We ended the year taking in some of our favorite parts of LA
(and reminding ourselves that we need to get out to La-La Land more often). We started the New Year on a more serious note with departures of short and longer duration.
The best time of year to go around on LA’s freeways has to
be during the week between Christmas and New Year’s when all the commuters are
home on vacation. We encountered minimal traffic by Southland standards. On
Monday, we went down to the California
Science Center to tour the Space
Shuttle Endeavour exhibit and play with all the hands-on displays.
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| It's hard to describe the scale of the ship. |
Afterward, we went to the Coliseum,
and then to Philippe’s,
and finally to Olvera
Street.
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| ¡Pero que chula estás! |
On Tuesday, we went out to Westwood in LA to get our teeth
cleaned where Mike’s sister Emily works. We then got them dirty all over again
by getting ice cream sandwiches at Diddy
Riese.
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| Sharing a game with another little girl who was also waiting |
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| Kudos to Aunt Emily for getting Eliza to sit still like a big girl! |
The boys got haircuts, and then we went over to Grandpa M’s
house to celebrate his birthday. Well, most of us. Eliza had a tantrum so she and Mike had to stay home.
Diamond, Mike, and his mom flew up to Salt Lake on the same
flight on New Year’s Day. After some delay, the flight landed late, and after
some more delays, Diamond was on the road back to Rexburg, and Mike and his mom
were on the road to Peoa.
On Friday, Hallie and the kids hung out at the house and started
to put things back together after the holidays. During the day Hallie found out
that a member from where she served her mission who now lives in Alberta was
going to be passing right by our neck of the woods. The two families were able
to meet up for lunch at In-N-Out, and the kids clicked and had a lot of fun
hanging out for a bit.
The early evening was spent with the kids playing with
the neighbors riding bikes, scooters, and skateboards. Eliza had some quality
time with Hillary making necklaces and being painted with pixie dust. Pizza and
a movie night ended their day.
Aunt Karen was laid to rest in Marion on Saturday. Family
members gave her a beautiful memorial, and we are grateful for all the well
wishes and remembrances. We felt a real appreciation for the impact she has
made on so many as a friend, work colleague, and member of the family. We’ll
miss her!
Back home in Camarillo, Hallie reported that chores were
done and cartoons were watched. A full-out pajama party was had by the three.
Hillary came over in the late afternoon, and the girls painted nails while
Landon played with Legos. After dinner, Grandpa Boulter read Eliza a book while
Hallie and Landon started a craft project for his room. Landon was ready to
paint, but when he found out what was happening he was a bit bummed and
disinterested in the project. Hopefully tomorrow Hallie can get him interested
in working on the project.
On Sunday, Mike and his mom visited friends from Utah. Many
thanks to the extended Andrus family, and especially Irene and Riney and their
brood, for so many kindnesses and accommodations extended to us!
After getting to church, Eliza complained of a tummy ache. Hallie took her home, and then our little Energizer bunny got sick. Good thing Mom and Fergus were there to comfort her.
Good thing too that Grandma and Grandpa B. could take Landon over for a while and make Hallie a yummy dinner. We're very grateful and can't wait for everyone to be back home!
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