Work Trip to L.A.

I had to travel back to California for work two weeks ago. I was running a job fair for work in Woodland Hills. I flew out on Tuesday and met my friend/co-worker, Heather, at the airport. We headed to Woodland Hills to meet a few of her hiring managers for dinner. We ate at Kate Mantilini, which was fairly fancy and quite delicious. Since Heather hadn't been to LA before we decided that we would spend all extra time sight seeing and I took her to as many tourist hot spots as possible. After dinner we drove down to the Santa Monica pier. Unfortunately, it was about 10:30 pm when we got there so everything was closed but we walked the pier and she got to see the beach and the famous Ferris wheel. 

Wednesday was the big work day. After the walk through of our event space at the hotel, we met up with the executive and headed to the office with his team. Later that evening was our successful job fair where we had about 400 people attend! I got to meet a few of my other teammates that I hadn't met before. It was a long night but a good time. Lots of lasting memories!

Thursday morning was another work day with some morning meetings but we ended up getting tickets to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  Heather and I went to Burbank in the late afternoon for the taping. The guests on that day were President George W. Bush and the singer Jewel. Security was really tight and we weren't allowed to take cameras. The president has a new book out that he was promoting. I was surprised at how quick-witted and funny he is. We were seated in the last row of the studio but really we were only about 50 feet away. He stayed on set during the commercials and signed books for the audience. It was so much fun! Again, trying to maximize our time after the taping we went to Hollywood! We started with dinner at CPK in the Hollywood and Vine shopping complex. We walked around there did some shopping, enjoyed the street performers, saw some crazies, saw Kodak and El Capitan theater and visited Mann's Chinese Theater.

Friday morning we were off to the airport. I've always wanted to eat lunch at the Encounter. It's the restaurant in the sky in the middle of LAX. Unfortunately it wasn't as good as I expected if to be but it was worth trying it. Business trips can be exhausting but this one was REALLY fun. I always enjoy spending time with Heather, we had a great event, and we got to do a lot of fun touristy things!

 Heather at Santa Monica Pier

My coordinator Jennifer, Me and Heather at P.F. Chang's after the job fair.

 I wish I had this picture on my camera but I had to borrow from the internet.  There were dozens of LAPD, Secret Service and Burbank Police officers around the studio.  If you even looked like you were going to take a picture, you heard about it from them.

 Kodak Theater

 The Disney Store at El Capitan

 Who can resist a picture with Spiderman?? Especially one who colors his white tennis shoes red!? 

Grauman's Chinese Theater

 Cher made her hand and foot prints the day we were there. 

 I was surprised that so many of the prints were from actors years ago.  There were a handful of newer ones though.

 Star Wars Characters - This ones for my boys!

 Since I saw him in New York (practically ran into him) I thought it would be fun to have my picture next to his star.

Encounter is in the dome at the top of this strange structure. 

The food was okay but the place is old.  It tries to be a lot more fine dining and exclusive then what it really is.  It's a place past it's prime.

Getting Back in the Game

Our city has a huge tennis center with 25 new beautiful tennis courts.  I've been saying for a while that I wanted to get over there to see what they had to offer. A couple weeks ago I grabbed my old racquet and headed to the courts.  You have to be rated first by one of the coaches and then they tell you your options. I spent a few hours running through drills before he told me that I could join one of his leagues.  I was so excited.  Considering I haven't picked up a racquet to play competitively in over 10 years I was pretty happy with how things went. I am definitely not in the same shape I was in but will be working to get my endurance and speed back.  As I was on the court I was focused and having a great time.  It made me realize how much I love playing the sport.  There is something about it that mentally and physically puts me in a different place...a place where I love to be.  It's one on those things that's hard to explain unless you've experienced it yourself.
Tonight was my first league practice night.  I am exhausted. We have practice weekly until league play starts in February.  I'm pretty excited!

