Fun with Nan and Pop, Part I

Stace and his dad spent some quality time together on Gord's birthday, going shopping at tool stores and then getting a beer at Telco, one of the local breweries Stace enjoys. 

They also went to the picturesque Iron Horse Bridge, where the mighty Santa Clara River actually looks like a real river.

It was nice that Nan and Pop were here for Violet's induction into the National Junior Honor Society, which took place Wednesday evening at the Hart auditorium.

 

Thursday was "May the Fourth," a date celebrated by Star Wars fans for its similarity to the phrase "May the force be with you." 

We'd heard that Pocock Brewery was having a big event, so we dressed up and drove over. It was PACKED! Like, we could barely get in the door! So, we walked around to check out the festivities and people in costume, and then went back out. We stopped for a quick photo with this car before ending up back at Telco.

Open House plus Tidbits

Violet had her Open House on Thursday, and was pleased that Cora came! 

Cora wasn't really excited to go, and we often don't force her to go places, but Vi was asking her to come and see some of her English work on the classroom walls. 

Thankfully, Cora's favorite Web-streaming D&D troupe, Critical Role, took this particular Thursday off, so that worked in our favor. And in the end, Cora did go around and say hello to a few of the teachers she'd enjoyed in her all-too-short time in junior high.

In fact, we never got to go to an Open House for Cora at this school, because of Covid.
 

The Accelerated Math students worked in groups to make little putting challenges, and Violet's sadly was worse for the wear after an unexpected rainstorm Thursday afternoon. 

Stace had encouraged Violet to cut their project like a puzzle to be able to get it to school, as we don't have a big truck for transport. However, the transport problem didn't seem to affect anyone else, as most other projects were very elaborate and large. The girls got a good laugh at how, um, not excellent Violet's team's project was. 

Oh well, you win some, you lose some. 

Violet is much more of a winner when it comes to art and English and history.

Her poem here was pretty stellar.

ODE TO A GRAIN OF SAND

Birthed from time

Older than life

Beauty in the midst of strife

What became of you,

Oh, great mountain?

As all submit to time,

Even worlds return to dust.

Humans search for cities 

of ruin

For knowledge of secrets.

But what becomes of the overlooked?

Perhaps something of beauty

but instead glass and stones.

Perhaps you know history 

beyond comparison

yet all memories fade to dust. 

Also this week, Seb apparently caught a tiny bird.

And, the poppies are starting to pop; this was the yard of my friend's neighbor.

Back To School!

I saw a deal for a half-off popcorn maker - just $15. Seemed like a good deal since the girls have been enjoying microwaved popcorn lately.

You put butter in the top measuring cup bit, and it melts from the heat.

Violet was quite excited about our new toy, and has made several rounds already.
 

This week, we've also attended Back To School nights at both of the girls' schools. Here, Stace worked up all his bravery to get close to the science teacher's pet boa constrictor, Taz.

And here is Violet's name poem, up on the wall in her English class. With five or six different groups of kids meeting in each class, it was a nice surprise to see her work up on the wall.

While in Cora's Advanced Placement World History classroom, I thought I'd helpfully photograph the assignment whiteboard to text her, in case she'd forgotten to do her reading.

The girls seem to be in some good classes, with good teachers. It was fabulous going around all the classes for the first time since 2019.

Back to School!

The time has come - summer has ended and the girls have returned to school, with Cora starting her sophomore year, and Violet starting 7th grade at the junior high school. 

Last week, both girls had registration on Tuesday. Cora's went very smoothly, and incredibly fast - she was in and out in about 20 minutes.

Violet's took considerably longer, and I went around the school with her, whereas with Cora I dropped her off and picked her up when she was done.

Celebratory boba tea when we were finished!
 

Cora's first day photo - she was tired after a poor night sleep, and not exactly excited, but she forced a smile nonetheless. 

Violet also was all nerves! 

Praying they both have a good year, despite the challenges they'll face. 

