Violet's Fun Week

While Cora went to Hollywood U2, Violet had a music adventure of her own.

She went with Colleen and Rigo to Glory SCV, a big Christian music festival. She spent the night with Liana, and the girls spent the whole day together on Saturday, too. After spending so much time with Cora's friends (all boys) lately, it was especially nice for Violet to be with a girl her own age.

Violet lost her second bottom front tooth this week, and she had a funny message for the Tooth Fairy.

Funny, if a bit demanding.

We sense a bit of Calvin and Hobbes with this note.

Here was the TF's response. And Violet's reaction to that response.

We chatted in the evening and Violet is aware of the truth of the TF. Oh well, at least her first (and maybe second) lost tooth happened while she still believed.

Violet attended Vacation Bible School this week, and was in a group with Liana. Here was her group's turn to lead the singing on stage.

On Wednesday, Violet and I hit the final free June breakfast at Chick Fil A before VBS. Yum!

Hollywood U2!

 On our first day back in SClarita, we had plans to meet up with my parents at a new music venue at our mall, the Canyon Club. My dad's been shooting photos for the club, in exchange for entry, food and drinks.

On Friday evening, Hollywood U2 was playing. They're an outstanding cover band for the real U2, and we've enjoyed them before at a Concert in the Park here in town.

Because Cora's gotten into U2, singing along in the car, I thought she might enjoy coming, since it was an all-ages show. Violet went with Colleen and Rigo, and we were off to the club for Cora's first concert.

Turns out a main bartender who knows my parents, is a mom of one of Violet's classmates. She hooked us up with an awesome experience, including taking Cora around for a personal tour. Cora got to meet the bassist backstage - doesn't she look adorable?

After a warm-up by Deepest Purple, Hollywood U2 started at 9, and they sound so much like the real band. When they played Every Breaking Wave, Cora's favorite song, she and I went down to the front to sing and dance by the stage.

 Cora sang along to every song she knew, which was most of them. This drew attention from the fans around us, and from the band members themselves.

The singer handed Cora a guitar pick near the end of the show, and at the very end, the drummer gave her his drumstick. What a night for Cora!

 Here we are with Holly, our bartender friend.

Happy girl with her pick and drumstick. It'll be very hard to top Cora's first concert!

Yosemite, Day 5

Thursday was the big birthday for these guys - 11 for the twins, 45 for Stace. He had such a great time with these boys over the four days! They are a lot of fun.

Thanks again to Pam for these photos.

On Facebook, she captioned this one, "The Howards' 2018 Christmas Card Photo." That Wylie! Completely cracked us up.

Pam and the boys got an early start for home on Thursday, and after they left we went down to a nice cooked breakfast.

Unfortunately, Violet's breakfast didn't stay down. She had complained of an earache the night before. Not sure what was the problem exactly, but she rested while we loaded the car up to leave.

Poor girl, having to make a long, winding car ride down a mountain with an upset tummy!

On our way out of the park, we stopped at the Pioneer Yosemite History Center to look around.

Our drive home was long and tiring, especially since Stace and I were operating on a several-day sleep deficit. Getting home to our own beds was welcome, indeed!
But it was a fantastic trip, with great friends, and we'll look back on it fondly.

Yosemite, Day 4

Stace bought a fishing license, so he went out nice and early Wednesday to take advantage. He didn't catch a fish, but he did catch sight of a couple of bears.

When he came back, we got ready for a big hike, up to the top of Vernal Falls. We rode our bikes to the foot of the trail, and then joined the throngs on their way up. And up, and up.

We took quite a few breaks to rest, breathe, and take in our surroundings.

Doesn't Wylie look like a perfect Boy Scout?

Eventually, we made it up to the bridge, where you get a great view of the river.

I promise, no Coras were in danger during the taking of this photograph.

We stopped on the other side of the bridge for lunch, where some crazy squirrels eagerly tried to charm us into giving up our leftovers.

And then, we carried on, up, and up and up. The weather was warm, but we soon came along the Mist Trail, where the waterfall cast off enough droplets to cool us off and soak the rocky path.

