Jumping Around

After Magic Mountain AND Disneyland, we had some Friday fun, too. Jake and Char came over after school, and late Violet's friend Victoria joined us, too. I took the kids to the trampoline jumping place formerly known as Sky High. The new owners were having an Open House, offering a special price $5 for one hour of playtime.

Violet and Victoria played basketball for a bit...

...while Cora and Jake waited in a long line to get on the dodgeball court. Cora was very disappointed about how the new people are running the dodgeball game. Only four kids per side, making for long lines, very different than before.

Her disappointment grew when the employees in the bi trampoline area were enforcing a "no running" rule, and when an employee told her she would need to buy new socks. The grippy socks we bought from Sky High weren't good enough, apparently. I spoke to the employee and, no, we didn't buy new socks for our half hour remaining.

Eventually, they settled into a game of jumping off the sides and doing flips, and they had a better time.

They were warm enough after the jumping to earn a slurpee and Dipping Dots from 7-Eleven.

We then took a field trip to Grandma and Grandpa's house to feed the dogs, since they were away helping Melanie with a wedding. We dropped Victoria off on our way home, and then the boys played with Cora a bit longer before they went home, too.

Disney Fun

With the school year winding down, we made one last trip to the Happiest Place on Earth with our Disney friends this week. Our passes are blocked on Fridays, so we pulled the kids out of school after their state testing time period ended at 10:30.

Though we might be able to make another trip happen in the fall, I know these special days are winding down... it's been a great three-year run of fun.

We started our day in California Adventure, in the single-rider line for Radiator Springs Racers. Our large group got split at one point - what a sad-looking group of pretty girls! No reason to be sad - we all got to our rides in and done within 25 minutes.

Then we headed over to their favorite activity - running around playing tag in the Redwood Creek area.

We then went into Disneyland, and took the train around to Tom Sawyer's Island ... where the kids ran around and did the same thing they did in the Redwood Creek area.

Nearby, we came upon this adorable sight. Cora was hoping to pet one, and possibly take it home.

Then, most of our party left to check out an extended preview for the upcoming Toy Story 4 movie. Cora and Violet weren't interested, though, so we got a Dole Whip treat instead.

The castle has recently been revamped and repainted - much brighter now. We made our way to where are friends were, and rode Space Mountain using the single-rider system again. Then we had dinner with Elaine and Vivi while the rest were still in the Toy Story preview - that line was silly long!

Violet's main goal was to do a drawing at the Animation Academy, so she and I ran back to California Adventure and just made it in time. Cora stayed with Vivi and Elaine to ride Thunder Mountain, while our other friends used their fast passes for the Toy Story ride.

Then we all met up again for one last hurrah, on Guardians of the Galaxy.

 Hands in the air! Everyone scream!

Then it was going on 9, we were in Anaheim, on a school night... all worth it though. Elaine and Vivian drove with us, so it was nice to have the extra company on the way home.

School Tidbits

Our school's third- through sixth-graders have been taking the state tests the past couple of weeks, and Violet was a bit nervous on her first day, since it was her first time. She decided to take with her the clay dragon that our friend Lucas made her for her birthday.

At the school's volunteer tea, besides enjoying many tasty treats, we were asked to write on a hand our name and the ways we've helped out at school. This week, I noticed the lovely billboard the librarian made from the hands.

I noticed the bottom had flowers with some of our active student leaders - look at this one! My favorite student council member...

And here's my hand/leaf.

This week was the McTeacher night at McDonald's, when teachers show up to help serve as a fundraiser. It was fun to see Mrs. Hawthorne...

...and Dr. Porter. Such special ladies in my girls' lives! Then, speaking of school volunteering, I got the girls home to Stace, and went to a Foundation board meeting. All in a day's work...

Magical Afternoon

We're pretty blessed to live a few minutes away from a great theme park. Cora and Sophia have passes, and it was "bring a friend in free" week, so we took Vivian with us.

These girls are all thrill-seekers, and in the couple of hours we were there after school on Tuesday, they hit 5 big rides.

Occupying themselves in a 30-minute line, without a phone! #parentingwins

They were playing a word/sentence-forming game called "period."

They started the afternoon at X2, one of the few rides I say "no thank you" to. So, Cora had to ride alone. Then, we did Viper, which we walked right onto.

Next, we did Tatsu - and it was a long row, so we all could sit together. I asked the girls to make their scared faces, like they were frightened of the dragon over their head. I don't think they got what I meant.

Then, we headed to over the hill to Crazanity - more line fun, with a "heads up" type of game. Here's a great way to use a phone!

