LOTS OF PICTURES

Lots and lots of pictures for you today. :) Cuz I have alot of catching up to do!

The last few weeks have been more of a whirlwind than I imagined. Now that we've found "the house", I've been trying to get things set up to make it our own...namely, re-tiling and repainting. That means I've gone to about 8 tile stores picking up samples, several paint stores...visited the house twice to see samples in the light of the new house..hemmed and hawed over our decisions...and hemmed and hawed some more. :)

We are set to close on the house Thursday of this week. The tile guys will begin ripping up the old tile on Friday. There is so much tile work to be done they're estimating 7 working days. 7 working days -that's a long time, BUT it gives me more time to make sure I like the paint I've chosen AND for us to maybe re-do one of the carpeted rooms. :)

Since all that can be done for the house on our end is done..we decided to take a quick vacation to San Diego this past weekend to visit family. It's the only vacation we'll get now 'till the Holidays. It was so nice to be gone for a few days, but now there's so much to catch up on!

Here are some pics from the last week or so, mostly from our trip to San Diego.

Elizabeth showing off her foot. It's "ah betta!" in her own words!

packed and ready to hit the road to San Diego early Friday morning

our first stop was at my grandmother's house where the kids played outside for awhile

my grandmother offered them popsicles -a nice little treat on a warm summer afternoon. :)
after leaving my grandmother's house, we settled in over at my other gradma's house (where we stayed the weekend). She has a great backyard for kids to play in and explore.

how we slept for 3 nights. the kids like "sausages" on a twin bed and then in the foreground you can see another twin bed up against it. I slept there. John slept on the couch. :) He could have slept in another bedroom but the den he slept in is the only room that had air conditioning..so that's why he chose sleeping on the couch. :)

on Saturday we went to the San Diego Zoo. Above is a pic of one of 3 tiger cubs that just went on "display"..he's playing with his mommy.

did you know a rhino can apparently only see about 18 inches in front of his face?!

John and Andrew LOVED the reptile exhibit. Me, not so much. I especially don't like this picture -looks like the snake is going to eat my son!
we stayed with my mom's mom. This is her dad. He is in a care facility for Alzheimer's patients. He doesn't know who we are now..but we still go visit. The kids LOVE their Bup (what we've always called my grandpa). Becca was especially sweet with him.
Sunday evening we had dinner over at my aunt's house. I have 3 cousins on that side of the family, and 2 have little boys. Andrew was in heaven having boys to play with..and cars!

isn't that a great backyard?! my kids thought so!
Becca snuggling with my dad's mom-our grandmother. Sunday was the anniversary of my grandad's passing -6 years ago. I know she was especially sad on Sunday, so I'm really glad Becca was so sweet with her
a gorgeous sunset taken from my aunt's front yard.