The views were worth it!

Violet amazed us all - she did it all, cheerfully.

And this is why you come to Yosemite and complete the hardest hike you've ever done. (#NotAHiker.)

Just beyond the top of Vernal Falls is the Emerald Pool. The water was pure snow melt - gorgeous and freezing. Pam loved it.

You can see how my feet were going into shock.

Crazy kids!

On the positive side, they got thoroughly cooled off for our warm hike down.

Violet took some artsy photos while we enjoyed our mountaintop experience.

The long hike back down was painful on my out-of-shape thighs! But we all made it.

We rested when we got back, and then went back to the river for a bit more fishing and some archery. Pam is an amazing mom and coach - she know so much about so many things, and she helped all four kids with their archery technique.

Both Cora and Wylie ended up in the river to rescue their lines and lures. Eventually, they moved to the other side of the bridge, where Stace got out the fly rod he borrowed from his boss.

Eventually, we ended up back in the village, where we got a very late pizza dinner. And, because it was Birthday Eve for Stace, Wylie and Cooper, we celebrated with ice cream.

It was our last full day in Yosemite, and we lived it to the fullest!

Yosemite, Day 3

We began our Tuesday morning with a bright and early start down to the river; the kids had an appointment with a fishing instructor.

Stace taught the kids how to set up their fishing rods, cast, and reel in the line.

The fish weren't biting. But the pine cones were

So were sticks, weeds, and even the tree behind Wylie, when he was playing with his rod and line as they walked away from the river.

It was a gorgeous, peaceful morning. Stace and the kids crossed the bridge to try out the other side of the river,and ended up seeing half a dozen deer.

The second early morning in a row was too much for Violet. She took a solid nap when we got back.

Cora wasn't feeling her best, so she also lay down. Stace and I got a nice lunch with Pam and the boys while the girls rested.

We then got ready for our next big adventure on the Merced.

We had an amazing time on our rafting trip. Pam, Violet and I were in one, and Stace and the big kids in the other. The views around every corner were beautiful - here's a waterfall, there's Half Dome.

Love this photo Pam captured - Wylie and Cora manned the oars for the first while, and argued and bickered about everything. Cooper seems to be casting a negative assessment of their leadership skills.

The water was cold but refreshing, and we all ended up in it throughout our journey.

When we got back, we needed showers and dinner. Cooper and the girls had a quick dip in the pool, and then we showered up and ate. What a fabulous day!

Yosemite Day 2

After a very full Sunday, we took our time Monday morning getting going. At least, Pam and I did. Violet was up with the sun, thinking it was time to be out and about since it was light. By 5:45 she was dressed and bugging Stace to take a walk with her. He gave in, and they had a nice, quiet look around our beautiful surroundings at Half Dome Village.

A bit later, the four kids took off on their bikes for an exploratory mission. They had a great time, with walkie-talkies connecting them to us at base camp.
(I ADORE this photo Pam got of the kids on their time away! They didn't know she was nearby.)
After lunch, we rode our bikes to Yosemite Village to check out Yosemite Falls.
Here's another awesome pic from Pam. Those silhouettes!

After checking out the waterfall, we found a quiet part of the Merced River to rest.

Violet, after her early morning, took a nap on a blanket, while the rest of us played in the river. Stace showed the big kids how to skip stones and play the "duck-drake-goose-mallard" game, for how many times your rock kicks up after you throw it.

When we were around our tent cabins, the kids usually were whittling sticks into differently shaped sticks.

Our tent cabins were perfectly adequate for our four-night stay. Beds were fine, and the bear boxes out front held everything with a scent so we didn't attract bears.

We couldn't cook, but we could figure out breakfasts and lunches with food we'd brought. The food in the eateries at Half Dome Village was quite good, and reasonably priced, given the nature of the captive market.

On Monday evening, we took our girls and Wylie to the village amphitheater, where we watched a cool documentary on the park. We also discovered that the ice cream shop offers a fabulous product at a great price. Win!