Animals and other California Adventures

Visiting Yosemite National Park, petting a snake at the Sacramento Zoo, going on bunny hunts, rescuing a Great horned owl, and riding on a tractor are some of this week's highlights for our family. We spent time with S's family in California and Letty's cousins Joshua and Jared. Apart from Joshy mauling Letty and Letty yelling "I can't see!" everytime Joshy stepped in front of the television, they did some playing together.

Letty enjoyed seeing a great range of animals at the zoo and on the ranch. During breakfast at grandma's we had fun watching the bunnies, dogs and hummingbirds finding their own meal in the backyard. Looking for bunnies became a favorite pastime for the older cousins. We called it "hunting" for bunnies, although there wasn't much contest between the fleet-footed furries and an asthmatic (me) hobbling along carrying two kids. While our chasing qualified as pathetic, hearing the delight and laughter of Letty and Joshua gave purpose to the humbling hunting experience.

The highlight of our animal adventures came when an odd furry creature appeared in Grandma's backyard one morning. It's wide yellow eyes stared toward us in the house just a few yards away. Animal expert Daryl identified the fluff ball as a baby great-horned owl. This youngster was the second unfortunate fledgling at Grandma's to have fallen from his nest and thus be abandoned by his parents. Daryl collected the bird in a cage and then delivered it to a nearby animal hospital where it would then be transported to a wildlife reserve. What a unique experience for all to witness. It certainly isn't every day you get to rescue a great horned owl!

The great adventure this trip was visiting Yosemite with two van loads of family members. This was no small feat with four kids under four (including a nursing infant), construction delays in the park and a two hour commute each way.

We visited the very intersting California State Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa. We there learned that emulsifiers used in icecream are typically derived from California mined, (food-grade?) clay. A good thing to keep that in mind the next time you hear the seducing song of that favorite cold treat as you walk through the supermarket!

Our next stop was (unless you count the detour across the river around last year's rockslide that still burys the maine route) our picnic lunch. After lunch we hiked up to see the lower Yosemite falls.

The weather and vistas provided were beautiful and worth the trip to the park.

We greatly enjoyed our visit to California and are appreciative of the hospitality always given us by S's family.

That's it for this week! Tune in next time for a new and not so exciting episode. Hopefully next week's post will include the much anticipated arrival of Kristi in Spokane. (That is if her cell phone can find its way home from Provo.) 8)

Kids Say the Darndest Things!!

We had somewhat of an uneventful week until Friday. Letty came down with a yucky sounding cough so we decided we'd better take her in to see the doctor before the weekend. He thought she should take a steriod medication to reduce the swelling in her throat. It was decided to give her an oral liquid for four days. The doctor was telling T-man the dose would be 2 teaspoons a day. Letty then piped up and said "but we don't drink tea" She wouldn't drop the point and proceeded to tell him a handful of times that "we don't drink tea." Teaspoon obviously triggered her need to explain what we don't drink. I'm sure the doctor thought we were a bit odd.

Spring has decided to visit us for the weekend so Saturday we took a little hike near our house. It was fun to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Of course a short way into our hike Letty needed the bathroom. Her only option was to go outside. She was too afraid to be close to the trail so T-man and her ventured off a bit. I waited on the path. I heard her calling me and I answered. When they met up with me, Letty in a most matter-of-fact voice stated "I could barely hear you mom, your voice was so small." I love how kids use language.

Here is one more Letty story that you have to endure. We have this very interesting chocolate from Isreal that is infused, oddly enough, with pop rocks. It's quite a sensation to eat pop rock chocolate, Letty thinks so too. I told Letty the other day if she finshed her lunch she could have a treat..."ooooh yeah, can I have the chocolate that talks to your mouth." I would have never thought that chocolate could talk to your mouth were it not for her perspective, but I have seen the error of my ways.

Here are some pictures from our excursion.

Say "Hiking"!!!

In case you were wondering

Letty is her mother's daughter- just the other day as we left the park and she wasn't not overly sold on that decision, she spent some time screaming in the car. After some time she stopped and said, 'Daddy, you're supposed to try to calm me down. Hug me and say "It's okay, Letty."' I don't know that she appreciated me lauging about her comment, but it was at the suprise of her communication and also at the same time being grateful for a wife who naturally, effectively communicates. It's a good thing!

K is now 2 months olds and a whopping 13 lbs. She ranks in the 95th percentile for both height and weight. We continue to enjoy her calm disposition and find great entertainment in striving to make her smile coyly at us.

S has been helping critique my essays for graduate school and lamenting having to leave friends in Spokane.

I will be happy when I don't have to write another essay- ironically the dozen essays I have written are aimed at getting me into MBA school, a goal which will unwittingly bring me more misery from essay writing.