Lego Land

Although we have been able to go to Disney for the past several years (only because "we know people", not because we actually pay for it!), we weren't able to get comp tickets this year. But, a mission friend of mine, Sariah, blessed our vacation by gifting us a couple of tickets to Lego Land. And since Alexis & Ella are both big Lego fans, we decided that would be our amusement park trip this year. It's a great little park designed especially with kids (ages 2-12 or so) in mind. We had a really wonderful day! The girls were really patient in the lines (especially the ones that had legos to play with!), and the weather wasn't too hot. Even Matt&I had a fun time!

First ride of the day: a boat ride through storybook land

                 

Naptime!

I have always loved Legos, too. I think I had a stash under my bed until I left for college.... so these recreations of familiar landmarks&cities&arts were just fascinating to me. All constructed from thousands and thousands of LEGOS. How can I get that job??

President Obama's Inauguration

NYC scene

Close-up of Einstein's head:

I particularly love the Q-tip detail in Mt. Rushmore:

It was a fun family day- thank you, Sariah, for making it possible! :)

California!

August 1st found us on our way to sunny California- to forget about our NY cares for awhile.... and be with some family.  We had a wonderful time and did lots of great things- although we don't have too many photos to prove it.  But here are some of the highlights:

The LA Zoo (I am just fascinated with the giraffes and zebras!)

A Dodger Game!  It was Mormon Night at Dodger Stadium while we were there this year, so we went along with Grandma & Grandpa & (what seemed like) the entire Mormon population of the Greater Los Angeles area.  Russell M. Nelson was there and threw out the first pitch! And Ella had her first Dodger Dog. (We're allowed to like the Dodgers b/c they play in the National League.  Our American League allegiance belongs to the Yankees).

We always try to spend a lot of time with Jason&Tiffany and their boys when we're there, but I think this might be the only photo I have of our times with them! Lexi really loves Trevor & talks about him all year long- "my friend Trevor in California...."

We visited an aquarium and the (not-so-great for swimming) beach at San Pedro.

We walked around downtown Santa Monica & picked up some cupcakes from Vanilla

Then we visited the LA Temple Grounds (to show Lexi where Mom&Dad got married) and enjoyed our cupcakes

Spent some time at the Skirball Musuem to see the Superman exhibit & the Noah's Ark exhibit (which was the one thing Lexi really wanted to do again this year)

Swam in several neighbor's pools- Lexi is still pretty nervous around water.  Ella is quite fearless.  I wish we had taken time every day to go swimming- they may have both learned this summer!  Maybe next year.

Ella seems to be well on her way to swimming!






We also visited the La Brea Tar Pits, which still actively bubble today!  This is where hundreds (& thousands) of animals met their demise hundreds of thousands of years ago.  No dinosaurs here, though.  They existed even before the tar pits.  Mostly saber-toothed cats and woolly mammoths etc.

And the Museum of Natural History where we worked on a T Rex skeleton

And saw the Paleontology Lab at the musuem:

Ate Gelato! (and lots of other yummy food! La Tolteca! In-N-Out! Teriyaki! Foster's Freeze! Donut Man!)

We helped out in the garden a little bit, too.  And then I did some canning:

One of the most exciting things we did was take a trip to Lego Land.  But that deserves it's own post.