Cowboy Festival 2012

This weekend, the 19th annual Cowboy Festival galloped into town, and Stace and I were lucky enough to go both days. On Saturday, we were up and out early with the girls, and met Genia and her kids for a fun day out.

It was Genia's first time, and since John got called away to work, going together made a lot of sense. Our five kids had a great day together.

Here, we're talking to a representative of the "New Buffalo Soldiers" about his horse. This organization honors the first black U.S. Army regiment, formed just after the Civil War.

He reckons he roped hisself a coupla beauties! 

This street performer turned his fiddle to Violet to play "Twinkle Twinkle."











Someone had a little too much fun at the Festival.
Just kidding, of course. Many of old-looking buildings, part of the Melody Ranch movie set, were used for artisans selling their wares. Others are false fronts.
Actually, Stace didn't look too much different than this when we got home. Saturday reached 93 degrees, so it was pretty warm to be walking around an outdoor event. My poor Englishman doesn't always take well to being out in the heat.

In the children's tent were old-fashioned games, clothes-washing, biscuit-rolling, and other learning stations. Our kids enjoyed the coloring the most.

Here, Owen bragged to Violet, "I can color the fastest," before scribbling impressively quickly.

I hope those pioneers had shaving implements sharper than these butter knives. Geesh.

Violet didn't quite get the concept of getting the ball into the cup, but she struck it rich with the gold-panning.









Cora roped a cow, at the same display Stace helped out a few years ago when we were festival volunteers. By this point, we were hot, dusty and tired, full of yummy cowboy food, and ready to head home for a rest.

 But, because we had a two-day pass, Stace and I went back Sunday for a couple of hours to listen to some of the great live music.







Grandma came over to play with the girls - all three of them. We took Ave with us to church to help participate in the Santa Clarita Million Meals extravaganza with us, and she stayed to play all day! Cora was in heaven, as were we, since they play so well together.

This year, Real Life Church spearheaded the packing of 500,000 meals to send to orphans overseas, and the collection of 500,000 cans to stock our local Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry. More than a dozen SClarita churches took part, working together to bless others by acting as the hands and feet of Jesus.

The Cats: An Update

Spencer and Sebastian turned 1 on Feb. 26, and I had ideas of doing a blog to commemorate the day. Heck, I had ideas of celebrating with a little family party for them. Thankfully, they haven't given me too much guilt about the lack of attention.

 Still, we've had the boys 10 months, and since they've long passed the kitten stage and settled nicely into our family, they deserve an update post. They are fantastic companions to each other and to us, and we are very grateful they have joined us. You often find them together, and when they are apart for a while - say, Spencer's sneaked into the garage to chase crickets - they greet each other with lots of kisses. Both are generally very quiet, talking to each other softly, though they also purr loudly and often.

 Since they're young, they are still playful, chasing toys and beads, racing up and down the halls and walls, climbing into things... They also are quite clumsy. Graceful? NO. They knock things down, often on purpose. Nighttimes can be a bit ropey - twice we've awoken to great (and messy) crashes. Once, it was Stace's model Triumph Spitfire he's had for years and years, and last week, it was a picture frame on a shelf.

Sebastian, above, especially like to tip up cups of liquid, and attempt to eat plastic grocery bags.
Another of Sebastian's odd habits involves standing up and boxing, or pawing, panes of glass like windows, sliding doors and mirrors. It's most fun when he has wet paws from climbing around the shower, so he can leave streaky vertical marks all over. Here, he is boxing the box. He also likes to stand behind a person sitting on a chair or couch, and give them bear hugs. He is super affectionate and loving. Actually, both cats are, though Sebastian is quicker to jump into any open lap.

Spencer's worst habit is his desire to be free, chasing the lizards, squirrels and birds. We always have to watch the doors, and he gets out too often. So far, we've always chased him down, but it does get annoying.

If that's his worst behavior, of course, we won't complain too much. Both cats are good about scratching in the right places, and neither has ever sprayed or otherwise used the toilet outside the box.

Sebastian, on the left, is huge. He is over 15 pounds, while Spencer is no lightweight at 12 1/2 pounds. Carrying the two of them together is no small workout!

Both cats are great friends to Violet and Cora. Cora is partial to Spencer, and Violet is more likely to say Sebastian's name, and squeeze his neck in love. 

 While Cora wouldn't let them share her bed for many months, saying they kept her awake, she has for the last number of months happily slept with them. They are good boys in bed, not waking us (or Cora) up too often. In this photo, Cora had the stomach flu overnight (the start of the family's adventure in flu), and in the early morning Stace settled her back to sleep before he went on to work.

They're affectionate, loving, purr-happy, and absolutely fantastic with children, both ours and all of our little friends who come over to visit.

So, happy belated birthday, Spencer and Sebastian! We love you!

Owen is 3

 Today is Owen's third birthday, and we were happy to celebrate with him over the weekend.

 Blow, blow, blow!

 Yummy cake...

 Wanna see it?
It's VERY yummy.

In and around the pizza and cake, there was t-ball, soccer and bubbles. Fun was had by all. We love you Owen! Happy third birthday!

Peter Pan

On Saturday, we had a very fun day together as a 
family, taking in Peter Pan at the Glendale Centre Theatre and then staying in Glendale for lunch and a little shopping.

