Alex's California Visit

Last week my brother flew to Los Angeles to spend the long weekend with Luke and me! I couldn't have been more thrilled or excited for him to come.

On his first day, Luke was still at corporate in Ohio for meetings, so it was just me and Alex.  We headed out for a day in Hollywood and Beverly Hills! It was love at first sight for Alex as we drove down the windy streets of Beverly Hills, as I constantly reminded Alex that the average person does not live there.  But it's great to have big goals!  We also had fun on Hollywood Boulevard, and drove up to the Griffith Observatory to get a view of the mountains, city, and Hollywood Sign!

At the end of the day, we headed to Warner Brother Studios to watch a taping of Ashton Kutcher's new show "The Ranch" that comes out this Spring.  It's always cool to watch taping of shows, but to watch Ashton Kutcher work for four full hours was amazing!

The next day, Luke had flown back home, and we had a day of hiking and beaches.  We took Alex to our favorite hike in Malibu. A trail where you see the ocean the entire time, and the top is just breath taking with a 180 degree view of the ocean, and an amazing view of the Santa Monica Mountains behind.

On the Sunday, we took Alex to Santa Barbara! In high school he and I LOVED to watch Psych, which took place in Santa Barbara.  So he was more than excited to finally go check it out.

On Alex's last day, we drove down along the Malibu coast until we hit the Santa Monica Pier.  Such a fun spot! We enjoyed a few games, watched some performers, and enjoyed the sun and beach.

On the way down the coast to the airport, we also hit Venice Beach.  The most unique place in LA, it's like if Portland, San Francisco and LA were all on one beach.  SO much people watching, not to mention, the BEST fish tacos, but I've talked about those like 5 times on here I think.

All together, a GREAT time with my brother! And I am sure he'll be back as soon as he can :)

Mom and Dad SoCal Visit

In January, my parents escaped the wet winter of the Pacific Northwest for the sunny winter of Southern California! We loved having them for the week! We had just moved in 10 days earlier, so it was great to explore around our new area with them.

The first thing we did with them was do the Warner Brothers Studio Tour in Burbank! When we took them to Burbank last year, they had mentioned the tour we be fun to do sometime, and little did they know we'd be living in the area again a year later!  The tour was jammed pack with stuff that anyone who has ever watched TV or movies (so, umm, everyone) would find facinating.  They took us to the back lots where street scenes from The Mask, Nation Lampoon Vacation, Annie, Friends, and hundreds of other movies were filmed.  An entire museum of Harry Potter memorabilia was definite highlight, along with getting to walk into the sound stage of Big Bang Therory. But the ABSOLUTE highlight won by a long shot: standing in Star Hollow from Gilmore Girls.  If you were a teenage girl in the 2000's like I was, then you can understand how cool is was to see the backdrop of Rory and Lorelai's hometown, ESPECIALLY since they were revamping it to prepare for the comeback season production.

Tourists

Lorelai's House!

Rachel working like Rachel

 My mom grew up in Northern California, and visited Southern California countless times growing up, and somehow had never been to Santa Monica, so of course that was a stop to be had! From Santa Monica we drove up the coast through Malibu to get back to where we live in Oxnard.  Who can complain about a drive like that?

Over the week we continued to explore.  One afternoon, we headed to Santa Barbara (only 30 minutes up the coast) to walk along Main Street and the Marina.  A perfect day of shopping and walking.

And have you ever heard of Ojai? I hadn't either.  We discovered this little mountain town just 30 minutes from us as well, that has the cutest shops and gorgeous vineyards.  I guess it's a celebrity get-away too.  Beautiful views through the mountain valley. I love that we can go from ocean to mountains in just minutes.

On their last full day, we headed back to the Malibu coastline and enjoyed a great afternoon at the beach, and a beautiful beach hike!

 And of course we took them to the company's orchard to pick complementary avocados, oranges and lemons for them to take home.

Such a great week with my favorites!

Christmas in Washington

This past holiday season, Luke and I flew to my parents, where my brother, and grandparents spent were also spending Christmas.

Before making it to Christmas however, we needed to get over yet another move. This was the most stressful one yet. With moving every 6 months, and two cross county moves in 6 months, you'd think it'd get easier. But somehow, the moving company finds new ways to get something wrong. 

But we finally made it to my parents on Christmas Eve and has a wonderful Christmas. It was the first time Luke and Alex had been together in 2.5 years. Having so much family around was truly special.

I was so excited to give Papa his Marine blanket I made for him!

Mom's blanket that Grammy made her

Showing off his stuff

Even MORE family over for Christmas dinner!

Later that week, we went up to the snow in the Cascade Mountains. The drive up was so beautiful! Luke is not one for cold weather (hence his bliss of now living in Southern California again),  but he absolutely loved his time in the snow, especially when it's a visit, and not when you are living in it.

My parent's Subaru in its element 

I told you he liked it!

New Years Eve was another highlight.  I have not spent New Years at my house with my family since I was a freshman in high school.  Wow! It was nice to just have a relaxed evening together, and we topped it off with Chinese lanterns that Jameson brought as he spent the night with us too.

Two days later, Luke and I were on a 6 am flight to Los Angeles, and Alex on a flight to Salt Lake City.  It was a great time together! My first Christmas with my family in 3 years, and my first Christmas with my family AND Luke! So perfect.