U2 - A Sort of Homecoming

U2, The Joshua Tree, and the close friends we started a lifelong journey with some 16 years ago - Sunday held a lot of joy for me.

Though I've seen U2 more than any other "big" band, I hadn't managed to make a tour since becoming a mom. When I heard about this tour, and the first L.A. concert sold out in seconds, I was determined to make it work for the added, second L.A. show. I joined the fan club (for a fee), guaranteeing early access to the ticket sale.

It worked! And Sunday was the day, when JT, Jim, Stace and Lis hit the Rose Bowl to relive fun concert memories from years gone by.

The tickets I bought were General Admission, which meant standing on the field in front of the stage. Here we are in the tunnel, with our cool purple wristbands granting us floor access.

Stace had been nervous about what standing for that long, in the middle of a crowd, would be like. Would we be crushed in a throng of sweaty tall people (no offense, Jim!)? Short people problems!

But when we got onto the floor, his fears were allayed. There was plenty of room, since we weren't interested (or early enough) to try for the coveted stage-side area.

We don't look a day over 22, right? Ahhh, memories. It was so nice to be out as a foursome again.

We were hours early, so we chilled out and read the scrolling poetry while we waited for the warmup act, the Lumineers. They were great to watch live, with their hits Ophelia and Ho Hey eminently singable.

And then, at 10 minutes until 9, the moment arrived. Larry Mullen's drums started the familiar bassline of Sunday Bloody Sunday, and one by one, the Edge, Adam Clayton and Bono took the stage.

They played five old hits, and then the entirety of The Joshua Tree, which marks its 30-year-anniversary this year.

Now, the floor and stands were packed with tens of thousands of fans, singing along whenever vaguely appropriate. (Goofy Stace here - he hasn't shrunk, I promise.)

After the Joshua Tree, the band played another half-dozen newer songs, including Elevation from All That You Can't Leave Behind. This was where I lost it, scream-singing every line, jumping along. I was instantly back in 2001, when I was lucky enough to see this particular tour three times.

Yes, we are all in another life stage now, and we paid for our late-night fun the next few days. But was it worth it? Of course. It was a Beautiful Day.

Amusement Park Fun

Cora asked a couple of months ago if I'd be able to take her to Disneyland alone as a mommy-daughter date. The day after GATE Musical seemed especially fitting.

Grandpa took Violet, and she later had a dinner date with Stace.

Cora and I had a lovely day together. The parks were crowded, so we  only rode California Screamin...

...but we kept busy in the animation studio. It was quite warm, so the animation area is a great place to keep cool.

Besides making her own cartoon strip, Cora and I went through two animation classes. We drew Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas, and Uncle Scrooge McDuck.

We also watched two long movie previews, for Cars III and the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Cora showed a keen interest in Capt. Jack Sparrow. I assured her that she isn't alone; most of the women of the world like Capt. Jack.

We had dinner at La Brea Bakery at Downtown Disney, and were on our way home shortly after 9 p.m. We had thought of staying for the Main Street Electrical Parade, but we were both too tired after our big week.

On Saturday, Stace's work held its company picnic at Magic Mountain, in a large picnic area with a large grassy area, inside food buffet line and dozens of outdoor tables.

We didn't win any raffles, and the girls didn't win any big prizes for their hula-hooping or sack-racing abilities. But the food was tasty.

We could have gone back into the park to ride roller coasters when we were done with the picnic, but it was a very hot day.

It was unfortunate, because it would have been fun to take Cora on some of the bigger coasters she's now tall enough for. But, we all were too hot to consider it.

Violet did pick up this handy button after one of the races.

The best part of our ticket price was an included ticket for Hurricane Harbor. We'll appreciate that this summer.

After saying goodbye to Sylvester, we went home to relax and cool off before heading over to the Mom2Mom year-end family picnic. And then, we took Lucas and Liana home with us for a sleepover. The girls enjoyed seeing their friends.

GATE Musical

Thursday was the big day we've all been waiting for: the Thirteen Colonies musical, performed by Cora and a few dozen other high-achieving fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders. 

The students have been rehearsing for GATE Musical for months, with weekly practices, and then near-daily rehearsals during the lunch break. 

Cora has been a walking GATE Musical advertisement for weeks, singing and dancing around the house. She absolutely soaked in the experience, and was thrilled to have a role as an announcer and dancer in one song. 

She was so enthusiastic, she was chosen to be the universal understudy early on, meaning if an actor was missing during a rehearsal, she might step in. That meant she practiced every day, and every dance. 

Last week, she learned that the boy playing James Madison would be absent on performance day, so she took over that role and an additional dance. You'd have thought she'd won the lottery, she was so excited.

That is why she is dressed like a boy, in her friend's white dress shirt, and why she was especially happy to cut her hair short again.

The students performed twice during the school day, once for the lower grades and again for the upper graders.

Then, we headed back to school after dinner, for the performance for the families.

It looks like they all had fun as they waited in class for their big moment. (Thanks to my friend Cathy for about half of these photos.)

The show opened with Cooper, Cora, Sophia, Ellie and Violet taking turns announcing what the show was about - the beginning of the United States of America. They also explained that it was to be done in the style of readers' theater, with the main actors using scripts on stage.

Then, through humor, song and dance, we learned about America's start, from the early explorers, through the Revolutionary War, to the establishment of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Here, Cora is dancing in the song Name That Colony.

Later, Cora performed as James Madison, and delivered a couple of lines about the Bill of Rights. She was clear, loud, and spoke with a smile.