California Trip - Day 7

Our last day in California for this trip. After checking out of the hotel and a quick trip to my favorite cake/candy supply store, we headed to La Habra to watch Caden's soccer game. After that we went to Tevye's and Dana's place so the boys could have a little time to play together.
We had lunch at Mad Wolf Mongolian BBQ. It was good but not as good as I remember it being. Still glad we went but I won't go out of my way next time to go there. The fact that the boys were really loud, messy and uncooperative probably contributed to the experience not being as good as I would have thought.
On our drive home we stopped in Cabazon to see the World's Largest Dinosaurs. I remember going there as a kid and I wanted Lincoln to see them. As I suspected, he was really excited and thought they were really cool.
Thank goodness for portable DVD players, snacks, good music and blankets. Those things sure make a five and a half hour car ride home, with two kids, a lot more manageable.
We had a successful, fun, action packed enjoyable week. We missed seeing a few friends and family so we'll have to plan for that next trip. It's nice to be home. Until next time California.

 Logan dominated this wrestling match at the hotel. 

 Caden throwing in the ball. 

 Lincoln, Vance and Dana cheering Caden on. 

 Tevye and Rick talked cameras during the game.

Lincoln loved played trains with his cousins. 

 This one used to have the slide in it but it's been filled in with cement since then.

 We are so little in comparison.

 The gift shop is inside this dino.

Not quite the tourist spot it used to be but still worth the stop.

California Trip - Day 6

Friday was a pretty packed day. Logan and I met my friends, Kim and Laura, for lunch at our favorite hole in the wall Mexican restaurant. It's been a long time since I've had a chance to sit and catch up with them so it was so nice to see them. They had never met Logan before so it was fun for me to have him with me. As always, lunch was Yummy!
While I was at lunch Lincoln was having an afternoon out with Daddy. They went to the Brea Edwards theater and watched the new Megaminds movie in 3D. It was a little hard for Lincoln to get through given that it was during his nap time but they made it through.

They boys spent the afternoon playing at the Rizzo's while I spent the later part of the afternoon getting my hair done. After a lot of thought, hesitation and anxiety, I cut off more than 15 inches of my hair! I will be donating it to Locks of Love which makes me feel a little better about chopping that much hair off. I needed a change - and I got one!  After telling Amanda what I wanted to do (just explaining - no pictures) and getting her opinion, she immediately started cutting.  I squealed a little because I thought we would have more dialogue before she cut it.  She told me that she thought it would be cute and didn't want me to talk myself out of it. This will take some getting used to. I anticipate growing it out again at some point.  I can't believe how much lighter it is. I'm glad I did it - I like it and think it turned out cute. 


We were supposed to end the evening with dinner with Calee, Tevye and his family.  Unfortunately, Calee got sick and the plans didn't work out.  We were able to stop by Calee and Tony's place so we could take a quick tour of their new apartment.  It's a nice place and it was fun to see it.  We wished she was feeling better so we could have hung out more but things happen that we don't plan for. Of course, she started feeling better the day after we left. 

Laura and Kim at El Pueblito's in Yorba Linda

Megamind 

Before

I was pretty sure that I would cut quite a bit so I had Ricky take before pictures.  I figured that would also mentally help prepare me for actually going through with it. 

Then it happened...

 After 3.5 hours and over 15 inches later I have this cute new hairdo...

and color...

and sass to go along with it...

 It's been a fun and needed change. 

I mailed off my hair to locks of love and got this cute little certificate back. It was really touching and it's nice to know that my hair will help a child somewhere...maybe two of them! 

California Trip - Day 5

Veteran's Day! Ricky, being the good dad that he is, insisted that we take the boys to see the ocean and play at the beach. If you know Ricky, you would know that he is not a fan of the beach. This should tell our boys how much their dad loves them and wants them to experience new things. Lincoln had been to the beach previously but never really played in the waves or the sand. This trip was the first beach trip for Logan.
We met Phillips cousins in Oceanside at a nice small beach. The boys loved playing in the sand (mostly throwing it) and they both loved the water. Having their cousins there added to the excitement. It was a quite chilly and windy so our time in the water was pretty short. Lincoln, Daddy and Brayden spent most of the time builing volcanos, moats and castles in the sand. Logan couldn't get enough of the water. He just wanted to be down with his feet in the ocean. We were there for a couple hours before we called it quits. My favorite part of the day was jumping waves with Lincoln. If I let go of his hand he would say, "Mom, hold my arms." Great fun and great memories!
We spent our evening with the Rizzo's in Downtown Disney. A delicious dinner at Rainforest Cafe, lots of visiting, dancing with the street performers, and a tasty benquet from the Jazz Kitchen. Even Mike ate one. Pretty impressive. Vincent is just four days younger than Lincoln so he turns three on Sunday. Lincoln and Vincent played really well together. It always so nice to see them and to pick up right where we left off.
Again, a fun filled packed day shared with wonderful friends and family. It makes for a busy vacation but worth all of the memories!

