trip.

It turned out to be a cool and cloudy beach day, but the beach is the beach, right? The kids spent more time in the sand than the surf, and even played a pickup baseball game.

We found a new place for dinner, Rincon Brewery, which hit the spot. We tried new brews and enjoyed yummy food. The kids had fun, too.

On Tuesday, Cora helped out a school event put on by a couple of friends of ours.

Pam and Monica organized a welcome reception and tour for families transferring into our school, and they needed current students to be friendly faces. Cora and Ellie joined Cooper, Wylie and Tyler as the fifth-grade representatives (along with Ellie's big sister). It was such an honor for them to think of Cora!

And on Wednesday, the girls went to the dentist and Cora got her hair cut again. Then, we picked up Wylie and Cooper and went bowling, our last and final hurrah of summer break.

Changing the nicknames on the computer screen was almost more fun than bowling, for certain kids.

Wylie apparently chose too heavy of a bowling ball...
It was a fun afternoon. And, a very enjoyable summer. Sad to see it end!

More Summer Fun

Violet was so happy to be invited to her friend Camryn's new home this week. They enjoyed a playdate at a place familiar to me and Cora - the home that Juliana and Daryl used to rent! SClarita is a small world, indeed.

Cora continued her cooking kick by taking on the dinner-making this week, wearing the London-themed apron she bought herself at Heathrow airport.

She made a lovely meal of broccoli, quinoa and turkey cutlets.  She is such a big help!

On Thursday, we went to visit my friend Melanie and her kids in the San Gabriel Valley, and Cora was again a great help to toddler Andrew and preschooler Sienna. Heather, who's going into first grade, had fun playing with Violet.

On Friday, we had some of Cora's friends over for lunch and to play in the pool. Here, the boys - Trent, Cooper, Tyler and Chris - are racing toward her. Whoever got to the black line first was able to guess first a movie she had thought of and given a clue for. It was a new game to us, and a lot of fun.

On Friday evening, we had Christina, Cami and Melanie over for dinner to thank them for helping watch the cats while we were gone. Cora made dessert - a kiwi lime pie she learned about on Pioneer Woman.

It was delicious!

On Saturday, we went back to the beach with the surfboard, and then met up with Michelle, Rob and Brooke at their new house.

We're so happy for them! Their new place is beautiful, and perfect for their family.

The girls had fun on the trampoline and in the spa, which was not a hot tub since they haven't been heating it.

Back Home, at the Beach

 Here's a big advantage to having a big kid - when she wakes up super early from jet lag, she bakes an apple pie!

Yep, Cora had this baby in the oven by 6 a.m. Friday morning after we returned home late Thursday night. It was yummy, too!

Meanwhile, Violet made her own tin-can telephone, out of red Solo cups and ribbon.

 To thank Cora for the pie, Stace made her mow the back meadow! Just kidding, she was paid a fair wage for a big job. Three weeks away leads to a long lawn!

 We had lost a couple of fish in recent months, and now that we're home for a while, we replenished our tank with three new platys.

The four of us took off to the beach on Sunday, and Cora was happy to take her surfboard out.

 On Tuesday, the girls needed bloodwork and Cora had an orthodontist appointment. We then made everything better by returning to the beach, joining some of our friends.

Cora had a bit of an adventure when she swam out to the dock with friends. We know stingrays are in the water this summer, and signs advise beachgoers to walk with a shuffle to warn the shy creatures to swim away.

Cora saw one swimming in the water when she was on the dock; her friends swam back, but she froze in fear. She was out there by herself for a long time, before an adult joined her and informed her that stingrays are safe in the water. It's when you step on them that they sting.

She then swam back, and later went back out again with her friends.

 Violet had fun in the water, and making sand balls to threaten her mother with.

 Cora always has fun with Trent.

We had a big group! This was the last beach trip for the big kids, who started junior high later this week.

We ended our day at Padaro Beach Grill, a favorite dinner spot that's perfect for big groups with lots of kids.