Holiday Happenings

Magic Mountain hosted their employee family Christmas party on Thursday, and Stace and I took advantage. The employee we knew was actually working the party, so we visited with her for a minute as she walked out of the photo-taking cabin to take her break.

The lights are so pretty at the park, and we party guests get tamales, chips and salsa, s'mores kits, cookies, churros and hot cocoa, if you want. Several rides were open, with very short lines. 

We had a very nice mini-date night together.

 

On Saturday, Vi and I joined Colleen and Liana at the Placerita Nature Center annual holiday craft day. 

Beautiful work, ladies!

Vi and I took a nice hour hike/walk down the canyon trail.

On Saturday evening, we got the decorations up in the house, and our Christmas tree.

And on Sunday, Stace, Vi and I took a nice walk down our nearby canyon to see the decorations the neighbors there put on the trees. I love this walk year-round, but especially in December!

Can you hear the crunching??

On Sunday evening, Stace and I went to see the SClarita Symphony present their Christmas concert, with the Nutcracker songs filling the first half. It was a nice night!

Cora was busy much of the weekend shooting a short film with Jarod, who played her father. It's set in the Old West, and directed by a college film student for a class project. Can't wait to see it - it has quite a dramatic premise.

Weekend Fun

This weekend, Stace's work held a company picnic again at Magic Mountain, for the first time in a few years. The girls didn't want to come along, so just Stace and I went. Why not, it was free! It's always nice to see the people he spends so much time with, anyway.

We had a lovely barbecue lunch, and on the right here, the DJ was playing music and helping lead games for the younger people. It was definitely fun if you had younger kids, with limbo, hula hoop and water balloon contests.

We walked around the perimeter of the park, and stopped for a minute to listen to this Western trio who were very good. We didn't ride any rides because the lines were long. It had taken a long time to get our car parked, that's how crowded it was. 

That evening, I went to a theatre "senior showcase" at Cora's old school, with some of the kids she used to perform with. Cora was at a birthday/graduation party for Dani, her Chicago costar. 
 

On Sunday, Stace, Vi and I took Liana with us and went to Ventura for the annual California Strawberry Festival. This has been going on decades, and I remember going as a child. I thought, since we were free, we should make our kid go, and form those kind of lifelong memories.

We bought a flat of strawberries for $10 - always buy at the end of the festival for the best deal!

It wasn't something we need to return to, but it was nice to be out together for the day. There were carnival rides for little kids and teens, though my girls didn't want to go. There was also a big arts and crafts fair, and we bought a few things. 

I'd say we all enjoyed seeing the artwork.

So many strawberry food and drink items! We tried a few. 

Seasonal Fun

Other than cat news, two Christmas things happened this weekend. My dad and I went to Magic Mountain's employee  Family Night, though the girls were party poopers and didn't want to go.

Mom was working as Mrs. Claus, so Dad and I waited in a short line to get a photo with her and Santa.

We enjoyed our free tamales, chips, cookies and s'mores. Seeing all the little kids enjoying the activities made me reminisce about the girls being younger and coming to this event over the years, playing the man-made snow.

It was cold enough that I didn't feel like riding the rides. Maybe next year!

On Saturday, Violet and I went to Placerita Nature Center for the annual Christmas Craft Fair. I was so pleased when she had asked me a week ago if we could go again, after creating yule logs last year.

Colleen and Liana were free and interested in joining us, which was fun.

Nice!

Thanksgiving: Mrs. Claus and Dinner

 Grandma had to work Thanksgiving, so we all went to visit her at Magic Mountain as she portrayed Mrs. Claus.

Grandpa took this family shot, and then we tried to recreate a classic Christmas photo I enjoy each year. 

It didn't quite turn into an exact replica, as Violet refused, so Cora took on the disgruntled role.

Then, home to cook the turkey and enjoy a fabulous meal. I had brined the turkey over 24 hours, and used herb butter under the skin, and it was so yummy! I actually wished I'd bought a bigger bird, for additional leftovers.

Melanie made most of the sides, and all was delicious.

Fright Fest 2023

Cora and I ran over to Magic Mountain on Thursday after school to see our favorite witch.

It was the first Thursday Fright Fest of the season, and being it was still September, we figured it would be one of the least crowded times to be at the park.

We were right! We had a great time together, and were able to ride seven rides with basically no wait time.

 

I was happy to be out spending time with my girl, and thought this Oktoberfest photo opp was screaming out for our photo. Cora obliged, kind of.

Harry Potter Experience!

 Another goal as we planned out our long-awaited return to the UK was a family trip to Hogwarts! On our final full day in England, we spent a long afternoon at the Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour.

The collection of actual sets, costumes and props was amazing, and a must-see for any true Potterhead. My girls, both Slytherins, here are in front of the Slytherin section in the Great Hall.

The treasure trove of Bellatrix Lestrange was very sparkly cool.

The teller at Gringott's Bank.

Diagon Alley!

The Weasley family's home

The special effects and props exhibit was very interesting.

We had a great experience here! 

We stayed overnight in the nearby village of King's Langley, a lovely spot we highly recommend. Our Premier Inn was well-priced, and the town felt upscale and safe. On Thursday morning, since our flight wasn't until 4:30 p.m., Stace and I walked down the main drag where he spotted this patriotic flower array.

The 13th Century church had an amazing bit of history - it had been the burial place for royalty, a 14th century Edmund de Langley, the first Duke of York!

When we'd finished our walk, we packed the car up and drove to Heathrow. 

All went smoothly with our flight home; I'm so very thankful for these last few weeks!