Actually, throughout the musical, I could always pick out Cora's singing voice, and she was always smiling. (Except when she noticed a small child being distracting in the front row. But never mind that.)

Perhaps the acting bug that's laid dormant since her star turn as Dorothy in Wizard of Oz has been reawakened.

Time will tell.





After the show was over, the kids celebrated, posed for photos and helped clean up. We got a few props to take home as keepsakes.

Here's Cora and her buddy Cooper...

... and here she is with her brilliant teacher, Mrs. Shafarman, who directed the show. We all enjoyed the musical so much - it was funny, and all the actors performed well.

Here's Cora, Gianna and Violet, borrowing an Iroquois vest.

I'm sure it brought back many memories for my parents of all the years of watching Melanie in her countless shows.

Afterwards, we went to Baskin Robbins with the rest of the cast for an ice cream and a run-around in the amphitheater. Somehow, we didn't get a photo of Cora and Emily at school, but we rectified that problem. 

Emily is in 6th grade and leaving Meadows in a few weeks; I'm so glad they were able to perform together this one year - Emily had a starring role as Martha Washington. They won't be at the same school again until they're both at Hart High! That's hard to think about... 

Congratulations, Cora, on a job well done. We're so proud of your hard work! We look forward to more musicals in your future.

Soccer's End

Cora has played in her last Pink Dragons AYSO game of the spring. Stace gave a good pep talk before the first of two games on the final Saturday of the season, and the girls went off and won well.

The Dragons then played a "VIP" team, whose players all had special needs of some kind. It was a sweet way to end the season.

Cora played in goal every game, and also spent time in midfield.

We had the team party at Toppers on Monday night. Here's Cora, getting a medal from Coach Larry.

It was a great season. The girls won all their games but two; they tied one, and lost one, when they were short three players.

Mother's Day

I woke up on Mother's Day Sunday early, but lounged in bed so that Violet could bring me coffee and Cora could make me breakfast.

Cora, as I've reported here in the past, has become quite the cook. Crepes are her particular specialty, with a homemade banana sauce. This version came topped with homegrown (hyper-locally sourced) organic strawberries. Definitely a $10 breakfast out in the real world.

After breakfast, the girls got started fixing up our trampoline. The old base ripped months ago, and we've finally purchased a replacement, along with a new net for the sides.

Then, it was time for cards and gifts.

Awwwww!

(That was as close as Cora got to kissing me on the cheek. We were lucky she cooperated that much. Physical affection is decidedly not her love language.)

(*But she makes a mean breakfast!)

After we Skyped with Nan and Pop to wish Nan a happy birthday, I got ready to join friends and my parents on a day trip to the wineries up north.

The friends we were meeting up with all had their whole family with them, but I knew a long car ride wouldn't do Cora any good. Thankfully, Stace and the family were good with me heading off with my own mom - after all, it's her Mother's Day, too.

It was lovely hanging out with my mom, Audra, Sara and Lynnette in gorgeous Los Olivos. Audra and Luis are members at this particular tasting room - Zinke - so we all got a free tasting flight!

We then went with Sara and Tony to one more place, before heading off to have dinner together. It was a beautiful day - I cherish their friendship!

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for spending the day with me, and special thanks to Dad for driving all the way there and back.

Thanks also to Stace and the girls for being good with me taking off for the fun - I was very amused to read Violet's take on our weekend in her class.

Saturday Fun

On Saturday, we celebrated Liana's 7th birthday with lots of friends at Colleen and Rigo's home. Colleen planned fun crafts for the kids to do, including a peanut-butter-birdseed-pinecone birdfeeder.

 

Look who crashed the party! Sara and Tony made a quick weekend trip out for Mother's Day, and got into SClarita in time for the fun. It was great to all be together again.

Look, high up in the tree! Super Cora used her squirrel-like climbing power to scale the branches.

We then went over to Stone Fire, where Sara and Tony had arranged to meet up with friends. Alli and Delilah were having fun braiding hair, which Violet was clearly not enjoying.

We were the lucky family to take Alli home with us for a sleepover. Violet and Alli have so much fun together!

Though they claimed they'd stay up all night long, they were both asleep around 10.

Tony picked up Alli early Sunday, as they were on their way to the Santa Barbara wineries for Mother's Day.

A Full Friday - Muffins and Bingo

On Friday, I had my final, FINAL Muffins with Mom experience, as Violet participated in her bonus-year Mother's Day event as a first-grader.

The firsties watched as the kinders performed the traditional (adorable) Mother's Day songs. I was sure I wouldn't cry this time, since I used up all my tears last year when I thought it was my last Muffins with Mom.

Then, the firsties took the stage and read a beautiful poem in unison - almost; Violet was a half-beat ahead of everyone else.

And they then read out why they love their mamas - "You're a fantastic mother," Violet told me.

I nearly kept those tears in check!

Violet had all her classmates, and even our cats, sign her special card for me. And I received coupons good for breakfast in bed, "24 hours of pace," and a free lunch.

Yes, please, to all three!

Later that day, my friends and I put on the Bingo Night we've been organizing for the past few months. We set up the room after the noon dismissal, and then Cora and Violet went to Sophia's house for a party/playdate.

We returned in the evening to finish setting up, and by 6 p.m., we were off and running. We served an Italian meal to a near-capacity crowd of more than 140 students and families.

The bingo went well, we gave away a lot of prizes, and we raised a good amount of money for the school. All in all, it was a rousing success.

Here's (most of) the team - our Bingo caller, Jeremy; Maria, me, Jen, Rachael and Cathy. The friends next to me were amazing, and though I was nervous about chairing an event for the first time, they all helped it come together.