 Logan's first ever steps in the beach sand.

He is much more of a beach boy than his father. 

 He was so eager to get in the water which is pretty amazing considering he had never seen the ocean or been in the water.  No fear from this little one.

 Logan's very first time in the ocean water. It was fun to watch his face when he realized that the water hit him and it was cold. 

 Father/son talk on the beach.  

 Lincoln's prize volcanos.  Brayden was a great playmate and Daddy was a terrific director of the construction project.

 Logan thought it was fun to throw sand.  It ended up blowing back in his face a couple of times. 

My precious happy boy.  I love his little round belly!

 Not all moments of the day are happy ones...

 When those moments happen, Ricky and I just smile through it.  This was during the boys meltdown in Downtown Disney before dinner.  

 Karen and Vincent with us in Rainforest Cafe.

 Vincent and Lincoln loved dancing (mostly running) to the music the band played.

 They had a few close calls with each other. 

Ricky, Mike and Marc 

 We waited for the fireworks outside of Disneyland main gates but it ended up being too windy and they cancelled them.  Bummer! 

Good thing Uncle Marc was there to entertain the boys while we waited. It was so fun to see them!

California Trip - Day 4

Happy Birthday, Lincoln! Even though  we went to Disneyland for his birthday we still wanted to make it a special day  for him. We started with a trip to Downtown Disney - first stop, Lego store. The boys (including daddy) have really gotten into Legos. We use Duplos for now so Logan won't eat them but they are still great fun. We later went on to have breakfast and see the rest of the stores in Downtown Disney.

We decided to have Lincoln's actual "birthday party" at Chuck E Cheese's. It was just the four of us but Chuck E Cheese himself brought out Lincoln's birthday cake and joined us for the happy birthday song. We ate cake, opened presents, rode the rides and played the games. It was a nice place to celebrate given we're on the road.

We spent the evening with Our friends Frank and Kim and their two year old Liam. We met at Yorba Regional Park (so close to our old condo) because Kim offered to take family pictures for us. The boys were happy to just down and move around. Lincoln loved having  Liam to play with. We followed the photo shoot up with a delish dinner at our favorite BBQ, Wood Ranch. We got to celebrate Lincoln's birthday one more time as they brought him a HUGE ice cream Sundae topped with a lit candle for him to blow out.

Thanks to those who called, or texted, to wish him a happy birthday. He got really excited everytime the phone rang expecting that it was for him. For most of the day Lincoln sang this, "Happy birthday dear me. Happy birthday dear Lincoln.". Pretty cute!

We ended the night playing in the hotel room and watching the CMA's. Lincoln's new favorite song is Stuck Like Glue by Sugarland. Luckily for him he got to see the perform it right before he fell asleep. We had a great day and a really fun time celebrating this special day. My big boy is now 3! We love you, Lincoln!

Ricky found the most delicious Beignets.  Of course Lincoln loved them because they were loaded with powdered sugar.

Birthday breakfast at the New Orleans Jazz Kitchen.

 He built a swimming pool with the little legos.

 He did fairly well but got frustrated a few times.  Boy did that lego table keep him entertained.

 Lego Woody.  No, he didn't have to pee...he was trying to stand like Woody.

 Darth Vader even makes noise.  Too cool!

 What boy doesn't love Star Wars toys.  He got a talking Rex and Anakin.

 Logan was happy with the tissue paper.  

 Just our little family there to celebrate with Chuck E.

 I loved the surprised, excited look on Lincoln's face.

 Make a wish!

 Lincoln ate three pieces of cake. Well, he ate the frosting off of three pieces of cake and then gave the cake to Daddy to eat.  I figured it was his birthday - let him get the sugar high.

 Logan loved the rides.

 More family pictures to come but this is a sneak peak . 

 Liam and Lincoln being boys.  They played so well together. 

 Frank and Rick

Kim took awesome family pictures for us.  Thank you, Kim!