Oakland Zoo Redux

It's been a busy season here at the Gong homestead, so yesterday we decided to block out for an afternoon of Family Fun. We chose the Oakland Zoo as our destination, because A) it's always been a big hit with Fiona, and B) we now have a family membership, so it's all free!!

Since this was about the 5th time we'd been to the Oakland Zoo (which is a very small zoo), we decided to try something different and take Fiona for a ride on the steam train. She was interested, but not hugely enthusiastic. If I might presume to interpret her expression and body language: "Okay, this is interesting...it's like a car ride, but I can see more of the scenery and I don't have to sit in a car seat. But I still have to sit. Why is there so much sitting? ARGH!"As we were sitting in the steam train, Fiona spied the Sky Tram. This is essentially a chair lift that runs high in the air over the zoo. Fiona went nuts, pointing and grunting with determination. So, after the steam train ride was over, we thought we'd give her a treat and go for a ride on the Sky Tram. This turned out to be a horrible mistake.It all started off so well. She was fascinated by the cables and by how high off the ground we were. We had some fantastic views of the animals. And then, I believe this is what happened:
"Wow, this is pretty cool! We're high off the ground and I have a great view of the people and animals. But...hang on a minute, you mean I just have to SIT here? This is just like that steam train thing -- it's all just sitting! Forget that, I'm gonna break free and go hang out with those buffalo!"

In other words, Fiona became wiggly, very very wiggly. Wiggly on the steam train is one thing; wiggly 50 feet above a lion's habitat is quite another. Once our heartrates returned to normal, Erick and I agreed that it will be several years before we venture on the Sky Tram again.

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

Last Sunday we drove up to Sonoma for the afternoon to visit Peterson's Farm, which happens to boast a pick-your-own-pumpkin patch. It also boasts a small menagerie of farm animals. (Given Fiona's spastic enthusiasm for animals, we tend to plan our outings around the certainty that there will be some form of animal sighting; that way, even if the main event is a bust, we know Fiona will be happy!)

Fiona chased the farm cat....
She saw her first live horse up close....
She watched some bees making honey....And she was fascinated by the noisy geese....
Although the pumpkin pickings were fairly slim at this late date, there were plenty of small pumpkins to choose from. Fiona was delighted!

In other news, Fiona has just begun climbing stairs. The only option at our single-story house are the steps that go to our front door, which means that Fiona is always flithy afterwards. But, as you can see, she is very proud of her new skill! I'd even venture to say that she's proclaimed herself #1.

Uncle Wes & Auntie Kristin's Visit!

This Saturday, Fiona spent the day with her Uncle Wesley and Aunt Kristin, who were in town visiting from Irvine. (Of course, we forgot our camera for most of the visit, so I have stolen these photos from Kristin!) It had been a while since Fiona had seen her favorite (and only!) Uncle and Auntie, and at first she was a little confused because Uncle Wes looks kind of like her Daddy.
But she quickly figured things out and got comfortable.

We went to the Little Farm at Tilden Park, which is becoming Fiona's weekly stomping ground. She never gets tired of looking at barnyard animals.
THEN, we drove over to the Merry-Go-Round in Tilden, which was decorated for Halloween as a "Scary-Go-Round." Fiona wasn't frightened at all -- on the contrary, she demanded a ride. Uncle Wes and Auntie Kristin were happy to oblige. It was difficult to get a clear photo, because once it gets going, that Merry-Go-Round is FAST. Fiona seemed to enjoy herself - more than Uncle Wes, at least, who was looking a little green by the end of the ride!

Mom & Dad's Day Out!

In a stunning departure from almost 180 days of continuous Fiona coverage, I have decided to provide an update on the other two members of the Gong family. This past Saturday, Erick and I actually spent an entire day (roughly 10 am - 6 pm) together without Fiona! Using our typical logic, we decided to spend our one day off from the exhausting demands of parenting by taking a 10-mile hike.

We went to Point Reyes, a national seashore in Marin County that we'd wanted to visit for a while. Our hike began in the piney woods...
...and ended on a magnificent stretch of almost-deserted, unspoiled beach.

Feeling very virtuous after this long hike, we stopped off for Lappert's Ice Cream in Sausalito (Both ice creams are not mine. Just the bigger one.) It was a beautiful, wonderful day. But of course, we really really missed Fiona. Fiona, meanwhile, was enjoying the undivided attention of her adoring grandparents.

And, just for fun, here's a photo in which Fiona is clearly thinking, "THESE are my parents?"

Cluck.

We recently had a complaint (from our friend Jenny) about a lack of photos on this blog of Fiona with her new stuffed chicken (brought back from Laos by our friend Jenny). Ergo, the two photos below of Fiona bonding with her wonderful new stuffed chicken. Never say I'm not responsive. (Thanks, Jenny!!)

Miscellaneous Updates...

This blog seems to be turning into a sort of "Week in Review," for which I apologize! I'll attempt to start doing more thematic updates when I have the time (maniacal laughter!)

In any event, Fiona had a great week. She accompanied Erick and me on a visit to our storage space, which we are attempting to clean out. Big empty box + Fiona = lots of kooky fun!
This weekend, due to a downed power line and fire, we had no electricity for 26 hours. This was a bit of an inconvenience, but it didn't seem to trouble Fiona much. She particularly enjoyed connecting to the outside world through our wind-up Red Cross radio.
After our electricity was restored, our friends Willis and Lauren visited with their two kids, Carter (age 4) and Aspen (age 2). Combined with Fiona and the cat (who is with us until tomorrow), many shenanigans ensued. We were able to get everybody to stand still for one photo:
Perhaps the biggest news is that Fiona now has TWO very well-developed teeth in her lower gum. Unfortunately, she is not being cooperative with my attempts to get a photo of said teeth. Babies.