Weekend Fun

Our elementary schools had a four-day weekend (while the big kids had just Monday off), so Christina and I were able to meet up for a Quigley Canyon walk with Vi and Lanie on Friday morning. Violet hoped to see deer, and not long after we started, we spotted four of them! I put the yellow under them - hopefully if you blow the pic up, you can see them! They blend in so well.

On Friday afternoon, I went with Colleen and another friend about 60 miles southeast to a conference in Chino Hills, where a lady I'm a big fan of was speaking. Crystal Paine is a blogger who writes about frugal living, parenting and Christianity, and I've followed her for about 13 years. It was great hearing her message about living in the truth of how loved we are by God, and allowing that love to fill us and change how we interact with people and our children.

I brought her latest book, "Love Centered Parenting," so she could sign it for me.

I was joking that my kids were teasing me, with me acting like I was going to meet "my good friend" Crystal, when they thought it was more like I was a stalker. I told Crystal that as I asked for a photo, and so she's saying here, "This is my good friend Lisa."

 

The conference was about 20 minutes south of where JT lives, so she was able to come, too. We all had dinner together Friday beforehand, and after Saturday's session, we had lunch together too before heading home.

It was so nice getting away to a hotel for the night with good friends! 

Later in the weekend, Stace got this old generator going. It had belonged to my grandparents when they traveled America with their fifth-wheel travel trailer. After sitting for decades, it was filthy and corroded, but Stace stripped it and got it going again! I'm so proud of my handy husband. 

Now, if we have a power outage, we can keep our fridge and freezer cold, etc.

Spirit Week

Cora's school held a Spirit Week for Homecoming this past week, and she participated in several of the dressup days. 

(I'm SO thrilled she's AT SCHOOL in-person, and participating in events like this.)

She wore pajamas on pajama day (I forgot to take a photo, but do we really need one?), this shirt for "Decades Day," and she also took part in Country Day, see next picture.

Instead of a Homecoming Dance, her school hosted a Homecoming Carnival with games, food and performances by the Band, Dance Team and Advanced Show Choir. I snuck a photo of Cora with her friends... families were welcome, but Cora preferred we not, you know, hang out WITH her. She had plenty of friends to hang with - see the fun photo booth pic.
 

And, WHATEVER, Cora, I have my own friends! We have the BEST group of mamas. Truly, Meadows rocks and we were so blessed to meet each other nine years ago. Cora didn't end up going to the actual Homecoming football game, as her friends weren't going, but I'm glad she had fun with all the other festivities.

Creative Girls

My creative girls have been at it again. Cora is making dice for D&D, and Violet is making candles. 

To continue candle-making, we visited Bennett's Honey Farm off Highway 126 on Monday after school, to buy beeswax (in the cellophane bag next to the honey we bought). 

Since Liana lives on the way to the honey store, we picked up her and Colleen on the way, for a fun little outing together.

We also bought a bit of honeycomb to try out - interesting experience! It feels like you're back in ancient times, slurping the honey through the waxy comb.

Here's Vi with one lovely candle she poured. 

A fellow mama, Sandy, and I are helping Violet's class as room parents for the final time - how fitting! It's the fourth time our girls have been in class together, and we can help the teacher together. 

One afternoon this week, we were given huge heavy blocks of clay to cut and wrap in plastic wrap, for an upcoming project where the kids will make their own cuneiform clay writing tablets.

On Saturday, Cora took part in a Show Choir fundraiser where younger kids come out for a few hours to learn a song and dance routine.

Cora, circled in red, was with the kids helping the third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders with a dance routine to "Life is a Highway."

We've come full-circle! Here's Cora back at a Show Choir Kids Clinic herself when she was in kindergarten! And look at Ave behind her, the blondie looking up.
 

Meanwhile, Stace took Violet to the archery range with the new bow. Violet is wearing a long skirt and boots she'll wear when she portrays a famous book character/subject at school near Halloween.

Week in Review

We celebrated my mom's birthday with a family meal out Tuesday, at family favorite Stone Fire. 

Not sure why Violet is hiding behind me in the photo of the birthday Grandma and her girls...

