Fun with Friends

Last weekend, we had our final Mom2Mom family picnic. Vi and Liana had fun jumping off the swings.

Cami asked to learn how to play D&D, so she and Melanie came over Friday after school. Check out Cora's awesome maps she's created, too. She has basically created entire continents, with countries and cities and rulers and deities. 
 

Our matched set of cats.

Monday was Memorial Day here, so everyone was off work and school. We went over to Liz and Max's house for food and swimming fun, and also some VR fun.

SPLASH!!

More Mounted Archery

Violet loved her three archery-on-horseback lessons at Gilchrist Farm. We'll definitely have to do more lessons in the future!

 

Happy girl after success while trotting!

Cora came to her third lesson, and cats can tell cat people! This lovely farm cat followed her and jumped in her lap.

Garage Project

 A few years ago, when we our air conditioner needed repair, the repairman was giving us ideas on increasing our energy efficiency. One tip was to use this insulating material in our garage, which has vaulted ceilings and zero insulation - it's roofing tiles nailed to plywood over our heads. 

Knowing how horribly hot our garage gets during the summer, and how that heat sneaks into the house every time we open the door from the hall into the garage, I thought it would be good to put up the insulation.

We had a cooler weekend, so it was a good time to get it done. We started with adding the insulation to the garage door. It's basically like bubble wrap with foil or mylar on both sides.

The garage door was easy-peasy - just cut and adhere, using double-sided tape. But the vaulted garage ceiling was another story.

We don't have scaffolding, so Stace devised an ingenious way to staple the strips into place. He attached the staple gun to a pole and used another long stick to work the staple gun.

The following weekend, we tackled the front part of the garage ceiling. This was a bit easier to reach.

All done! I hope it helps a lot - I don't envision it actually saving us money, since we don't air condition the garage. But hopefully it will be much more temperate in the garage on our hot days, so we lose less cool air in the house when we open the door, and so it's easier on Stace when he does need to work in the garage in the summer.

Special Date in History

May 16, 2021 marks a special day for my family  - 100 years ago to the day that my grandfather Jerry was born. 

He was a baseball player and the editor of his high school newspaper, before enlisting in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

He put in 20 years in the Navy, and moved the family to California when he was through. He was a devoted husband to Jean and a loving father to Linda, Kerry and Chris. He was always joking, always had a twinkle in his bright blue eyes.

He was the best grandpa. He and Grandma took me on countless trips in their fifth-wheel, taught me to ride a bike and play cards, came to all my games and school performances. 

As I got older, he'd bring me coffee in bed when I spent the night, and he kept a scrapbook of all my newspaper clippings as I became a budding reporter. We were close; I was blessed.

I only wish he could have met Stace. He passed a year and a half before I met my own blue-eyed funny man. Happy 100th birthday, Grandpa. Still miss you, and will always love you.

New Hobby

A few weeks ago, I saw a mention online of a new offering at Gilchrist Farm, where the girls have picked pumpkins and Vi's ridden horses in the past: Mounted Archery. Yes, archery on horseback, two of Violet's hobbies in recent months. Wow! Sign this kid up!

On Saturday, we went to the farm for the first of three two-hour lessons. 

It was supposed to be a group class, but this lucky girl was on her own the instructor! A private lesson!

For this lesson, the instructor led Violet and Dixie around, while teaching her how to ride and shoot at the same time.

She shot from the side, shooting behind, and ahead.

And, she got a bulls-eye! Another boba earned. Her instructor told us about high-level competitions she's planning to enter... who knows, maybe this will become something Violet can compete in?

She absolutely loved her first lesson, and asked the next day how soon she can go back - and can she go twice a week, say on Tuesdays and Fridays?? I love seeing that enthusiasm from her again!

Dixie is a sweet girl, and Violet gave her a nice brushing when she was through.

Before we left, we checked out the newly hatched chicks...

...so soft!

There were lots of baby goats, too, along with bigs and peacocks showing off their plumage. 

What a great afternoon!
 

Week in Review

We had a changing of the guard, a passing of the baton, etc, etc, this past week. Mom2Mom held its third in-person meeting of the spring on Tuesday, and a special guest joined us! Melanie came to check it out, as she's looking to get involved in mommy groups after the Covid restrictions shut everything down in her first year of motherhood. 

And, I noted it was a passing of the baton... Colleen and I have decided it was our last Mom2Mom meeting. 

I've been a part of the group for 14 years, since Cora was an infant, and the time has come for me to move on. Colleen and I met and became close while we were pregnant with our younger girls, so nearly 12 year ago. I'll always be grateful for the fellowship, spiritual encouragement and great friends I made in this group! 

Later on Tuesday, both Melanie and Colleen, and all those kids, came over to swim with us.

On Thursday afternoon, I went to Mel and Nick's to babysit this sweetie. We took a nice walk, and then I gave her dinner and a bath, and put her to bed. All went well, and Melanie and Nick had a great evening out. 

On Saturday evening, we rode bikes to Firehouse Subs with Colleen and the kids to get dinner, and support a fundraiser that our friends (Firehouse owners) Jenn and Jeff were doing. 

That evening, the kids all played D&D in the new room! It worked so well, and was lovely to watch. Cora built the new bookcase in the corner all by herself; it'll hold all things D&D related.

Table... Check!

Cora and Stace finished their project, a table for the GAME ROOM purpose-built for playing Dungeons and Dragons (though other games could also be played thereon!). 

With Cora's ideas and Stace's design, they put the framework together.

Checking that the size would work well...

More progress... I'm happy to brag that the idea of using laminate wood flooring over the framework was mine. 

Trimmed and done!

With storage within the center...
 

...for our other board games.

Stace, again, is so impressive in his ability to dream up a project and see it through to completion.

Great Weekend

One good thing to come out of the pandemic shutdowns has been return of the drive-in movie. If you have room for a bunch of cars and a giant screen and sound system, you can have a fun night out.

On Friday, we watched Back the the Future with Colleen and Rigo - we adults in one car, the kids in the other. The entrance fee was a donation to Circle of Hope, a local cancer charity. It was a lot of fun!
 

Violet went home with Liana to spend the night, so she could then celebrate Liana's birthday with them on Saturday. They started their day with a walk to a local farm for strawberries and a look at the animals.

They then did an escape room - they almost made it out!

Then, lunch out and frozen yogurt for dessert! 

Sunday was Mother's Day, and our church had a nice photo area set up, with the added bonus of a free print.

Church as reopened indoors, but they girls enjoy sitting outside together as a family.

I love watching them have fun together!

As long as they're listening, too!

Stace picked this lovely bouquet of roses for me, and after church he and the girls gave me some nice presents and cards. 

Who needs gifts though, being the mama in this family is blessing enough!

Stace and Cora worked more on their project, and then we visited my mom and the family at Mel and Nick's, to say Happy Mother's Day to the mamas. 

We then went to Ikea, and ended up having dinner there for the first time since they reopened their dining room. Gotta love Swedish meatballs!