Day at the Zoo

Our family loves to visit the Fresno Chaffee Zoo whenever we have a free day! With the kids out of school for Presidents' Day, and Randy having the day off as well, we decided to spend our sunny, 65 degree day out at Roeding Park! We had a picnic lunch, roamed around the zoo for a couple hours, and climbed all over the play structures in the park afterwards. Randy brought along his newly cleaned camera (thanks Paul!) to take some pictures of the animals. I am always so proud to share them...I think he's an amazing photographer! Honestly, the zoo should hire him for some promo work.


Finding and identifying birds in the Rainforest exhibit.

Our little monkey!

Opening Ceremonies

Our family loves to watch the Olympics! We have even had the privilege, thanks in large part to our friends Kevin and Lisa, to go to the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and watch them live! This past weekend we celebrated the Opening Ceremonies with friends. Each person brought a food or drink to share that represented their "home/heritage" country. We had maple-glazed chicken, smoked salmon, chips and guacamole, German sausage, hot dogs and garlic fries, crackers with Brie, Gouda, and Stilton cheese, Swiss chocolate fondue and more! What a spread! We had a great time watching the ceremonies and celebrating the cultural diversity that we see not only at the Olympics, but in the United States, and even more so, Fresno! I love living in a town that truly represents the "melting-pot" that is the United States! Where else can you eat authentic Thai, Mexican, Indian, Vietnamese, Greek, Armenian, or even Ethiopian food all in one night (not that you would want to...but it's possible)? Or get together with 12 friends and have 9 countries represented? But I digress, or maybe not? Maybe this one reason why I love living in Fresno is the same reason I love watching the Olympics. Seeing so many cultures come together, peacefully, for the love of sport. Well, whatever the reason, we had a great night. Now if only I can function the next 2 weeks on so little sleep (stinkin' West Coast time delay). Audrey holding Lila for the first time...oh, she's been waiting! Andrea, Christa, and Myra enjoying the ceremonies with the kiddos! Megahn and Maggie holding Lila. The young kids went to sleep at 9, the older kids at 10:30, here we are at 11, just barely hangin' on to see the torch be lit. Meg and I waiting for the torch...at, oh, 11:30. Randy, asleep on the floor, just past midnight. Granted, he was up at 6 that morning to run. Hope everyone is enjoying the Olympics!

Worst parents ever

Yup, we are. We have a mental block when it comes to putting dollars under pillows for lost teeth. I mean, I guess our percentage is pretty good overall. We've remembered 13 of 17 (total teeth lost between Audrey and Isaac so far). But one time we've had to rush in at the break of dawn, slide the dollar under the pillow only to waken Audrey (Randy barely got his hand out with the tooth before she shot up and threw the pillow in the air). We've had to leave an apology note from the tooth fairy on the second night (complete with fairy dust and footprints), saying there we so many kids that lost teeth the night before that she couldn't make all her deliveries (Audrey fell for that easily). Just two weeks ago, Audrey woke up to...yup, again...no swap from the tooth fairy. At the breakfast table I asked her, "Are you sure? I mean, you were up before the sun this morning. Maybe you were just one of her last deliveries (as Randy is in the other room swapping out the tooth)." She bolted from the table and came back with a smile on her face, holding her dollar up high.

Really? I think to myself. They've gotta know. They figured out "Santa" years ago. Do they keep up the ruse just for us? Maybe they think if they tell us they know the truth, we'll stop giving them money. Whatever the case may be, Isaac lost tooth #7 yesterday. He dutifully placed it under his pillow only to be let down this morning when he awoke. "She didn't come!" Randy heard our son exclaim as he was coming down the hall with his freshly ironed shirt. He walked into our room, rolling his eyes, and said, exasperated, "We are the worst parents ever." I saw him thinking for a bit before he turned to go into Isaac's room.

"I'm sorry Isaac. But it rained all night. Aren't fairies like butterflies? If their wings get wet they can't fly correctly. I'll bet she'll come tomorrow." Isaac seemed OK with the answer. Seriously, what is wrong with us? I think I'm just gonna give Violet a 20 when she starts losing teeth, pay her up front, tell her the truth, and finish with, "Don't spend it all on candy."

Snowshoeing

It's that time of year again, and with a week straight of snowfall in the nearby mountains, Randy and his friend Rod headed up to snowshoe last Saturday. It was a lot different from their last trip (sorry Jaime!) with gorgeous views, brilliant sun, and settled snow (easier to hike on). They started at Cherry Gap and hiked about 4 miles to overlook Hume Lake. Here are some of their great photos from the day!