Exploration Place

Wednesday was another relaxing day around the house. Randy woke up early to go golfing at nearby Cottonwood Hills golf course. He was the only one on the course, except for the grounds crew riding their lawnmowers and the bugs, of course. The rest of the day was spent watching a movie, helping my mom wash her dogs, and going on a bike ride as a family (thanks to some of my parents' friends that loaned us their bikes while we're here).

On Thursday we returned to Wichita to visit the Exploration Place. We came here 2 years ago on our last visit to Kansas and the kids had such a great time that we wanted to return! They have a huge castle area where the kids love dressing up, climbing in and through, cooking in the kitchen and more! There is also a permanent "Flight" exhibit, being that Wichita is known as the "Air Capital of the World" where we enjoyed riding on multiple simulators and building different types of paper airplanes and helicopters for test flights. Another exhibit was dedicated to all things Kansas. There was a room called "Kansas in Miniature" display, with tiny, swinging swings, a moving train, and tiny replicas of lots of Kansas landmarks. There was also a tornado simulator (Randy went in with the kids to experience a Level 1 tornado...winds at appx. 79 mph), a collection of Kansas bugs, huge blocks of salt (mined in Hutchinson), and lots more. It was a very fun day! After getting home we cooked up some buffalo burgers for dinner (from the Smoky Hill Bison Co. we visited last week)...yum!

I think we've visited all the places we hoped to see on this visit...and more! The rest of our time we don't have any plans but to relax together and stay close to home before heading to Colorado next week.

Tuesday in Wichita

Tuesday we started our day with a stop at Lamar's Donuts, then visited the Sedgwick County Zoo. It was the best zoo yet! Again, we got 1/2 off admission prices wtih our Chaffee Zoo family membership and spent a fantastic five hours walking through the different areas of the zoo (the animals were separated by continents). Some of the highlights included:

1. An amazing rainforest exhibit!
2. Three interactive childrens' areas: one was a typical Asian farm, one a typical North American farm, and another a typical African farm.
3. At the entrance of all their big exhibits, there was a bronze statue of the featured animal (you'll notice lots of pictures in our slideshow of the kids beside statues). Kansas is known for its statues and sculptures; Kansas City has beautiful statues in the middle of fountains all over the city.
4. Getting really close to a grizzly bear. I kept thinking...if I were seeing this animal in the wild this close, I'd be peeing my pants...and then playing dead in hopes to make it out alive. Woah!
5. Getting so close to the gorillas that you could see their fingerprints! These huge apes were just relaxing in the shade, right next to the glass!

After our zoo trip, we headed downtown to visit a couple shops and also see more statues on street corners. For dinner we headed to Texas Roadhouse. It was a fun atmosphere and great food! I sipped some sweet tea while waiting for our food, and the kids were kept busy with coloring pages, peanuts to crack open and eat, and lots of yummy, buttered rolls! We even enjoyed some musical entertainment by the waiters as they line-danced in the aisles. When the music started, Violet stood up in her place to see what was happening and got scooped up by a nearby waitress and joined in the dance! All three kids fell asleep on the ride home. It was a chore to wake them up for baths and pajamas. But those are the days when you know your kids had a ton of fun!

A day at the park

The rain cleared after lunch to let us go out to the Dillon Nature Center for a walk around the grounds. Out in the prairie grass. Petting a king snake.

Later in the afternoon my mom's friend Elaine called, wanting to take the kids fishing at the pond in the park. Relaxin' by the pond. Audrey caught the first one! And then... Catfish for dinner! Audrey caught 3 and Isaac caught 5 and Elaine helped them clean and fillet them right there at the pond. YUM!

Wonderful Mid-West Weekend

After a designated relaxation day on Friday, we were ready for more adventures on Saturday. We started the morning by riding our bikes across town (a whopping 1 mile) to the Farmers' Market. I think we managed to buy something from every farmer (5 total)...hand-made goats' milk soap, eggs, and whole-hog German sausage (all from Yoder), plum jelly (from Sand HIlls), vegetables from Gaeddert farms here in Buhler, and some baked goods from a Holdeman Mennonite family from Yoder. Since my parents had a wedding to attend later that morning and a funeral in the afternoon, we ventured out with just the five of us after that. We headed north to the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina. With our annual family membership of the Chaffee Zoo in Fresno we got in for half price! We enjoyed the exercise as we walked throughout the 60 acre zoo. There were lots of animals that we do not have in Fresno, like lions, white tigers, 3 types of rhinos (to whom you could get amazingly close), maned wolves, and South American bears. Enjoying the zoo. The kids getting up close to the tortoise. Climbing on the tractor in the Children's Play and Pet area.

