Fall Festival Fun

On Friday, Cora's school held its annual Fall Festival, which was a hold load of fun for our family.

We helped out with Cora's class's game, which was the sack race. Cora loved it, and Violet tried it once and ended up falling over quickly.

This year's festival was so different for us than last year. Cora now has her group of friends, and was happy to run around with them. Stace and I also know so many more parents than last year, so it feels more like "our" school.

Violet had fun with her friend, too! She and Sarah spent a good half hour or so tearing up the dance floor. They were absolutely adorable. Violet has good moves. (see video!)

She loved the cotton candy, too. I believe  the girls' dinner consisted of cotton candy, suckers, cupcakes and doughnuts.

(There were food trucks and we planned to get them dinner, but Cora was with her friends, and the food truck food was expensive and Violet didn't want what we bought, etc, etc.)

Vasquez Rocks

 On Sunday, we took a trip to Vasquez Rocks in Agua Dulce, on a day the county park was celebrating an open day with lots of fun family activities.

Violet can still be a bit of a slowpoke, so we used the back carrier on the trek from the parking lot to the nature center.

 The interpretive center opened earlier this year, and it was nice to see, since back in my reporter days I wrote many articles on plans for the building.

 Cora was able to to make a necklace out of part of a yucca plant, an important plant to the native Tatavium people. There were several craft options for the children to choose.

 Both girls painted rocks to resemble bugs and lizards.

 A local astronomy club brought out large telescopes, through which we were able to see the sun.

 Cora also enjoyed an archeological "dig" for various treasures the Nature Center volunteer hid in the dirt.

 Cora had a kitty painted on her face, while Violet chose a ladybug.

 Then, we went off for a little hike and rock-climbing adventure. Cora has been talking about hiking, and with the summer heat behind us (and snakes hopefully hibernating), it was a great day to be out.

 Cora was in her element, climbing everywhere, asking to come back again soon.

 Violet surprised us by climbing everywhere, too. She was very brave.

Sleepy girl, dancing girl

 Before Violet moved into her toddler bed, she slept during her naptime about half the time. Since we've moved into a bed, that's dropped to maybe one day every two weeks.

That's NOT to say she doesn't still need a nap! Often if we drive somewhere in the late afternoon, she drops off in the car. After our big park day on Tuesday in Montrose, she couldn't make it through dinner.

 On Saturday, Cora went to a Hart High Show Choir fundraiser, where the elementary kids were taught a routine by the high schoolers.

Stacey, Violet and I went to my parents' house to watch the Dodger/Cardinal playoff game. (This is one of those rare times I do wish we had cable!)
We also got to catch up with the NEWLY ENGAGED Auntie Mel! It was fun to look at her wedding research online.

On the way to Cora's performance, Violet of course fell asleep.

She even slept through the performance, a lively and loud version of "Under the Sea" from the Little Mermaid.

Daddy has his hands full with these two!

After the show choir event, we went to Petsmart for cat food and litter. It was an adoption day for a kitten rescue, and I figured the girls would enjoy seeing the cats, along with the small mammals, birds, fish and lizards.

But, for the first time, Cora fell in love with the kittens to the extent that she was crying when I said we couldn't bring one home. She cried off and on the rest of the night, and her sadness carried into Sunday.

"I want one of my own, that I could take care of," she said. Spencer and particularly Sebastian are too big for her to carry, she said.
I tried to explain that we can't handle three cats, that she's lucky to have two fabulously loving cats, and that kittens grow up in a matter of months anyway. But, there is no arguing with a girl who wants a kitten.

For her part, Violet said she wants to get rid of Spencer and Sebastian so we can get a dog.

Another Coraism: "Mom, are there really other planets?"
Me: "Yes..."
Cora: "Is New Jersey another planet?"

Good Friends

On Tuesday, Violet and I met up with some San Gabriel Valley friends at a beautiful park in Montrose, about a half hour's drive away.

Violet had fun playing with Natalia and Heather, while Melanie, Juliana and I had a nice morning catching up.

This was Violet's first time wearing these stylish brown sneakers with laces; I remembered why I didn't use them too much with Cora when Violet spent several minutes sitting to knot them up. Cora did the exact same thing to these same shoes a few years ago.

