California Vacation Pt 3: The Getty

So one of the last things I remembered my camera for.... (yes, I forgot my camera... and yes I did go to Disneyland that day... and I got incredibly sunburned... but maybe that is for the best, this way my kids can't see what they missed, cause they would be pissed. And I'm planning on eventually taking them all back there, probably when Turbo is at least 64" tall...)... was the Getty! And just a warning, if you haven't figured out that these vacation posts are picture intensive, then let me just say... this one has the most pictures!

First we parked and got on the tram up to the museum:

The building itself was very artistic and airy... it was almost like the guy was doing his best to make you feel as though the exhibits were actually outside!

For most of the week that we were there I totally forgot to get in any of my pictures! So here I conned Jer into taking one of myself and Erika... and no my hair doesn't usually look like I was electrified... that was the wind silly!

Then Erika got one of Jer and I! :)


We took a cool tour of the Renaissance part of the museum, about how the art changed as time passed... and I was so enthralled that I forgot to take pictures...can you tell I was a little loopy that day?! After that I conned both Jer and Erika into taking a garden tour with me... because apparently (if you haven't figured it out) was was absolutely in love with the plants and the weather there! Heck, who can blame me! I'd just come from the cave like, snow ridden state of Idaho!

Here is a picture looking down on the gardens:


And me with my headphones on so I could hear the tour guide talking without her having to shout:

The rocks with the stream underneath... you could hear the water constantly :)


As you got further down the stream, there came to be less and less rocks obstructing the view...

And then there was the Bougainvillea! Look at that awesome vine! Soooo pretty, and all over down there!


And more pretty green stuff!

The waterfall that the stream feeds into and the pool beneath it:


And me being cheesy and forcing Jer to cooperate!

Good enough to eat? Nope, not unless you want to hallucinate!

The azalea bushes in the pond:


See, I'm not the only one that likes green!!! Van Gogh does too... so Meh!

And so does Monet!

And this picture they got mad at me for taking... not because of flash, but because it was in the Leonardo De Vinci Exhibit... and apparently I'm super oblivious and didn't see the bazillions of signs saying "no picture or video" until AFTER I got in trouble...Doh!

It was a really cool place to visit and I thought the coolest thing was that you could get up close to everything... no barriers to keep you from getting close enough to actually see the paint strokes. It really helped make you feel as though you were meant to ENJOY the art. As strange as it seems, most museums don't make you feel that way.

Thanks so much to our awesome hosts and the people that made us feel right at home!

After visiting you guys I totally want to come visit again! I hope we didn't wear out our welcome and weren't too much trouble. If ever we can repay the favor... PLEASE let us know!

Thanks again, you awesome, awesome, fabulous people!

California Vacation Pt 2: Hanging Out!

While in Cali, we not only did a bunch of awesomely fun things, we also got a chance to hang out and reeeeeelllllaaaaaxxxxx :)

We went to a sweet coffee shop with excellent crab cakes for breakfast the day after we arrived with everyone,

Erika has an awesome neighbor named Ericalyn who is the bomb! She takes really cute photos...

...so we headed over to the beach after breakfast so that she could get some pictures of Mrs. B's little girl (really sweet little girl!).

Unfortunately the water was icy cold... as Jer found out quick enough.

and yes, he totally made fun of me for taking the next picture.... "ooooooh saaaaand, woooooow" but HEY! It's the BEACH! and for his information... I'm from a land locked state!

In between running around to Medievil Times and eating at really good Breweries and restaurants, there were errands to run :) Gotta keep life going! Miss J found out that my Ipod was a great distraction!
Look at those curls!!! Soooooo cute!


Then of course there was my preoccupation with the greenery... lol PURPLE TREES! I was in awe... and the sun, and the beautiful weather, and the boats... and the walk through the park with the awesome Chai tea.... mmmmm, yum!


