Chirpy's Adventures

Elizabeth's pet chicken Chirpy has lots of adventures, goes to lots of parties, and always has advice. Here's the latest:

Yesterday Luke picked up Emma and took her out of the room because she was crying.

Elizabeth: Well, Emma's off to Chicago.

Me: Chicago, huh?

Elizabeth: Yeah, Emma's going to see Chirpy's Auntie. Chirpy called her on her cell phone and she didn't pick up so she sent Emma to check on her. And did you remember, Mom, that Chirpy has a pink computer?

Me; A pink computer? No, I didn't remember.

Elizabeth: Yes, and she plays toon town on it.

Later...

Elizabeth: Emma took Max (Elizabeth's stuffed doggy) to Chicago with her, but she lost him because he chewed through his leash. Emma sent me a postcard.

She makes all this stuff up on a dime. It's hilarious.

Pennsylvania Guests

Last week/weekend we enjoyed a visit from my Nana, Aunt Sue and Aunt Nadine. We love it when people visit us! Here is a picture of everyone on our little excursion to Yosemite National Park. It is so beautiful there...

Anyhow, we just enjoyed being together and I think they all enjoyed the kids. Caleb put on a good show of chasing chickens for them and I think they all even held a chicken! Elizabeth talked their ears off, of course. And Emma just smiled at them - and cried sometimes too! So, yay! They have returned to the coldness of PA now and we are having nice days in the 80's.

Back to life. I am actually enjoying our warm fall this year. At least it's not in the 100's anymore! Today we stopped at a grocery store and the parking lot was full of trees with bright red fall leaves, which was nice.

Okay, I'm off. Emma's screaming!

the Big Fresno Fair

This week we had 2 fun field trips with Tower Christian School. Tuesday we went to the Big Fresno Fair. That's what it's called, really. I have never been there before, but it IS huge. Luke reminded me that we do live in the #1 agricultural producing county in the U.S. The Livestock pavilion had pens and pens reaching as far as the eye could see. And since the fair lasts 11 days, the kinds of animals in the pen changes every few days. When we were there we saw lots of swine. And black angus cows and goats. There were even some baby lambs that had just been born less than 2 hours before we came! And they judge every possible type of produce and plant you can imagine! Plus there's a rock and mineral exhibit, other exhibits, tons and tons of yummy unhealthy food and a huge midway with rides and games (which we pretty much avoided). Elizabeth had her first funnel cake. I think they are a PA thing. But they had them at the fair and they are SOOO good! Caleb's favorite thing was the pirate ship play area they had. When we left the fair he was crying, "I want my pirate ship!!"

Then Friday we went to the pumpkin patch. It was very fall-ish and festive. The kids listened to a little story then we went on a little walk in the woods. They also got to take a very brief hay ride, then we ate our picnic lunches and the kids got to pick out pumpkins. It was fun and just about the right length for youngsters.

So -- fun days!!

Another birthday...

Elizabeth is turning 5 already! I can hardly believe it! Her birthday is actually tomorrow, but we had a little party for her tonight. She did such a great job being thankful and polite. Last year at her party she had a meltdown over sharing her new presents with her friends. We had lots of talks about it this year and she did so well. Caleb is wanting to play with her toys a lot though and she's not dealing with that as well. Tomorrow her present from us is a trip to the Build-a-Bear Workshop. She's looking forward to that.

I'm looking forward to a little breather from busy-ness, but it won't last long. We have 2 field trips this week and then Luke's boss from L.A. will be here for a few days and then a visit from my Nana and 2 of my aunts and I know there's something after that too! Most is fun stuff, but still busy!!

Luke just spoke with a friend who was on staff with us in Chester and found out that a young man who Luke and I used to meet with (we met with him and his girlfriend) just got life in prison for shooting and killing another man. Yikes. It's discouraging to hear stuff like that. There are encouraging stories too though. There have to be to keep us going!!!