After the Crazanity, I was done, but the girls ran off to do Batman before the park closed.

Then, Sue picked up the two girls, and Cora and I met Stace and Cora at the mall for dinner. We met up there with Patrice, Geoff and the kids, and had a great time catching up. What a fun Tuesday!

Family Ice Skating Fun

After working in the yard on Saturday, we rewarded ourselves with some family fun at the Valencia Ice Station.

They're offering a deal with four admissions and skate rentals, plus a pizza and pitcher of soda, for $40. It had been many months since we'd ice-skated together, and we had fun trying it out again.

Cora is so fast now. She helped Stace, who didn't fall once!

Violet has been using her roller skates a lot more at home, and we could see the progress she's made.

The pizza was yummy - a good night was had by all!

Weekend Fun

Stace was awarded four tickets plus parking to a Dodgers game, and we were able to take Kelly and Yass along with us on Saturday. It was so fun to have an official double-date without the kiddos, though I think they were a little put out that we were together and they were not!

(Cora was with my parents, helping Auntie Mel with a wedding, and Violet went with Liana and her family. Both girls had sleepovers!)

To thank us for having the boys over so often, Kelly and Yass took us out to eat first, at a fabulous Cuban restaurant not far from Dodger Stadium. Yass said it was the best Cuban he's had in his 20 years in L.A., and it was definitely delicious.

Dodger fun!
The Boys in Blue were winning most of the game, but then gave up too many runs in the eighth and ended up with a loss. (But, they have had an outstanding start to the year, with the best record in the National League, so I'm can't complain...)

Our seats were outstanding! I hope Stace can get them again this year. And what a gorgeous sunset we enjoyed! It was a great night with such fun friends.

We woke up kidless on Sunday, which happened to be Mother's Day. After church, we were all together again, and Violet gave me a gift she wrapped - such cute wrapping! It was a throw pillow that says, "World's Most Awesome Mom."

Cora, meanwhile, gave me a homemade scrub and this sweet card.

In the afternoon, we went to Reyes Winery in Agua Dulce with my parents, Stace and Violet. Cora was worn out and in need of some quiet time at home, so she rested there.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Stace packed a picnic lunch for us all. The winery's dogs were friendly - a little too friendly to Stace! But my dad loved them.

It was a nice afternoon, and always great being together.

Tidbits

Liana had her birthday party on Sunday, and Violet had a great time with the crafts and games. Here, they're making bracelets and necklaces. Happy 9th, Liana!

Violet had her 9-year well check this week, and her growth has been amazing! She is now 50 1/4 inches tall, putting her in the 19th percentile. She weighs 62 pounds, which is the 44th percentile. Such great news!  On the other hand, her eyesight has deteriorated. We noticed her squinting while wearing her glasses, and the quickie eye chart test showed that she definitely needs her prescription adjusted. I've made an appointment with the optometrist.

The weather has been amazing, and strange; lovely and cool, we haven't had to run our main air conditioner all year! We've had a few warm days, in the upper 80s, but many more days in the 60s and low 70s. This has been perfect for Cora, playing on the hill. (The more heat, the more risk of snakes.) Jake and Char were over Friday afternoon, and besides the hill, the kids played games. 

The girls took in roses for their teachers, as part of an organized Teacher Appreciation event, and I was inspired to cut some more to bring in. They smelled amazing!

Our kitties like hanging out by the bird bath. They present such welcoming, friendly faces to any feathered friends looking for a drink or bath.

But our cats aren't always wannabe killers...

School Tidbits

Every month, the girls' school has a "Family Flag Day," where parents can be present for morning ceremony. This coincides with Monday drumming, when 6th graders can grab a drum and welcome the students to morning ceremony. I enjoyed listening to the drumming this week, with Cora in the back row.

This week was Teacher Appreciation Week, and I helped Jen and Dinorah, the other room moms, decorate Miss Lotito's door. Here she is, with our kids, on Monday morning.

We also came up with the fun idea of creating masks of Bradley Cooper, Miss Lotito's favorite actor, for all the students to wear as a surprise for her. It worked like a charm! She absolutely loved her class full of Bradleys.

Violet was chosen to be a Kindness Ambassador for her class for the final month of the school year. She is very excited about this, and has meetings to go to on Thursdays. She's expected to be a friendly face, and someone people can go up to when they're feeling lonely. Yay, Vi!

Both girls participated in the school spirit day Friday, which was Hawaii clothing day. Cora, being on the student council that plans and promotes the spirit days, helped make posters for it. Here, she's wearing my Hawaiian shirt - we've reached that stage!