Magical Afternoon

We're pretty blessed to live a few minutes away from a great theme park. Cora and Sophia have passes, and it was "bring a friend in free" week, so we took Vivian with us.

These girls are all thrill-seekers, and in the couple of hours we were there after school on Tuesday, they hit 5 big rides.

Occupying themselves in a 30-minute line, without a phone! #parentingwins

They were playing a word/sentence-forming game called "period."

They started the afternoon at X2, one of the few rides I say "no thank you" to. So, Cora had to ride alone. Then, we did Viper, which we walked right onto.

Next, we did Tatsu - and it was a long row, so we all could sit together. I asked the girls to make their scared faces, like they were frightened of the dragon over their head. I don't think they got what I meant.

Then, we headed to over the hill to Crazanity - more line fun, with a "heads up" type of game. Here's a great way to use a phone!

After the Crazanity, I was done, but the girls ran off to do Batman before the park closed.

Then, Sue picked up the two girls, and Cora and I met Stace and Cora at the mall for dinner. We met up there with Patrice, Geoff and the kids, and had a great time catching up. What a fun Tuesday!

Family Ice Skating Fun

After working in the yard on Saturday, we rewarded ourselves with some family fun at the Valencia Ice Station.

They're offering a deal with four admissions and skate rentals, plus a pizza and pitcher of soda, for $40. It had been many months since we'd ice-skated together, and we had fun trying it out again.

Cora is so fast now. She helped Stace, who didn't fall once!

Violet has been using her roller skates a lot more at home, and we could see the progress she's made.

The pizza was yummy - a good night was had by all!

Weekend Fun

Stace was awarded four tickets plus parking to a Dodgers game, and we were able to take Kelly and Yass along with us on Saturday. It was so fun to have an official double-date without the kiddos, though I think they were a little put out that we were together and they were not!

(Cora was with my parents, helping Auntie Mel with a wedding, and Violet went with Liana and her family. Both girls had sleepovers!)

To thank us for having the boys over so often, Kelly and Yass took us out to eat first, at a fabulous Cuban restaurant not far from Dodger Stadium. Yass said it was the best Cuban he's had in his 20 years in L.A., and it was definitely delicious.

Dodger fun!
The Boys in Blue were winning most of the game, but then gave up too many runs in the eighth and ended up with a loss. (But, they have had an outstanding start to the year, with the best record in the National League, so I'm can't complain...)

Our seats were outstanding! I hope Stace can get them again this year. And what a gorgeous sunset we enjoyed! It was a great night with such fun friends.

We woke up kidless on Sunday, which happened to be Mother's Day. After church, we were all together again, and Violet gave me a gift she wrapped - such cute wrapping! It was a throw pillow that says, "World's Most Awesome Mom."

Cora, meanwhile, gave me a homemade scrub and this sweet card.

In the afternoon, we went to Reyes Winery in Agua Dulce with my parents, Stace and Violet. Cora was worn out and in need of some quiet time at home, so she rested there.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Stace packed a picnic lunch for us all. The winery's dogs were friendly - a little too friendly to Stace! But my dad loved them.

It was a nice afternoon, and always great being together.

Tidbits

Liana had her birthday party on Sunday, and Violet had a great time with the crafts and games. Here, they're making bracelets and necklaces. Happy 9th, Liana!

Violet had her 9-year well check this week, and her growth has been amazing! She is now 50 1/4 inches tall, putting her in the 19th percentile. She weighs 62 pounds, which is the 44th percentile. Such great news!  On the other hand, her eyesight has deteriorated. We noticed her squinting while wearing her glasses, and the quickie eye chart test showed that she definitely needs her prescription adjusted. I've made an appointment with the optometrist.

The weather has been amazing, and strange; lovely and cool, we haven't had to run our main air conditioner all year! We've had a few warm days, in the upper 80s, but many more days in the 60s and low 70s. This has been perfect for Cora, playing on the hill. (The more heat, the more risk of snakes.) Jake and Char were over Friday afternoon, and besides the hill, the kids played games. 

The girls took in roses for their teachers, as part of an organized Teacher Appreciation event, and I was inspired to cut some more to bring in. They smelled amazing!

Our kitties like hanging out by the bird bath. They present such welcoming, friendly faces to any feathered friends looking for a drink or bath.

But our cats aren't always wannabe killers...

