Site Seeing Weekend

Every weekend Duke and I try to do something here in California that is a little different from what we normally can do. We were told to go see the La Brea Tar Pits, which are in the middle of LA. The cool thing about it is they are continually finding more bones that are from thousands of years ago continually searching in the different tar pits around their site. The tar pits are natural and trapped animals and preserved there bones perfectly.



While we were in that area we thought we would look for more to do that would be different and we found a place called Griffith Observatory. It is on the mountain that says "Hollywood" that looks over the city and is more exciting when you go after dark. It has discoveries about the universe and different ways that men have used stars and planets for different things. It was pretty cool.

LA a night, looked beautiful

We were able to meet up with my cousin Mandy and her husband Brad for our little outing. Between our two stops we were able to venture through an art museum next to the La Brea Tar Pits. We also stopped by Wahoo's for some fish tacos. I never had had them and never really wanted to, but thanks to Mandy she talked me into it and it was great! We had a great time and our legs were exhausted by the end of it.

These were made out of tupperware, pretty cool

This was pretty funny...they had 5 cement blocks set up as "art," so I decided to make it "real art"

Duke thought this looked like the lighting section at Home Depot, just lamp posts instead...again "art"

Happy Birthday Duke!

Today is Duke's 23! As tradition growing up we always got to pick our favorite dinner. Well, Duke loves breakfast so that's what we did. He normally gets up way before me, so I'll sleep good tonight. I made him his pancakes, hashbrowns, over-easy eggs and bacon. He loved it and we have lots of left overs for tomorrow.

Also, growing up we always got a cake that we wanted and so I asked him, thinking he'd say fudge brownie sundays or a basketball or something along those lines. Nope, he wanted a spider cake...I think he's just testing my abilities. So it is and I hope he likes it. Long skinny legs are hard to make stand up, so I hope it doesn't tumble over when he blows out his 23 candles!

More family visitors!

Lora, Adeline and Henry

While Keith and Audra and their family came for a visit I was able to spend a couple days with them. We had a lot of good food, which always comes with Audra and her family, we looked for little crabs and sea stars in the ocean when the tide was low and we went for a hike trying to find a hidden waterfall. Lots of activities in a short amount of time.

Henry and I waiting in the shade, he's quite the hiker

Keith, Audra, Henry and Thunder

Audra's dad made some wonderful tri-tip, which I had never had and couldn't get enough of. On the way to the beach we went down this beautiful mountain with the ocean in the distance and it was just amazing. I'd take that drive any day. At the beach, our little explorer, Adeline, was busy finding sea annenomies and little crabs. It is always a relaxing experience at the beach. The hike got everyone exhausted but was a fun adventure.

Taking a rest and feeling the breeze

I love this picture

Keith and Adeline

Everyone relaxing in the shade after our hik!

Almost 17 weeks!

I'm starting to feel a little more pregnant...just feel a little thicker and harder down there on my belly. I've been feeling great but ready to really feel pregnant, maybe not, and I'm sure once it's here I'll be ready to have the baby!

4th of July

Check out all the boats on the ocean, kind of reminds me of Minnesota on the 4th, just not as big! (the boats and the water)

It was a great 4th. The first one Duke and I had together. We are so grateful for our free country and all the wonderful opportunities that it offers us, and for the day off!

That morning we got together with our ward for a pancake breakfast, that was an adventure in itself! We mapquested the way to get to this park and it looked like it was right off the freeway and by the airforce base. No problem! We got out there and followed the signs, until they stopped. That is when we couldn't find the road to the grove of trees in the distance. We went up and down the roads surrounding it and couldn't quite find it. We did find a cool musical highway, though, that has the vibration sections on the road that played different pitches. We were assuming it was the airforce song, pretty cool. The last road we took led to a dirt road that looked like it was only for 4-wheelers, but heck why couldn't the honda take it? Duke went for it and we found the paved road that connected to the park! We made it and loved it!

Love the drive up Malibu Canyon

We decided to take a trip to Malibu for the day, especially for the fireworks, that Duke heard were great. It was a ton of fun. We did more site seeing than anything and walked on the beach. The day was a little cold to get in the water, I thought, so we just enjoyed and relaxed. For fireworks that night, we sat on Pepperdine's hill. After we got settled the sprinklers in front of us turned on and continued up the hill section by section. We made friends with our neighbors as we ventured across the hill finding a place where the sprinkles had already been. It was pretty hilarious when a big group of people not noticing the sprinklers and everyone moving, got soaked; lots of screaming and scurrying around. We got home safe and ended the night with In-and-Out!

Enjoying the nice breeze

Comfy Cozy, waiting for the fireworks...

then the sprinklers started

waiting...

waiting...

Ready for FIREWORKS!

My poor Oregano

This afternoon when I opened my blinds to go out and water my "garden" my oregano went from bushy green to twigs sticking out of the dirt. The good news...I found the culprit. It was a caterpillar and he did it all overnight. I pruned the rest of the poor remaining plant and feel optomistic of it growing back to what it was.

One GREAT Weekend!

Mother and Son ready to relax!

This last weekend Duke's parents came to hang out and they brought little Lacey, a niece. Duke took Saturday off and we took the day to explore Southern California! We first went to the fashion district which was shopping craziness. After all of our adventure there we took off to the beach.

We went to Santa Monica and hung out by the pier. Swimming in the ocean and soaking up the sun! For dinner we went to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Fabulous food... I recommend the coconut shrimp and the spinach/artichoke dip, the best I've ever had of both. I was bummed that I had to venture and try something new so I had to steal a shrimp from Bill...SCRUMPTOUS!

Me and Duke ready to hit the beach!

The crew ready for the beach before we were out of the car...shopping never can wear you out enough to skip the beach!

Me coming in off an awesome wave on my boogy board

The boys, Father-in-law and Duke, getting ready for another big wave!

Where's Duke??
Me and Duke coming in on a fabulous wave that I caught perfectly

My mom-in-law and I soakin' up the sun

So in love...checking out the pier

When the sun goes down it's time to eat!!

Mom and Dad enjoying their coconut shrimp

For the rest of the weekend it was pretty much R & R. After church we had a wonderful dinner cooked by Duke, suddenly recipes are coming out of his finger tips!

After dinner we went to meet one of Bill's sons and his family. Duke got out his basketball skills we all had a great time. What a great weekend...visitors are so much fun!

Lacey and Duke playing a card game relaxing and letting the food settle before our next outing

Me and Duke on our way to Greg's