Memorial Day Weekend

 It was Memorial Day weekend, so Stace had Monday off. We all slept in after the theatre banquet, and on Saturday afternoon, Stace and I went to Rancho Camulos. I'd read about a special screening of a documentary on California history, combined with tours of this beautiful historic landmark. Stace hadn't been in years, so we headed over.

Our tour guide was one of the main docents, so she had all the knowledge of the 1850s rancho and the families who lived there.

While we were there, Cora went to Logan's house for D&D, and then Stace and I met her there so we could drive together to Mel and Nick's. They wanted Cora to babysit, and we wanted to ride with her while she got the freeway driving experience. 

We then left Cora at their place, and went to the sweet Americana shopping center for our own date night.

On Sunday, Violet went on another whale watching cruise with Grandma and Grandpa, and saw a huge pod of dolphins, along with whales. They've had great luck this year on their cruises!

Stace and I went to see a comedy play about Jeeves and Wooster.

On Monday, Ellie came over to hang out for a few hours, and we played some board games. She got sleepy in the afternoon so I set her up with Violet's sheepskin and the couch blanket. 

Later, Stace took a break from yardwork to teach Ellie about cricket. We had a great time playing with her.

Also, Violet mowed the lawns and Cora washed the Vibe.

We finished the weekend with patty melts, made on the new Blackstone grill. A good weekend!

Easter Sunday

We celebrated Easter Sunday with worship at church and family time at home. 

So thankful for Christ's Resurrection and what it means for us today!

Ellie came over for a while prior to the rest of the family, while Melanie and Nick looked at a new (used) van. 

We got out the girls' Calico Critters, and she had a blast. I'm so glad we saved so much - Ellie is at the perfect age to enjoy it all.
 

I made an Easter brunch this year, because with the ongoing work around the house, I didn't have it in me to cook a roast dinner. 

The girls had an egg hunt - even the young adult - because why pass up little goodies? 

Grandma Easter Bunny brought baskets, as well. 

Happy Easter!

Tidbits

Stace worked this weekend on installing the solar tubes - more on that in a future house update! He also replaced the drywall he had to cut out from the flooding, so the guys can mud it when the mud the rest of the new drywall in her room.

Also, the girls rode their bikes to Teacision and Jersey Mike's, but no photos were taken.

On Sunday afternoon, Stace, Vi and I took a walk at Rivendell, near Towsley Canyon.

On our way back, it started raining, producing a beautiful double rainbow.

On Monday, Stace went to Ohio on a very rare business trip. He spent Tuesday morning at a tank factory, since his work supplies turret controls. 

Around the work, he and his coworkers had a fun time together, with many stories to tell after. We can leave it at: Don't challenge Stace in pub games.

Meanwhile, Violet had a required state PE fitness test that all high school freshman must take. It was very easy - she had to walk a timed mile, and then do sit-ups. It's hard to see her, but she's on the ground in white with dark pants, doing her sit-ups.

On Thursday night, I went to watch Ellie so Mel and Nick could have a date. I bonded with Poppy, the kitten.

And Ellie made me this fabulous picture! I promised to put it on the fridge. 
 

Time with Ellie

Eloise is now 5! She's been in TK (transitional kindergarten, for those kids turning 5 during the school year) this year at her elementary school, and she loves it. 

Her birthday party was postponed until Saturday because of the L.A. fires, which forced some of her friends to evacuate. 

Stace, Violet and I went to her party, while Cora had a Wolves show. Mel had a houseful of 4- and 5-year-olds! Here, Ellie is wearing the coat Violet wore when she impersonated Queen Elizebeth for a school assignment. I thought Ellie might like it for dress-up for a few months before she outgrows it.

Violet and Stace helped with the pinata.

On Sunday, Melanie and Nick dropped Ellie off with us, so they could see Cora's show. We took her to Quigley Canyon for a walk and some nature time.

Ellie was brave and tackled the log bridge.

The horse came near to say hello! A friend gave Ellie a Bluey camera for her birthday, which she had lots of fun with. She took about 3,000 photos on our walk. It's a camera like one my girls had at the same age, with little games, too.

She's always a good girl with us, and we love spending time with her! She's a chatterbox, too.

Week in Review

We went to an escape room for Grandma's birthday, by the Northridge mall. (We have basically run out of escape room options in SClarita, because Cora has done nearly all of them!) 