This was Vi walking into her second day of school. She's thankful to be in the yearbook class and to have many of the same teachers Cora enjoyed in 7th grade. She of course has many new people she doesn't know in her classes, but she is able to see her friends from 6th grade at brunch and lunch.

Week in Review

 Our new patio furniture arrived!

We took a while deciding what to order, and in the end, went with a Plow and Hearth eucalyptus set, because we have had a great experience with our other Plow and Hearth purchases. Cora and I treated it with protecting oil, and hopefully we'll have this for years to come.

 Our new, grown-up back patio!

We ordered red cushions, but received navy blue by mistake. After talking with an employee, they told us to keep the blue cushions until the red are back in stock. I actually really like the navy, but I do want the whole yard to go together, so I'd rather have red.

Cora is done with seventh grade. Her final few months were stress-free and easy - she sat on the couch each morning and did schoolwork for less than an hour, and managed to earn five A+'s and another high A. Three of her grades were over 100% because of extra credit. She's a smart girl, but her distance learning work was definitely too easy.

She earned a spot in her school's chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, and on Friday night, the school released a link to a YouTube video induction ceremony. 

With school over, Cora is spending lots of time on screens. It's hard to know what else to have her do - at 13, she's not really playing much anymore. She's been playing Fortnite with her cousin Euan in the UK. One day last week, while playing, Spencer ran in and dropped a mockingbird at her feet. 

Cora wasn't super impressed with her gift.

We had a few hot days midweek, so I took the girls to Ventura. While they boogie-boarded, I entertained myself watching this brazen ground squirrel, who nearly jumped into my beach bag in search of snacks.

 Sisters, friends.

Medieval Times Field Trip

 Later on Thursday, Cora had a field trip with her entire seventh grade, to Medieval Times.

Violet's mom Lara is a teacher, so she got this shot of Cora and her friends. It was great that they all found each other.

Cora had been really worried about the long bus ride to Medieval Times, which is nearly as far away as Disneyland. I got permission from the school to drive her.

It was a long drive for me to NOT go to  Medieval Times, but I wouldn't have gone in with her class if I was asked - I wouldn't have wanted her to be the only junior higher with her mommy there as a "chaperone."

So, to fill my time, I had lunch next door at Porto's, and picked up some goodies to take home. Porto's is a fabulous Cuban bakery, well-loved, and none of its locations are close enough to SClarita.

I also walked down the street to Knott's Berry Farm, where I visited the replica of Philadelphia's Independence Hall. I walked down on my own, and after picking Cora up after her field trip, we made a quick side trip before getting back on the road home.

 The Independence Hall is an exact, brick-by-brick replica, and inside is a great little free museum focused on the time surrounding the Declaration of Independence and Revolutionary War.

 This is the model of the room where the Declaration was signed. I remember going on a field trip here when I was a kid, and when I walked down, a field trip of fourth- and fifth-graders was taking place.

 Because Cora loves the movie National Treasure, which features the real version of the building near its exciting climax, I knew Cora would enjoy this detour.

I'm happy that this girl loves history like her mama and dad!

A Night in Paris - Dance Fun!

 Cora was excited and nervous all week about Friday's dance.

Friday finally arrived, and when she got home from school, she took a bit of downtime before taking a shower and beginning the "getting ready" process.

 She cleaned up well.

Here are Cora and some of her girlfriends before they went in.

Cora wasn't sure about having me walk up to the school with her, but I convinced her that there would be other parents. Thankfully, I was right.

 When I picked Cora up, her beaming smile said it all. She'd had a fabulous time. Her new friend who accompanied her even brought her roses - what a gentleman!

 Cora tried out press-on nails for the first time. They looked great!

 But they didn't last long... She took them off at Starbucks while we debriefed over a frappuccino.

 So pretty... and so happy!

The dance featured a DJ, the Habit food truck, drinks, dessert, a caricature artist and a photo booth. The photo booth pics were a treat! Here's Cora and her friends.

It's safe to say that Cora's first dance was a big success!