School Tidbits

Every month, the girls' school has a "Family Flag Day," where parents can be present for morning ceremony. This coincides with Monday drumming, when 6th graders can grab a drum and welcome the students to morning ceremony. I enjoyed listening to the drumming this week, with Cora in the back row.

This week was Teacher Appreciation Week, and I helped Jen and Dinorah, the other room moms, decorate Miss Lotito's door. Here she is, with our kids, on Monday morning.

We also came up with the fun idea of creating masks of Bradley Cooper, Miss Lotito's favorite actor, for all the students to wear as a surprise for her. It worked like a charm! She absolutely loved her class full of Bradleys.

Violet was chosen to be a Kindness Ambassador for her class for the final month of the school year. She is very excited about this, and has meetings to go to on Thursdays. She's expected to be a friendly face, and someone people can go up to when they're feeling lonely. Yay, Vi!

Both girls participated in the school spirit day Friday, which was Hawaii clothing day. Cora, being on the student council that plans and promotes the spirit days, helped make posters for it. Here, she's wearing my Hawaiian shirt - we've reached that stage!

End of an Era!

Our girls had their final night at Pioneer Clubs (now known officially as KidZone Club) on Wednesday, the first in a series of end-of-school-year activities that will keep us busy for a month. Violet desecrated decorated her gingerbread girl/selfie that came on her bag of yearend swag.

Violet enjoyed her year and her teachers, and it was nice that her friends Liana, Melanie, Vilija Sophie and Charlie were in her class.

Violet's in the back row.

For Cora, the end of her year marked the end of an era - as a 6th grader, she's graduating out of the program she's been part of for nearly 10 years.

Cora joined when she was 2 1/2, and as a family, we've all enjoyed the spiritual and practical lessons taught each week.

Here, Cora is receiving recognition for being a graduating sixth grader.

Here are Cora and Cami with Coach Greg - Cora had fabulous teachers the past two years, and she connected well with them.

  

One last time for the girls to be singing on stage together! You can see them in the back, in the middle. Cora often pulled Violet up to stand near her, so Cora could "help" Violet dance.

Flowers, flowers, flowers!

My sister the florist has a very busy month of May - seven weddings in four weekends! She asked a couple of months ago for our assistance at a big job this past weekend, at a gorgeous venue in the Malibu hills.

Stace, Violet and I helped unload dozens of things from the trucks, and set up the reception tables with the flower arrangements.

These beautiful ranunculus flowers were actually individually tagged with guest names, and were laid down at each guest's place setting.

You can just see Stace, Nick and Violet in the background, putting together stands for the larger centerpieces. (Cora stayed back with Jake and his family, and had lunch and a long hike with them. Next week, she'll help at another wedding, while Stace and I have other plans.)

Violet laid out the rose petals,and at this time was sweeping up the ceremony area after the gorgeous arbor arch sprays were completed over her head. Notice the waterfall wall behind the ceremony area! This was quite an amazing venue.

Look at this table! Huge centerpiece, with smaller arrangements below. My sister is amazing.

Relaxing after the setup, at a nearby cafe. It was a beautiful day in Malibu, and when we were finished, we took a drive along PCH and found dinner before heading back home.

Week in Review

 Violet went to school on Monday as a 9-year-old, with the birthday badge/button to prove it!

Later on Monday, Cora and I saw Avengers: Endgame with Jake and Char. It was quite an emotional movie, very worth seeing if you've seen the rest of the Marvel films.

On Wednesday, the girls went to their last "normal" Pioneer Club meeting of the year, so Stace and I figured we'd better take advantage of our easy date night opportunity. We went to Pocock Brewery and for a bit and enjoyed ourselves.

 Violet spent her "Fun Friday" time at school creating an Infinity Gauntlet, from Marvel. She was wearing it when I picked her up, but took it off before I got a photo. Thanks to Charlie for modeling it for me.

School Stuff

 Cora participated in her final GATE event of elementary school on Thursday, when she went to the district's cooking night. She teamed up with others from her school in a timed cooking contest using set ingredients, like on the TV shows.

 We noticed that most of the students were looking to Cora for direction - she is such a leader!

 Here's what they turned in to the judges.

 Cora wasn't thrilled with how they placed - second place in the presentation category. (There were four categories and three places per category.)

 In other school news, the children who complete their reading goals will take part in a dance party in June. I love the bulletin board!

Violet is the first in her class to meet her goal. Great job, Vi!