Juliana and Maya came to the show, too. The older girls are at a perfect age for this type of show, laughing along with jokes that would have sailed over their heads a year ago.

 Violet was fantastic during the show too, sitting quietly on my lap, Juliana's lap, and at the end, Maya's lap. Since it is her birthday month, she was called down to the stage at the start of the show with other birthday children, for a little gift and song.

 Here the girls are with Tink and Peter, who's real name is Brian and who is a friend of Melanie's. He remembered us and was very friendly with the girls.

After the show, we went to Porto's bakery cafe for lunch, a 50-year-old institution that is well known in SoCal. Rightfully so. The line was long, but moved fast, and we ate very well for just over $10!

Then, we walked around Glendale's shopping district, where Violet napped in the stroller while Cora played on a playground.

Interestingly, while I was getting a coffee, Stace was approached by a talent scout who complimented Cora's beauty and gave us a card. We're not planning to pursue this, but it was flattering to be approached.

It was a perfect day together. We are so blessed.

Friends and fairies

 Alexyss, Marley and Jill joined us for Storytime Thursday at Undergrounds, our church coffeehouse. 

Marley and Violet did well with listening to the stories, at least most of the time. It helped when the staff passed out free snacks bags!











On Friday afternoon, we had the sisters over for dinner and a movie. Cora has been loving the new Tinkerbell film that Nan and Pop sent for Easter. She's watched it several times this week, and was very excited to share it with Alexyss.

The movie has given Cora a newfound passion for all things Fairy, particularly Disney fairies. Here, you see her fairy hideout, where she and Tinkerbell, Fawn, Silvermist, Rosetta, Vidia and the other fairies, um, hide out. Cora hasn't been as into her make-believe since Nemo - as in, "Silvermist is coming to breakfast soon, but, she still is sleeping." Cora is anxious to rebuild her fairy house in the garden, and has drawn out a detailed plan, but she must patiently wait for Dad to finish patching holes in the living room from where he installed wall lights.

When the fairies need a cow or horse, they are easy to access via this handy dandy shelf. Cora knows how to make good use of a foam cricket bat. And here is the underside of the hideout. Hope Sebastian doesn't chase those fairies down!

A New Soccer Friend

 Cora has moved up into the next level of Kidz Love Soccer, and guess what? Johnny is in her class!

We've signed up Cora for a Thursday afternoon class this time around, and if this week was any indication, we should be in for a fun session. Genia and her three, and the four of us, all played together in the park for a bit after the class. Then, Genia brought over a delicious meal.
Stace then worked with Cora on her phonics workbook, we got the girls into bed early, and here we sit, watching Ben Hur.

What a great evening!

Violet bits

Violet's reached the age where her Thomas sensor began sounding loudly. She now really enjoys books and DVDs about everyone's favorite blue engine. She wanted to color Thomas, and since Dad couldn't find the coloring book (and he's quite a handy artist), he drew her one to color.

Using the toilet can get a little boring, so Violet finds ways to amuse herself. Like blowing her nose with half a roll of paper. Or seeing how many body parts she can get into the toilet.

Violet still uses the toilet several times a day, but I wouldn't say we've made any progress over the past couple of months toward diaper-free living. My current thought is that we'll make that push when we return from our June trip to England.

 Playing the "night night" game is still one of Violet's favorites (though I did have to talk to her about the problem with camping out behind a door that could swing into her head).

Violet is talking up a storm, and it seems that daily, we hear comments on how well she speaks.

(Some of this, I believe, is because she is so tiny - she still looks like she could be 15 or 16 months old, and it's pretty strange to hear a child that age say "Where are you going, Mummy?"  or "What are you doing, Daddy?" or "I wanna see the book.")
Here, you can hear her saying "What you making, Cora?" and answering that she would like a pancake, and a waffle.

We also get some of the negatives of a talkative almost-two-year-old, with too-frequent shouts of "Give it back!" "That's mine!" "My turn!" and "NO!"
Or, of course, just screaming, when Cora and Violet aren't getting along well.

Easter festivities

Happy Easter! 

We started our Easter celebration with church on Saturday evening, followed by Red Mango frozen yogurt. 

He is Risen! He is Risen, indeed. 

On Easter morning, the girls opened their baskets and later received these DVDs, as we talked to Nan and Pop in England.

 Nan and Pop had the family over for Easter dinner - Big Nan, Dean, Jenny and Euan - so it was great to catch up with everyone at one time. Cora and Violet both loved their respective DVDs - a new Tinker Bell movie, and a new Thomas show.

 Later, we headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house for our Easter dinner, where our yummy meal included braised lamb shoulder. It's our first time doing lamb for Easter, but we loved it and I think we have a new tradition. As Uncle Bill puts it, Jesus Christ is the "Lamb of God," not the Ham of God. Cora surprised me with her interest in the meat - she kept asking for more, though she was calling it chicken.

After dinner, the girls played with bubbles. We had a very enjoyable Easter, considering the fact that Stace and I were both battling a stomach bug. Violet had it in the week, the night following our Great Egg Hunt, and I came down with it Thursday. Stace's turn was Saturday into Sunday, so I was very happy he was up for Easter dinner.