Tidbits

Cora's been busy most evenings planning out a D&D campaign, so Stace and I got out a game we've had a round along time. Bananagrams is a letter tile game, and we've had fun with it lately with Violet.

I cooked our pumpkin from October and pureed it, and Violet made some pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. She did it pretty much on her own - such a big girl.

While Cora went airsofting Sunday, Stace, Violet and I helped Melanie with a project in her kitchen. It involved an Ikea trip, and long line to get in, since they're keeping the numbers lower inside the stores.

We found what we were looking for - a cabinet to replace open wire shelving where Mel and Nick store their food. We also looked for ideas for redoing Violet's bedroom.

Violet entertained Eloise while Stace and Nick built the cabinet.

All done - a perfect fit, plus space on top for two appliances, clearing counterspace in this 1948 kitchen. The space was where a fridge would have gone, back in the day.

Violet wanted to have her friend Melanie over to meet the mice, so Melanie came over, with Cami and Christina, on Monday. After dinner, we played Jackbox. (Violet is in the corner, hiding herself behind the computer.)

With mice in Violet's room, the cats have taken to sharing Vi's bed with her. This is the first time I've really notice Seb sleeping with her. 
 

Family Visit

Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty are in town, hooray! We had the rest of the family over Saturday evening, so everyone could catch up and get some Ellie time.

Look at that face! Such a cutie! 

She loves the short cartoons on Disney Plus, especially the ones with Jack Jack from The Incredibles. She gets all excited like this.

We so enjoyed having Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty stay with us! The little things, like shared family meals, are special.

We have a new game that's fun with a group - you have to do lots of fun little tasks, and you're betting your own ability to complete the task. Most money at the end, wins.

Here, Bill and Patty are competing to blow a cup across the table fastest.
 

We had a huge wind storm on one of the days they were here - strong enough to knock over many trees in SClarita, including this pepper tree on our hill.

The root system was way taller than I am!

New Friends

Violet has been asking for weeks to get a new pet - a duck, a kitten, a frog. Then she settled on mice, and was so excited about it, I couldn't say no.

She's been doing a good job caring for her fish, and researched everything there was to know about pet mice. 

Happy girl!

She chose two, one that matches Spencer and Sebastian she named Copper, and a black one she named Jade.

She paid for most of what was needed with her Christmas money, and reused the 10-gallon tank that originally held her fish. The house came flat-packed from Amazon, and she was excited to put it together.

Jade likes to munch Cheerios as treats.

 

Early Birthday Fun

Cora's birthday came a little early, courtesy of Cora's friend Zach and Zach's dad Jeff. 

We'd been thinking of getting Cora an airsoft gun for her birthday, and Jeff knew that, and got a great deal from a guy he knew. He offered to charge the gun up, wrap it in giftwrap, and bring it Saturday, as he was taking her with them for another airsoft adventure. We said, thank you very much, and paid him what he paid.

She was thrilled!

This time, they didn't go to Warped Ops, but to Lake Hughes, where a friend of theirs owns property and hosts friends occasionally for airsoft battles. 

Cora had a great time, of course.

On their way back home, they stopped at another friend's house to ride their all-terrain vehicle. What a great day for Cora!!

Stace was impressed with the new gun, too.

Happy kid. 

Not many almost-14-year-old girls are super into Dungeons and Dragons and airsoft! Cora is one special kid. 
 

Weekend's Work and Play

We visited Rob, Michelle and Brooke on Saturday, and the girls loved riding Rob's mini motorcycle.

 

After dinner, Stace sang while Rob played his guitar. 

We also played wiffle ball out front. It was a lovely day with great friends!

On Sunday, Cora again went to play airsoft, and my mom's old camo clothing from her days on a fitness bootcamp show came in handy!

While Cora played, Violet earned some money by mowing the lawn for the first time. She's earning money to help pay for some new pets she's been researching lately - fancy mice!

More Aerial Training

Cora loved doing silks with Cheryl, but took a break when she got into karate last year. Now that karate has slowed down because of virus restrictions, she was happy to have a couple of private lessons as a Christmas gift from Grandma and Grandpa.

We did one of those lessons this week, while the girls were off school and Stace has gone back to work.

 

Birthday Weekend

For my birthday weekend, Stace and I started by going out to breakfast at one of the very few places where you can take your "to-go" food and eat outside. It felt very good to do so. I can't wait for all this madness to be over.

We then got the kids ready to go and went to Ventura for the afternoon. With so many things closed, it was good to just get a change of scenery for the afternoon.

We parked by the beach on Seaward, and walked all the way to the pier.

On our walk back, we stopped to pick up some dinner, and ate it at the car, watching the sunset.

On my actual birthday, I took Cora to play airsoft with a friend of hers. I stayed and read for a couple of hours, and she spent the rest of the afternoon with the friends, who later took her home.

Stace, Violet and I then got some lunch and went to a sweet little boutique so I could pick out a gift for myself. It was a nice day and weekend.
 

Starting Fresh

We celebrated New Year's Eve with Colleen, Rigo and the kids, who came over and played games with us. 

 

Rigo made yummy stuffed peppers - they didn't last long!

Dessert

The ladies...with a boy skulking behind.

And the guys, with a girl lurking.

We went out and shouted and "cheers"ed and through poppers and confetti bombs to ring in 2021. And Stace played Auld Lang Syne on the guitar.

Lucas and Liana spent the night, while Colleen and Rigo went home and returned in the morning for breakfast.

We then made a group field trip to the archery range.

After archery, we got the kids frozen yogurt, and camped out at the cars to eat it, since outdoor dining remains closed.

We then enjoyed another sunset walk with friends through our little nearby canyon.

Ringing in the new year with good friends! A great way to celebrate.