Week in Review

This guy!

"Look at Winston" is still a frequently heard saying in our house. He just often does cute or weird things. Here, he's balanced over the front edge of the couch arm, leg dangling.

This is Violet's spot in the home, where she does her schoolwork and plays video games.

Something about the afternoon sun shining in through the front screen made them both vie for position on the shoe basket...

Violet asked to go to Valley Market to get spices to create chai lattes. I brought along some old cheerios to feed the ducks and geese, and Violet enjoyed that.

This young lady loves animals! And it was a gorgeous day as you can see.

Cora has been away a few days at the theatre competition. I'm so proud of her! She was nervous, but she pushed herself, and spent two nights at a hotel near the college with other students. 

She stopped at Porto's before she came home, and brought home yummies for dinner and breakfast the next day.

Violet begged me to take her back to Devil's Punchbowl on Friday, when she was off school for the four-day President's Day Weekend. After she agreed to help clean the house, we took off.

Here are the outcroppings that look like Vasquez Rocks.

The river was peaceful.

We're not big into celebrating Valentine's Day, but when I saw all those baked beans at Costco, I figured I knew the best way to Stacey's heart. Ha!!

Later on Saturday, we went back to Mel and Nick's to help some more. Here, Stace is putting in a roller blind at the kitchen window, and Mel's artist friend Shannon is painting adorable flowers on the cabinet doors.

We finished the day by seeing South Pacific at the Canyon Theatre Guild.

On Sunday, we had lunch with Colleen, Rigo and the kids at Green Valley Smokehouse, up San Francisquito Canyon. The food was good, the community rural and sweet.

 We went for a short walk afterwards. Always nice hanging with these guys!

Valentine's Day

 Violet and I started our Valentine's Day (after her yearbook class) with a walk at Whitney Canyon, where we saw some damage from our recent rain storms.

Beautiful girl in a beautiful setting...

Vi and I were pleased to see two kestrels on this walk.

Every now and then, my Google photos makes something worth saving. First photo from Yosemite, second from Newhall.

Melanie delivered a flower arrangement, which we put on the mantle to keep it away from the cats. Evie was very intrigued, however, and was trying to measure the jump from couch to mantle. Stace and I also enjoyed Valentine's drinks from Havana Savannah at lunchtime.

I made heart-shaped pancakes and bacon for dinner, after taking Cora to our local costume/dance store to buy two pairs of shoes for Chicago. After dinner, Stace and I watched The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn.

Week in Review

On Sunday, we went to Jenn and Jeff's for the Super Bowl. It was nice to hang out and watch the Los Angeles Rams win the championship, in their home stadium, no less.

Along with watching the game, the kids played baseball in the pitching/batting cage, and swam, since it was one of our crazy February heat waves. In the pic here, Cora is pitching to Violet.

Monday was Valentine's Day, and Stace arranged with my sister to have this beautiful arrangement for me.

I was so excited on Monday to be able to help with a Valentine's party in Violet's class. Volunteering in class hasn't happened for me since 4th grade. Besides Covid, this year Violet's teacher just doesn't ask for help on those party occasions when it would be normal to have helpers.

Anyway, the children were painting, and that takes a lot of set up - each child needed a palette of paint, three brushes of various sizes, water cups, etc. 

Sandy, a friend who I've been co-room mom with four different years, and I enjoyed catching up while we set up the art project.

Violet's lovely ombre blue background ready for flowers... I didn't see the finished product, but Violet tells me they're all on the classroom walls.

Other art on the walls included this Van Gogh lesson - this was Violet's.

Here's what you get when you take a photo with this crazy girl!
 

Valentine's pancakes for dinner!

Also this week, Cora went to her Winter Formal high school dance. Doesn't she look absolutely lovely?  

Week in Review

 Violet is starting work on her big California state project, and she chose to do the mountain lion, or cougar, which live throughout the state.

She saw Sebby lying near her and the book, and thought that we had to get a photo, because of the strong resemblance.

 Violet and Cora both came home Wednesday from GATE Musical rehearsal, because Violet will be in it for the first time, and Cora will be the "older kid" helper. I think it's helping them bond! They've been singing the songs together already, and Cora was happy to have Violet join her in her room while Vi did her homework. (Cora usually wants peace and alone time in her bedroom sanctuary.)

 Violet's class had a Valentine's Day party on Thursday, because the schools were out Friday and Monday for President's Day. Here, she's passing out valentines she made.

 They were origami dogs! So cute!

 It was a simple party - the kids did their valentines, decorated cupcakes and did a simple activity while watching the Peanuts Valentine's Day special.

Cora was curious and a little nervous if she would get a Valentine's Gram at school - there are a few boys who seem like they like her, though she isn't interested in any particular boy at the moment. She didn't, though.

