Celebrating Grandma!

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday. Since my Dad was working in Atlanta we wanted to take her out to do something fun - so the boys and I (sadly Russ was sick!) and Jack, Amy and kids took Mom to the San Diego Zoo for the day. It was a GREAT day but boy was it HOT!!! It was also Earth Day - and we certainly celebrated the God of creative variety and all His creations yesterday!!!

Jordan had a blast as the family photographer for the day. He grabbed my camera when we first arrived and starting clicking away. It was so fun to see him discover a new talent and something he really enjoyed doing! I was honestly surprised how good he was at capturing the animals close up and composing them in the viewfinder - he was a natural!

Josh & Luke...too cute hand in hand!

Flamingo's are strangely beautiful birds...

emphasis on strange!

I think this is an alligator? Or is this a crocodile?

The gorilla's put on a good show for us...

Mama, baby and daddy!!!

I wonder what he's thinking???

Grandma with 6 of her 15 (almost 16) Grandchildren!

Josh with William...

The tigers were my favorite of the day!

I wanted to take this one home with me as a pet!

They're just so majestic!

By the afternoon we were so hot and getting really tired...

So we hopped on the sky tram...

...and cooled down with an Icee!

Giraffe's are also one of my favorites!

Mother & child...stunning!

Baby was a beauty!!!

The elephants were funny!

Luke with the Birthday Grandma!

After a fun day at the zoo we went to Bucca di Peppo for dinner...

The whole (happy) gang after a really good pasta dinner!

After dinner Josh wanted to see if he could beat Uncle Jack at Arm wrestling...

Not-so-much!!!

Josh wanting to try it again...

Not-so-much! Some day Josh!!!

Our drive home from San Diego was beautiful!

The hot air balloons hovering over Rancho Santa Fe were spectacular!

And the sun saying "goodnight"!

Happy Birthday Mom! You are loved by us all!

Click here if you'd like to see more zoo photos.

Doodle art done by my friend Stephanie at Homegrown Hospitality