World Series Win! And Halloween Happenings!

This was the fateful week, one that Los Angeles has been waiting more than 30 years for. Our Los Angeles Dodgers WON the World Series again! 

After falling just short in 2017 - and later finding out that the Astros cheated to attain their victory - and then losing again in 2018 - the Dodgers finally closed out the season as the ultimate winners. 

The team closed out the series with a fourth win Tuesday night over the Tampa Bay Rays. Yes, I teared up, especially when seeing pitcher Clayton Kershaw finally hold that trophy. 

Such a strange year - 60 games instead of 162, no fans during the season at Dodger Stadium, nearly the entire postseason played in a "bubble" in Dallas. At least, Texas is much more open than California, and the stadium was allowed to have fans up to 25% capacity. So, some very fortunate Dodger fans were able to see the wins in person.

I celebrated with a morning-after coffee from Starbucks on Wednesday.

Later Wednesday, we went to VUMC for a modified, drive-through Trunk or Treat event. We were one of a few cars, and the event was open only to the church, not the community like normal.

Violet had the idea of a dragon theme for the MG this year. The dragons had glowing eyes! We had to have a contact-free candy distribution method, so Stace also made a dragon that could shoot candy out its mouth, through a tube.

Cora dressed as a pirate for the trunk or treat. She was supposed to be working as a witch for a drive-through Halloween event all week, but the event was canceled after the props were damaged in heavy winds. She was really disappointed, because she was excited to have something so fun to do. 

We got to see Kelly, Noah and Ethan! And the dragon-shooter worked!

Violet and Liana had a fun night, working at their families' cars, and then going around the event themselves.
 

On Friday, Violet's class had a Halloween "lunch bunch" online meet up. I'll not go on about how sad it is that she's not having a Halloween party with her class! I love being involved with those.

We met up with Christina and Melanie at Quigley Canyon Friday, and this time we saw a family of deer. Two adults and two young ones. 

Here was how cool Cora looked for the event that ended up getting canceled. 

My mom had been so excited, too, since Fright Fest has been canceled. Oh well, next year!

Liana's Tea (And Pony) Party

Liana hosted a super sweet tea party on Saturday for Violet and Daniela. She baked yummy treats, and the girls had crafts and fun with the farm animals next door.

What fun! Thanks, Liana, and Colleen!
 

Week in Review

My parents took home a new dog recently, so we went over to meet her. Jake, their 15-year-old Golden, died a few weeks ago, and Benny was sad and lonely. Enter Summer, a 14-month-old Golden. She is a sweetie!

While we were at their house, Violet painted these blocks of wood, and then put them on our paseo. They joined similarly painted Halloween rocks left by others in our neighborhood.

 

Violet has been very artsy lately. We bought canvases, and here is one of her recent paintings.

This one she entered in the school Reflections show (which will be all online this year, naturally).

The Dodgers being in the playoffs is just exhausting! World Series again, BABY!

A particularly stressful game Saturday had me and Stace feeling like this!

Wonderful Weekend Away (with Wine)

A few months ago, I had my friends Jen and Sue over for a backyard catching-up time. We were reminiscing about our weekend trip to the wineries for Sue's birthday a few years before, and talking about how much we need to do another girls' weekend. Especially after the year we're having, with a *bit* more family togetherness than normal.

Sue took the bull by the horns, and this weekend the plan came to fruition.

We drove up to Santa Barbara and checked into our rented house for the weekend. We then borrowed the home's bikes and took a bike ride, ending up at a winery.

They had a spot for us! 

 

We had a great evening, talking and eating, back at the house. The next morning, we enjoyed breakfast in the back yard, and then got ready for a ladies' day out.

Our first winery on Saturday - the tastings came all at once, as a flight, so it looked like we were getting started with a LOT of alcohol early! But they were tastings, I promise! 

(And, our well-situated rental house was walking distance from the tasting rooms, so we were on foot.)

A few of more friends joined us, just for the day.

After lunch at a brewery, where we watched part of a Dodger playoff game win, we went back to the house to chill in the backyard. Sue chose this house because of the location and yard, and it was perfect!

We then walked to our lovely restaurant for a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern dinner. Loved our fire table!

On our walk to dinner, Jen and I noticed that our cars were no longer in the city lot we'd parked in. We'd followed the instructions of the VRBO house owner, who gave directions to several lots nearby. 

