Trip Report

Lounging at "our pool"

This....

helps you deal with this.

Tom Foolery at the Beverly Hilton Poolside

Jerry and the girls flanked by two big guys.

Disney Magic...compete with that Santa!

Ella's First Roller-coaster...Whee!

Artsy Dumbo shot...is that possible?  It just captures the sunny mood of the day.

Dumbo in Flight

$20 Minnie Mouse Ears....check.  $10 Lollipop....check.

Santa Monica Pier

It was a whirlwind week to say the least.  The first half of our trip was spent east of Los Angeles.  I’m not sure how far exactly but it was one hot and sweaty car ride.  In and Out Burger just outside of LAX kicked off the trip on a good note.  Jer drove, my mom sat shot gun and I shared the back seat with the kids.  Viv had her first taste of the famous burger, “animal style”, and I thought I saw Jerry well with pride from the rear view mirror.  We had rented a three bedroom house with swimming pool for the four days we were in town and didn’t regret that decision for a minute.  The girls were amazed and were quite disappointed in the accommodations provided later in the trip in Los Angeles at the Beverly Hilton because, gasp...we didn’t have our own pool.  We got to see where Josh and Jen live.  A beautiful mountain town that is the perfect mix of hippy and bikers...in a really good way.  The whirlwind did not let up on the second half of our trip.  Jer and I are now able to cross off “Disneyland” on our list of parental duties.  The kids have reached the pinnacle of kid-dom and it did not disappoint.  Disneyland truly is magical.  There was nary a melt-down to be had.  Viv slipped into a sweet coma half way through the day and woke refreshed, ready for more happy.  Ella got to meet the princesses and although she clammed up and could only manage to thrust her autograph book into their gloved hands, she left fulfilled.  Side note:  Snow White took my breath away.  Jerry heard me murmur to myself, “she could sing to birds” and gave me crap about it for the rest of the trip.  You could say I was smitten.  Where do they find these girls?  Clearly none of them are mothers.  

The remainder of the trip was spent at the beach because what is more California than that?  We went to Leo Carillo State Park and explored tide pools, watched surfers and climbed rocks.  We then went to Malibu Seafood.  I was half hoping to run into the cast from the OC but was pleased enough with the ahi tuna and shrimp.  Speaking of food, we dined at Momed in Beverly Hills and Marix in West Hollywood.  We had ice cream for lunch at Sprinkles and fell in love with the cupcake ATM.  It was a stellar week.  I was so happy that the four, sometimes five (including Mimi), sometimes seven (Josh and Jen too), could disconnect from everything else and connect with each other.  Pretty impressive with a wedding and everything.  I’m home now.  I’m sitting in the basement as the laundry churns.  Nanang and Tatang picked us up from the airport with a home cooked meal waiting for us in Oak Park.  I am a lucky girl.  I am a tired girl.