Christmas Adventure #4

Our last stop before we were really on our way home. We stopped off at Vasquez Rocks. I don't remember much, but I do remember my parents bringing us kids here when we were young and we used to shoot balsa wood airplanes off of them and then try to go and find them. 

This is what Wikipedia says about these rock formations. "These rock formations were formed by rapid erosion during uplift about 25 million years ago and later exposed by activity along the San Andreas Fault.^[1] In 1873 and 1874 Tiburcio Vásquez, one of California's most notorious bandits, used these rocks to elude capture by law enforcement. His name has since been associated with this geologic feature."

They are located just outside of Santa Clarita Valley.  And they are famous for being in many many  films, television shows, music videos and video games. 

Our kids had just as much fun as I remember having exploring and hiking up and down these big rocks.  We tried the airplane "thing" but just had more fun running around and of course taking pictures.

Christmas Adventure #2

This Adventure was for our sweet Jacob who is in LOVE with CHOO CHOO TRAINS! We went to the Filmore and Western Railway Co and rode the North Pole Express. Santa's Elves were there to help  us on the train and then they sang lots of Christmas Carols with us and served us cookies and milk.  We were taking Santa to the North Pole, but before he got off the train he gave us each a great big shiny gold jingle bell. 
Jacob was in Heaven.  Ethan was a little annoyed.  One of the elves really bothered him because he was listening to his ipod and the elf kept walking by and taking them off his ears just for fun.  I thought it was hilarious. 
The train was definitely an old antique as it had that lovely "old" smell and we were a little bummed we really couldn't see were we were going as it was dark.  But all in all it was great to help us with that Christrmas Spirit. 

Christmas Family Adventure #1

This was totally awesome. I think the kids would have stayed here all day if they could. Our first stop was at IFLY Hollywood -Indoor Skydiving.  It is located at the Universal Studios City Walk.  Everyone of us did it but Jacob.  They took us into a room were we watched a video that gave us a quick training on what to do and even learned some special hand signals to help us get the most out of the experience.  Then we were off to another room were we put on our new attire.  Those jumpsuits, white shoes, big glasses and helmets were sooo coool! We each had 2 turns of a whole 2 minutes each. Ethan thought he was the coolest.  Matthew felt like he was on top of the world.  Rachel was impressed.  And Lauren surprised us all, she got a little flip in at the end.  We have a video of us all.  WAY COOL!

Indoor Skydiving at IFLY on Universal Studios City Walk

Live Nativity in Burbank

For my birthday weekend we started out at the Temple.  The kids were "willing" to hang out in the visiter center and walk the temple grounds to see all the sparkling Christmas lights while Steve and I were able to do a session.   It worked out great. 

We took them to them to Diddy Riese Cookies.  They are famous for their cheap cookies that they stuff with your choice of ice cream.  There is always a line out the door when we go.  It is just down the street from the UCLA hospital where Aunt Sarah works.  But we weren't able to see her this time.  

The night was still young and so off to Long Beach we went intending to go to one of Matthew's CCB soccer games.  However, when we were almost there we found out it was cancelled due to the weather.  So what do we do? We stilled stayed the night and thought we would be able to enjoy some part of Southern California and the beach, but the weather was a little yucky!  After a few attempts or stops along the beach we ended up in downtown LA at one of the Triple D's - Nikel Diner.  Of course there was a line, but we had some fun people watching time.  I don't know how we could be so picky, but the food really wasn't that good or maybe it was just that it was expensive. 

Anyway, our tummies were full and we were now headed to Burbank to visit Great Grandma and to see the Burbank Nativity Festival at The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints.  This is the building that my dad grew up in.  It used to be an old country club with a big wine cellar in the basement.  I remember as a child, before they remodeled the building, going down in the cellar and playing hide-n-go-seek.   The live nativity was very well done.  Jacob zoomed right in on the live goats.  And baby Jesus was great.  Then the whole cultural hall was filled with 1000's of nativities.  We were given a sheet of paper with a list of several different nativities we were to seek out as we circled the room admiring all the unique and special nativities that were on display.  It was a great way to make this a little more entertaining for the kids.  My Uncle Dave and Aunt Emily came too.  We always enjoy visiting with them. 

On our way to the church, we stopped and visited Great Grandma in her nursing home.  We brought her a chocolate shake, chatted for a little bit, took some pictures and then left. 

We love Great Grandma!

 

ps-just have to add here that while in downtown la, steve got a ticket from a motorcycle cop for using his map on his phone.  gosh darn it!  just one of those moments that makes us all happy.

and then to top it all off, my birthday weekend of pictures were all lost, due to a computer malfunction.....