Sure enough, the lot we used, mentioned in the email, was also the lot where the weekly Saturday morning Farmers' Market is held. We then noticed tiny signs at the lot's entrance warning about towing. 

Well, there's a first time for everything, and we certainly learned an expensive lesson. Our Saturday night included a stop at the tow yard to get our cars. At least we were with friends, and could laugh about it.

On Sunday, we packed up and did a few other Santa Barbara essentials - shopping on State Street, and lunch at a beach cafe, with our feet in the sand. 

On the way home, we listened to the Dodgers win the National League Championship Series! So, it was a pretty darn outstanding weekend (minus the towing!).

Last Summer Hurrah

We had a few friends over during yet another heat wave, for one last pool party (ooops, am I allowed to use that word? pool TIME). So fun seeing big kids playing on the play structure...

One...two...three!!!

Always better to play pool games with a few friends! Screen-free, active fun. 
 

(Though they did some video games in the later afternoon...)

Fun with Friends

While Cora was playing with airsoft guns with her friends, Stace took Liana and Violet to the archery range in Saugus. They had fun, and we learned that classes are being held again. Perhaps we can sign Vi up for the next session. 

(Sidenote: I love how Violet is catching up to Liana in height! I remember her being so much taller a few years ago.)

We met up wit Christina and Melanie for a walk in Quigley Canyon the other morning. We'll have to start doing so more regularly, with cooler weather on the way.

It was Lucas's birthday, and Colleen and Rigo had extra food from their family gathering. We were more than willing to help them with their leftover Stone Fire on Sunday!

Peeking over their balcony/deck, you can see the farm animals next door! So cute.

 The kids had a GREAT time running around their amazing back yard. 

Airsoft Adventure!

Cora has been planning for weeks to play airsoft with her friends, half of whom she hasn't seen since March. They've all been very excited, and Cora has been in big-time preparation mode. She bought guns and a vest, a holster, a mask and camo clothing.

 

 

She also transformed these gardening gloves to match her outfit. Gloves are important for when you're running and diving into the dirt to avoid being shot by the tiny silicone pellets. Cutting the fingertips off helps you when you're reloading the gun.

Here's the guy giving the safety talk at the beginning of the Saturday morning fun. He was our group's private referee, as our kids played against themselves, in a different part of the site than the "walk-ons." 

I wondered if Cora would look a little funny wearing her camo, but that was definitely the right outfit, as most of the players were in all camo/military gear.

Here are Cora and her friends at the beginning of the day.

It was SO great for the kids to see each other!! Even some families that haven't seen, basically, anyone since March came out, since it was outdoors, and mostly in masks, and mostly distant from the others.

Here, they're having a well-earned snack and drink. We lucked out with the weather - it had been over 100 the weekend before, but Saturday the high reached 79. And it was a lot cooler than that in the morning.

Most of the group left at 1:30, but Cora stayed until the place closed at 4, joining in with the walk-ons. She had a blast and can't wait to do it again. I think she has a new hobby!

I wish I had action shots, but the area they played was out of sight from the waiting/staging area. And the kids left their phones behind, so as not to risk damage. Check this out though, to see photos of the field: http://warpedops.com/

More Farm Fun

We returned to Riley's Farm on Saturday, where our kids had a great time taking part in the activities. Riley's hosts field trips and historical reenactments regularly, and on Saturday, there was a focus on Colonial times and the Revolutionary War, with soldiers from both sides walking around, practicing with muskets.

Cora had to do the axe-throwing, of course. She got one to stick, too!

Violet tried out the archery. We've bought a new bow, so we'll have to get back to our archery range.

We all learned a lot from the blacksmiths. The signs were amusing, too.

Liana and Violet dipped candles.

Violet also made a cornhusk doll.

Such a great spot! Wish it were closer.

Silliness.

Training.

An old-fashioned game of trap-ball.

We visited a few other apple farms, too, including Snow-Line, which is famous for its (non-alcoholic) apple cider and apple cider doughnuts. Long line, but yummy!

Our drive home was much better - two hours, instead of the almost-four it took Friday afternoon. We stopped halfway to visit JT and Jim; JT grew up going to Oak Glen every year, and had given me many tips for our visit.