California Baby!

This Thanksgiving we were able to take a trip to California for one whole week! One nice thing about this full-time motherhood thing is that we don't have to plan our vacations around two wildly different schedules. For Jonathan, it is always best to take time off around a holiday, thus maximizing his days off. As a teacher, it was always nearly impossible to think about taking time off around a holiday. You're not supposed to "extend" your vacation, especially since they don't want kids doing the same thing. Yeah for this change of pace and chance to get away for Thanksgiving!

California was wonderful. That almost goes without saying. I had been dying to see my sister and I know she was dying to see Clara (and probably me too). My sister has a Devil Wears Prada kind of job. It's not in the fashion industry and it doesn't involve high-rollers at all. The similarity comes in the fact that she's barraged constantly by her coworkers/boss about scheduling, covering shifts, fixing problems. She doesn't work at a magazine though, just Tully's coffee:). Since she started her job in mid-August, she hasn't had two days off work consecutively. She broke the streak while we were there, though, so that was great news! She only worked two shifts and it was during our trip up to Pasadena and Bakersfield. Here's Leah in all her glory...

Travis is incredibly busy too. He works full-time for Krochet Kids by day and then at the Spagehetti Factory on Newport Beach by night. He had a nice chunk of time off while we were there, though, so we got to enjoy lots of time with "uncle T" too:). Time with Leah and Trav is always precious. You know what I am talking about if you know them. Here are some highlights from our trip...

Disneyland & Leah's 24th Birthday!

Thanksgiving with my grandpa Jack & grammy Joanne

Crystal Cove Walk

Pasadena to visit Jeff & Katy

Can you guess what house I am standing in front of? It is just four blocks from Jeff and Katy's place in Pasadena. Here are some clues..

1. Two of my favorite movies were filmed here (#1 is my all-time favorite).

2. In movie #1 there is a wedding reception in this house.

3. In movie #2 a giant wrecking ball almost destroys the house before Steve Martin buys it back.

4. My dad sang "My girl" for hours straight after watching it...and convinced my sister and me that we needed to play some dad/daughter hoops.

*I hope you know it by now:).

Bakersfield to visit Clara's great grandpa Allen (Jonathan's grandpa)

Balboa Island

Laguna Beach

Other highlights include game nights, eating out at BJ's, The Spaghetti Factory, Big Belly Deli, yummy Mexican, runs/walks in the sunshine, Ikea, thrift store shopping (which has a whole new meaning in Cali!). And the best part? Trav and Leah are coming home for Christmas!