Bowling Field Trip

Violet's preschool class learned about how to have a healthy heart this month, and capped off the unit with a bowling field trip Friday. While Miss Lorrie, Elena and Will check out the scoreboard, Violet prepares to take her turn.

The gutters were in constant use, as the children bounced their balls toward the pins. We had to frequently call for help to retrieve stuck balls.

 Such exhilaration!

 Violet shows Elena how her newest clip friend, Swoops, can fly.

In the end, Violet won her foursome! I wasn't sure if I should share this information with her; when I did, she immediately shouted, "I beat you, Gabriel!"

For fun, here's a look at Cora's turn bowling when she was in Miss Lorrie's class.

Relaxed Week

 Poor Cora. After her sinus infection failed to improve, and the antibiotic failed to kill off her fever, she woke up Sunday with a much deeper cough.

We knew it had probably turned into pneumonia, so we got into the walk-in doctor's office just after 8 a.m.

Sure enough, it was in her lungs, so she received a breathing treatment and a prescription for a stronger antibiotic.

Since she had a fever, we also knew we'd be missing church again, and missing school again on Monday. I won't complain about getting up early for school mornings any time soon!

 While we were at the doctor's office, Violet had a great time playing with her sister's new Lakeside Lodge. The girls have had such fun playing with their Calico Critters, and some new things they've received this month.

But, Cora plays differently than Violet, preferring to set up the tiny pieces perfectly. She considers Violet's play style "ruining" her hard work, and prefers Violet not to touch the Lakeside Lodge.

Violet also has been playing home school, and I've been her teacher a few times, while Cora was too busy reading.

She gets very excited each and every time she is selected to be "special helper," squealing with joy, her smile filling her face. This, despite the fact that, as the only student, she is the only option to serve as special helper... Such a funny girl.

 Our home was very safe, with these superheroes in capes, eating popsicles.

I'm now reading Little House in the Big Woods to Violet. We've read the book through a couple of times to Cora over the years, but this is Vi's first time to hear it as an older child.

On Wednesday, Cora was back at school but when I went in to volunteer, she asked to go home to rest. So, we read Little House on the Prairie for an hour together. I'm so thankful to be home for my girls, especially when they're not feeling well.
(I'm also thankful Cora is better, and back to school!)

Day at Sea

 Cora's birthday present from Grandma and Grandpa was a whale-watching boat ride. They bought a ticket for Violet, too.

Sadly, when the day came, Cora was still sick and unable to go. They'll try to pick another date and go again, but this weekend, Violet got to see the whales on her own.

Here, she and Grandma are checking out some baleen, which a volunteer from the whale-watch crew showed around.

Violet got to see sea lions and even Pacific Gray Whales, on their migratory path south to Mexico.

 Look! Is that a whale?

Two beautiful curly-haired ladies!

Some day, Stace and I will have to make this trip, too!

While Violet was out at sea, I went to see Melanie for a gathering of the bridesmaids. We ate, drank and made merry, and we also made the cutlery bundles pretty for the wedding. Mel has a number of projects she's working on for the wedding, and she's organized enough to be getting quite a few of them completed early.

Week In Review

Cora had a four-day weekend because of two holidays honoring President Lincoln and President Washington.

Because Violet had preschool on Friday, Cora and I had a morning date; time alone with her is always so special. She picked out a carrot bundt cake, in honor of her birthday. We ate it near the mall play area, and she then played a bit before we did a little shopping.

 We then picked up Violet, who had enjoyed a Valentine's party and card exchange.

 While at the mall, we looked at bedding for Cora's room. We didn't find any, but on Monday evening we found a perfect quilt for her at Homegoods.

The cats like it too, thankfully.













Little did we know when Cora's long weekend started, that her break from school would extend a full week.

On Sunday, she caught the sickness that Violet and Stace battled for weeks, and maintained a low fever off and on for days. It was just high enough to ensure she couldn't return to school. She also was coughing a lot.

We went to the doctor on Thursday, and the illness had turned into a sinus infection. He prescribed her an antibiotic, so hopefully she'll be back to herself soon.

In the meantime, she's been reading for hours on end, watching the children's program "What's In The Bible" with Violet online, and playing Calico Critters.

Love, Soil, Sweat and Beers

 Saturday. February 14. Valentine's Day.
The day represented by four little letters: L-O-V-E.
Make that, Y-A-R-D.
Or, W-O-R-K.
We made ruining the day of love a family affair, asking Uncle Bill and Aunt Patty to come down and help us with the next stage of the project.