Cora is enjoying interacting with Ellie more now that she's getting older.

On Wednesday, Violet went to her first Pioneer Club/Kid Zone meeting of the year. After missing last year due to Covid, I was pleased Vi wanted to take part, in what will be her last year since she's in 6th grade.

Here, she and Liana are having fun with those balloons attached to big rubber bands.

 

Violet has been riding her bike to school most days - she might as well, as we're so close to her school, for this final year. 

We love our friendly crossing guard, Joe the Dodger Fan! Thankful for his watchful eye on this busy road.

Weekend Fun

Cora's school marked the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks with this flag display on the front lawn.

We happened to be there Saturday, because the Show Choir was having its annual fundraiser car wash and rummage sale.

Grandpa got his car washed, and shared this photo of me of one of the students who worked on his car.

Violet and Stace got a new recurve bow, similar to the one Vi used when she did mounted archery (which she'll restart when it cools off). Violet said she likes it better than her old bow, though it does hurt her hand a bit with the knocking.

 

Later on Saturday, Cora and I went to the opening night of Fright Fest, and took her friend Zach with us. 

We went to an illusionist show, and Zach was picked to go on stage! Not only that, he was selected to be the one to lie on the horizontal board while the other helpers held it around the edges. One by one, the people removed their hands, and then the supports under the board were moved. MAGICALLY, Zach and the board remained suspended in the air! 

Cora got to see her favorite slider clown; Cora has hung out with this lady before, when she went with Grandma and Grandpa to the ghosts and ghouls convention. 

We had fun with our favorite witch!

Pets, domesticated and wild

Violet's little blonde mouse Copper died last week, after a few weeks of seeming "off." We wanted to get Jade a friend, as a mouse alone is a lonely mouse. (I just made that up, but it sounds good.)

We went to Petsmart after our trip to Hume Lake, and Violet chose this sweet little brown mouse. Because she looks like a field mouse, she named her Barley. 

She might not have the most interesting coloring, but the other mice in the Petsmart cage were black, and that would be boring in a tank with Jade. And our friend Sage, who works at Petsmart, said she's a very friendly and sweet mouse who's been there for a couple of months, maybe because of her boring brown color.

We looked up how to introduce mice, and learned that we should do it on neutral territory. Violet cleaned out the tank very thoroughly, and we introduced them in a box with an interesting toy. All went very well!

But when we put them in the tank, Jade bit Barley, and there was a lot of squeaking. Back into the box they went! After a few more tries, and some time alone in the box for Jade, they settled in together and now are getting along just great.
 

Violet also wants a bird, so I just show her the finch feeder outside. Boy, have they discovered it! I love the bright yellow on the males.

Spencer also likes watching the finches.

So far, he hasn't caught one from our feeder. (Months ago, he caught one, but way before our feeder was in place.)

Hume Lake Weekend, Part III: The National Parks

We visited Kings Canyon and the Kings River on Sunday, enjoying a picnic lunch by the river.

The drive is winding and beautiful. 

Thanks to Colleen for most of these photos!

The air was hot, but the water was very cold and refreshing.

On Monday, after we left Hume Lake, we went home through Sequoia National Park, and took a short detour for a photo opp with the Sequoias.

Getting this photo took a lot of cajoling, and inspired a good amount of whining.

This is the tree we were posing by - crazy how big they are, when you see how wide it is when we're standing in front of it.

Silliness - the album cover.

Hume Lake Weekend, Part II: Conquering the Ropes Course(s)

Part of our fun at Hume Lake was taking part in two ropes courses, with big jumps and zip lines. 

On Saturday, the smaller course was in operation, and Cora, Violet and I did it. I can't remember doing something like this before, and I found it difficult! A good kind of challenge, and I felt good when it was over.

All done!
 

On Sunday, a larger course was available, and Cora and Stace did it, with Colleen, Lucas and Liana.

Here's Stace, leaning into a rope while inching along on a chain.

Proud participants!

The end involved a big step off a platform, with a short freefall. Getting to the platform involved a human-powered pulley system.