The Scrapper Goes To The Kings Playoffs

 

For Game 6.

 

With his Dad. The Kings lost, but it was still a very exciting game, enjoyed by these two and the two watching at home (and one in NJ - Dozee was also tuned in and emailing about the game with the fam).

The Scrapper Has Hockey Hair

 

Or at least that's his goal.  Why - as hockey players are not known for their killer hair choices?  Jess has yet to figure it out.

The Scrapper Does High Tea

At the Biltmore, for Mia's birthday, which had more women in fancy hats than Jess had expected.

Fancy menu.

This crew also got to sit alone, with Marisa, Mia's mom, sitting at a faraway table.

So sophisticated.

Madd Max Has Wolf Ears

Happy 15th!

The rest of the day was spent water parking, where Jess rode the slides alone and Maddie was thrilled to be off with just the foursome.

And some more pizza, followed by some more ice cream.

Slappy Heads To Great Wolf Lodge

Her request for her birthday party was an overnight with the MEME gang and a lot of independence.

A few celebratory cupcakes from Marissa in the room.

 

After checking in, the crew got ready to head to the water park, with the instructions to check in around 8pm.  Taisie had gifted Maddie with money to use towards whatever food and snacks they wanted - only rule was that they stay within budget.

While they were gone, Jess set up Tante's gift, for use during movie watching time.

As Great Wolf Lodge is not known for their cozy hotel rooms, Jess headed out on a search for a place to read.  She passed this group, who tried unsuccessfully pawn their flip-flops off on her.

As most of the Lodge is either loud or humid, Jess ended up on this weird patio with 2 employees and 2 adults in wolf ears.

The crew returned after a day of water park, pizza and ice cream.

To do this, which also meant Jess was kicked out the room until 10pm.

The teens view.

The parent's view.

Upon return, Jess entered another universe, where Maddie (an early to bed type) was still awake, Elizabeth was not, and Seth was definitely sleepy.

Jess got ready for bed and settled down in the lower bunk to allow the teens a semblance of privacy in the main room.

Slappy Has The Pacific League Prelims

Where she won 1st in Pole Vault at 6'-0", PR'd in Triple Jump at 26-7.5, and PR'd (and came in 3rd in her heat) for the 200m at 30.76 -15th out of 39.

And at the end of the meet, these guys were waiting for her. 

The Scrapper Goes On A Field Trip

 

School buses sure look different.

 

Lunch outside - at 10am.

 

The Walt Disney Concert Hall where Schumann and Scheherazade were performed by the LA Philharmonic.

 

This kid still likes his mom enough to enjoy her chaperoning.  Jess was surprised by how stressful 16 middle schoolers could be, including one who ditched at Intermission.

 

Ending an awesome day with some shared Sliders on the back porch.

Slappy Hits The Super Bloom

 

Jess and Maddie got on the road early to get out to the Poppy Reserve. By the time they arrived at 8:45am, there was already a line of cars. By the time they left, the parking lot was closed with cars lining the main road for a mile and a half.  

Here, Maddie points out poppies in a way normal humans usually do not.

While there were less poppies than the first visit, there were new flowers that hadn't been there before, like this angry dandelion looking thing (real name unknown).

 

And these puffy purple flowers that were everywhere.

Maddie said it was like God was cooking an Indian meal and sprinkled turmeric and other spices all over the fields.

She was very right.

Madd Max Has A Tax Day/National Glazed Spiral Ham Day Fiesta

 

The party was previously known as the Fools' Fiesta when it had been scheduled for April 1.  The new name was just as good.  Keith had to agree.

 

Everyone brought some type of savory or sweet munchie; some seen here on the coffee tables.

 

Before the game raged (a guess-whose-answer-this-is game), Holly and Jess tested perfumes.

 

The sweet munchies inside, including a Widomski Mom's fruitcake.

 

Round 2 of the aforementioned game came inside for the sweets.  Aarin was declared victor after a final round, 3 question, face off with Holly Rose. Although - with what we learned from the game, aren't we all winners?

Slappy Volunteers Packing Meals

The calm before the storm.

 

The storm.

Lilly has organized Generosity Feeds for years prior; this year Elizabeth also stepped in to manage.  Caroline pulled raffle tickets.  All those boxes on stage are filled with food.

They raised $10,000 and facilitated the creation 10,000 meals for children in need.  Pretty impressive.

Madd Max Preps For Generosity Feeds

 

Taping up boxes.

The brains of the operation.

Slappy Has A Final Track Meet

 

She made 6'-0" on pole, beating out the other 3 female pole jumpers.

 

This time, Coach put her in the Frosh/Soph 4x100.  They won at 56.46!

 

And finally, she PR'd (Personal Record) at her Frosh/Soph Triple Jump - 26-07.

She was pretty pleased with this meet, even though it went so long it started to get dark and was so cold, Jess lost feeling in one finger.

Madd Max Has Introductions

Uno gets to meet Ned (seen here) and Babs for the first time. It was a cautious first meeting.

But who can resist these very cute little kittens.
 

Two days later, things had settled down.

Madd Max Gets New Carpets

 

McLovin surveys the work.

 

This is the start of carpets that will no longer have nails poking thru the thresholds.

Madd Max Hit The Findley Easter Hunt

 

The spread.

 

The decor and the drinks - berries with bubbles.

 

The company.

 

The menfolk.

And at long last, the hunt.

 

Where Fiona figured out how to get the eggs off of the pool floaty.

 

And Maddie found these.

 The traditional sort and trade, which is accompanied by the shove as much in your mouth as you can when there is no supervision.