Fun with the Fam

(Be warned...this is a long post! I just didn't want the Estes fam to miss out on picture downloads!!) (We can file this one in the "for grandparents" category!)

We had such a great time while Jon's family was here! Jude caught on to their names weeks before they came, so he was fully prepared to run around the house saying, "Paw-Paw, Tce-Tce, and Def". Yea!

A fun fam pic from Carthage (minus Jude).
(Yes those are ancient ruins we're sitting on. ...from the Martyrs' days.)
(This pic really has a HILARIOUS story. We took 3 of these pictures and then disbanded. After reviewing them, we realized we all had our sunglasses on. So we regrouped to take yet ANOTHER photo (Jon was so thrilled). But SOMEHOW Jon missed the memo of WHY we were taking ANOTHER picture and kept his sunglasses on!! After this, we gave up. Mostly bc the boys thought I was being ridiculous! ;0)
A well needed shot of Ray & Carol!

I'll let you guess who this is!

The original Estes clan.
(Jon doesn't like photo shoots...and this was photo #6, I think.
He's just SO hard to read, isn't he?)
The Estes Dudes together. Jude's excited!!

Here are some of Ray and Jude playing together!
The horse in the book was "biting" Paw-Paw's finger. Jude just thought it was hilarious!!

Jude was kind of Paw-Paw's shadow (and CeCe's too). If Ray sat in a chair and got up, he'd go sit in it and say "Paw Paw". Or after CeCe napped on the couch, Jude laid down in her place and said "Tce-Tce". So fun! He just so enjoyed having them around! And it wasn't just Jude that enjoyed their time here!

You can see now why Jude likes this guy!

The first night Jeff & Ray (Carol came a bit later) were here, Jude got acquainted quickly! Here he is just laughing and laughing with PawPaw!!

Jon's brother, Jeff, was along as well! Because Jude is a little picky about who shares a room with him (aka NO one), Jon, Jeff, and I shared the living room! It was a slumber party every night and we stayed up past midnight talking TOO many times! I was so pooped by the time they left!!Me, Jon, and Jeff resting after walking thru the a museum in Carthage.
Jude playing with Jeff.
...laughing together...

But really. It sounds INCREDIBLY RIDICULOUS to say this, but Jeff's turned out to be a great guy. I know, yes, I am younger than him...but for goodness sakes, I was NINETEEN when I met he and Jon and would hope that we've all grown up a little since then. It was great to talk about life stuff and to see where he's headed and all. And yes, ladies, he is an ELIGIBLE bachelor. (He'll hate me for saying that!) (Maybe I haven't grown up!)

Jeff also brought Jude some cool "unkie Def" style clothes. Here he is showing them off.

I think he's trying to pull off the laid back
(it doesn't bother him that he's drooling),
emo style.
Bein' Cute.
(Those Chuck Taylor's he's wearing are from Unkie Def too.)

Does anyone else think he looks like he's conducting??
(You can notice in the background that I finally
got my pillows covered for my couch! Hooray!)

I know it's blurry, but he's totally dancing in cool clothes! This Uncle will make sure our kid is well-dressed!

We got to see a good bit of the touristy areas around us, which we hadn't done before. We both agreed that we wouldn't pay lots of money to come visit this place JUST to see those tourist sights. Spend your money on another cool country, if that's what you're looking for... Unless of course you're coming to see US! In that case, there's lots to do...like talk, and hug, and love on us!

A few cool places though...like... Bardo Museum (it's in our neighborhood)
where there are TONS of restored mosaics and cool ruins.
Here's Jeff, Jon, and Ray (Jon's Dad) together.

Jeff. Um, being funny.

The U.S. World War II Cemetery
There are over 3,000 soldiers buried here.
In our entire country, this place reminds me of the U.S. the most, which I guess makes sense. Anyway, there was GRASS...and it was GREEN, and everything was CLEAN...no trash, no dirt, no grime. The bushes were groomed and flowers were PLANTED (instead of weeds flowers).
It felt like home!

Here we are enjoying the national dish of our country...Couscous! If you haven't had my neighbor's couscous, you just haven't had good couscous!!

Ok. Jude was just a total hoot this night! He was just so wound up, we laughed and laughed!! Enjoy the video!
I had to throw in one of me and Jude!
And last but not least, Jon and Jude enjoying a fun book my parents sent Jude way back at Christmas! How appropriate! This kid loves him some Daddy!!

Here's the deal. My b-day was last Sunday, but after this crazy long post, I'm just too pooped to do another. Pics will come later. :0)

P.s. Get ready to hear about our new baby's name. I'm so excited!!!