Thanksgiving

We started our Thanksgiving day with a nice breakfast casserole and some time with the newspaper ads for the Black Friday sales.

We then headed over to the Newhall Library, where the parking lot had been transformed into a dining hall, (free) clothing store, and craft corner, with live music as well. Local residents who might not have a Thanksgiving meal were invited to come out and eat, receive donations and have fun, and thousands did so.

We helped out in the donation area for a while, and then in the craft area. Stace did face-painting and hand tattoos (with Sharpies), and eventually, Violet began doing tattoos, also. It was awesome to look over and realize that she was actually drawing on the hands of children twice her size.

She even created a menu of tattoos she was willing to draw - a candy cane, a whale, a "hart," a cat, a dog, a pumpkin, and a bat.

I love my girls!

Then we returned home to put the turkey in the oven, clean the house, and finish preparing for the family to arrive.

The dinner was delicious!

Uncle Nick brought over the Garfield Thanksgiving Special, and the Peanuts holiday specials - Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. While my mom cleaned the kitchen and handled the leftovers - THANKS, MOM! - we relaxed with cartoon nostalgia.

It was a special day, and we have much to be thankful for.

Disney Day

With a week off school, the girls and I were happy to spend Tuesday at California Adventure.

We got up and out a little after 8:30, and were in the park before 11. With the holiday, it was a crowded day, so we weren't able to ride a lot of rides.

Instead, we spent time in the Animation Academy, in the Redwood Creek area, and on some of the smaller rides.

This was Violet's first time on the climbing wall, after reaching the 42-inch height requirement.

After lunchtime, we met up with Jen and Trent, and did another animation class together. In fact, before we left for the night we did a third - it was a lot of fun, and a perfect activity on a crowded day.

We also met up with Big Al and Liver Lips from the Bear Country Jamboree. The kids all found them creepy, but Jen and I have fond memories of their "live" shows in years past.

Some of the smaller, fair-style rides had shorter lines...

...and we lucked out at the end of the night with a short line to meet Santa.

Another great day together, with great friends!

Before we went our separate ways, the kids wanted to pose with the giant bear, in his Christmas sweater.

We were on the road by 10, and home not long after 11. Thank you, Disney, for another fabulous day!

Week in Review

The girls' school celebrated Veterans' Day on Monday with a morning ceremony honoring those who've served with a moment of silence and a presentation of the flag by a local ROTC troop.

We also had a breakfast honoring any veterans who attended, and thise solemn display of one family's uniforms. I'm glad my girls get the experience of showing honor to those who have fought for us.

Also this week, Violet got to take part in two Thanksgiving celebrations. The first grade classes had a small meal together, with homemade butter. Here, Vi is helping shake the heavy cream into the yummy spread.

For Wednesday's meal, Violet took part with her math class friends from Mrs. Judge's class.

And on Thursday, Violet had a celebration with her kinder and first-grade classmates in Mrs. Hawthorne's class.

This party featured "friendship fruit salad," made from fruit brought in by all the students.

On Thursday night, we helped out with the Scooter's Jungle reward night for those participating heavily in the Triathlon.

Cora had fun racing around with her friends, as did Violet.

Thursday was the last day of school before Thanksgiving break.

On Friday, Stace and I went to parent-teacher conferences, while Grandpa took the girls to the Discovery Cube Science Museum.

We found out that both girls are doing fabulously in school, especially with reading.

Both are reading in the 96th-97th percentile - Violet has breezed through not just the first-grade, but also the second-grade sight word lists. And we reviewed Cora's GATE goals with her teacher.

It's an amazing blessing to have two bright girls who enjoy learning!

Weekend Fun

 The girls were off school Friday for Veterans Day, and after the big Triathlon, it was great to sleep in and relax in the morning.

In the evening, we had Juliana and Daryl and their girls over for dinner. Cora was very excited about her idea of holding a cake decorating contest.

We went through the cupboard and found the cake mix, and the girls got to work.

 They made four small round cakes, and later in the evening, with Maya and Natalia over, they all had a grand time with the frosting and decorations.