It was a newer place, but a large chain, so very well organized and rooms with cool themes and props. We did a pirate-themed room, and managed to escape (with a few clues)!

On Friday I had an appointment that took me near a new coffee place I'd been wanting to try, in Canyon Country. San Fernando Coffee Company did not disappoint! I had a vanilla cold brew with horchata cold foam and it was yummy.

Later Friday, I treated myself and Violet to lunch at a newly reopened Indian restaurant in Castaic. It's owned by the same people who own Royal Tandoor, a local favorite. We got two lunch bowls, which were delicious and big enough to feed the whole family over the weekend! We'll definitely be back. 

On Saturday evening, Stace and I went to College of the Canyons' Performing Arts Center, where Big Bad Voodoo Daddy was playing. They've been rocking the big band/swing world for over 30 years, and are so awesome live. There's something special about seeing really excellent musicians playing live; and one of the trumpeters is a local boy, a Hart High grad! Loved our 5-minute drive home, too.

Earlier Saturday, Stace worked on the Tiny House and then on a project at home, fixing our swinging bench. Violet and I went to Colleen and Rigo's for a late lunch with another family we're all friendly with, after taking a nature walk and getting fabric and a pattern at Joann's.

On Sunday, Nick, Melanie and Eloise came over for a few hours. Ellie and I made pumpkin muffins, and I gave her a special job: putting chocolate chips on top! Yes, I'm a good auntie.

I loved seeing her wear the apron we kept from when our girls were small.

Stace and Nick installed a new bumper on their Subaru, as they lost their prior bumper on their drive home from Vegas when they picked up Poppy from the breeder. Strange but true story! Thankfully, the job went smoothly. We all enjoyed a lasagna dinner together after (except for Cora, who was playing D&D).
 

Week in Review

On Monday, the girls' first day of school, I had Ellie with us for a few hours while Melanie and Nick went on a little trip to pick up their new kitten.

Ellie came with me to pick up Cora, take her to her singing lesson, and get a third estimate on repairing Grandpa's car. We then made a quick stop to see the ducks at Bridgeport Marketplace.

Later that night, I picked up my parents from the airport, and Ellie spent the night at their house.

Stace has been begging the girls to come up to the swimming pool with him, and one day this week, even Cora agreed to come up. She threw the ball while Stace dove in to catch it. 

Happy Dad.

Violet and I went to see Liana play in her first high school volleyball game! This game was at Santa Clarita Christian School, where I went from the middle of 4th grade through 8th grade. It was cool to show Violet where I spent a few years, and even better to see Liana on the court.

She's in the back, far left side, here.

Careful on your morning walks, you never know what you're going to run into!

Also this week, we watched Our Town, the play Cora will be doing this fall, on television with Paul Newman as the lead. And on Saturday we saw a mystery play at the Main theater with my parents, and went out to a new brewpub after. 

Wrapping up July

Summer is moving along; the girls are nearly finished with their online classes, Violet is drawing a lot, and Cora and I have been watching the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy. She also has been printing mini figures for a new D&D campaign, once she figured out what was wrong with her 3D printer and bought a new screen. She's also attended theater camp this week at school.

On Friday, I went down to Glendale to hang out with this cutie so her parents could have a movie date. She's been taking swimming lessons, and has improved so much! We had fun in her neighborhood pool after walking to Ralphs to fill the time, and spell out the words we could see in the produce section. Her sounding out is coming right along, too.

They are getting a new kitten soon, so I brought the little bed/house that our kittens have stopped using. Gibby seemed to like it.

Ellie and I also created (and knocked over) Magna-Tile towers.

Our Saturday started bright and early with a drive to Torrance for the annual Aerospace Games. 

Stace was captain of the volleyball team, and they didn't do well, but he had more fun playing dodgeball.

It's always a nice day getting closer to the beach and hanging out with Stacey's coworkers, with free food and snacks.

In the evening, we watched a one-man show about old-time baseball legend Christy Mathewson. We've seen this show years ago, and when I learned the actor was putting it on again, I wanted to support it. He does a masterful job portraying Christy, a wonderful human being and believer, and a large cast of characters who interacted with him.

On Wednesday, Kelly invited me out to see UB40 at the Greek Theater in L.A. We started off with dinner at a great place nearby.

The band has gone through different lead singers in recent years, but it was a great show with lots of hits. English Beat, or just The Beat in the UK, opened.

This was my first real concert in years. It was a lot of fun.