Handling Handel like a boss

Spring violin recital. Bourree by Handel.

Wax museum

As the culmination of their biography projects, Bagby's 2nd grade hosts a "wax museum," where you can press a button on each "statue" to learn interesting facts directly from historical figures.

 Amalia was Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. 

The school library was really loud, so here's a repeat performance of her talk from the comforts of home.

 Connor as Abraham Lincoln

 Caroline as Bethany Hamilton

Ismene as Betsy Ross. 

They were all so great, I wish I could have taken pictures of everyone. Such a fun project.

A tale of two girls

I took the girls to an art supply store today and gave them each a budget of $20 to buy anything they wanted. This is what they selected:

Amalia: a book and colored pencil kit called "Color Me Happy," a box of white chalk, a box of colored chalk, and a box of crayons

Lily: several mechanical pencils (.5 and .7), appropriately sized lead refills, a white eraser, and a dispenser of correction tape

Only child

Last weekend, Andy and Lily were in Vegas for the National Field Archery Association's international Vegas Shoot 2016, with 3,000 of Lily's closest archery friends. Pictures and updates on that milestone to come, but back at the ranch, Amalia was making the most of being an only child for the weekend. 

On Friday  night, we stayed in a bed and breakfast in Capitola. 

The nice caretaker let us borrow some dominoes, likely to the chagrin of our downstairs neighbors.

Slo-mo. 

 On Saturday, Amalia and I took a drive down the coast to Lovers Point Park in Monterey.

These folks were catching fish with their hands and putting them in their cooler, presumably for dinner.

We had a picnic on the beach, which was lovely and peaceful right up until the point where a flock of seagulls divebombed me and snatched half of my sandwich right out of my hand just as I was lifting it up to my mouth. 

Sunday we hung out in Santa Cruz.

A great weekend for our singleton. 

Squelch, squerch

Last weekend, we went for a hike in the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park in Aptos. After all the rain we've had, the streams were full and the ground was muddy. Still, it's no Snowzilla and no one was complaining,

 Never a moment's peace. 

 It seemed fitting to pass by this bench the week of Glenn Frey's death. 

 The next day we went tidepooling at sunset. 

Grand Slammer

Two weekends ago, we drove to the Tulare Fairgrounds for Lily to compete in the CA state archery championships. Amalia was on the edge of her seat with excitement. 

We don't have the state results yet, but Lily improved upon her score from last year, which is fantastic.

 While we were in the Central Valley, we all gathered to help Lily celebrate her 2015 Grand Slam Award from the California Bowhunters State Archery Association.

 It means she won three consecutive state tournaments in her division. Quite a feat for a young paduan.

D

 Receiving the award from the association president. 

 The proof is in the program. 

 Despite our best efforts, we didn't win any of the raffle prizes. 

After Day 2 of the tournament, we made the traditional stop at Bravo Farms. 

The sounds of Christmas

Today was the Cambrian cadet band winter concert featuring students from the four district elementary schools. Lily again plays flute this year.

 Band director Mr. Sanchez in his Star Wars holiday sweater. 

The Bagby contingent.

Up On the Rooftop

Jingle Bell Rock