Disney Delights

Friday was Sophia's birthday, and her birthday wish was to celebrate with her close friends at the Happiest Place on Earth.

We drove down with Elaine and Vivian - here the girls are, starting our adventure at the parking structure! But don't they look cute?

You kind of have to get a selfie in front of the park, right?

We then met up with Sophia, Sue, Jen and Trent, and headed across to Tom Sawyer's Island. The kids had a blast running around playing. (I'm so thankful that our big 11-year-olds are still young enough to do so!)

Violet spent some of the time relaxing in a tree. Thanks to Elaine and Jen for nearly all of these photos.

We had birthday lunch reservations at the Blue Bayou, and while wandering around New Orleans Square, found this shady character (from the Princess and the Frog).

Our lunch was amazing - we've never eaten in this fancy restaurant, which sits inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

I don't normally post photos of my food, but this was indeed fancy - lamb with veggies and cheesy mashed potatoes. So yummy.

We also visited with Kylo Ren inside the Star Wars Launch Bay. Violet was very nervous about meeting him!

And the kids played with Legos and built Star Wars things, before we said goodbye for the evening. Grandma and Grandpa then joined us, and we had another couple of hours of fun before heading home. It was a great day.

Placerita Field Trip

Violet got to go on a field trip to one of her favorite places, Placerita Canyon Nature Center, this week. I was happy to chaperone this one - we all love Placerita.

Here, the docent is showing the children a Harris hawk, which isn't native to the region but makes its home at the center.

The children learned about the local ecosystem in the classroom, before more animals were brought out for a closer look, including a Great Horned Owl.

We then took a little hike/walk one one of the trails. Another mom and I took the 10 second-graders in Violet's 2/3 split class, along with the docent.

A group shot... We then ate lunch in the large oak-studded picnic area.

Cora had her 11-year well check. She's doing well, and she is growing up, whether she likes it or not. Our beautiful girl is now a quarter-inch shy of 55 inches tall, and 73 pounds - putting her in the 25th percentile for both categories. Perfectly proportional.

Every princess needs a horse to ride!

Violet's not really a princess girl - she was just trying on a tiara she's borrowing for her Wax Museum portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in a couple of weeks.

Long Weekend

The girls had Friday and Monday off from school for President's Day. Cora went to her friend Violet's house on Friday morning, and then in the afternoon, she went on a bike ride with Sue and Sophia to the mall. Thanks, Sue, for sharing the pic of our silly girls!

Violet had missed Thursday from school with sickness, but she was feeling a bit better Friday so we also took a bike ride. We stopped at the Habit for a milkshake for her sore throat. The onion rings helped me feel better, too. Onion rings make everything better.

Cora spent some time on the hill over the long weekend. It's one of her happy places. Sadly for Cora, it's not one of her sister's favorite places. One of their most frequent conflicts lately is Cora wanting Violet to play on the hill with her, and Violet refusing.

We had made plans for something fun for Saturday, but Violet was feeling worse again, with a low fever all weekend. Instead, Cora and Stace finished up Cora's shelving. I love how her new room represents who she is right now!

If you blow up the photo, you can see her Star Wars section, complete with her Lego sets, and a smaller Harry Potter section.

By Sunday evening, Violet was asleep while Cora and Stace played Star Wars Top Trumps. We also watched a lot of the Winter Olympics.

It was a relaxing weekend, with Vi not feeling well. Thankfully, by Monday her fever was gone and she was just left with a cough.

Valentine's Day

What says Valentine's Day love more than a cat lovingly keeping your head warm on a chilly winter morning?

This was the first Valentine's Day in nine years that I didn't have some sort of event with my children to enjoy. For both girls, passing out Valentine's in class was optional, and both declined the option. Neither class had a party.

Violet at least decided to make one for Dr. Porter, and she agreed to dress for the occasion.

The girls shared some love on the way to school - that is love, right?

Later, Violet admitted that she felt a little sad to not be passing out the cards when everyone else in her class was doing so. I think next year she'll go back to distributing Valentine's.

Fewer than half of Cora's classmates handed them out. But, she said she grabbed a piece of red paper, cut it up and quickly scrawled out "Happy Valentine's Day" notes while the Valentine's distribution took place, so she wasn't completely left out.

During the school day, I picked up my new prosthesis from Beverly. My old one lasted six years - astounding! I guess my eye isn't changing as much underneath anymore as I age.

I wanted a photo with me and Bev, because she's approaching retirement age, and if this eye lasts as long, it might be my last one she makes me. She's been creating my lenses for over 35 years!

Violet went to Melanie's house after school, while Cora and Cami had school musical rehearsal. Don't they look adorable in the car? Thanks to Christina for sharing the photo.

Cami came home with us for a short playdate after rehearsal. Then we went to the Ash Wednesday family-friendly service at Valencia Methodist, right before Pioneer Club.

We sat with Patrice and Geoff and their kids - Cora and Emily hadn't seen each other in months, and they were overjoyed to catch up again. It was great to watch.

Skate Park Party

We were up and out early Saturday morning to meet up with some of Cora's favorite friends at the skate park for a little birthday celebration. The park is open to kids under 13 from 8 to 10 a.m. on the weekends, so we had our friends meet us at 8:30. Above, we have Trent, Wylie, Violets (Big and Little), Vivian, Sophi and Sophia, Cooper, David and Chris. And, of course, Cora herself.

Violet was very happy we brought doughnuts to share. (Thanks, Dad, for coming and serving as official photographer!)

Just hanging around...

Cooper being tricky...

Chris getting some air...

David had fun, too.

Stace borrowed the twins' skateboard. And now he wants a longboard for his birthday.

Hanging with the ladies while watching our kids have fun and be active - priceless! We all agreed we'll have to meet up here again.

Chris and Cooper had fun dropping into the bowl. Cora has accomplished this once, a few weeks ago, but she also landed hard a couple of times and she's been nervous to try again.

Skating around the bowl is tons of fun, though.

You don't even have to have wheels to have fun. The girls were running and jumping up the sides of the bowl, and then sliding down on their pads.

Sliding down the ramps on their pads was fun, too.

Violet made up her own game - running up the sides of the slope we mamas were sitting near, to collect high-fives.

Up and down, back up and down, so much running!

These kids are growing up together! Thanks, Sendy, for the photos.

And thanks to Elaine for sharing a few too, including this one of the gifts. Cora was very excited to receive some lovely presents, including money for more Warriors books.

Birthday Fun

Even though Stace took Thursday off for our trip to Universal Studios, Cora really wanted to see him Friday morning, too. So, he stayed home for a little while to make Cora her birthday breakfast - crepes, his speciality.

Before school, Cora opened a couple of her presents - a Lego microfighter from Violet, and a set of framed Harry Potter prints from me and Stace.

After school, we got a few things ready for Cora's birthday party Saturday morning. Then we went to Trent's birthday party, a bingo party at his house.

Cora won one of the prizes - a mini bundt cake. Yum!

Later, Jen was so sweet to bring out a second mini cake for Cora, and we all sang to her, after singing "Happy Birthday" to Trent.

Thanks to Pam for this sweet photo of our 11-year-old, and the next pic.

Cora's bigger present from us was this big Lego kit of Kylo Ren's TIE fighter. Stace just loves having a daughter who is as into Star Wars Lego as much as he is!