Grandma and Grandpa in San Diego

This year we got to have a quick pre-Christmas visit from Grandma and Grandpa. Made for a fun week instead of impatiently waiting to leave for Chicago.

The Holidays will never be complete without a few puzzles. This year we got a multi-pack puzzle set and did all of them over the course of a few days. We even had a little friendly competition with some of the smaller puzzles (I think it ended in a draw between SuGar and TyChel).

We also had to go for the lazy person's gingerbread house (package from Costco), but we still have plenty of fun with it. For some strange reason, Ada was more interested in the candy consumption part rather than the architectural/artistic aspects of the project.

The build team with their work.

Our sugar cookie factory had some creative minds at work...and some minor casualties on the gingerbread man front.

Always nice to have some new voices for bedtime stories. Grandma and Grandpa are a little better about adding some feeling to their versions of our stories.

To the Zoo!!! Ada did awesome just going with Grandma and Grandpa. Lucky for her, she got to wear her favorite outfit: purple cords and strawberry shirt. Well, maybe the monkey shirt would have been better, especially for the zoo! Ty and Rachel went to work, and Seth went to Gladys's where we think he is happier than being strapped into a stroller all day. 

Excited, but nervous

The wonder! (I am guessing this was in the aviary, but could have been admiring the tram as it passed...maybe monkeys...or just a happy neck stretch on the way to the next attraction).

Ada's favorite feature of the day, the mist from a waterfall. 

Second or maybe tied for first attraction was the sky tram ride across the zoo. I am sure Grandma and Grandpa loved it too because it afforded extra cuddle time.

She tamed the mighty beast with her irresistible charm.

Grandpa's turn for cuddle time on the sky tram.

Here is our daughter with a strange man in a red suit with a fake beard. She was a little scared at first, but Grandma joined her to make her slightly less (but still considerably) scared. They decided to humor this man in the strange suit because he seemed a little crazy, but nice (almost jolly).

Ada with two new friends.

Quick stop for some cheese next to the gorilla bust.