 On Friday, with no school, the girls had dentist appointments, and then we went to the Iron Horse Trail area where Stace and I had taken Violet a few weeks ago. 

Cora enjoyed being out in nature, as she usually does. We then stopped for boba smoothies for lunch. It was a nice day off! Later, Cora's friend Anna came over to hang out. It's fabulous that she has these new girlfriends in her life.

Valentine's Parties

A year ago, my girls were Valentine's Day party poopers. Neither chose to exchange cards with their classmates, and there were no parties for me to help plan or volunteer in.

But this year, the Valentine's spirit returned. Both actually created valentines for their classmates, and Cora's class had a party that I helped organize.

Violet made butterfly valentines out of cupcake liners - she did it one Friday evening a couple of weeks ago, when Cora and I were watching a movie that Vi didn't want to watch. I provided no help or direction whatsoever; she just took it upon herself to create these beauties.

Cora, meanwhile, took some soap-making supplies she received as a birthday gift from Vivian and made little soaps. She attached them to her Grumpy Cat valentines - the perfect choice for Cora!

Jen and I planned the party for Miss Lotito's class, and the kids painted rocks that they could have given to someone special (like Mom).

After painting their rocks, the kids had cupcakes.

Then it was time for a rousing game of tic tac toe, played on graham crackers with icing for the lines, and candy hearts for the pieces.

Cora's playing with her classmate Sawyer here.

I sneaked over to Violet's class for a bit, when it was my time to volunteer. I was in time to watch the kids, a few at a time, passing out their cards while they watched a Peanuts Valentines special.

Then it was back to Cora's class, where Jen and I treated the rocks with mod podge so they'd be weather-resistant.
It was a fun day, one I spent at school from 11 a.m., and I'll cherish these memories of helping in class for parties.

Valentine's Day

What says Valentine's Day love more than a cat lovingly keeping your head warm on a chilly winter morning?

This was the first Valentine's Day in nine years that I didn't have some sort of event with my children to enjoy. For both girls, passing out Valentine's in class was optional, and both declined the option. Neither class had a party.

Violet at least decided to make one for Dr. Porter, and she agreed to dress for the occasion.

The girls shared some love on the way to school - that is love, right?

Later, Violet admitted that she felt a little sad to not be passing out the cards when everyone else in her class was doing so. I think next year she'll go back to distributing Valentine's.

Fewer than half of Cora's classmates handed them out. But, she said she grabbed a piece of red paper, cut it up and quickly scrawled out "Happy Valentine's Day" notes while the Valentine's distribution took place, so she wasn't completely left out.

During the school day, I picked up my new prosthesis from Beverly. My old one lasted six years - astounding! I guess my eye isn't changing as much underneath anymore as I age.

I wanted a photo with me and Bev, because she's approaching retirement age, and if this eye lasts as long, it might be my last one she makes me. She's been creating my lenses for over 35 years!

Violet went to Melanie's house after school, while Cora and Cami had school musical rehearsal. Don't they look adorable in the car? Thanks to Christina for sharing the photo.

Cami came home with us for a short playdate after rehearsal. Then we went to the Ash Wednesday family-friendly service at Valencia Methodist, right before Pioneer Club.

We sat with Patrice and Geoff and their kids - Cora and Emily hadn't seen each other in months, and they were overjoyed to catch up again. It was great to watch.

Tidbits

  After the ear-piercing extravaganza, I took Violet to the school's family dance. Cora had no interest in going, but Violet had a ball. She is a dancing princess! And she loved showing off her new earrings.

Saturday night was a Mom2Mom couples bowling night - since we had a "couple" of parents staying with  us, we took them along. All of our friends had a great time with Sue and Gord.

On Sunday, after visiting the trains, Nan and Pop hopped on a plane for a short trip to Las Vegas. They loved using small Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, and had a great trip. Besides the thrills of Vegas, they took a day trip to the Grand Canyon.

Cora used some of her birthday money on a school for her Calico Critters. She found a great deal at Toys R Us and had a coupon, too.

I'm thrilled that at 10, she still loves these adorable, high-quality playthings.

Tuesday was Valentine's Day, and I got to help with both girls' parties.

For Cora, I went in early to help with the food, but I wasn't there for the actual party. Mrs. Shafarman doesn't often require parent help.

Instead, at the same time as Cora's party, I went into Violet's class. I led the first-graders in making Valentine's cards for their families.

The firsties then played tic-tac-toe with conversation hearts on graham crackers.

Earlier in the day, when their kinder classmates were still in school (they get out an hour earlier than the rest of the school), they exchanged valentines.

On Wednesday, Cora had her 10-year well check. She's doing well! Her weight and height (52 1/2 inches) put her in the 25th percentile of both categories.