El Paso Week 3

Our last full week in El Paso is already here!

Back at the hanger after Ruidosa, while Barrett and I unpack, the boys were obsessed with the helicopter!

Hope they were allowed to get in Gigi- they insisted!!!

Already (sadly) getting ready to say good-bye to Barrett for another week... but first, dinner at one of our old favorites, Ardovinos!

Nose kisses...

Evan just staring at his dad!

Dropping Barrett off, he gave us all kisses good-bye :(

Monday:

Started the day skyping with Dad! The boys love this and have already learned the ring for skype! LJ yells, "Dada is calling us mom!!!"

Visiting Grandma Rachel and getting our back yard time (which is hard in an apartment!).

We love hats!

They found the fort house... LJ remembered being in this before (this was like a year ago so I couldn't believe it!)

Then to lunch with Patricia and Gunner- and Gunner brought cool slime to share!

After naps we went to my cousin Teri's house to swim and eat... Jordan was in town and carved this special watermelon fruit bowl just for us!! Love it, and felt very special!!

Aunt Teri got the boys really cool water-shooter toys... LJ was (and is) obsessed!

Evan got no attention at all in the pool!! Why does he seem to always be surrounded by girls! Haha! I am in trouble!

LJ having too much fun squirting everyone!

The swimming gang!

Evan in heaven!

Jordon, LJ, and me!

Bri and Evan!

And the boys even got to bathe in Aunt Teri's awesome tub!

It was such a fun and wonderful evening! Thanks again Teri and all there!!

Tuesday:

Evan always likes wearing his shades!

Searching for dandelions!

He found some...

Swimming with Grandma... they boys have this whole routine down! They now how to get into/out of gate, how to work the shower (although they don't really like it because the water is cold!), and everything in the middle!

And they have come to expect the cookies she always brings them for after our swim! Boys are getting spoiled here!!

So so happy to be getting to spend so much time with Grandma!

Back to Aunt Lori's for dinner... Brianna gave Evan his first lesson on pool!

Having fun with Aunt Patsy!

Wednesday:

Gigi's Birthday!!! We are so happy we get to be here to celebrate with her! We met for lunch- and LJ quickly claimed his spot next to her at the head of the table (Evan and I were at the opposite end!).

He hugged on her the whole meal!

Group shot- (from left to right) Victor, Sandy, Capi, Evan, me, Gigi, LJ, Grandma, Isabelle, and Ramona!

Evan's first bite of Grandma's made-from-scratch DELICIOUS German chocolate cake.... Mmmmmmm!

Kisses for his Gigi!

I love you so much Mama!! Happy happy birthday!!

Then Gigi watched the boys for me so I could go meet our friends Courtney and Hector's new twin baby girls! They were precious!!! Getting me excited to have my own teeny tiny one again!

But wow- two is SO much!! I am so impressed with anyone who handles twins (and so thankful God knows I need one at a time!!).

And to finish off the birthday celebrating, I got to join Capi, Gigi, and Rachel at my first Chihuahua's Baseball game!! El Paso just got a Triple-A Baseball team and this awesome facility!! It was so impressive and has been fantastic for El Paso! One of Barrett's best friends actually is part owner, so we even more happy and proud of it!

I got nachos served in a dog bowl (now belonging to Calcy and Bella!) for dinner! Hah!

Thursday:

Had to skype with Dad first thing, and show him their new souvenirs! I got them shirts (for Barrett and I to appreciate) AND the ears of course- because I know what my boys will appreciate!!!

These ears have already been worn a LOT!!

Then we headed to our friend's house (most fun house ever!) for a play date! LJ immediately found a hat and horse to ride on! Of all her toys, this may have been the winner! He kept getting back on it!

Evan found some exciting toys too! And LJ (in the background) is getting toys one by one and telling whether or not we have that toy in Austin!

Then outside to play. Evan found a mini-pool with a basketball hoop!!! This is his dream come true!

This was a really cool slip-n-slide too! The shark mouth had water spraying out of it, and would open and close on the slide... Ben got eaten in it!! Haha!

Evan found a great chair to relax in after a full morning of playing!

After naps and swimming at Grandma's, we headed to the hanger for dinner with Capi and Gigi.

And we gave Gigi her bday gifts (which we forgot to give her the day before). She had 2 helpers getting them open!

Friday morning we got up early and headed to the El Paso Zoo! So much fun!

They have made so many wonderful improvements to the El Paso Zoo in recent years- it was great to see! And Gigi is on the Board! Here is the new huge 'tree house' plays-cape! It was really neat!

"The Big HUGE elephant!" as LJ remembers!

Such a loud and weird looking bird- the rhinoceros hornbill... LJ still talks about the crazy noise it makes!

Bird watching!

The tiger!! This exhibit is my favorite because you feel SO close to the tiger- and he just paced in front of the glass the whole time we stood there! Amazing!

Horsies!

And the Zoo has it's own new splash pad! Evan got right in... LJ was hesitant, but then would not get out!

Then a quick lunch, and a few more animals we promised LJ he'd see (zebras and giraffes) before heading home! Can't wait to go back ... that was awesome!

After naps and swimming with Grandma, we stopped by Aunt Patsy's for dinner and playing!

Saturday we got together with some of our friends at Peter Piper Pizza for lunch!

Grandma and my cousin Alexa showed up to help me watch the boys so I could catch up with my friends! Thanks so much... it was so nice! The boys wore them out! Alexa teaching Evan shuffle board- he had so much fun!