Jer made quick friends with a little girl that Erika was watching one of the mornings we were there... She climbed right up on his lap and made herself at home :)


And we were introduced the the joys of SingStar... which I have been keeping my eye out for on the PS3 (but may end up having to order)... Karaoke at it's best! The kids were a good audience :)

Miss J and Mr C were soooooo cute!

This Vacay was the best of both worlds, we did enough to feel like we got to see things, but had enough days that we could sleep in that we also felt relaxed and that we actually got a vacation!

Stay tuned for more tomorrow... same bat channel, same bat time!

California Vacation Pt 1: Medievil Times

It's raining outside and I'm mad about it... and here I thought I would Weed & Feed my lawn! ha! So since Mother Nature obviously doesn't want me to accomplish anything outside today I have suddenly found time to blog! Mwhahaha!

While we were in California, Erika & Jason & ourselves went to Medievil Times. I have only been to a Medievil Times once in my life and it was when I was seven and my parents took us to Disneyworld.
Dinner was lots of fun! We totally ate everything with just our hands, aren't those handles on the bowls handy? :D

Then the show commenced!

We sat in the Red and Yellow knights area (hence the color of our crowns)... and since it's really awkward to yell "Red & Yellow" to a rhythm when cheering for our guy, Erika and I decided that "Rellow" would have to do! Astro from the Jestons would have been proud!


But alas our knight was a wuss and was the first one to be offed by the malicious and surly Green knight (the bad guy)... he was most definitely a Slytherin!

Very moody.

Had a temper too.

Apparently he was pissed off because people wanted peace. The Nerve of some people.... Peace! Pshaw!

When the introduction to the tournament was done all of the knights rode out of the arena together... the Green was right next to our Rellow knight... I bet our Rellow knight looks back now and wishes he had turned and sucker punched the dude, or maybe stabbity-stabbed him with the sharp pointy thing in his belt. Especially since he was the first one offed and all....

The princess, of course, was a total wuss. Very non-Joan of Arc. She liked to pout about the prince coming up missing, but didn't have any leadership skills to "Get-er-done!!!" as far as finding him!

In the end the prince and the knight who won the tournament (the Black and White knight) fought the foe and came out victorious!!! And we got to see really awesome horses do cool performances and some fun battles with lots of sparks being thrown due to metal swards hitting each other etc!

So fun!

Tidbit

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig!

Okay, so this last week I went on a much needed vacation :)

Much needed as in "I'm going insane, and I'm not sure my sanity is going to hold much longer..." needed. This winter was HARD. I love my kids to death and I'm glad that I chose to be a stay at home mom, but sometimes I seriously consider looking for a job, if only to get a change of scenery and someone to give me a job evaluation!

So Jer and I planned to escape for a week and my fabulous parents took the kids for us, because they are the most fabulous grandparents (and parents) in the entire world! (did I mention they are fabulous? I was SO born into the right family! I always think this, but it's times like this that reinforce the feeling!)

So off we went to the LA area and stayed with an absolutely awesome Navy family whom were absolutely awesome. Did I mention they are awesome? Ya, they're awesome! (As Erika would say, they are "Moi Bueno!")

I've known Erika since forever... as in the 2nd grade, forever... and we disagree on many things but still get along really well and I totally give the guy she married a BIG thumbs up! And hey! Let's not forget those kidlets (whom she is raising really well! In fact, I came home and informed my kids that we will be working on manners now... we will see how that goes..) and their spunky personalities, so cute!

  The weather was gorgeous (unlike here at home... which I'm glad I missed. A tornado warning? really?) and it was so nice to be away. We did lots of fun stuff, everything from playing SingStar at a friends house, going to a BBQ and going to Medievil Times, The Getty and Disneyland. The week was full enough to be entertaining, but not so full that we didn't get a chance to relax. It was perfect! And if I go into all of it now this post will be very, very, very long!

  And now that I'm home, I'm totally grinding gears to get back into the swing of things! Glad I got a break, cause this week is gunna be busy and my children are already testing me to make sure the rules still apply!

  Thanks SO MUCH for letting us stay! We may have to come crash the party again sometime ;)