Spring Festival

 Our school held a Spring Festival on Friday, and Cora helped out in the game booths. It was a responsibility she earned through her Student Council position, and one she enjoyed thoroughly.

Cora is at her best when she is working hard on a project, or helping others. She thrives when she is working. I received several compliments from other parents about her demeanor and helpfulness with the younger players, especially.

Violet went out with Grandma and Grandpa to the Wildlife Learning Center and the Tea Gardens, as a pre-birthday treat. When they were finished, they came to the Festival, too.

Meanwhile, I spent part of my time at the festival selling wristbands for the carnival games and taking registrations for the upcoming Bingo Night. I also helped out a lot this week at the Book Fair, and chaperoned Cora's field trip on Wednesday. It was a busy week for volunteering.

Some Girl Scouts came out and offered free face painting, which of course proved popular.

So pretty!

Rancho Camulos

At my school, we always go to Rancho Camulos in fourth grade instead of doing the mission project. Cooper, Jason, and I were bus buddies for the 20 minute drive to and fro.

Our first stop was the old chapel, where a lady told us about the Del Valle's small church that Mrs. Del Valle wanted so badly.











This is the cork tree that the Del Valle's needed for their tiny winery.
It was pretty cool to be able to sink our nails into the spongy bark of the tree.

 After the cork tree examination, it was time to make some corn tortillas to munch on... or not.

Although we made the lovely smelling tortillas, we were not allowed to eat them or cook them. The small balls of dough we flattened had to be rolled right backup and put back in the basket for the next group of kids to use. Such a great disappointment.

After rolling up the raw balls of tortilla dough, we headed over to the laundromat. I think our tour guides needed a lot of their rags - "dirty clothes" - washed up.

The adobe bricks that made up the entire building in 1840 is what we made next. All we had to do was add dirt, dried grass, and water. Now, my adobe brick is dry and fully formed.

Mom was the parent helper along with Nicolas and Sebastian's mom.

That field trip was epic, I definitely am going back there again!!!

Easter Joys

Our church always does Easter big, and this year they brought in a big zip line to the new park the church built in the corner of the parking lot.

We got back from Michelle and Rob's and the girls rode the zip line, and then we took in the Saturday evening Easter service.

On Sunday morning, I helped in the nursery for one of the church services, and when I returned, we talked to our Somerset family.

Then, my parents came over for a meal. We relaxed, ate, and then took a walk through the canyon behind our neighborhood.

Back home, Violet had set up an egg-dyeing station. Though I didn't have plans to hard-boil and dye eggs - after all, we'd done that at Juliana's - how could I say no? I got a half-dozen eggs on the boil.

Beautiful!

Happy Easter!

Saturday Play Date Fun

 We had a family play date with Rob, Michelle and Brooke on Saturday, and Rob entertained us with his go-kart.

We took it to an empty industrial estate, and Stace absolutely loved it; we all loved it!

 Cora, our resident daredevil, had to be slowed down a few times.

 I, however, needed no reminders to be careful. No, slow and steady wins the race, in my book.

We returned to their house, and the big girls helped Michelle roll out and cook the tortillas. So yummy! I've never had homemade tortillas; they were excellent. Michelle served up a very nice lunch, which we enjoyed in the back yard.

The girls decided that with Easter coming the next day, we needed to have an egg hunt. They filled the eggs and the dads hid them.

The swing set was fun, too. It's always great to hang out with Rob, Michelle and Brooke.

Week In Review

This week, the girls returned to school after their lovely two-week Spring Break.

Fourth-graders in California focus on state history, and Cora's class has been working on research projects related to the state. This used to mean making a mission, like I did as a fourth-grader, but now has been broadened.

Cora chose to focus on the state bird, the California Valley Quail.

Her written report on the quail was due before Spring Break, and this week her visual presentation was due.
Cora chose to create a paper mache quail father and baby. It was a big, multi-step, multi-day project.

We were proud of her hard work - it turned out well!

During Spring Break, Violet and I went to soccer practice, too. But since it finishes at 8, now that school is back in session, it's a special Stace/Cora time.

He often takes her out for a treat after practice, like a sundae at McDonald's.

Violet called out to Cora the other day that she had helped her do her homework.

She didn't get every answer correct, but not a bad effort from the first-grader on the fourth-grader's vocabulary worksheet!

(Of course we explained that we all must do our own homework only...)

On Friday, we went to Dodger Stadium and saw a fabulous game, with Clayton Kershaw pitching a gem for the Dodgers.

Ability vs. Maturity

I was a big Calvin and Hobbes fan as a child, and Cora has enjoyed my book collection in recent years. Violet is reading them now, though Stace and I have been reminded of the truth that you might be old enough read, but not mature enough to handle the material.

Violet loved the Sunday strip with Calvin dreaming that Santa Claus has changed his parameters for doling out Christmas gifts - it would be the naughty girls and boys getting the goods.

In a rhyming poem, Santa humorously advises children how to earn gifts that year. 

Violet loved it. She set to work copying the verses with her special glitter gel pens, and pinning them to her wall.

In the end, she came up with her own fourth verse. She finds it hilarious, and kept repeating it, while cracking up.

While we see the humor, we've advised her to stop reading Calvin and Hobbes until she is a bit older.

Pre-Easter Fun

 It's springtime, it's Easter time, and it's time for Juliana and Daryl's annual Easter party.

We were happy to be able to go this year, and enjoy the yummy food and drinks while the girls dyed hard-boiled eggs and played.

The big girls decided to become smurfs, thanks to blue chalk.

 Just a little bit excited about a shiny special egg!

 Comparing loot - Violet somehow ended up with everyone's mini Snickers.

Thanks, Juliana and Daryl! Such a fun afternoon!

Special Spring Saturday

 After taking Cora out for breakfast last weekend, Stace took Violet out to Carl's Jr. Saturday morning for their favorite, biscuits and gravy.

 Meanwhile, I thought it would be nice for me and Cora to have a date, too. I invited her to come with me on a walk to Starbucks, via the beautiful Summit hill and valley trail.

She agreed, and we had a great time. Maybe I have a new walking/workout buddy on weekend mornings.

 We got home from our walk just barely in time to head to Placerita Nature Center, for the Junior Ranger program. This time, Ranger Frank led us on a walk and showed us little signs that show that nature's creatures are all around us. Horizontal marks across the trees, for instance, show the insect-seeking Northern Flicker; while a shallow hole in the side of the hill is a likely grey fox burrow.
Here, we are checking out tadpoles in the butterfly pond.

 Then, Frank passed out owl pellets for dissection - what fun, for our nature-loving girls! We discovered a rat's jawbone, along with lots of other bones.

 On this gorgeous day, we weren't quite ready to be done hiking.

After getting lunch at Jersey Mike's, we went over to Elsmere Canyon, a new trail for us. The budding oak trees shaded the path, and a trickle of water still flowed in the creek (on the left in the photo).

It was a lovely afternoon. When we got home, I rested with a book, while Stace made dinner. We enjoyed dinner outside, in our newly beautified backyard.