Violet told me that she didn't like bows anymore; she likes knots. By the time we got home later that day, after she had some time in the car to work on them, they were knotted up halfway up the length of the lace.

Here's Heather and Violet showing the love as Heather and Melanie went home. The next time we see them, they'll have their next baby girl at home with them.

At the end of the week, we saw our other San Gabriel Valley friends, when JT, Jim, Callie and Jonah came up for dinner.

Jim got to go with Stace for a little ride in the MG, after he helped put the newly cleaned/painted wheels on.

I love this shot Cora took of my beautiful friend! Sweet Jonah will be turning 1 this week; Cora and Violet had a lot of fun playing with him.

Lombardi Ranch, 2013

It's October again! Time for pumpkins, costumes and Lombardi Ranch.

Cora went to bed Wednesday night asking if we could "go to the pumpkin patch" on Thursday, and repeated the request Thursday morning and afternoon.

Lucky for her, Daddy was up for it, and able to get home in time.

We were also glad to take advantage of some cool autumnal weather, which always makes the trip feel more right.

Gobble, Gobble. Here's looking at you next month, Mr. Turkey.

Cora's much better about taking photos these days, but Violet is in a "maybe not" phase. This year, the Scarecrow Alley sign posts have been overrun with rats and crows.

Of course Violet would like the Lombardi Ranch Bake Sale Wars scarecrow, while both girls liked the Angry Birds entry.

(Cora loves climbing into our bed on Saturday mornings with Stacey's tablet to play Angry Birds, and Violet can carry on playing by herself if Cora is finished. Stace finds that his tablet background is ever-changing, and sometimes it's set to "airplane mode" with the internet off. Hmmm.)

More dinnertime silliness!

Long Weekend

On Sunday afternoon, Stace replanted a back planter, moving plants around according to their size so the big ones stop blocking the sprinklers.

He and the girls put in some winter color, and the girls had a pack of pansies to put in their fairy house area.

I spent the time indoors, going through boxes of clothing. Cora found these Hello Kitty pajamas, loved them, and needed to wear them. Never mind the October warmth; she just rolled up the legs and arms.















On Monday, Cora had a random teacher in-service day off. It was so nice to have a quiet morning at home before we took Violet to Terrific Tots!

During Tots, Cora and I worked hard to tidy up the house, and then we picked up Violet and went to the park to meet Daddy at lunchtime.














When I left the workforce, Stace and I had nice ideas of meeting for lunch on a regular basis. They haven't exactly come to fruition, but at least we have the option.

 During Violet's rest time, Cora and I made a big batch of pumpkin-apple muffins. She was so happy to help, and now she is truly useful in the kitchen.

 That night, the girls and Stacey were being silly together after dinner. Lots and LOTS of happy laughter.

With our strong-willed girls, we have our share of tears and angry emotions; but boy, the laughter, hugs and love do make the hard times worth it.

Babies, babies

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in the baby carriage...

A year ago we were getting ready for Kelly's wedding, now we're happily anticipating her first baby!
She and Brad are expecting a boy in December, and on Saturday we showered her with love and gifts.

Melanie is due in three weeks with her second little girl, and Cora is an excellent caretaker to Cuddles, Fluffers or Fluffy (whatever his name is at the present moment).

Violet's favorite part of the shower was the cupcake!

 Cora also had a lot of shower fun playing with Abby, Kelly's other flower girl last November. The girls created a secret hideout by a tree in the corner of the backyard.

After the shower, we headed to the park for a Mom2Mom family picnic. most fun might have come when Cora ran into one of her classmates, who had brought her big pink jeep to the park and offered everyone rides.

 On Sunday, we spoke to our family in England, including Uncle Dean and little cousin Olivia.

Between the baby shower and seeing their newborn cousin, Cora and Violet had babies on the brain. Out came the box of babies and doll clothes and accessories.

Cora was an attentive mother to Velvet (later renamed Scarlet), and Violet took good care of Blueberry. Cora even took the stroller and Velvet with her to the park and grocery store. I never saw that coming with my 6 1/2-year-old!