Stace and Bill used his handy pickup truck to bring over three loads of topsoil and another of bark.

Stace finished grading the areas that need grass seed, and we spread the bark over the newly planted areas.

When the day's work was finished, we celebrated together with a grilled steak dinner, cake, wine and beer. It was a fitting meal for Valentine's Day, after all.

 The trees have settled in very nicely, with both growing and producing new leaves and blossoms.

We'll get another few bags of mulch for the area on the right side, near the living room window.

It's fantastic seeing the progress. Next step, grass seed!

Regifting: Start 'em Young

One last photo from Cora's birthday - last one, I really promise...

Violet drew great enjoyment from Cora's birthday, as well. She spent a lot of time before hand working on her card, and wrapping presents for her big sissy.
Cora's reaction when she opened this one was classic: "Oh! It's the bracelet I made you. Um, thanks!"

Week In Review, Birthday Style

 One of the best parts of having a birthday has to be the next week or so filled with playing with new toys.

Cora, Violet, and yes, even the cats, had fun with Cora's new Friends Lego sets.

Along with the Lego, Cora has used some of her birthday money to purchase some new Calico Critters buildings. She is excited to add the Lakeside Lodge and the bakery to her collection.

 Auntie Mel had to work during Cora's birthday party, so she came over to make her niece Mickey Mouse pancakes for breakfast. Now there was a gift we all enjoyed!

 After the birthday madness died down, we had a normal few days: Mom2Mom, school and preschool, Pioneer Club, volunteering.

On Thursday evening, our friends Emily and Alli came over for dinner and playtime. The big girls led the younger ones in playing school.

Also this week, Violet returned to the doctor for a listen to her lungs. The week before, we'd gone in for an ear infection after nearly two weeks of coughing, and the doctor had found that infection, and also walking pneumonia.

This time, Violet sounded fine, and we were urged to get out of the office before we picked up something else.

Cora's birthday

The last year or so, Cora hasn't wanted us to read her a bedtime story anymore. She loves reading, but would rather spend 10-20 minutes quietly absorbed in her book, alone, before we come in to say goodnight.

But on the eve of her eighth birthday, Stacey's insisted upon reading to both his girls. Cora-the-seven-year-old (for another few hours) obliged.

On Monday morning, she was suddenly eight. Eight! Closer to 10 than five. A big kid in every way.

She enjoyed Lucky Charms for her birthday breakfast, along with the necessary banners, a birthday balloon, cards and gifts.

Violet was very excited for her beloved big sister to open her own card, which she picked out herself. Not a "sister" card. Nope. It had to say "8" on it.

Stace went into work late, so he could be home for the birthday breakfast and our walk to school.

In the afternoon, after getting her homework finished and reading some of her new Imagination Station books, we went out to dinner at Stone Fire. Cora's really growing up now - she chose a place based on the quality of its food, rather than whether it had a children's play area.

Although, obviously, she's not a grownup yet - you can see which furry friends accompanied us to dinner!

Then, we went to the mall for Menchie's, for a birthday dessert. Yep, no cake this year! Brownie bites at the Ice Station, and frozen yogurt on her actual birthday. Cora's not a cake-lover, anyway.

Happy Birthday, Rosie. We're so glad you're ours.

Cora's Ice Skating Fun

 We celebrated Cora's 8th birthday at the Ice Station on Saturday, with several of her friends, lunch, and, of course, ice skating.

 The girls shared a lot of laughter over their pizza lunch.

 Cora had some lovely gifts, including some welcome additions to her Beanie Boo collection. The kitty above, renamed Mango by Cora, is her current favorite.

We opted for birthday brownie bites. We might have taken home a plate full of sandwiches and nearly whole pizza, but those brownies were cleared away fast!

Beware of strange men, bombing photos wherever they go!

 Violet's skating improved a LOT over the course of more than two hours on the ice. She started by holding the bar and staying in the practice area, and advanced to skating in the main section without a bar.

 Stacey's skating also got a lot better on Saturday; no more entertaining those watching from the sidelines with his pratfalls, like Cora's ice skating party when she turned 6.

...as did Liana's skating. She and Violet spurred each other on; they are quite the competitive set of friends.

We all had a fantastic day together, skating and enjoying Cora's fun with her and her friends.