Camping Weekend

Weeks ago, Violet asked if we could return to Wheeler Gorge for her birthday weekend, as we camped there last year with Colleen and Rigo and the kids.

Our friends were happy to do it again, and Colleen booked a pair of sites next to each other and next to the creek. It was perfect! This time, we were there for Violet's actual birthday, whereas last year we camped on the weekend between the girls' birthdays.

Hot chocolate, made with water boiled over the campfire! Violet loved making the fires; both my girls did, actually.

See the creek behind them? That's how close we were!

Cora loves cooking, and she was happy to make the bacon for our breakfast on Saturday morning.

We happened to be in town the weekend that the Wheeler Gorge Visitor Center had an Open House, with activities and vendors. So we walked across the highway to check it out. Violet and the other kids took part in the REI booth Jenga game - if you successfully created a new row of three blocks, you got to spin the wheel for a prize like lip balm or sunscreen.

If you accidentally knocked the whole set down, like Violet did (because she was having trouble reaching), you got to choose a prize. She picked the best one, a Kleen Kanteen stainless steel pint glass. 

We returned and celebrated Violet's birthday with her gifts. Here, she's delighted by a tiny gift - a Thor Ragnarok figure of Skurge, with his mates Des and Troy. 

The birthday girl in her happy place. She let us know that she would like this to be our annual tradition for her birthday.

The kids had a fabulous time playing in the water. It wasn't as cold as we would have guessed, and all the rain over the winter meant there was plenty to enjoy.

Like last year, Violet wanted a cookie cake.

We made s'mores and enjoyed the campfire in the evening, naturally.

We love this family!

On our way home, we stopped in Ojai to walk around, and then had a late lunch/early dinner at Boccali's, an Italian place with a beautiful patio area. Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty had raved about it when he worked in Ojai, so I was eager to give it a try finally. It was great!

So, Ojai, Wheeler Gorge and Boccali's, until next year!

Birthday Week Fun

At Violet's softball practice on Monday, one of her teammates had a birthday and brought cupcakes. Violet was determined to bring a treat to her Wednesday practice, since we'd be out of town on her actual birthday (missing a game in the process).

So, here are some of her teammates on Wednesday, singing Happy Birthday and enjoying a cookie.

Violet had a few favorite school friends over on Friday for lunch and a movie playdate, and also to celebrate her birthday.

I made grilled cheese sandwiches, the request of the birthday girl, served with fruit and chips.

The girls then watched Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, while I packed up our clothes for our weekend birthday camping trip.

When Stace got home, we finished getting ready and packed up the car and away we went, to the hills near Ojai.

Getty Museum Field Trip

Cora's class took part in the big field trip of sixth grade Thursday, when they bused into West L.A. to the Getty Museum.

I was fortunate to be one of the two chaperones for the class, as this is a highlight of the year for the class. Here is my little group with our docent, looking at the 3D map to get the lay of the land.

Here, we're looking at a 17th century statue of Hercules breaking the jaw of a dragon.

Cora and Jake discussing the finer points of this painting.

It was a hazy day, so our views of downtown L.A. and the ocean were compromised. I'm guessing this is my final time chaperoning this kiddo. Sniff!

This famous chandelier was recently brought down to a lower display height, so we can see it better. The bottom crystal bowl was designed as a goldfish bowl - I offered to donate our fish, but the docents weren't interested.

I had a great group of kids! Respectful and great listeners.

Lunch at the picnic area - Cora has explained to me the various lunch table groupings, so it was interesting to see the social dynamics in action.

Jake led a dance party in the tram between the museum and the parking structure. Cora and Jake were planning to sit by each other on the long bus ride, but Cora was dealing with car-sickness so she had to sit up in the front row, next to a teacher.

Easter Sunday

We went to church as a family on Saturday evening, since our huge church as services for days to accommodate the crowds. So, on Sunday morning, I went back to help in the nursery, while Stace and the girls stayed home.

Later, we hosted Melanie and Nick and my parents for a ham dinner. Then, we dyed eggs and had a little egg hunt in the back yard.

Melanie read the Easter story to us...

...and we finished our evening with a friendly game of croquet. Two Easters in a row, I guess this is now a tradition.

Easter Weekend Fun

A few weeks ago, Violet rediscovered her love for American Girl dolls. And she requested a birthday meal at the Cafe, with Melanie, a favorite friend who also loves the dolls.

Christina and I were happy to make this happen for the girls, and it became a joint birthday celebration - their birthdays are within a week of each other. Grandma came too.

The meal is delicious and fancy - several courses!
Violet loved her Grumpy Cat socks, a little gift from Melanie.

On Saturday, Violet and I participated in the Mom2Mom Easter Egg Hunt. She had a fun time; Cora was at her school musical prop-making day.

Happy girl with her basket full.

Look at that face - wide-mouthed in surprise at THREE pieces of candy within ONE egg!

Later that day, Cora and Stace busied themselves with irrigation in the garden. Cora is one heck of a girl. We so appreciate her work ethic.

Getting Ready for Junior High

 Placerita is coming! Cora and the rest of the sixth graders (and their families) were welcomed to the junior high's open house on Thursday, and this marked the first time we all toured the campus.

The kids were also invited to take part in the school's color run, and Cora and Jake had fun getting colorful. They did not, however, have fun running. Though Jake likes running, Cora does not, and we witnessed nary a jog from these two.

 But who needs to run, when you can just have fun with the color?

 Here's Cami and a couple of other friends...

It was so sweet of Cora and Jake to give me hugs and share their color with me!

 Vivi also got a colorful hug after the run - she didn't do the color run.

After the run, we listened to the school's orchestra while eating hot dogs - the sixth-grade families were treated to a free meal. Cora and Jake went off to explore on their own, which was great, except that we didn't have a plan in place for meeting up later.

After Kell and Yass finally found them - they were having a great time in and out of classrooms, introducing themselves to their future teachers - we joined an impromptu tour Pam was leading. 

Here, we're in the wood and metal shop. Cora can't wait for this class! All in all, it was a great night and we're excited for Cora's next steps here.

Cousin Fun - Flowers and Friends

After our rainy winter, our local deserts are abloom - even, a-Super-Bloom. And I've been wanting to take my girls to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, which was ablaze with the orange official state flower. 

I knew the girls would balk at the hour drive to see flowers, even if they positively covered the hillsides for miles around, so I conveniently used Martin and Karen's visit as cover to get them in the car. 

Our English cousins were game, and they enjoyed the pretty drive and the flowers.

It was incredibly windy, with highs in the low 60s, so the many of the flowers actually weren't even open. You can imagine how much more orange the hills would have looked, had the flowers been open wide.

After the poppies, we stopped at Vasquez Rocks, to show the cousins Cora's happy place. It was a quick stop as we were hosting dinner at home, and Stace was there getting ready.

Kelly and Yass and the boys came over, as well as my parents, as we enjoyed a Tuesday evening as if it were a Saturday. This was Karen and Martin's last night with us, as they left for San Diego Wednesday morning.

 Cora and the boys played video games, among other activities.

 Chloe and Violet also played, and then turned their attention to taking our dessert orders.

Such great servers! Ice cream cones, with whipped cream. It was a fabulous night! A great end to fun with our extended family. We're so happy to hear that they plan to come back in the future.