On the way home we stopped by the Smoky Hill Bison Company in Assaria to see the buffalo and buy some buffalo burgers for a BBQ later this week. After getting home and picking up my parents, we headed to Bogey's for dinner (sorry, but no comparison to In N' Out Burger). Then we went across the street to the Kansas State Fairgrounds. It was opening night for the Reno County Fair and they were having a demolition derby. Randy thought this was a must-see for our trip. It was definitely unlike anything else I've ever been to. Before they started, everyone picked who they thought would win out of the 7 cars. Randy and Grandpa Bruce predicted correctly (Randy wanted to make sure I put this on the post).

Yesterday, after going to church in the morning, was spent catching up on some sleep and spending time in the yard together. Good thing we got good rest yesterday, our night's sleep wasn't that great with the super-loud thunder and lightning flashes. We are so not used to that. Hopefully we'll get out to the park today when there's a break in the rain.

Go Nuts!

Last night we attended a Wichita Wingnuts baseball game, along with a 7000+ sell-out crowd! What a great night...a clear, cool evening, $1 sodas and beers, a double-header (due to the rain-out from the evening before), and FREE tickets! My dad and Randy got in line to buy tickets only to have a guy approach us asking if our family needed tickets. Being the skeptical Californians that we are, we thought he was trying to scalp 'em or somethin'. But it's double-A ball, and we're in Kansas. He'd just "grabbed a bunch to come with a group of friends and not that many of 'em showed up". We sat about 15 rows behind the catcher to watch the Wingnuts win their first game 3-2 (we caught the last 3 innings) and the second game 6-0!

We're still having a great time doing lots of "Kansas" things, like... playing in the summer rain and watching lightning storms, eating lunch at The Mustard Seed, a little coffee shop/bakery where Grandma Janice works, riding the tractor with Grandpa, playing with Bella, stayin' cool in the backyard pool, picking and shucking corn for dinner, and visiting the Hutchinson Zoo. This is a very small zoo. But the entrance was free and it is full of animals native to the Kansas plains, such as prairie dogs, bobcat, fox, badger, beaver, river otters, porcupines, raccoons, black-footed ferret, and a number of birds and reptiles. There was a also a fossil digging pit that the kids really enjoyed, a Holstein cow replica in a little barn the kids could milk, and a petting zoo with a llama, pony, pot-bellied pig, rabbits, and this big, Brahman bull. He did NOT want Randy or Isaac to pet him (they were both wearing red, interesting) but he loved to be scratched by me or my dad.

It's been a great visit so far and we're looking forward to much more!

We made it!

To Kansas that is. After 3 days on the road, we have made it to my parents' house in Buhler, Kansas. We lifted the kids out of their beds and into the van at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning and took off. Unfortunately, we weren't even off the 41 before Violet asked, "Are we at Grandma's yet?" The concepts of time and distance are yet to be mastered by our youngest child. Audrey was very excited when we finally crossed into Arizona. We pulled over to let her take a picture with Randy in front of the Arizona sign. After a dinner stop in Flagstaff for some great pizza (thanks for the info, Jaime), we crossed the New Mexico border and slept in Gallup for the night. Sunday took us through New Mexico, the panhandle of Texas, and all the way to Elk City, Oklahoma. As is true with most of our family road trips, I had mapped out lots of possible sites and parks to stop and see along the way. And, as is true with most trips, we stopped so many times for potty breaks, snack breaks, and McDonald playplace breaks, that we didn't feel like stopping again for a site-see, or we got there too late (as was true for the Texas musical in Palo Duro Canyon). Not that I am complaining...our kids are great travelers! And armed with new books in hand (thanks Kristen for the big box), lots of music, coloring/activity books, and Ice Age figurines from all our McDonald stops, we kept busy. Monday, after a swim in our hotel pool, we drove to Oklahoma City for our last lunch stop (at a McDonald's playplace, of course). Then we navigated our way into downtown to visit the National Memorial of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. In front of the original fence that surrounded the Murrah Building after the bombing, still filled with tokens of memory, love and hope, both old and recent. Although not a part of the Memorial itself, there is a poignant statue of Jesus just outside the West gate that reads, "Jesus wept. John 11:35" From the Survivor's Tree, overlooking the Reflecting Pool and the Field of Empty Chairs, one representing each person killed in the bombing. There are 168 chairs total, 19 of them are smaller chairs representing the children.

There were many other meaningful sections of the memorial, yet a part of me felt guilty trivializing the experience by snapping pictures as we walked through. So I didn't. Although our time there was short (it was a sweltering afternoon of 108 degrees), I am glad that our family chose to stop and remember the lives lost in the building, and those who gave of their lives in service during the rescue, the rebuilding, and the healing process.

After our stop it was a quick 3 1/2 hour drive to my parents' house. We enjoyed a yummy dinner made by my mom and an evening walk to watch fireflies (and even catch a few). Our plan today is to relax, stay indoors (out of the 105 degree heat and coming thunderstorms), and maybe get out to a BBQ dinner! We'll keep you posted...thanks for checking in.

