American Girl Experience

Since we first went to the American Girl store and cafe after Christmas, Violet has been talking about going back to the cafe for her birthday.

That dream became reality Friday after school, when I took her and her friend Camryn (and Camryn's mom) to lunch in American Girl Heaven.

Camryn is also an American Girl fan, and brought her red-haired counterpart along for the occasion.

The dining table comes complete with seats for the dolls, naturally. The lunch is quite fancy, with three courses, cloth napkins and real glasses. The girls loved it.

After lunch, Violet got a birthday cupcake, along with a chocolate pudding dessert made to look like a flower pot.

After our fancy meal, Violet and Camryn looked around the store to spend some of Violet's birthday money. Vi picked out doll eyeglasses for her other American Girl doll.

Then, in the front of the store, a young singer/songwriter with a connection to American Girl put on a short show.

Violet and Camryn got an autograph and photo with Savannah Keyes, and a small gift - a shirt for their dolls with a guitar on it! Lucky girls.

It was a lovely afternoon, and Violet hopes to do it again for future birthdays. Thanks, Camryn and Jenn, for coming along!

Violet's Big 7th Birthday

Our Violet Mae has turned 7 years old!

Her birthday started out Thursday on a happy note, with a video call from Nan and Pop, who watched her open their card with the "7" badge inside. With their gift of birthday money, she bought this beautiful American Girl Doll.

Daddy stayed home for the morning, made a special breakfast of crepes, and walked with us to school.

Another birthday treat - Aunt Patty came up for the day, as a surprise to my girls and my parents.
She was in town visiting family for a week, and it was lucky that the day she was free to see us, happened to be Violet's birthday. We pulled Violet of school for an hour for a special birthday lunch at Chick-Fil-A.

Violet has been VIP this week at school, and it was a perfect coincidence that the day for her to bring in a Royal Reader was Thursday. Having Big Sis come in to read is definitely a birthday treat!

(Cora, the student council member, is wearing a purposely mismatched outfit for a Student Council Spirit Day.)

Auntie Mel couldn't come to dinner with us, but she met us after school at the park to give Violet a present and a hug (and get a surprise from Aunt Patty).















We met up with my parents at Black Angus for dinner; Violet's request. She said she wanted steak, but then looked confused when it arrived. What she really likes about Black Angus is the big fountain outside.


We returned home for an Oreo ice cream cake. Uncle Bill got to get in on the birthday song, when Aunt Patty video-called him.


Cora provided musical entertainment (and knocked out some violin practice minutes), and also read us her draft of her Gold Rush report.

She's been tasked with writing the autobiography of a miner who participated in the mid-19th Century California Gold Rush. Her miner emigrated from Cornwall, England, after his tin mine was closed. She's doing an outstanding job with it.

Happy Birthday, Violet. You continue to light up every room you enter, with your bright smile, twinkly eyes and sweet spirit.

Though we wish you weren't growing up so fast, we all love the little lady you are becoming.

Tidbits

Our church is offering a parenting class, which Stace and I have decided to take.

It's always good to get a fresh perspective on this job, and the group discussions are so helpful, as you find out that your struggles are common. After the first session, we headed over to the coffeehouse to chat some more over a latte and cookie.

We've discovered, quite late in the game unfortunately, that Cora is much happier about practicing her violin if she has an appreciative audience.

She set up a mini concert the other night, and had such a better attitude about playing. Violet served as her music stand. Cora has a few more weeks of violin, and one more school performance. Then she will happily give up playing, for now at least.

Speaking of good girls, the other afternoon, Cora decided she was in a productive mood and eager to work to make some money. I suggested she sweep the porch and wipe down the front door. She did so, but then went above and beyond, sweeping out the garage and front path (and hosing it down... shhhhh... don't tell the water police!).

She encouraged Violet to help out, and it was fabulous listening to them getting along and working together.

Violet decided to set up a toll to enter her room.

Not sure where this idea came from.

But she rilly means it.

 Not to be outdone, Cora added a price tag to her collection of warning signs on her door.

 Cora and Stace were at soccer practice the other evening, so I took Violet to Summit Park to play for a bit after dinner. She loves showing off her monkey bar skills.

And lastly, here is a happy girl having her reward after making it through a blood draw and pediatrician's appointment.