 Masterpieces!

We adults came up with awards - Best use of Color, Most Creative, etc.

 Stace dug out his old Brasil shirt for our favorite Brazilian. It was fabulous catching up, as it had again been more than six months since we adults had been together.

 On Saturday, after Cora's game, Violet and I went with Grandma to a craft boutique. Violet loves shopping, and she had some money to spend and gifts to choose with Christmas now approaching.

My happy shopper! She is such a fun companion.

Treats

Cora had a sleepover at her friends Sam and Riley's house recently, and they enjoyed root beer floats there. When I picked her up, we stopped at the store for milk - and root beer.

For a treat, later in the week I let Violet make the floats. She was happy to do so.

Violet got a lovely note in the mail this week: a card from Anna and Will, my cousin, asking her to be their flower girl in their wedding next month. By that big smile, you can tell the answer was "YES!"

(This will now even the score for the girls - three weddings each as flower girls. They have been fortunate over the years!)

And, a treat for me.

On the day of the triathlon, Starbucks had a promotion for their new holiday drinks: buy one, get one free. I was tired and headachey, so after dropping Cora off at softball practice and depositing the school's new funds, Violet and I went to Target's Starbucks to enjoy the yummiest type of caffeine.

2016 Triathlon

Triathlon Day came for our school on Thursday, with lots of fun for the students and lots of funds raised for the school.

The students participated in an obstacle course, in basketball drills, and in a martial arts session, and finished off with a snack of orange slices and water.

The girls (and all their classmates) had a great time, and the school raised more than $13,000 for enrichment and technology.

As the treasurer of the school's foundation, I spent most of my day with some other volunteers counting the money. It was a fun day, working together for a great cause.
 Thanks to my friend Jill for the next two photos...

Showcases

 Violet's 12-week Keyboard I class came to an end this week. If the class had been larger, there would have been a recital, but only two students were enrolled.

In the place of a normal recital, we parents were invited into a final class to watch them perform a couple of songs and then learn a little bit more.

Violet said she is interested in taking the next keyboard class, so we will see if we can make that happen.

On Wednesday night, we went to the school's Reflections Gala, where the winners of the PTA art program were awarded.

Cora had entered a poem into the literature category; the theme was "My Story," so she wrote about her love of traveling.

Sadly for Cora, she didn't receive a first-, second- or third-place trophy for her entry. She did receive a participation medal, however.

Violet didn't enter the contest. After winning first place last year for her photo, she said she would have been too sad to not win anything this year.

Week In Review

Spence, you aren't helpful when we're trying to read!

I have a friend through the girls' school who is a manager at the Cheesecake Factory, which is opening up a location at the mall in a few days.

She invited us (and many others) to come in for a test lunch Thursday, where the new staff had a chance to train with real customers. What a treat for us!

We got an appetizer, two entrees, drinks and dessert for free, in exchange for our feedback. (And a tip for the server, of course!)

Yum! SClaritans have been clamoring for a Cheesecake Factory for years and years, so this is big news in the SCV dining scene.

The gift kept on giving, too - the leftovers were plenty for dinner for usThursday, and for Stacey's dinner on Friday!

Stace ate on his own (sob!) because we girls were invited to a painting/dinner party at a friend's house.

Cora was excited to paint with the moms, rather than the kids, at our table. I love her artwork! She wants to add some more presents under the tree, and I want to add some text to mine, in the sky. We have a few weeks to get it done.

On Saturday, Cora had a game and Stace and I went to a couples' night out with our Mom2Mom friends. Cora was invited to spend the night at Riley and Sam's house, so after getting Violet from childcare, we took her out for frozen yogurt.

This is for me, for my own memories...
One morning this week, Seb climbed into my lap while I was having my early morning devotions. Coffee, a purring kitty and quiet time with God - doesn't get much better.

But then it did get better! Violet came padding down the hall, adorable in her feet pajamas with her blankie, and Seb made room.

Boy, I hated getting up to take my shower. Here was a moment that could have lasted forever.