Eat Frozen Yogurt

Enjoy playing in the air-conditioned Childrens' Museum.

The girls colored those ties last week in Primary and they were passed out as we entered Church today.  The fathers proudly wore them all through Church.  We also bought him the styling hat.

The girls trying on the hat.















We made this tape measure card that reads, "You Rule, Dad!" and lawn mower cupcakes.


We love you, Steve!  Thank you for playing Pretty Pretty Princess with us, letting us giggle and paint our nails while you watch, for brushing the girls' hair and noticing their pretty hair-dos.  It cannot be easy to be the only man in our home, but you do it well. We wish you the best in your efforts to finish your dissertation and want you to know that we will follow you to the ends of the earth.  :)


Happy Fathers' Day!

Wednesday, June 1st we headed to LA for Steve's Grandpa's funeral.  Since we had to be out of the condo in San Diego and 10am and couldn't check-in to our hotel in LA until 3pm we had some time to find an adventure.  We decided to go to the Santa Ana zoo which was on our way and we get in free with our Tucson zoo membership.  I had read that they have a lot of monkeys and told the girls that so as soon as we got to the zoo Lila kept saying, "Monkeys. Monkeys. Monkeys."  She wanted to see the monkeys and the zoo did not disappoint.

Anteater--notice the baby on her back.

Statue at entrance and finally the monkeys.

Lila driving this safari.

Ellie's turn to drive.

Lila loved this statue of the turtle.

Feeding the goats.

Ride on the carrousel.  I was standing next to Ellie so I didn't get a picture of her.

There were lots of monkeys and we got to see a baby Golden Lion Tamarin monkey.  It was so tiny and was mainly held by its Mom or Dad in the exhibit.  It was a nice little zoo with a really good priced lunch so we ate their next to this play structure the kids played on for a while.  The girls have also been collecting smashed pennies from our zoo adventures and we noticed they had little books to collect them in so they each got a book to collect their smashed pennies in.  Ellie has been begging me to take them to the Tucson zoo since she lost her penny from there--I'm hoping I can find a day below 100 or I guess that's why we have a membership 30 minutes is still free.

We met Russ, Carole, and Grandma Moore for dinner that night.  The girls warmed right up to them and we had an enjoyable evening visiting.

As for the funeral, Steve enjoyed seeing his family and visiting with his siblings and cousins.  It is nice to know that there is life after this and that Grandpa Gravell is no longer dealing with the mortal ailments that he has been the last bit of is life and is being reunited with family and friends.

We spent Memorial weekend in San Diego with the Buckleys/Durbanos.  It was a wonderful time.  We all miss the beach and cooler weather (that last part especially applies to us here in Tucson, 102 already).  Here is a recap of our adventure:

We arrived Wednesday, May 25 since the rest of crew was supposed to be in early morning Thursday.  We purchased all of the supplies and groceries needed for our adventure so we could get to the beach first thing Thursday.  After breakfast I checked their flight status only to find out that they would not get in for almost 2 hours after their scheduled arrival time (they sat on the tarmac for almost 2hours waiting for a approval to fly because a tire cap was missing).  My little family decided to hit the beach while we waited on them.  So we spent a couple of hours on the beach and the girls loved it.  We went back to the condo for lunch and the rest of the crew showed up.  We let those that needed a nap like Lila and Grandpa rest and we went to the heated pool which was a perfect temperature.  We swam and swam and then decided to hit the beach again when Lila woke up. 

Sisters, Britney and Venessa.

  




Notice the mid-air mud heading towards Jakey.  Right after a huge wave came and shocked Jakey and knocked Lila over, but she wasn't phased just kept playing.

Ellie enjoying the endless sand and water.

Izzy's first time at the beach.  She was a little shocked by the cold water coming at her, but was such a trooper to hang out with us at the beach.

That evening Steve and I, after a quick shower to rinse the sand off, went out to dinner and the temple.  It was nice to be able to go while we were so close to such a beautiful temple.  The timing worked out nicely so that we could pick up Nate from the airport before heading back.

While we were out the girls got Grandpa to feed them ice cream and scratch their backs while watching a show.

Friday we went to Sea World.  It was an adventure we were all looking forward to since the place holds several fond childhood memories.

The crew heading in after the gates (minus the photographer--Nate).

Ellie insisted on going on the Shipwreck water ride that she was barely tall enough to ride.  Lila was pretty upset she couldn't go on it so we got quarters and went to a cannon and shot them with water which she thought was hilarious. 












Ellie had a great time on the ride and begged to go on it again for the rest of the day. We let her go one more time right before closing and she started crying because she was getting wet--I think she was a little sheltered with Nessa and Steve the first time.

Great picture of Jakey and Ellie outside while we were eating lunch.

The girls got to play in the Elmo area for a while and Elmo and friends came out to sing and dance.  The girls loved it and started dancing and clapping.

Waiting to pet the dolphins.

Lila loved the whales and was doing the Shamu tale wave for the splashing and constantly clapping.  Mimi and Grandpa bought them Shamu stuffed animals as a souvenir.

After Shamu we went back to Elmo's place to ride the rides with the girls.  They loved it!

It was a fun and long day.  We were all grateful to relax at the beach the next day.

Grandpa made a special Shamu pancake for Ellie's breakfast the next day.

Lila and Jakey reading (more like Lila saying, "What's that?" while pointing to every picture and Jakey patiently answering).

The kite made Lila's day.

Ellie has this cheesy grin now . . . She was building a sand castle with Mimi.

I noticed a seal swimming towards the shore right next to us and pointed him out.  Then everyone chased him and he went back out--swam further down before coming up on shore again for a while.  We also saw 3 dolphins swimming out in the waves that morning.

Our friends the Robinsons were also in San Diego so they spent the day at the beach with us and then had dinner, delicious ribs cooked up by Jake, and birthday cheesecake since it was Lori's birthday (and Nate's was the following week).


Sunday we went to Church and then downtown to the Historic Mormon Battalion site.  They recently upgraded and the tour was great.  I found it very educational and the kids were engaged.

Think they can handle all the housework now?

Panning for gold.

Ready to trek West--without horses . . . good thing we were already West.

Monday we did more beach and swimming at the pool with our friends the Shields that live in San Diego.  The rest of the crew left mid-morning Tuesday.  We had planned on leaving Tuesday also, but found out that Steve's grandfather, Leroy Gravell had passed away and the services would be on Thursday, June 2 in LA so we stayed in San Diego at the condo one more night which means we hit the beach and the pool again.  Seriously how could you go wrong . . . my kids play for hours with the sand and water. . . love, love, love the beach!

Jakey eating this nasty piece of liquorice that had been licked and tossed around the condo then tied to a key chain.  He said he would eat it if no one cried during the trip--it is standard that someone gets their feelings hurt or something happens and there are tears, but I guess we were good enough for Jake to eat the liquorice.

Mimi and Grandpa with all of their granddaughters.

Thanks for a wonderful trip!