I had the briefest of all brief visits with my family in the Valley a week or so ago. Josh, unable to write a paper without resources, had to make a trip down to Azusa Pacific...I packed up the kids, and drove the extra thirty minutes to my mother's house. She had seen my Uncle Tony, Aunt Marlene, cousin Andy and his daughter Leyla walking up toward my Grandparent's house on the corner, so we went right up.
My cousin Dave was also there, so it was a very nice reunion. My Umpa suggested that we go look at the goats, so we walked the three blocks to my Aunt Angie's house. The goats were pretty skittish- Andy's attempt to, "grab the little one, " did not help them feel more comfortable. The chickens still enjoyed watching them. Jack, especially, is a big fan of the, "dotes."

What a pleasure it is to live so close to my family! The only problem, as I see it, with our life in California is the distance my very loved Tate family.

Nanny and Jack had "bonded"- not that they needed more bond- when we left the chillens with her while we lived it up at the CCCA conference.

Dotes and Nanny...what more could he want?

Aunt Marlene, ever on the lookout for staging opportunities, told the very willing chickens to go hide in the bushes...like little elves, or leprechauns.

Jack joined in, unsure at first.

I think he liked it toward the end.

The wagon load for home.

Andy likes to skateboard. Just thought that I'd let you know.

It was full-fledged Spring down in the Valley- the cool, but not cold, night air...the smell of millions of orange blossoms permeating the air...it sunk into my bloodstream, and our thirty degree weather up on the mountain leaves me feeling...bereft.

Certainly, more days like this are to come!

I love Spring. I love that the first day of Spring here feels like Spring this year in Idyllwild. We spent a lot of the day outside. Bowden is getting ready to go the volleyball court with his bike.

Lucy on the trike.

Bowden and bike. He told me that he really likes his helmet. "Doesn't it match my bike?"

Lucy ran about.

Riding was not as fast.

She raced Bowden, and won, every time.

Bowden still claimed that his bike was faster. He is a conservative rider.

Jack played with balls, and Mama soaked up the sun.

We spent this warm day outside.

And wore flowers in our hair.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We talked to the kids this morning about St. Patrick- and how this holiday is really about loving our enemies...and wearing green and leprechauns and ...

Bowden had his Trinity Leaf on.

I made green and orange rolls.

Lucy posed- see the socks?

Jack, too, stood and made like Madonna.

At the coffee shop, some little green guys had come by. They were especially attentive to the tip jar and the pastry case...

I think I may start celebrating St. Patrick's Day with new vigor...although I am still traumatized from my experience as a Brownie (Girl Scouts) when we ate green everything. It was pretty gross.

Driving to the Valley last week, I thought the view was lovely...but the camera didn't do it justice. The children certainly weren't riveted.

Bowden is in the back, if you're wondering.

Rosie called me last week and said that she would be coming for the weekend...Selah missed her Nanny, and Rosie thought that we should go to the zoo. I love the zoo, in case you didn't realize, so we made our way down the mountain and over to my Mom's house. We had a nice breakfast with a group of our family, and convinced Aunt Marlene to bring Leyla along.
Now, Lucy, Leyla and Selah do not separate themselves in my mind enough- every little girl was one of these names at some point in the day.
I tend to go through zoos faster than the average mother, apparently, because all three ladies (my mom, Rosie, and Aunt Marlene) commented on my pace, but it was still nice to be with everyone.
We saw a lovely alligator right off, and then visited a closed children's zoo with creepy-crawlies...then made our way to the sea-lions.

The kids had a good view of the sea-lions swimming.

Aunt Marlene, Rosie and Selah, and Jack and Nanny, looking at...tortoises?

Monitor Lizard!

We stopped for lunch- corndogs and french fries...and some slightly healthier food we brought in.

Lucy liked the planter...see that dress? Rosie made it for her-Lucy loves it.

What is it?

Hmm?

A Grevy Zebra!

Jack loves zebras.

He wanted to climb right in.

I let him walk for a ways on the low wall following Leyla and Lucy.

We passed this cactus. It reminded me of a dog...

Part of a dog, at least.

Kookaburras!

Gorillas give me the creeps.

Still, I would not shoot Sasquatch.

A gerenuk, I believe. Cartoonish in their proportions, but how graceful!

Bowden and Leyla shared a seat!

Tropical park-ness.

Bowden helped me push Jack past the lions.

They were asleep when we first went by.

We checked out the giraffes, and went back to join the others near the lions.

Nanny let Bowden do what I never have...look through the telescope for a quarter.

Asleep...

...but waking up!

Giraffe lips.

The chimps were not doing much. I also find these creatures disturbing.

The Most Crowded and thereby Most Frightening Playground Ever.

Jack loved the climb-on crocodile.

Bowden wanted to play...

Do you see it?

Now?

Right there?

Monkeys!

There it is!

An eagle of some sort...I don't remember now.

The tigers were very active and playing with each other, but I only got a picture of this one's back before I went to get cotton candy.

Another monkey.

Maned wolf! From the back only.

The big girls shared a seat...

Jack had the front to himself. At the end of the day, we had most of the kids in strollers.

While the other ladies went to the bathroom- and my mom changed Jack!!!- I took these three out to the front and they treasured their zoo toys.

Lucy picked out a necklace.

Bowden got a stuffed anaconda.

Leyla was too cute to take a picture of her raccoon! Look at my little cousin!

We got in the car and went to my mom's house- my grandma came over and took Rosie and I to a date to Chi-Chi's, a wonderful Italian restaurant that makes it;s pasta from scratch- amazing- and has the best clam linguini IN THE WORLD. (You'll have to go to Dwell in Sunshine for that, though. We had no children!)