No Hurry

Yep. Today started in the workout room...again. Then reading a book. Wynn chose to go to In-and-Out burger again and get a cheeseburger animal style. Dad, that just means that it has extra sauce and sauteed onions and stuff on it. It was really good, I tasted his. Then back to class for him, more reading for me.

When he got back from class, we got ready to go to Newport Beach to the Temple. It was even prettier in person than in the pictures. I had looked up info on the internet and found out session schedules. In Logan, we have sessions every 1/2 hour. In Newport Beach they have sessions every 1 1/2 hours. That was interesting. We got there in time to take pictures outside on the grounds and then make the 6:00pm session. Or so we thought. We found out that they had 2 stakes coming in that day all the sessions were full. We were supposed to make reservations if we had wanted to do a session. Hmmmmm. Who knew and who would have thought? Are all smaller Temples this way? I think that is awesome that they stay that busy. All the people were so super nice. They did tell us we could get in to do sealings. That was actually perfect. We hadn't gone just to do that for quite a while. We got in with some young single adults. They were the cutest. The whole place was so layed back, yet so spiritual. It is a beautiful Temple. I am so glad we went.

Pictures when we first arrived:

Moroni atop the Newport Beach Temple






Us in the back gardens of the Temple

The fountains in the back gardens of the Temple

Pictures as we were leaving:

Front side of the Temple





View from the parking lot

Probably my favorite picture of the whole vacation!

As I was going through the pictures of the Temple to decide which ones use for this blog, I had so many I had a hard time choosing. I have decided to just put a few here and will do a whole blog later with just the pictures of the Temple.

After the Temple we went to Los Brisas on Laguna Beach. We sat on the patio, like Tawnya suggested. Wynn got the Grilled Ahi Burger and I got the Sea Bass Crevaste. They were both super delicious! We got the waiter to take a picture of us. And Tawnya was right.....you can't beat the view from the patio. I just couldn't get a decent picture, so you'll have to take my work for it.

View from the patio

Dinner on the patio. Oh YUM!

One of the Young Single Adult men we were in the Temple with caught Wynn before we left and told him that after Los Brisos we had to go down to Treasure Island Park. They have a walk way that is all lit up at night, AND they light up the water. It was beautiful. I'm so glad we went even though I was getting cold again. I did get some pictures though they didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. On my cameras night setting, I just have to aim and shoot and hold until done. I can't really see what I'm taking a picture of until it's taken. They turned out ok, I think, but still not as beautiful as it was.

Treasure Island Park Plaque at the beginning of the path

The waves crashing on the rocks. Lights under the water.

The lights under the water

The benches along the pathway

So adding to my list of saving up for a laptop, I add saving up for a nicer camera....one with a battery pack instead of batteries that run out after a few pictures!

Now I have to start thinking of going home. In the morning I get to pack everything up and tomorrow afternoon we will head to LA to the airport. But for now, it's been a great vacation!

Oh, and Tawnya you're right, I found some cool stores. I just didn't get to buy anything today. Yesterday I did buy a cute pair of Peirre Dumas sandals though.

More Vacation Adventures

Today started out the same....I hit the exercise room, 20 minutes on the elliptical then 60 on the treadmill. Ice Cream and hot chocolate every day is not something I usually indulge in. Wynn actually came in half way through the treadmill and ran for a while.

I did some more reading while Wynn was at class, then we headed to lunch. Today he picked Sushi. We went to the Kotosushi Sushi Bar. I don't know anything about Sushi, I chose not to order anything and just sample Wynn's. He doesn't know anything about Sushi either. He got a Combination Special plate with 3 sushi, 6 something else and 8 rolls, all the chef's choice and a coke. It came with salad or Misho soup. The Misho soup was Ok-ish. The rest of it was......not so good. Gag. I couldn't get the taste out of my mouth the rest of the afternoon. I'm glad I didn't order anything. That was the most expensive we've had so far, $18 for that, and I didn't even order anything! There were other people there that had things that actually looked like they would have tasted good. No. We wound up with the actual raw fish you hear so much about. I won't do that again! Next time I will look at someone else's plate and say, "I'll have what they are having."!

Lunch.....

Sushi.......don't like so much

When we got back from lunch the maid hadn't come yet, so I headed to the computer to check messages, update and look up directions to a couple places we want to go. Went back to the room and finished my book. It hasn't taken me that long to read a book in a long time. Maybe it was that I didn't actually get to read all day. Interruptions like lunch, dinner, sight seeing...

For dinner today we decided to stay more local. We went to Laguna Hills to the Laguna Hills Mall. Our friend from the plane is the manager at the Rubio's Mexican Grill there. He is moving though and going to be the Manager at the Rubio's in AF. We exchanged emails and plan on getting together once they are settled. We had 2 fish tacos and 2 gourmet tacos--1 shrimp and one steak, with chips and beans on the side. It was delicious! Thanks Jeff for helping us pick. It made me forget all about the lunch we couldn't eat. Then we went to cinnabon, 1 regular and 1 pecan carmel and 1 tropical drink I can't remember. There is a reason I don't eat these things. I see extra time on the treadmill and elliptical for that one, since I had a hot chocolate when I got back to hotel too. I may have to be checked as cargo on the way home!

