16!

We now have a 16-year-old!

Our 16-year-old is beautiful and smart, a talented actor/singer and Dungeons and Dragons aficionado. She loves Critical Role, Murdoch Mysteries, and participating in an online written role play story with her friends. She has a small number of people she'd call friends, but she is loyal and excels in discernment.

As the girls get older and older, it's strange as a parent because we have such clear memories from these ages. At 16, I got my driver's license and had a part-time job, filing paperwork at the tax firm. Stace started his apprenticeship and college soon after turning 16. He'd been driving around his Pop's building site in a small van, and had a car, before we was able to start driving at 17.

Cora isn't anxious to get her license, and hasn't studied the handbook to take the initial permit test. Of course this is perfectly fine; many teens these days aren't in the hurry that my generation was to start driving.

Cora had school on her birthday, so it felt like a normal day, with some additional hassle of people acknowledging her special day in annoying ways.

In the evening, I picked up Stone Fire, her favorite, and we opened gifts. I'd like to think her favorite gift was this basket of all her favorite snacks.

Week in Review

I took an evening walk and enjoyed this stunning view. What a blessing it is that this is accessible from my front door!
 

Seb got into a fight with a black cat - we saw it running away - and apparently was bit on his paw. As soon as we discovered the wound, we knew it meant stitches.

Back to the vets, and back to 10 days of wearing the cone. Good thing he's so lovable.

I love our hawks.

Cora didn't have D&D the other weekend, and we were home, so I tortured the girls by forcing them to play a game with me. We got out Settlers of Catan, which is a good game, but since we don't play often enough, it always takes a while to refresh ourselves on the rules. 

Cora is forcing Violet to complete a trade she wants her to make. Seb doesn't know what to think. Stace wasn't really asleep.

We went out to brunch with Kelly and Yass, and enjoyed copious amounts of food. Otto's cafe for the win!

Cora's Turn at Comedy

To kick off the spring theatre semester, Cora's classmates put on a Night of One Acts, or scenes. Cora was in a comedy, that takes place in an airplane. Enjoy!

Tidbits

The big rainstorm caused one of the oak trees at Cora's school to fall. Most of the tree was cleared away, but big chunks of trunk were free for the taking. I hefted a few into the trunk, thinking of having wood for our fireplace. Then, Rigo told me it would be 18 months or so before it's dried out enough to use. Ha! 

Violet decided to create a bonsai tree. We went to the garden center and got a houseplant recommended for such an activity, and bought the proper soil and a little ceramic pot. She still loves her plants.

I had a coupon worth $5 at Rita's Frozen Custard, and we pass this place on our way home from Gilchrist Farm. So, we stopped in for a treat one day last week. Mango gelato with frozen vanilla custard - yum!

Our orange and tangerine trees are prolific this year! It's fun to go straight out to the yard when you want an orange. They're super sweet, too. What a blessing.
 

Our girls don't love going out to eat at sit-down restaurants. They don't see it as the same kind of treat that Stace and I do. But, we convinced them the other night to go out to a nice sushi place. We feasted! 

I heard Seb making the cooing sound he makes when he's watching a bird, so I had a look, expecting to see a dove. Nope! Twice as big as a dove - a beautiful hawk in our yard! He continued making his bird noises - like he would love to catch a hawk?!?

More Waterfall Hikes!

Besides the Placerita Waterfall Trail, way back in Whitney Canyon is a set of waterfalls when we get a lot of rain. Colleen was up for a Saturday adventure, so she and I met up for a hike to check it out.

Whereas Placerita has one big rushing fall, this hike has a set of smaller waterfalls that get progressively harder to get to as you proceed deeper into the canyon.

 

It took some scrambling on rock to get the last one we could access.

I was proud of us! Moms getting it done.

Leap!

Even without water, this is a lovely, idyllic setting.

But water in the riverbed makes it perfect.

Local Beauty

All the rain has made for some beautiful scenery. 

Violet and I went to Placerita Canyon to tackle the Waterfall Trail. 

It didn't disappoint.

Whoops!

So much water! 

We were thankful we'd worn our rainboots, as we didn't have to negotiate the crossings but just charged right through.

A few days later, we went to check out Quigley Canyon with Stace. Not nearly as much water, but then, we've never actually seen water there at all, so to see any was fun.

Love the green hills! 

And our defiant non-smiler.
 

Double rainbow! 

Tidbits

More cat silliness.

If I fits, I sits.

Sadly, bigger brother ended up jumping from this table, sliding the puzzle off. We ended up giving up. Maybe this summer we'll get it out again.

Violet was happy to see Liana again, and they cooked up a storm. I've taken Vi to Asian markets lately, and she and Liana were able to make rice balls, with seaweed wrappers and teriyaki chicken. She made the chicken from raw, frozen meat - I was impressed with my 12-year-old.

They then made their own boba, from scratch!
 

Ellie's Birthday Party

Stace and Violet got home just in time for Ellie's 3rd birthday party on Saturday. This was her first "real" party with lots of friends and family, even Nick's mom and stepdad, who came in from out of state.
 

Ellie loves the Australian children's show Bluey, and enjoyed her Bluey-themed party. Thankfully, the rain we've been having held off for the day of the soiree, which was at Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Here, Eloise is opening her gift from Cora - a hand-painted Bluey from her 3D printer!

Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

Cora has truly developed a talent here!

L.A. Hike

Back in California, our time without Stace and Violet passed by, and on Friday, while they were on an airplane, I met up with JT, Callie and Jonah for a hike.

We tried out a county park in the middle of the city, with plenty of open space for bird watching and great views of the snowy San Gabriel Mountains.

From the other end, we could spot the downtown L.A. skyline.

Hard to see in this photo, but to the left is downtown, and on the horizon on the right, Century City/West L.A.

After our walk, we went to a Chinese dumpling restaurant, where I was treated for my birthday. Thanks, friend!