Road Trip 2006 Chapter 4

Ok, so it has been over a month since our return from the trip, but I cannot just leave everyone hanging at the Grand Canyon. If anything, this shows how "big" of a trip it was :-) And just to let you all in on my day-to-day life, I still haven't finished unpacking everything!


So...after leaving the Grand Canyon, we stopped by on a couple more geocaches: 1 was behind the Grand Canyon airport where we had to unhitch the travel and do some light 4x4 driving to find the cache "under the trunk" of an old Chevy in a ravine. Another cache was about 4 inches long and 1/2 inch diameter magnetized to the bottom of an old railroad car in a memorial park.


Our next stop was my best friend from highschool, Amanda's house in Mission Viejo, California. Finally, we have made it to California!! We spent 3 days at Amanda & John's and this was my personal highlight of the trip! The first day we just relaxed at home, napped, played and washed clothes. That evening we went to Huntington Beach and ate at Ruby's on the pier. The kids had so much fun playing with Amanda's kids, Mason (5) & Addie (2).

The next day we all went to Disneyland. Now, I have never desired to go to Disneyland and it has never been a priority on the kids' to-do list either. Samuel even asked why would we want to go see a bunch of adults dressed up in costumes...BUT after a full day riding all of the rides & visiting all of the characters, we were watching the parade & Samuel says, "Mom, this place really is magical!" I have to concur. There is something magical about Disneyland and we all felt it :- )

Samuel loved Disneyland so much that he had to get a pair of golden ears :-)

The next day we all went to another one of the Orange County beaches and then to Hollywood in the evening. Jason Stevens, who lives a mere 10 minutes from Amanda, met us and we left the kids with Amanda's mom. Stephen & Jason watched Pirates of the Carribean on the way to Hollywood & we went to the El Capitan Theater to watch Pirates of the Carribean 2. After Amanda dropped Stephen & I off & they went to park, Amanda tells me, "grab your ticket & your camera." I ask her what is going on, and she says that a premiere is going on across the street at the Chinese Mann Theater, and is going to be there. So, making our way through the mobs of people, we arrive just in time to see Samuel L. Jackson get out of his car & make a little speech before seeing his new movie, Snakes on a Plane. It was cool to see all of the Paparazzi, security and red carpet hubbub.








Our favorite quotes from the Lemme visit:

Since Addie is still in diapers, Aunt Amanda was lovingly called the "Poop Checker".

When saying goodbye, I was holding & hugging Addie saying, "I love my Addie Rae" and she affectionately responded with, "I love my Mommy."

Thanks, Amanda, for such an awesome visit! I miss you guys!