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?!?

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.

Week in Review

I introduced the family to an old SoCal favorite, Thrifty ice cream, which is available at Rite Aid drug stores.I grew up walking down to our local Saugus Rite Aid, where I could buy a single scoop for the change in my pocket - 35 cents. Now, a single scoop is $2 - still a bargain.

Thursday was the 31st of the month, and Baskin Robbins offers a special promotion of $1.31 scoops every 31st day. We wouldn't have necessarily gone out for ice cream twice in two days, but we learned from a friend that our Stevenson Ranch shop was closing later that night.

Noooo! So many memories here! Our Tuesday ice cream nights have been special for us for over 8 years, beginning before Violet was born.

 On Friday afternoon, we went to Juliana's house and had a great visit. That evening, after dinner Cora had a last-minute change of heart and wanted to go to the school dance. It was sweet watching my tomboy get ready, in a dress, no less. She had fun with Jake and Charlie; in this photo is Jake and another 5th grade boy, D.J.

On Saturday evening, I went to a Mom2Mom ladies' night in, at Morgan's house. We painted flowers on a canvas.

I forgot to post these a couple of weeks ago - the McTeacher Night at McDonald's was a hit, as always.

Snow Day

We've been wanting to play in the snow this winter, and this weekend it appeared to be our last best chance - a storm in the week brought snow to the local mountains, and we had a free afternoon on Sunday.

We drove up to Frazier Park with my parents, and thankfully found enough snow to play in, in an area just before the CHP started requiring chains.

We found this cute little hut, which appeared to house pipes, to keep them from freezing over. We thought it made a nice photo opp.
(Violet didn't agree.)

 But Violet did have fun making snow angels.

Stace is such a harsh father.

Everyone had fun sledding.

It was a great day together!

On our drive back down the mountain, we stopped at the Flying J service station, for fuel and hot chocolate. Who did we bump into, but the Vasquez family, who also spent time in the snow!

Mrs. Vasquez is directing Violet in the Wizard of Oz next week, so we've spent a lot of time with her lately. But we didn't share our plans to go to the snow, or to the Flying J!

St. Patrick's Day Treats

For the first time in our school days, St. Patrick's Day was on a weekend - it was a little strange to not be sending the girls to school in their green, themed shirts.

And for the first time in years, no one in our house created a leprechaun trap. That's a sad thing - another young-child thing over.

But, Stace and the girls created appropriate crepes for breakfast, and Violet did make sure to wear her shirt.

We met up with Mom2Mom friends later in the morning at Hart Park. This scene made me laugh.

A couple of people were walking their alpacas in the park - there's something we don't see every day!

We picked up Shamrock Shakes from McDonalds on the way home. We justified the outrageous sugar content with the idea that we'd put them in the fridge and enjoy them over several days.

Week in Review

We got together with our Mom2Mom friends Saturday night, and it was a lovely evening of eating and chatting.

Cora had her football game in the morning, but it wasn't enough football action for her. She and one of the boys had a good time with the ol' pigskin.

 We met up with Grandpa at Costco on Sunday, and Violet was super helpful.

 On Monday, these two took the big step of riding off into the big wide world on their own.

OK, they were just going to school, and there's a crossing guard, and I followed soon after on foot with Violet. But it was a big step - er, pedal - into independence for Cora, and something she's been craving for months.

 On Wednesday, we drove to school, with a quick run to Chick Fil A first for another one of their free breakfast promotions.

We got to school early enough for Cora and Chris to throw the football around at the park. It's Chris who sparked Cora's interest in football, when we went to watch him play two years ago.

 On Thursday, while Violet played soccer, our tree hugger did some climbing before heading off to play with Cooper and Wylie.

 On Friday, Chris and Big Violet came home with us for lunch and some pool fun. It was warm enough for water play - maybe the last time of the year? Who knows in SClarita...

Violet's mom picked up both big girls for playtime at their house. Cora had a great time, and was buzzing when I picked her up. It was so great to see her excited about playing with her friend.

We then went from Violet's house to Cooper's, and took him with us to the school movie night.

Our friend Liz organized it, and Captain Underpants was the feature film. Violet loves these books, and both girls wanted to see the movie when it came out this year. It was a great school event, and free!

Week-plus In Review

Anyone noticed that I'm having trouble keeping up here on the blog?

Here's a photo from last week, when Violet had Skippy visiting us for the week. She was begging for a haircut, because she doesn't like dealing with tangles (and she overhears me and Cora fussing about Cora's hair length and brushing frequency).

So, as a treat, we got a couple of inches taken off. Skippy approved. Daddy didn't, really, but the hair will grow back...

This week we had our final Mom2Mom meeting of 2014. We had a nice full room of laughing ladies, especially while we played this Christmas Carol guessing game.

The girls have been very busy making and wrapping presents for each other, and the rest of the family. Their giving hearts are a blessing to see, and they've had such fun, hiding behind chairs and blankets in their present-wrapping areas.

Most of Violet's gifts are from the playroom, things she's found that she thinks we'll like. She's gone through rolls of tape in her wrapping (and her card-making, as you see above).

Cora has a much better understanding this year about the joy of giving gifts to family and friends, and has been eager to earn more money so she has more to spend on those she loves. (Though, on the other hand, she's also threatened each of us with "no presents!" when she's mad at us!)

Chris came over one afternoon to serve as Cora's wrapping assistant.



On Friday morning, I learned from my friend Morgan that a cake shop was offering buy one, get one small cakes, PLUS free cakes for a year to the first 50 in line. I hurried over, and after waiting a half hour or so, received one of the last certificates! Very exciting for us - we'll get one small bundt cake each month in 2015. 

 While in line, I overheard that the Egg Plantation was offering a $25 gift card to those who bought an entree (and were already in the fan club). I found the email on Stace's little-used Yahoo account, and guess where the girls and I had lunch?

Hitting the Trails

On Saturday morning, Violet had soccer at Bridgeport Park, and afterwards we moved down a few yards to an event promoting the city's bike trails.

The Amgen Tour of California is coming through town next week, and the city is promoting awareness of the race. The family biking day featured vendors, tricycle races, free food and drink, and a guided 4-mile ride on the bike trails.

As we were getting ready to head out, Cora's teacher and her family arrived with their bikes.

Stace and I enjoyed chatting with Mr. and Mrs. Vasquez, while Cora had fun with Mia, their daughter who is two years older than her.

Stace and I had a trike race, too. I needn't say anymore about that, I'm sure.