One of the best parts of having grandparents with work all over the U.S. is that they can sometimes add San Diego to their itinerary! Elliott’s dad has taken every speaking engagement in San Diego that he can, and we were treated to a visit from him last week.
He’s a gentle, kind soul that his grandkids adore, and I can never forget my first impression of him about seven years ago: “He looks like Santa Claus! If I marry this man [Elliott] and we have kids, I would love them to have a grandfather who looks like Santa Claus.”
Some dreams really do come true!
We took Grampa to the San Diego Zoo one morning, a place he hasn’t visited since he was a boy. His strongest memory was of the giant tortoises, and so we visited them first. The kids and I have been ALL OVER this zoo, I thought, but hadn’t seen these fellows yet. What else is hiding in that huge zoo?!
My favorite photo from the day… :)
I’m including this one of Lena because I don’t think she stuck her tongue out to be rude, just to be funny for the camera, and it shows a lot of things that are true about her lately. She’s a little performer. The other photo is equally descriptive: she loooooves the zoo workers who dress up like animals. Gil is not so sure…
This man loves his snacks. He is supremely content with a bag of snacks in hand, walking around the playground or sitting in the stroller, and watching the world go by.
We are having a minor obsession with koalas these days, and the play structure inside the koala area isn’t bad either. Exhibit B right here.
And, just for fun, here are a couple other photos of the kids from the week:
Lena: Enjoying a quiet snack of yogurt after waking up from her nap to find Grampa in the house. Still flushed from sleep and the shy excitement of discovering our visitor! He had just taken a photo of our cat, Siena, and was showing it to the kids on his phone.
Gil: We had a rainy weekend in San Diego, a rare treat around here. I am totally spoiled, though, because I am not used to be cooped up indoors with the kids anymore! The kids enjoyed a lot of jammies that day.
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And that’s the weekend update from around here! What did you do this past weekend?
Ha! Gil and his snacks :) Lucie is also a snack enthusiast… She had her first trip to the dentist last week, and when the hygienist wanted to polish her teeth, I told her it was a “yummy snack,” and she immediately opened wide ;) Just a little trick for future reference!
I LOVE the photo of Lena eating her yogurt. So beautiful.
You are making me jealous of your lovely California weather. We are pining for some warmer days here in VA as we still slush around in the snow and ice from last week. Bleh. And they’re calling for more at the end of the week!!
Thank you for sharing these photos. Miss you!
Miss you too, friend! Wish Lucie and Gil could share a snack together. Maybe this summer!
I love how you described Lena as ‘flushed from sleep and the shy excitement of seeing our visitor!’ That seems to capture her expression so beautifully. The little man Gil, content to let Lena do some of the work for him, I think. I like to ride on the coattails of the initiative of others…maybe he is a little like that, too.
He is… but more and more he’s asserting himself, and it’s fun as well as challenging to see. ;)
Hi Becca! I saw your post on Modern Mrs. Darcy a few weeks ago and thought…wait I think I know her. And then I realized that I met you at Advent in DC years ago. Anyway, loved what you said about reading, and I’ve been following your blog with your beautiful children and enviable weather (I’m in Wisconsin now.) I was born in San Diego and so many of my early memories are of the zoo when I was your kids age. I loved the flamingos because they were the first thing I saw when I came in (although my goodness they do smell.) They’re still my favorite animal! –Amy
Thank you for stopping by, Amy! I do remember you from Advent and miss those days of worshiping at that wonderful church. Glad to see you’re a huge book lover too!
And yes yes yes about the flamingos. Still the first thing we see, still a favorite for my kids, and they STILL stink!
Lots and lots of snow here this weekend! I went to the San Diego Zoo years ago & really enjoyed it. We really enjoy taking our kids to nature centers & zoos…they love it & I don’t have to worry about them being too loud!!
Side note: I studied with your father-in-law nearly 20 yrs ago now when he taught at the American Studies Program. I very much appreciated his teaching & my time in the program and DC.
What a cool connection, Sara! He’s a pretty great guy. :)
I have many fond memories of visiting San Diego and the zoo with my grandparents. I hope to some day be able to take my children there as well. Lovely photos!
Thank you, Karen!