Cora is 18!

 Cora decided to have a few friends join us for go-kart racing at MB2 Raceway, where she also had her 12th birthday gathering.

Joining us where her school theatre friends Mackenzie, Rowan and Lucas. Stacey is joining them in this photo, as they were the group that did two races.

In one of the races, Stace had the fastest single lap time among the nine racers (although is overall average time placed him fourth, just a hair behind Cora). In the other race, with 10 racing, Cora placed best of their group, though behind a few other racers we didn't know.

The kids also played laser tag, and unfortunately Lucas fought a wall, and the wall won. Hence the ice pack and bandage (not shown).

It was actually really affordable to rent the axe-throwing bay, so they had fun with this while they waited for their turn on the racetrack.

Cora does very well at this.

Violet and Stace had a turn on the air hockey table after Cora and her friends.

We then took the kids to In-n-Out for lunch.

In the evening, the family came over for dinner and gifts.

Lucas had given Cora this Disney doll, but Ellie was a more appreciative recipient.

Cora loved these beautiful Celtic-style earrings from Nan and Pop.

Christmas Break Tidbits

The day after Christmas, we decided to go ice skating. Cora's friend Violet was free and able to join us - yay!

They still had the Christmas music playing, so Stace fit right in with his Santa hat.

We'd had a cold storm in the region, dropping the snow levels low. Our valley was even more beautiful than normal!

We happily received and purchased several board games for Christmas. With the girls getting older, we're hoping for some new family activities we can do together, and we had a lot of fun playing games at Thanksgiving with my Washington family.

With a new Star Wars movie out, we rewatched the 7th and 8th installments at home, and then watched the 9th movie in the theater. We all loved it.

Stace and Violet went on a long bike ride, played tennis, and visited the ducks at Bridgeport.

Cora tested for, and was awarded, her orange belt in karate.

Moving on up! We're proud of you, Cora!

We also took the girls back to MB2 Raceway.

Go, girls, go!

Here was our Winter Break Bucket List - we hit most of them.

MB2 Fun

 The junior high school had two minimum days this week, so I had some fun with Cora at lunchtime.

On Wednesday, I picked up Cora and her friend Violet, and after a quick lunch at home, we went to MB2 Raceway.

While we waited for our races, the girls blew some game money.

 Our last time here was for Cora's birthday, and my girls have special passes that get them cheaper races. I figured we should take advantage at least once more before the year is up.

 Ready to race!

 The girls have moved up to the adult race - 14 laps!

 We did two races before heading back to SClarita to pick up Violet.

It was fun!

Cora Zooms into Twelve

Cora turned 12 Saturday, and she was very excited to celebrate with her favorite friends at MB2 Raceway in Sylmar. Charlie, Jake, little Violet, big Violet and Vivian were the racers who joined Cora on the track.

Zoom! The kids participated in two races, which were about nine laps each. Cora had wanted to celebrate at MB2 for years, but this was the year, because Violet has now reached that magical 48-inch mark. 

They also played arcade games, like air hockey, and won tickets for fabulous prizes like bouncy balls, Laffy Taffy and WarHeads.

The head socks made the kids look medieval. So silly.

The racer's fastest single lap is what earns his or her placement on the leaderboard. For the second race, Vivian topped the chart. followed by Jake, Char, Cora and the Violets. 

Char did so much better than in his first race, when he had the slowest times because he was more concerned with keeping his brother pinned in behind him than driving fast. (In that first race, Cora had the fastest lap time among her friends.)

We then returned to our house for food (Stone Fire, of course), presents and dessert. The kids also played out on the hill.

12!! How can it be??

She's strong, smart, sporty and, increasingly, stunning.

She was recently elected to be president of the student council.

She loves reading, history, video games, her cats, her family and her friends.

She'd much prefer a couple of close people she can trust than a big group of friends.

She's excited for junior high, but nervous as well.

She keeps us on our toes every day, and yet Stace and I can't imagine life without our Cora Rose. We are so proud of you!

Charlie wasn't feeling well, so Kelly and Yass left at dinner time, leaving Elaine, Vivi, Violet and Jake with the four of us. I wanted a photo of the four kids, and Jake wasn't super comfortable getting in close with the girls.

It took a little convincing and a lot of laughs.

When Elaine left with the girls, we then watched the first Pirates movie to cap off the birthday. Grandma and Grandpa came over, too, after helping Melanie out with a huge wedding.

Happy Birthday, Cora!

Week in Review

Oh, these cats. Love them so much!

We had another rainy weekend - this has been our most wintry winter since Stace moved here! Lots of rain, and consistently chilly temperatures (for SClarita).

My parents took the girls to a movie Saturday, while Stace and I went out with our Mom2Mom friends to Claim Jumper.

On Sunday, we went to MB2 Raceway in Sylmar, where we'll have Cora's birthday celebration next weekend. We have bought Groupons for the girls that will help the party come together, and I wanted to activate them before her birthday. Plus, MB2 was offering $12 races on Super Bowl Sunday, and that's a real bargain.

We took Cooper and Wylie with us, because Pam's mom is sick and she was with her. 

Cooper won their race, but the kids weren't about to let him hold the winner's perch without a fight.

I had a froyo date with Violet on Wednesday after school, while Cora attended her first GATE Musical rehearsal. We then went to the library, where Vi checked out the next Wings of Fire dragon book.

It's awesome to have her reading big thick chapter books now, instead of the comic books she's preferred in the past.

Cora came home buzzing from rehearsal - she put the CD of the songs into the computer immediately, and started singing along. This girl loves her school musicals!

Cora's Kickin' Kid-K

Cora happily took part in her first race Sunday, a Kid-K (one-kilometer) that was part of the Santa Clarita Marathon event.

On Saturday morning, before Cora's softball game, we went to pick up Cora's race shirt and bib.

They both signed the wall, and Violet left a supportive message for her favorite runner.

Before the race began Sunday morning, the children colored butterflies-on-sticks, to wave as the runners went by.

These first two photos are from the official race photographer. Cora ran in the 6-8 category; there were also categories for 3 and under, 4-5, and 9-12.

Here's Stace's pic of Cora racing toward the finish line. Cora finished within the first 1/3 of runners coming in in her age group. The event was very well organized.

She had so much fun, she and Stace are planning to run the 5k next year (and Stace is trying to convince me to do it with them). Violet can do the Kid-K next year.