Horses, Hardballs, and Hard Goodbyes

This past week was a fun one! The kids had off Monday and Tuesday for Presidents' holiday. Monday we went to Playland with some friends, Tuesday we relaxed around the house, went to the library and played outside! Isaac started Little League practice on Wednesday, with Randy as the assistant coach. Audrey started warming up her arm too as she's decided she'll play softball at school this year. We'll get some pictures of Isaac when the games start up!

Friday night both Isaac and Violet had sleepovers, so Randy and I took Audrey to dinner and a movie (The Adventures of Tin Tin). Saturday morning we had some time before the other kids came home so we hopped on our bikes and visited one of Audrey's favorite places...the Fresno State Farm horse corrals. Randy has taken the kids there since they were toddlers since it's just down the way (these photos were taken Fall 2005). They love the bike ride and seeing all the animals!

Audrey still loves to go, hoping to pet a horse each time. We got lucky and quite a few horses came over after we put down our bikes and hung out by the fence quietly for a few minutes.


Saturday evening we had a going-away party for our friend Megahn. Meg moved to Fresno in Fall 2005 to work at Children's Hospital. Although Randy knew her initially as a coworker, she and I made fast friends after attending a few work related get-togethers. We have spent many evenings over dinner and a glass of wine, celebrated many Christmases and joint birthday parties (we share the same birthday month and year...Meg reminds me every year that I am 15 days older than her)! She has come to support our kids at different performances or sporting events! She decided this past fall to move back "home", which is Vancouver, Canada. To send her off properly we had one final Girls' Night a few weeks ago, where we watched Les Miserables (the musical...Meg's favorite), ate French onion soup, drank French wine, and enjoyed an amazing fondue spread for dessert! We laughed and ate and sang along, late into the night!

So Saturday we had one last chance to say goodbye before she packed up her van and drove north. We were so happy that many of her friends, their kids, and her co-workers had the chance to stop by and send her on with their best wishes and hugs and kisses. Throughout the night we had people write messages to Meg and take a photo with their board, which we compiled into a little photo album for her before she left yesterday morning. Even the littlest kiddos did it...here are some of their shots.

Bye Megahn...safe travels! We hope to see you soon!