A Friend in Fresno

Sometimes you are lucky enough to have a friend who even though you never talk or text, you know you are still friends.  And some are even more lucky because said friend is a zoo keeper who moved to California.  For me that friend is Katie.

Katie and I have been friends since first grade.  We met on the playground (she was in the other first grade).  She came to my birthday party and gave me a My Little Pony (one of the new fancy fuzzy ones).  Friendship was cemented.  Due to the constraints of teaching, pregnancy, and hurricane season,  I was never able to visit Katie while she worked in Galveston or New Orleans.  Fresno is a fairly easy trip so I was excited when she moved back to the west coast.

This weekend I shipped Eileen off to my parents (she was running a fever so she got to be spoiled while she recuperated at their house).  Linus and Dave had a guys' weekend which apparently involved his first trip to Cabela's and his first fishing trip.

his own rod, reel, and fishing vest

Robin and I flew down to Fresno. Turns out Robin is an excellent flyer.  He fell asleep before take off and did not wake until after landing bother ways.  If you haven't heard, California is on year three of a drought.  I brought the rain with me and was greeted by pelting rains, thunder, and lightening.  You're welcome California.  Despite my dreams of a sunny warm weekend being quickly dashed, it was wonderful to see Katie and her husband, Chris.

Another thing about old friends is that you can fall right back in like no time has passed and that is exactly how it felt.  If anything, the weekend reminded me why we were friends.  I got to take part in one of Katie's famous calzone nights.

Two things to know about Katie are that she is Italian to the core and she is a zoo keeper.  I always used her as to example to my students when trying to explain to them about goal setting.  When we were in 7th grade, Katie said she wanted to be a marine biologist.  Now she is one.  A perk to being friends with a zoo keeper is behind the scenes tours.

Saturday we visited her work, the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.  It was so fun and not too crowded since the weather had scared everyone away.  I got to go behind the scenes and watch an orangutan get trained.  By far the best part was visiting her section of the zoo, Sea Lion Cove.  I am nervous around/scared of animals, but I appreciate nature and the science of animals.

Robin helping do the dishes.

Robin thanking Amelia for loaning him a pack n play.  He thought she was pretty cute.  She liked grabbing his face and his Sophie Giraffe.

  Robin slept through most of our close encounters with animals.

Watching Katie train Catalina, a California sea lion.

I actually got to go in Sea Lion Cove during a seal show and meet Ariel the seal.  I opted to only briefly pet her with one finger.  Baby steps.

 Robin finally woke up and got to see some of the exhibit.  He loved it.

just chilling with Katie at the outdoor cafe

A full day at the zoo was followed by naps for everyone and then a walk through a nature preserve by a river.

We saw several herons.  It was all very serene.  It is easy to see why Katie walks here often.

Sunday morning we decided to investigate the Underground Gardens before heading to the airport.  Basically, at the end of the 1800s a Sicilian citrus farmer found himself trying to seek his fortune in Fresno.  He decided it was too hot and dug a cellar which then grew into this huge maze of underground rooms and gardens, all with a very Sicilian feel to it.  He lived down there by himself until he died.  Now you can pay $15 to go see it.  It is actually pretty cool.

Robin and the Kumquat tree

Under a lemon tree

No trip is complete without many visits to Starbucks.  Chris was a huge help all weekend and served as our resident photographer.  Robin liked him too.

It was such an easy, fun weekend.  Even though I missed my other babies terribly and talked about them nonstop, I needed a short break from my life.  Being a mama to one, non-mobile infant is vastly different to being a mom of three.  I can't wait for my next trip to Fresno.