Week In Review

This week, the girls returned to school after their lovely two-week Spring Break.

Fourth-graders in California focus on state history, and Cora's class has been working on research projects related to the state. This used to mean making a mission, like I did as a fourth-grader, but now has been broadened.

Cora chose to focus on the state bird, the California Valley Quail.

Her written report on the quail was due before Spring Break, and this week her visual presentation was due.
Cora chose to create a paper mache quail father and baby. It was a big, multi-step, multi-day project.

We were proud of her hard work - it turned out well!

During Spring Break, Violet and I went to soccer practice, too. But since it finishes at 8, now that school is back in session, it's a special Stace/Cora time.

He often takes her out for a treat after practice, like a sundae at McDonald's.

Violet called out to Cora the other day that she had helped her do her homework.

She didn't get every answer correct, but not a bad effort from the first-grader on the fourth-grader's vocabulary worksheet!

(Of course we explained that we all must do our own homework only...)

On Friday, we went to Dodger Stadium and saw a fabulous game, with Clayton Kershaw pitching a gem for the Dodgers.

Ability vs. Maturity

I was a big Calvin and Hobbes fan as a child, and Cora has enjoyed my book collection in recent years. Violet is reading them now, though Stace and I have been reminded of the truth that you might be old enough read, but not mature enough to handle the material.

Violet loved the Sunday strip with Calvin dreaming that Santa Claus has changed his parameters for doling out Christmas gifts - it would be the naughty girls and boys getting the goods.

In a rhyming poem, Santa humorously advises children how to earn gifts that year. 

Violet loved it. She set to work copying the verses with her special glitter gel pens, and pinning them to her wall.

In the end, she came up with her own fourth verse. She finds it hilarious, and kept repeating it, while cracking up.

While we see the humor, we've advised her to stop reading Calvin and Hobbes until she is a bit older.

Pre-Easter Fun

 It's springtime, it's Easter time, and it's time for Juliana and Daryl's annual Easter party.

We were happy to be able to go this year, and enjoy the yummy food and drinks while the girls dyed hard-boiled eggs and played.

The big girls decided to become smurfs, thanks to blue chalk.

 Just a little bit excited about a shiny special egg!

 Comparing loot - Violet somehow ended up with everyone's mini Snickers.

Thanks, Juliana and Daryl! Such a fun afternoon!

Special Spring Saturday

 After taking Cora out for breakfast last weekend, Stace took Violet out to Carl's Jr. Saturday morning for their favorite, biscuits and gravy.

 Meanwhile, I thought it would be nice for me and Cora to have a date, too. I invited her to come with me on a walk to Starbucks, via the beautiful Summit hill and valley trail.

She agreed, and we had a great time. Maybe I have a new walking/workout buddy on weekend mornings.

 We got home from our walk just barely in time to head to Placerita Nature Center, for the Junior Ranger program. This time, Ranger Frank led us on a walk and showed us little signs that show that nature's creatures are all around us. Horizontal marks across the trees, for instance, show the insect-seeking Northern Flicker; while a shallow hole in the side of the hill is a likely grey fox burrow.
Here, we are checking out tadpoles in the butterfly pond.

 Then, Frank passed out owl pellets for dissection - what fun, for our nature-loving girls! We discovered a rat's jawbone, along with lots of other bones.

 On this gorgeous day, we weren't quite ready to be done hiking.

After getting lunch at Jersey Mike's, we went over to Elsmere Canyon, a new trail for us. The budding oak trees shaded the path, and a trickle of water still flowed in the creek (on the left in the photo).

It was a lovely afternoon. When we got home, I rested with a book, while Stace made dinner. We enjoyed dinner outside, in our newly beautified backyard.

Spring Break Tidbits

The joys of a break from school...
...Sleeping in your sister's bed, taking turns reading your favorite comic strips aloud.

Cora showed Violet how to make crepes, and made a lovely breakfast for the three of us.

Cora had her friend Cooper over for a playdate, and spent the next day playing with Chris and David. This is a game of baseball, using a giant inflated ball.

We also welcomed the start to the real baseball season, with the Dodgers beating the Padres handily to open the 2017 campaign. Stace surprised me with this new flag on Opening Day, which the girls and I watched from my parents' house.

We were home and unscheuled for much of our second week of Spring Break, leaving plenty of playtime.

It took hours to set up so many parts of the Calico Critters world, and I think the setting up was the best part for Cora. It was a delight to listen to the girls playing together again.

We had breakfast for lunch one afternoon, and Cora made whipped cream faces on their pancakes.

To the left, you can see Cora's school project - she's making the California quail out of paper mache.

On Thursday, Cora went to Christopher's house, while I took Violet to a focus group in Glendale. Violet loved her fun way to earn some money, and I loved being a block away from the delectable Porto's bakery at dinner time.

 And, the very best part of being on break - sleeping in, snuggling your bestest friend.

Best cats ever.

Kidspace Fun

Pasadena is home to a great children's museum, one we haven't visited in a few years and Stace had never been to.

Kidspace offers a free family night on the first Tuesday of the month, and with the girls on Spring Break this week, it was the perfect opportunity to make the trip.

We picked Stace up from work and were in line to get in by 4, when the free entry started. Violet had fun on the tricycle course...

 ...and both girls loved the wigwam-building area.

(Violet decided before our evening out that she needed a bang trim. By herself. Not too shabby, but I did ask her to seek assistance next time!)

 Cora loved this section, and could have stayed an hour.

We then checked out the inside exhibits, and got a photo in this old jeep by the fossil-hunting area.

The science-oriented outdoor exhibits occupied the girls for a long time. Cora especially loved this pulley-system tug-of-war. She's a strong, athletic girl, and she was happy to have the other children ask her to be on their "team."

Tuesday proved to be a great evening together as a family. How much longer will Cora enjoy Kidspace? Who knows. But we all had a great time this week. Stace and I are soaking up these moments, knowing how quickly the girls are growing up.

Spring Yard Improvement

Cora had several playdates this past week, so I wanted Violet to have a friend over, too. Thankfully, Liana was free on Saturday, so after Cora's soccer game, Violet and I went and picked her up.

Not long after we got home, Cora's friend Violet asked her to come over, so I was even more glad I had planned a playdate for Violet!

Unfortunately for our Violet and Liana, much of their playdate was spent shopping with me and Stace. We started at the nursery, and then went to Walmart and Home Depot. With some free time over the weekend, we wanted to accomplish some yard work.

Later that evening, we met up with Colleen, Rigo and Lucas at the park for a picnic dinner. It was lovely!

Part one of our yard project was replacing the patio cushions. I was happy to find these; they are comfy and go well with the cushions we already had on the glider bench.

Here is the main area Stace attacked this weekend, along the wall by our bedroom slider. We took out some bushes we'd planted a few years ago that weren't doing well, and Stace tilled and amended the soil.










He then planted two camellia bushes, and my mom and Cora planted lots of little impatiens. Here's hoping it all takes and grows well! I did the mulching and some weeding.

Cora and Violet both were busy planting, too. Cora planted some new flowers near the veggie patch...

...and she also converted the toolbox she made with Pioneer Club into a planter.

So pretty!

Violet filled the wheelbarrow planter Pop made us with flowers.

I love this new area by the fairy garden.

We've made it into a bird haven, with an old birdhouse I made with my grandpa up in the corner. We keep birdseed there, and in a decorative ornament on top of the stump. The birds have been very happy; we'll get a half-dozen at a time, flitting about.

We moved the bird bath to this area, and that has become popular, too. I love watching the sparrows and towhees from my living room chair!