Before I get to all the Korea posts, I have to catch up and share about our visit to Cali. Since we did an Individually Billed Account rather than flying on the Patriot Express (military lingo to benefit others who might not know they have a choice), we were able to book our own tickets through SATO vacations and then we get reimbursed after we arrive in Korea (you can get reimbursed before, but that's just more paperwork...we were okay with waiting).We chose to fly into Los Angeles and visit with some of Jonathan's extended family there for almost a week and then fly from LAX to ICN.
I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't super excited about visiting California. A) it's scheduled to fall into the ocean at ANY SECOND! B) it's the land of plastic people and crazies....right? I'm just being honest about my preconceptions that I've held. I was also a little apprehensive about scheduling another vacation in the middle of a move, but I was definitely on board for squeezing family time in as much as possible before we headed overseas. I had never been to California before and it was also an opportunity to meet some of his family that I hadn't met yet.
So to Cali we went...
Enjoying my first California vista outside Reagan Library
Turns out, I love California. Seriously, it is gorgeous! The views are incredible everywhere you turn and the weather...oh, the weather! One day I asked one of J's cousins what the weather would be like that day, and she responded, "California." Yup, that about sums it up. It's 72 degrees and sunny...year round. Within a day of being in California, I was asking J if there were any Army bases there. The answer? "YES!" Do they have Chinooks? "No." :( ahhh well.
SITE SEEING
Lu and I somewhere in Malibu
Lucy definitely enjoyed the beach too
Somewhere off of the Pacific Coast Highway
Lucy putting her toes in the Pacific Ocean for the 1st time
J in front of Air Force One
J telling me I can't buy a super cute jar of jelly beans at Reagan library :(
In front of Grauman's Chinese Theater
Lucy sizing her handprints next to Shirley Temple's
Lucy playing in front of a wax Lucy...I just love her.
We didn't dare walk across it. No one crosses Chuck Norris and lives.
We didn't have any Star sitings, but we did have a car siting...
A Bugatti Veyron parked on Rodeo Drive
($2.5 million dollar car!)
Moving on from the world's most expensive car (literally), Jonathan and I used a Groupon to eat out at some ridiculously expensive Indian Restaraunt in Beverly Hills for $35! Sadly it was the first time we ever had a hard time eating out with Lucy. She just wanted to get down and walk around the entire time. :/ Thankfully, being the old farts that we are, we were the only ones in the restaurant (at 5:30!) almost the entire time, so I was spared being uptight worrying whether she was ruining other patrons' overpriced eating experience. Phew!
Lucy partying on top of the lit up seating area at the trendy restaraunt
FAMILY TIME
Hiking the San Juan Loop
Some of us decided to go for a 'short' hike nearby. We understood it to be just a couple of miles, maybe a 40 minute trek tops. We were out there for 3 hours, people! Which would have been fine had any of us actually dressed appropriately. J's cousins brought their purses, we brought a baby (who by the end of it was on her last diaper), I wore crocs and a chiffon top that kept snagging on the brush we went through, we got lost (briefly), and it was a much more intense hike that any of us predicted.
All in all it was still a really great experience and we got to see some pretty lovely views.
The Brave Adventurers!
Overlooking Lake Elsinore
Nothing like some pampering after a looong hike.
Snuggles with cousin Katie
More snuggles with Auntie Maria and cousin Riley
Chillin' with Uncle Gary
Beautiful ladies
Giving kisses and hugs to her sheepy
Aunt Corrine playing piano with Lucy
During our stay, Lucy figured out how to pick up food using a spoon. We were all amazed when she suddenly picked up the slotted spoon and started picking up food with it.
Lucy spooning up food
Riding the John Deere tractor, a family tradition
That concludes the photo dump!
We will definitely come back to visit California again when we return to the States. We may have to visit regularly.
SITE SEEING
Lu and I somewhere in Malibu
Lucy definitely enjoyed the beach too
Somewhere off of the Pacific Coast Highway
Lucy putting her toes in the Pacific Ocean for the 1st time
J in front of Air Force One
J telling me I can't buy a super cute jar of jelly beans at Reagan library :(
In front of Grauman's Chinese Theater
Lucy sizing her handprints next to Shirley Temple's
Lucy playing in front of a wax Lucy...I just love her.
We didn't dare walk across it. No one crosses Chuck Norris and lives.
We didn't have any Star sitings, but we did have a car siting...
A Bugatti Veyron parked on Rodeo Drive
($2.5 million dollar car!)
Moving on from the world's most expensive car (literally), Jonathan and I used a Groupon to eat out at some ridiculously expensive Indian Restaraunt in Beverly Hills for $35! Sadly it was the first time we ever had a hard time eating out with Lucy. She just wanted to get down and walk around the entire time. :/ Thankfully, being the old farts that we are, we were the only ones in the restaurant (at 5:30!) almost the entire time, so I was spared being uptight worrying whether she was ruining other patrons' overpriced eating experience. Phew!
Lucy partying on top of the lit up seating area at the trendy restaraunt
FAMILY TIME
Hiking the San Juan Loop
Some of us decided to go for a 'short' hike nearby. We understood it to be just a couple of miles, maybe a 40 minute trek tops. We were out there for 3 hours, people! Which would have been fine had any of us actually dressed appropriately. J's cousins brought their purses, we brought a baby (who by the end of it was on her last diaper), I wore crocs and a chiffon top that kept snagging on the brush we went through, we got lost (briefly), and it was a much more intense hike that any of us predicted.
All in all it was still a really great experience and we got to see some pretty lovely views.
The Brave Adventurers!
Overlooking Lake Elsinore
Nothing like some pampering after a looong hike.
Snuggles with cousin Katie
More snuggles with Auntie Maria and cousin Riley
Chillin' with Uncle Gary
Beautiful ladies
Giving kisses and hugs to her sheepy
Aunt Corrine playing piano with Lucy
During our stay, Lucy figured out how to pick up food using a spoon. We were all amazed when she suddenly picked up the slotted spoon and started picking up food with it.
Lucy spooning up food
Riding the John Deere tractor, a family tradition
That concludes the photo dump!
We will definitely come back to visit California again when we return to the States. We may have to visit regularly.
Cute! So glad to have a new blog to keep up with! Horray!
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny! Glad you're enjoying it! :)
ReplyDelete