A visit with Baby Clark (and Auntie & Uncle)

This past week we were so excited to spend some time with Uncle Ben, Auntie Alli, and my new nephew Clark. The three of them drove into Visalia for Alli's sister's wedding, which was on July 4th. We met them last week for a lunch with my mom's side of the family (pictured L-R my Grandma Meredith, Audrey, and Auntie Alli with Clark). We got to see them again on their anniversary (July 5th) when we met together at my Aunt Yvette's house (my dad's sister) in Visalia. Randy was so excited to finally meet Clark in person. They drove into Fresno Monday to spend the day with us and the kiddos loved holding Clark and generally oohing and aahing over him. When Randy got home we picked the rest of our carrots in the backyard and made carrot risotto to go with some grilled steaks for dinner. YUM! Wednesday they came back for one more day of visiting before driving home to Portland. Uncle Ben really made the day special for the kids by bringing donuts in the morning and taking them swimming for hours in the afternoon! We enjoyed a family dinner together with Randy's brother Kevin joining us as well. Violet was too cute helping her cousin into his carseat before saying goodbye. Thanks Uncle Ben and Auntie Alli for coming and spending time with us! We look forward to next time!

4th of July week

This past week was a hot one! The week started with Monday's high of 109 degrees! We were in our neighbor's pool at least once a day, and stayed cool in other ways too (note the Target Icees in the photo). On Thursday morning our Moms' Group from church went to Playland where the kids enjoyed getting wet in the Splash Zone and riding a few rides. Audrey and Isaac took a ride on the roller coaster. Then we all rode the carousel.
Our fourth of July celebration was a bit different this year. For the past eight years we have spent the evening at Grizzlies' stadium, enjoying the game and then a fireworks show afterwards. This year we were invited to a backyard BBQ by our friends, the Co family. We had a great time swimming in the afternoon, eating dinner together on the patio, then walking a short 1/2 mile to get a good seat on some grass for the fireworks show above Buchanan stadium. The weather was fantastic, only 100 degrees for the high, and a nice breeze once the sun went down too. Thank you Co family for including us in your plans this year! Isaac enjoying his hamburger with his buddy Jackson, and Jackson's mommy, Kristen. All the kiddos, ready to walk and see fireworks! Grace and Violet are ready for the show! Happy Independence Day!

Oh, Audrey!

Just thought I'd give you a glimpse of some fun things going on with Audrey recently. On our last day of camping in the mountains I mentioned to Audrey, "Hey, I don't think you got any mosquito bites this weekend, huh?" which is a great thing since the mosquitos not only really like to bite Audrey, her bites turn into big welts that take a week or two to go away. She replied with the touch of sarcasm that is creeping into her 8 year old voice these days, "Well yeah. It's the weekend." I chuckled, "What does that mean?".
"Mosquitos don't come out on the weekend Mom."
I'm not sure where she came up with that, but it made me laugh.
This past Monday morning I picked up Audrey from the McNeely house after our anniversary weekend away. We got in the van to pick up Violet next and I took the opportunity to chat with Audrey one-on-one. I asked her how her weekend was, what she did, etc. At the end of our conversation I said, "I really missed you." She replied, "I missed you too...well, hardly." I laughed out loud. "Thanks for being truthful Audrey." I said.
Other things going on with Audrey...she is reading up a storm! Last week I picked up a paperback copy of Anne of Green Gables at Target in the dollar section. It's an abridged version (only 175 pages and a bit easier vernacular), but I didn't want her hefting around my hard-bound edition of all three volumes. As of this morning, she only has 30 pages left! Audrey still loves to draw and "make crafts" as well! Every few days I'll find a new book Audrey's made with a few pieces of paper folded and stapled in the middle with original story and pictures included! Audrey also loves to cook and has started her own collection of favorite recipes. With some birthday money from Uncle Ben and Auntie Alli she bought a picture album at Target. But instead of filling it with photos, she bought it to slide in 4x6 recipe cards! We did a little math yesterday when Audrey helped me make zucchini bread, but we wanted to make a half batch. She is so smart! I could keep going on and on, Audrey seems to do something everyday that catches my eye or my ears. I am just so thankful that God gave me such a wonderful, sensitive, cuddly, kind hearted daughter in Audrey.