Our poor Cora has been dealing with tummy aches and anxiety for a number of months, and recently has progressed to getting actually sick. We took her in for a workup, to rule out a physical cause, as we seek to get her the help she needs.

Birthday Party Fun

It was a double-birthday-party kind of Saturday.

First, while Cora helped at school for a GATE Musical prop-making day, Violet and I went to Melanie's party.

Melanie is now 7, and Christina planned so many cute games for the kids. Here, they are moving a hula-hoop from person to person while holding hands.

Next was a relay that involved pushing a beach ball along with a pool noodle.

Then, it was who could eat a fruit-by-the-foot the fastest. This one was entertaining to watch!

AND, blow!

Later in the day, we went to a party for one of Cora's soccer teammates. They had a bouncer, a fun photo booth and a pinata, along with a taco guy providing dinner. Yum!

Another mom who owns a ranch brought along a couple of baby goats. Violet was in love! She suggested the name Oreo for this cutie.

Spring Festival

 Our school held a Spring Festival on Friday, and Cora helped out in the game booths. It was a responsibility she earned through her Student Council position, and one she enjoyed thoroughly.

Cora is at her best when she is working hard on a project, or helping others. She thrives when she is working. I received several compliments from other parents about her demeanor and helpfulness with the younger players, especially.

Violet went out with Grandma and Grandpa to the Wildlife Learning Center and the Tea Gardens, as a pre-birthday treat. When they were finished, they came to the Festival, too.

Meanwhile, I spent part of my time at the festival selling wristbands for the carnival games and taking registrations for the upcoming Bingo Night. I also helped out a lot this week at the Book Fair, and chaperoned Cora's field trip on Wednesday. It was a busy week for volunteering.

Some Girl Scouts came out and offered free face painting, which of course proved popular.

So pretty!

Rancho Camulos

At my school, we always go to Rancho Camulos in fourth grade instead of doing the mission project. Cooper, Jason, and I were bus buddies for the 20 minute drive to and fro.

Our first stop was the old chapel, where a lady told us about the Del Valle's small church that Mrs. Del Valle wanted so badly.











This is the cork tree that the Del Valle's needed for their tiny winery.
It was pretty cool to be able to sink our nails into the spongy bark of the tree.

 After the cork tree examination, it was time to make some corn tortillas to munch on... or not.

Although we made the lovely smelling tortillas, we were not allowed to eat them or cook them. The small balls of dough we flattened had to be rolled right backup and put back in the basket for the next group of kids to use. Such a great disappointment.

After rolling up the raw balls of tortilla dough, we headed over to the laundromat. I think our tour guides needed a lot of their rags - "dirty clothes" - washed up.

The adobe bricks that made up the entire building in 1840 is what we made next. All we had to do was add dirt, dried grass, and water. Now, my adobe brick is dry and fully formed.

Mom was the parent helper along with Nicolas and Sebastian's mom.

That field trip was epic, I definitely am going back there again!!!

Easter Joys

Our church always does Easter big, and this year they brought in a big zip line to the new park the church built in the corner of the parking lot.

We got back from Michelle and Rob's and the girls rode the zip line, and then we took in the Saturday evening Easter service.

On Sunday morning, I helped in the nursery for one of the church services, and when I returned, we talked to our Somerset family.

Then, my parents came over for a meal. We relaxed, ate, and then took a walk through the canyon behind our neighborhood.

Back home, Violet had set up an egg-dyeing station. Though I didn't have plans to hard-boil and dye eggs - after all, we'd done that at Juliana's - how could I say no? I got a half-dozen eggs on the boil.

Beautiful!

Happy Easter!

Saturday Play Date Fun

 We had a family play date with Rob, Michelle and Brooke on Saturday, and Rob entertained us with his go-kart.

We took it to an empty industrial estate, and Stace absolutely loved it; we all loved it!

 Cora, our resident daredevil, had to be slowed down a few times.

 I, however, needed no reminders to be careful. No, slow and steady wins the race, in my book.

We returned to their house, and the big girls helped Michelle roll out and cook the tortillas. So yummy! I've never had homemade tortillas; they were excellent. Michelle served up a very nice lunch, which we enjoyed in the back yard.

The girls decided that with Easter coming the next day, we needed to have an egg hunt. They filled the eggs and the dads hid them.

The swing set was fun, too. It's always great to hang out with Rob, Michelle and Brooke.