New Year in Utah

On our way from LA it took over five hours to drive the 3.5 hours it should have taken us to get home so we were really debating whether or not we wanted to make the even longer drive to Utah.

We sucked it up and went!  I am SO GLAD we did!  We got to see amazing friends, like the waters and Driscolls.

Brent took family pictures for them.

 Chloe and I just lounging around.  I was laying down and she had to come over and get a pillow and lay next to me.

 WE spent the rest of the weekend hanging out with family.  Luckily, everyone was in town (including Kara and her family) so we spent the entire time chatting and catching up!

It was SO nice to be around everyone again.  I love having a family and friends close enough to visit.

Magic Mountain

The last stop on our LA trip was to Magic Mountain.  A Six Flags Park on the outskirts of LA.  We thought  it wouldn't be that crowded. 

We were right for maybe the first two hours.

 After that we got really used to waiting in line!

 The rides were really amazing .  I have found that the twirly ones make me feel sick to my stomach.

 This was my favorite one.  It turns you 360 degrees, there is wind, music and fire.  It is really neat.  This was our first and last ride we went on. It was by far the best ride we have been on.

 Can you believe we get to ride on these?

It was a good day, except that we spent 7 hours at the park and only rode 6 rides.  It is still no Disneyland and it never will be!

Christmas Day in LA

I am going to be honest. I have not been in the mood to blog, or really make any account of our happenings in the last little while.  I don't even want to be doing it now but Brent so lovingly (and annoyingly... mainly annoyingly) reminded me that I have a lot to catch up on.  So here is LA Day 2.

Now last year when we were in Copenhagen during Christmas, it was miserable, because everything was closed and it was FREEZING!  I was worried that LA was going to be a repeat but man I was wrong!

First, we went to Chinatown! 

 We arrived fairly early and only some of the shops were open.  Luckily as the morning progressed many more opened up!

 The Chinatown Gate Entrance

 In China Town we saw a million different shops with these baby turtles.  They were only $5.00 for two and you better believe that I was totally tempted.  We didn't think Caliah would enjoy having any siblings!

 This is the Disney Music Hall.  It wasn't open so we only got pictures from the outside.  

 This is something that felt oddly familiar in Chinatown!  The tent like shopping reminded me of what it was like to shop in the China Town in Budapest!  I loved it. 

 Art in Little Tokyo!  Yes, there was a little Tokyo.

 Brent enjoying the feeling of being back in Japan... well kinda.

 Isn't it a gorgeous day in LA?

 We ate lunch in a Little Tokyo. It was a lot of fun to eat really authentic food again.

 Then we went to the Trash Towers. Long story short is that this immigrant started building these towers. It took him around 40 years but they are actually pretty incredible.

 A statue in the park.

 Look at that Tower!

 Brent just had to see the donut from Iron Man.  To bad it wasn't open.  

 Then it went to the Canals.  They were really beautiful and I would love to have some property on one of these canals.

 Very Pretty

 Then it was time for Venice Beach. I love playing in the Ocean.  Something just feels right about it!

 I ended up getting soaked but it was totally worth it.

 On Venice Beach there was a lot of really crazy things to look at (including a Medical Marijuana Doctor!)  Looking at the two-headed turtles made me feel terrible.

 Colorful, hippi, sinful Venice beach.

 Brent also really wanted to find the outside gym.  Since it was Christmas day there was really no one there working out at all.

It was a successful Christmas day, and honestly I didn't think about it being Christmas once!