Happy Anniversary

Where does the time go? This past Sunday, Randy and I celebrated a perfect dozen...of years married, that is. Randy and I celebrated in the same way as so many of our previous anniversaries, camping (1st - Julia Pfieffer Burns & Limekiln State Parks, 2nd - Kings' Canyon National Park , 3rd - Yellowstone & Grand Tetons National Parks, 4th - Kings' Canyon with 10 week old Audrey, 5th - Yosemite National Park, 10th - Yosemite again). This year we went to Henry W. Coe State Park. HWCSP is located southeast of San Jose, on 87,000 acres of grassy foothills. We drove into the campground Friday night and quickly set up our tent and our cribbage board. As the sun went behind the hills we enjoyed watching the wildlife come out of the oak groves, deer, a small coyote, and some raccoons. What we enjoyed even more was watching the 3 high school boys (dropped off for the weekend by their moms) in the campsite next to us freak out at the approaching raccoon, and chase him away with their crazy noises, hand motions, and freshly wittled "spears". After a few attempts, the boys retreated to their tent when the raccoon reared up on his hind legs and hissed at them. We chuckled as we saw a flashlight shine through their tent window at every little noise, well into the night. The next morning we headed out early on a trail to explore the park. We picked a 6.2 mile loop that took us past the monument to Henry W. Coe, Frog Lake, along the Middle Ridge, and back via Fish Trail (which crosses three seasonal creeks, all of which were already dry for the summer season). It's a good thing we started at 8 a.m. since the hike was harder and hotter than we'd anticipated. When you were in the sun, you were surrounded by dry weeds up to your waste that radiated the heat. When you were in the shade, you were keeping your eyes peeled for poison oak. And who needs switchbacks? Apparently, the trailblazers at HWCSP didn't. Randy and I sighed as we'd come into view of yet another ridge, and then another trail headed straight up it! We made it back to the campsite by 1 p.m. to rest in the shade and rehydrate with lots of water for the rest of the afternoon. For dinner, we shared a wonderful meal of local fare, grilled steaks from a cow raised around the corner at CSUFresno, squash and onions grown at CSUF sauteed in butter (made from milk by CSUF cows), corn grown at CSUF, and a Cabernet Sauvignon from J.Lohr wineries in the Napa Valley. After dinner we walked up to the Visitors' Center to hear a Ranger program. As we were sitting on a bench, waiting to go in, sipping the last of our wine and watching the sun slip behind the hill, Randy said, "We could do this. You know, be a couple that are volunteer park rangers after they retire and live up in the middle of God's creation, teaching others about wildlife and such." I nodded in agreement. And while we're still pondering that thought, an old man in a forest-green shirt, khaki shorts that revealed his trim, muscular legs, leather belt and hiking boots (easily in his 80s) slowly makes his way down the stairs to open up the door for the program. We follow him inside and he introduces himself, "Hello, I'm Winslow. This is my wife Anne," he points to a short, portly woman in the back that is resting her legs up on a chair, "and we've been volunteer rangers in this park since 1970." Randy and I stole a sideways glance and smile at each other as Volunteer Ranger Winslow began his slideshow about the 2007 Lick Fire that swept through most of the park. During the 45-minute talk we learned not only about the fire but the research currently ongoing to track the regeneration of many plant species. It was really interesting, and made us want to come back and visit in the spring, when all the grass is green and the wildflowers are in bloom. We exited the talk just in time to see the beautiful colors from the sunset. We didn't take a picture that does justice to the gorgeous views from the park at nighttime. From the west side of the hill you overlook the lights of Gilroy to the south, and the lights of the South Bay to the north. Add in the quiet breeze, and it's a pretty perfect summer evening!
Well, unwilling to brave a second day of hiking, we woke up, ate breakfast, and packed up our gear to head down the hill. We spent the day meandering through the farm lands in and around Gilroy, then Hollister. We loved driving through the wide, open spaces...complete with signs to let you know they're open...just in case you didn't notice. We stopped in at Swank Farms for a look around and purchased some local Rasberry honey. We went in search of "a family farm that has you-pick berries and apples and sells home-made pies" that I vaguely remembered from a magazine article. After punching in numerous possibilites to our GPS, and stopping in a store to browse the yellow pages, we asked a local in another farm and he knew what we were talking about. However, Gizdich Ranch was about an hour drive further away from home and we were already nearing lunchtime. That's OK...it'll make for a good trip in the fall for their Apple Butter Festival. We found a yummy taqueria (Alegria Taqueria) in Hollister for lunch before heading home. But we had to stop for another bite to eat at Cutija's in Los Banos before making our weekend complete. We thoroughly enjoyed showering up, feeling clean, and sitting in a cold movie theater to watch Star Trek that night as well!
Thank you to Grandma Arlene, the McNeely family, Bergen family, and Wiens family for helping out with the kids while we were away. And thank you to my friend Melody for watching the house and Lucy for the weekend as well! And MY biggest thank you goes to my husband, Randy, for making the last 12 years of my life absolutely fantastic! You give me more love than I deserve, and make me laugh on the days when I need it the most. I am so amazed and grateful that God let us meet...15 years ago this June! I love being married to Randy! And I pray that God will give us many more years to come.