Slappy Gets Student Of The Month

Our model citizen and creative writer.

Madd Max Has A Family Meal

The crew.

Some of whom rocked a tired and cranky Maddie sort-of to sleep.

Madd Max Has The First Kender Koffee

Mimi decided that getting all the Kenders together for a monthly conference call was a good way to keep the fam updated on everyone's goings ons.  After making sure bakery was delivered the day before so everyone had munchies during the call, the first one began at 7am PST, and it was awesome.  It was also loud, as Kenders are known to be, apparently even a country apart.

Slappy Settles In At OSS

Madd with her cabin mates.  According to Maddie, the best part of OSS was the cabin with it's space heaters and the feeling of curling up in a warm nook.

Outside the cabin, where it was a lot colder than she had anticipated.

On Wednesday, just before lunch, a text got sent out saying that all the OSS kids would be returning home that day.  Because of the incoming snow, the call was made to get the kids back, before the roads became dangerous. While Maddie enjoyed OSS more than she had anticipated, she didn't mind the trip ending early at all.  Max, however, was in tears realizing that his week, filled with one-on-one time with Natalie, his parents, and Taisie had come to an abrupt end.

Slappy Heads To OSS

Outdoor Science School.  This year all the 5th graders headed to Colby Ranch in Palmdale, as their usual OSS in Malibu had burned down in the fires.  They got dropped at the buses Tuesday at 8:15, with plans to return Friday at 11:30.  This is Maddie's first sleep away, and no electronics are allowed.  She was not looking forward to it, however this face is all - "Mooooommm, stop."  (As in Mom stop fussing over me, I got this).

Maddie's crew - Izabella on the left would be her top bunk mate.  Samantha would be in another cabin.  Jess teared up on the drive into work as she left what had been her baby behind.

Slappy Has An Art Night

Maddie, Elizabeth and Ellie have been going on monthly older girl dates to an Art Night in Encino where they create and eat pizza.  Sleepovers round out the evenings.

Slappy Goes Boothing

Working those Pavilions customers.

Madd Max Game Design

Cousin Sebastian came over for a few hours to introduce the kids into the world of game design.  They remained riveted the entire time, and ended up with two games to show for it.

Madd Max Ends With A Final Spoiling

 Usually when Mimi and/or Dozee come to visit, the following things happen that bring the kids great joy.  Lucky Charms, Corner Cottage burritos and Porto's OJ appear, followed by a coveted trip to A'float Sushi.  

Maddie ate 3 dishes of California rolls, and Max astounded Jess by eating a plate of California rolls, 2 of masago, 1 of dumplings and part of a bowl edamame.  He then announced he did not want dessert.  A few minutes later,  he finished the rest of Maddie's macarons and some mochi.  

Madd Max Has A Janisz Brunch

With cousins, Sebastian and Liana.

Who came prepared for a group Super Smash Bros.

Madd Max Has Another Movie Night

The Chadwicks hosted, part of which included Arthur's making of Jess' coveted vodka penne pizza.

Why would Kathleen be holding a xylophone?

For the music performance, of course - conducted by none other than Henry.

Guess this classic movie book game.

Everyone settles in for Blade Runner 2049.

Another movie that Jess hadn't seen.

And introduced by Arthur via podium because an event like this needs proper gravitas.

Madd Max Has A Last Big Bear Morning

Croshaw breakfast - crepes, eggs and bacon.

Morning cheer.

All around.

Please note, Eric represents the only one out of the group who actually hit the slopes during the weekend.

Big Bear 2019!

Followed by a Big Bear send-off.

Madd Max Heads Back To The House

Where Kathleen had laid out a much appreciated sandwich bar.

Aarin's much loved nutella sandwich.

Then into the hot tub.

That's good hot tub.

The kids took up "You Think You Know Me."

S'mores dip break.

A little bartending at the "Three Broomsticks."

Followed by some movie watching.

Madd Max Keeps It Going

 Breakfast and the smaller Croshaws.

 It was a Williams breakfast - eggs and potato hash brown casserole.  FeKays provided the lots and lots of bacon.

 Edith returned from a hike with an owl pellet filled with little bones.

 Tim had also hiked earlier and had found an area for sledding behind the house.  Most of the snowfall had melted, but in this perfect crevice there was enough to get some great runs.

Shanna held kids at the top and Tim, Steve and John took turns catching at the bottom.

Tim and Elizabeth sled down route 1.

 Max goes for route 2.

 So much better then those lines at inner tubing!

And a snowball fight to top it all off.

Madd Max Arrives In Big Bear

Our home for the weekend.

Jess and the kids were the second to arrive.

The Leonhardts had just begun to settle in.

 Soon came the Williams and then the Findleys.

Then came the eating - a critical part of the Big Bear experience as shown by this shared spreadsheet.

Kid dinner - homemade pizza.

Adult dinner - crab bisque and smoked porchetta sandwiches.

 That bisque was good.

Maddie not only typically has, but also very much wants, an 8:30 bedtime.  She began to beg Jess to put the kids to bed right around then.

 The kids actually went to bed at 10.