Friday Happenings

Stace and I went to our *last* parent-teacher conference Friday afternoon! How did this happen?? 

Violet is doing brilliantly in school. It was nice to finally see her classroom again, since I'm not volunteering this year. (The teacher doesn't need volunteers, sad for me!)

This is Violet's Percy Jackson artwork...

...and her fingerprint pineapple.

I enjoyed seeing her take on "the story of her name." It's nice that she approves of her name; I remember that on Cora's 6th grade assignment, she said she doesn't like her names.

After the conference, Stace and I went back to work on the library project, extending the beauty of the loft we helped with to the downstairs.

On Friday night, Stace played football, while the girls and I joined Grandma and Grandpa at the Magic Mountain employee family Christmas party. I don't know what my mom was showing the girls but I love Cora's laugh.

I remember when they used to love playing in the snow at these events. 
 

Good Times

Colleen and Rigo hosted the Connect 56 kids on Friday night, with the theme of a campout. They played games and roasted hot dogs and marshmallows.

They also made a fall craft, mod-podging tissue paper to a jar with a tea light inside.

On Wednesday, we met up with friends at the Pantages Theater in Hollywood to watch Hamilton. It was such a fun night! (Though I wish this photo was better...)

Our friends had received a special promo code for great priced tickets mid-week, and we were able to buy tickets right behind theirs. We were in center-left orchestra, not nose-bleeds like I'd normally buy! 

We all had fun, and Cora had to contain her wish to sing along. She and Violet know all the songs by heart!
 

Weekend Fun

 

Violet and I made a little trip to Placerita Nature Center over the weekend. This is one of her happy places.

Violet is in the tree, but it's nearly impossible to see her.

Saturday evening was unexpectedly fun. We went to an event at the park, ran into Jeff and Jenn and the boys, and then got dessert together and had fun at their house until very late at night. We got to see their new batting/pitching cage at the bottom of their yard - it's awesome! Zach's a lucky boy.

Violet also got to do her mounted archery again.

And on Friday night, Cora's friends came over for D&D. I love seeing them use our new "game room."

Violet Tidbits

Violet created this dragon's eye painting last year, but recently added more detail to improve it.

We were on campus the other day to take measurements of Stace's next little project in the school library. (As a board member on the Foundation, it's handy being married to someone so handy!)

We took Violet with us, and she showed us her contributions to the wall art. 

A couple of months ago, she and Stace made this silhouette drawing, which she turned into this work of art. I love it! Looking forward to framing it at home at some point.

Also, in the school lobby, Violet's Reflections pieces that did NOT win first place are on display, while her first-place entry has moved on to a higher level competition.

Later that afternoon, we got her hair cut - it had grown so long!

For the first time, she had some layers cut in the front.
 

Tidbits

Wrapping up October...

Violet's class presented book reports this week and dressed up as the subject of the book, whether it was fiction or nonfiction. Vi chose to portray Queen Victoria.

Santa Clarita has always had houses and neighborhoods decorated fabulously for Christmas, and we've had some haunted houses in October. But I've never seen a house this fantastic for Halloween! It was like being in A Nightmare Before Christmasland, if that existed at Disneyland.

Cora has been wanting a punch bag for a while, and with her busy show choir/theater schedule, she's taking a break from karate. But now, she can work on her punching and kicking at home.

Stace and I had some errands to run over the weekend, and stopped in the Dudes' Brewery near the mall for a quick drink. I love spending time with this guy!
 

Halloween

Melanie, Nick and Ellie came over for Halloween, along with Colleen, Rigo and Liana. Cora here is happily helping Mel with a Dungeons and Dragons character Melanie is making, because one of her good friends plays and has invited her to join occasionally.
 

This cutie enjoyed her second Halloween!

After dinner, we all went trick-or-treating. Nick, Melanie and Eloise were in Ghostbusters garb, naturally. 

Cora went as one of the D&D characters she's created.

I forgot to get a "sister" pic, so I'm grateful I could crop the group shot to get what I needed!

This year, like last year, our neighbors and Stace set up little tables out on the driveway for passing out candy. Stace had fun decorating this year.

Cora went to one friend's house, and then to another's, after trick or treating with us for a little bit. Violet and Liana did most of our neighborhood, and collected quite a big pile of sweets!

Trunk or Treat

On Wednesday, it was time for our annual tradition of Trunk or Treat at KidZone/Pioneer Club.

This year, Stace and Violet created a Sleepy Hollow/Headless Horseman theme for our trunk.

Violet kind of dressed in character, with a beautiful old-fashioned Renaissance look. She painted her corset herself.
 

Colleen and Rigo looked awesome as sheriffs, with poor Hula their jailbird in the back of the Bronco jail!

My friend Tiffany and her baby came - haven't seen her for a while but it's Dodger playoff season, so we've been doing a lot of in-game texting!

Here's Liana, playing cornhole at our trunk for her chance to win candy.

Cami, Melanie and Cora came, too. 

Crazy how all the girls are about the same height now!

Thankful for this tradition...and still having kids young enough to enjoy it...barely!

Connect 5/6 Fun

 Besides KidZone/Pioneer Club, Valencia Methodist offers a fun program once a month for 5th and 6th graders called Connect 5/6. It's a way for older elementary kids to form friendships before they enter the sometimes-turbulent junior high years. 

The parents in the group take turns hosting an event; our turn will be in December. On Friday, Violet went to an event that focused on cooking - they made their own pizzas and desserts.

Violet was happy to go, even with Liana out of town camping. (That little detail made me happy - those two are joined at the hip and I was glad she was willing to go without her bestie!)

Yummy desserts!

You can see Vi wearing her homemade necklace, too.