Adventures with a Toddler

Hey Everyone,
Well, welcome to October!  50 days remain in this series of adventures with my little charge and we have been having fun together. 
Shawn and I figured out the best way for Zane to have a good day is to make sure he has plenty of either alone time or one-on-one time with me while in my charge.  He has been far more relaxed and at peace and joyful since we made this discovery and I have to say I am quite fond of the arrangement myself!

Lately, one of Zane's favorite past-times is good, old-fashioned playing in the dirt.  With his two hands and two trucks the sand pile has become a highway, a construction site, a cave, tunnels, and earthquakes (he greatly enjoys helping me dig a tunnel and then intentionally caving it in).

Even though he has had a lingering cold, Zane has been his cheerful, loving, affectionate, and hilarious self; everyone here absolutely adores him!  And no wonder, he is so precious! 


The end of summer and beginning of autumn have been flirting with one another for the past two weeks, with crisp, even frigid-feeling mornings and evenings, yet 25+ afternoons.  It definitely makes clothing an issue, what with starting the day in my warmest clothing and changing into lighter clothing in the afternoon, only to have to change right back into warm clothing soon after dinner at 5:30.  Autumn has become, by far, my favorite season of the year.  The colors are vivid, the baby animals are growing up and exploring more (several of this spring's fauns playing farther and farther from 'mommy' lately), and wild turkeys wandering about as if they cannot wait for Thanksgiving!  I hate turkeys; they belong on my table or out of my way.  A more creepy bird never existed!

The other day I went for another walk in the twilight and it was quite nice.  The quiet and the woods were so peaceful along Richardson Springs Rd.  There is a family of seven deer that I see almost every time I walk or drive down this road, but I have yet to see a rattlesnake or a cougar.  Call me crazy but I think it would be neat to see either of those creatures.  On Sunday morning we did see a coyote, which is, apparently a rare sight down here. 

Dave and Shawn's vehicle, thank the Lord, is again in working order which has afforded them and I the privilege of 'escape' when the base grows clausterphobic or overwhelming.  Sometimes too there are groups of the people here who go into Chico together and that is always a fun time.  So far my favorite places around here are Barnes & Noble, Tea Bar, and Chico Mall.

 Pictured here: my first In-N-Out Burger experience.  I must say it was pretty good!  But not nearly as good as the ones found at Burger Hut down the road.









(Left) The best vanilla latte on the planet, compliments of Tea Bar

And finally, below, a police officer was visiting the group of high schoolers who were guests here (probably for a teaching time with the youth), and Zane was so excited to see a real police car up close!

Well, that brings you up to date on all that's going on these days.  Zane is happy and growing and beautiful, and Dave and Shawn seem to be learning quite a lot in their classes.  It is so good to have the too of them in this 'foreign' land.

Thank you all for your prayers!  Please keep them coming!