Santa Barbara Zoo field trip ...

sadly, the hubby's grandpa passed away back in May, and though I was planning to attend Jericho's field trip to the zoo - I didn't think I'd be able to go when hubby left town to attend his grandpa's services.  thankfully my friend helped me out - and between her and Annicka (I kept her home, because my friend is pregnant and so I figured Annicka could do all the lifting of Zoey and such) the little kids were taken care of and I was able to go.  (hubby had a safe trip to/from Arizona and got to see some family he hadn't seen in ages - not to mention an extra little visit with his mom, brother, sister, nephew, and our nieces just a bit before we were headed to Albuquerque for our annual visit)

I'm so happy I was able to go too, because I had a great time ... even if it did seem like we actually spent more time on the bus than at the zoo!  it took nearly an hour and a half of driving, each way!  but I had a great group of kids and I took photos of lots of animals and it's a great memory with Jericho!

here's my pics!

funny side note:  this "monkey" really entertained all kids near it by not only taking a pee in the "river"

under it ... but a poo too!  all the "ewwwwws" and "grosses" and giggles were funny!!

I thought this was a pretty cool view!

what are they looking at? 

a gorilla!  he was so cute!

he took a little stroll and gathered some hay ...

then used it for a pillow and laid back down all comfy!

a fun little hill where the kids can use pieces of cardboard and slide down!

how sweet is this!

all tuckered out, he fell asleep on the ride home!

what a special day with my little boy ...

Jericho - it was a blast!!!

baseball ...

 (he noticed I was trying to take a pic, so he hid - stinker)

on this saturday morning the hubby was helping a friend move their church's temporary pastor,

so I had got to take all the kiddos along to Jericho's baseball game!

 

 she's had been doing good with a straw cup (remember, these pics are from late May)

but while on vacation we didn't use one at all!!!  I'm happy to add, however,

that she didn't forget and has been completely on cups for over a week now (as of July 12)...

YAY!!!

 they played a lot in the trees that day!

 all set up with a snack and look at that face!!

 they caught a big bumble bee!

 Liam didn't mind being all up close and personal, until Annicka accidentally flicked it toward him!

 she eventually got it in there - but the poor bee was hanging on for dear life!

grrrrrrrrr!

ha ha ha!

proof that we have friends ...

I know, another dorky title! you know we have friends, cause most of you reading ARE our friends!  but I was just thinking that I so rarely take photos of adults and so there's little photographic evidence of our friendships here in Cali!  LOL!  stop laughing.

anyway, not a fantastic pic by any means (my friend there, Jill, she'll forgive me - she's awesome like that) but there are our friday night friends Jill & Dino (and that's hubby in the background, off in his own little word saying something - probably funny or sarcastic or both!)!  pretty awesome we have friends who will cook us dinner every other week - huh!!!

we love you Jill and Dino!!!

and while the guys were outside chatting while dinner cooked, hubby got a little silly with Zoey!  awww, isn't he handsome!

black, white, pink!

I know, real clever title!  I couldn't come up with anything else - lol!

just a couple pics of Zoey around the house here!

I'm not sure why she made this face - but I had to add a funny caption!

my present was taken over!!!

and he has since become pretty proficient with it, too!