Spring Break Adventure 2011

We have been wanting to go visit my Grandpa...age 91...for a long time in Tucson, AZ. We had planned to go a few months ago, but due to unforeseen car issues (mechanic telling is we needed $2000 of work done...the day we were leaving), we had to put it off until Spring Break. We had a BLAST! We started by heading to San Diego for a short visit. The kids hit Ocean Beach, their fav beach and promptly got burned.

Oops. The trip to Tucson took 6 hours, not including a stop to Cracker Barrel in Yuma. Joe decided he's not a fan of Southern cooking! Ha! Grandpa was so happy to see us! We hung around his complex the first day, saying hi to his friends, swimming and going out to eat at one of his favorite places, a cute 50's diner.
The next day we went to Tombstone, which Joe and I have been so anxious to take our kids were years. We love Tombstone!

It's an actual town still today-but so many cool things to check out. We saw a reenactment of the shootout at OK Corral, visited Boothill Graveyard,

ate lunch at Big Nose Kate's saloon,

and the boys toured the Birdcage Theater.

By the end of the day, we were all dusty and tired, the kids slurping down sarsaparilla and loaded down with guns! Cooper said it was his best day ever!
We also went to Saguaro National Park while we were in Tucson,

and then we headed back to San Diego for a quick overnight break before heading home. It was a great trip!
Food: Joe and I love watching those food shows on the food channel-Man Vs. Food and Diner's, Drive In's and Dives. So we hit up 3 places: The first was Phil's BBQ in Point Loma. SO delish! We had BBQ shredded pork sandwiches and tri-tip sandwiches. It was seriously the best BBQ I've had-and so cheap! The sandwiches are $6.95 and it's enough meat for 2 sandwiches. Spencer had the $6.95 ribs-that was plenty and included onion rings. I think we will be eating there every time we go. The lines are long-we got it to go and ate it at Jenny and Justin's.
In Tucson, we went to Mi Nidito's, a Mexican restaurant that Bill Clinton ate at in the 90's. Joe and I split The Presidential Platter, which is a sampling of the food he ordered. Yum, especially the tacos.

The last place was El Indio in Mission Beach (San Diego). YUMMY crispy tacos.

I think I am on the hunt for good crispy tacos back here at home. Anyone have any suggestions???
So that was our week-the kids were great in the 30 hours they were in the car! Having DVD players and DSI games helped...But we had a blast as a family and we weren't even sick of each other when we got home! That's a good sign, right? Can't wait to go again!

Catching up

(Looking for me??? Sign found on pole in Ocean Beach, so funny!)
Whew, never meant to be gone that long. I actually have a bunch of blog posts in my head to do-just need to do it! Did you miss me? :-)
Well...backtracking to March...Kendall, my mom, and I went down to San Diego for Girls Weekend and Jenny's baby shower. Her friend Laura threw a tea party themed shower and it was fun!

Jenny looked beautiful and happy to be setting up a nursery for her precious baby girl to be-Lily. We LOVE the name!
Then, a week later, my precious girl turned 3!?! What in the world? She celebrated with 2 parties-one a friend shower with 4 little girls, playing, arts and crafts and adorable ladybug cupcakes.

Her family party was held on her birthday-nacho bar and cake. She got her first big girl bike-which she wanted- and a big wheel, as well as cute clothes, swimsuits and princess accessories. Maddie got her a manicure set!

So that's it...for now...with pictures to come of our Spring Break Adventure...San Diego to Tucson!