Rubios...Yum!!!

Nice rules

I took this one for Drew!

Our new friend from the plane! He was such a great help.

I did do a little shopping, but there really haven't been stores that I don't have at home. It's no longer like it used to be when you went on vacation and found those things you couldn't find at home. I think the internet has made it a much smaller world.

My cute sandals!

Wynn actually went out to the hot tub tonight. I personally don't see any appeal in getting in water outside when it is only 63* and then having to get out in the wind, no thank you. I was freezing already. The computer room temperature was much more to my liking.

More Fun Planned

My day started in the workout room, again. I wish I was one of those women who were just automatically thin so I didn't have to work out on vacation and could eat whatever I wanted. But I'm not, so there you have it. I start my day in the workout room even on vacation....

While Wynn went to class, I read a book. Right now I'm reading one I was given as an exit present for AmeriCorps. I can read it with no strings attached. It's 'A Good Yarn' by Debbie Macomber. Not one I would have picked up off the shelf myself probably, but it's OK, just not my favorite. We had to read her latest one for AmeriCorps this spring. Maybe I'll have to go to the library and start the series from the beginning. Maybe if they were in order they would be more interesting to me. It's taking me longer than I thought it would, but I'll finish.

While the maid was in the room I came down to check email, etc. I got an email from Gary!!! YEAH! He flies out to Lubbock next Monday morning. I can't believe it's almost that time already. He is supposed to call me before 8:30am. Tanner has swimming lessons at 8:00am, so I need to make sure Gary calls my cell phone.

We went to Rudy's grill for lunch. It was really good. I had soup and salad...BBQ Ranch Chicken salad and a small bowl of Tortilla Soup. They were really good. I am so glad I only got a 1/2 order on the salad, it was big. Wynn ordered Fish and Chips. He also had a malt vinegar to put on it. It was really yummy too. I can't believe how much fish he is eating. He doesn't really care for it much.

Soup and 1/2 Salad





Fish and Chips

After class we drove to Balboa Island and took the ferry over to Balboa Peninsula like my friend Vicki told me too. It's only a 1/4 mile ferry ride, so it only cost $1/person.

Driving to the Ferry on Balboa Island to go to Balboa Peninsula

View from the Ferry on the way over to the Peninsula

On Balboa Peninsula

Going to the beach

We walked down to the beach, but again, it was super windy. I put on my trusty Old Navy flip flops and walked down to the edge of the water. Not too far though because I didn't want to get wet. Wynn was taking a picture of me, wanting to get a wave in the background and not paying attention to how big the wave actually was. Ya. My capris got soaked to just above the knee. Was it ever cold! And it almost sucked my flip flops off my feet! I was so glad I had changed from my leather sandals! There is sand in the car now. That's why you rent one, right? Then you don't have to clean it all up?

On the beach

Look at the wind blowing my belt across me. At the bottom of the picture, my capris are soaked above the knee!

We walked around some more, looking at all the beach condos for rent for vacation. We found out the ones on the beach are about $2000.00/week, the ones just back from that are cheaper.

Some of the condos.

Then it was time to get a Balboa Bar. We weren't sure and didn't want to just wander around, so we went into a shop and asked the guy. He was no help. He worked there but had never even heard of them. He figured they must be new. Ah, no. I told him we were looking for the Balboa Bars ice cream that had been around since 1936. He didn't have a clue what we were talking about. So we crossed the street and asked someone else. Yep, a block away we got a Balboa Bar, Wynn's rolled in peanuts, mine in sprinkles. It was really good.

Getting the Balboa Bars. Mmmmmm!

I forgot to get a picture of the actual Bars!!!

On the way back to the Ferry, to go back to Balboa Island, I got a picture of a tiny little car. I've seen them before, but they are all over the place here. Well them and the Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, Jags, and they are all new......And in Utah the majority of cars are white, and older. Every where you turn there is another white vehicle. Even Tanner has commented on it. And now the car Wynn just bought is white. I have noticed here that there seems to be an abundance of silver cars. Seriously. And our rental car is silver. Hmmmmm. Just an observance.

The little cars that are all over here in California

The Ferry back to Balboa Island. We went as pedestrians. I can't believe I didn't get a picture of the Ferry.

View from the Ferry on the way back to the Island

We headed back to the hotel. After the wave and the ice cream, the cool temps and wind, I needed a stop at Starbucks. Nope, I haven't turned to a latte. Their Carmel Hot Chocolate is the best though.

Cloudy With A Forecast Of.....Cloudy?

The day started out overcast and cool. I found out from my sister (she used to live in San Diego) that this is the 'June gloom, probably the coldest time of year'. They couldn't send us when it was nice for the beach? Well, I guess I can't complain at a practically free vacation. Still plenty to do.

The complimentary breakfasts here are huge with a choice of eggs, pancakes, waffles, cereal (hot and cold), bread for toast, english muffins, bagels, fruit, yogurt, ham, rice......

Wynn went to class, which I found out is called---PC-DMIS Advanced Software Programming. OK. Ya, I don't know either. And it's just across the street. So I got on the computer to check my blog, email, facebook, and then to go to the workout room. The only thing I didn't like was no fan in the workout room. It got really hot, really fast, but I stayed anyway.

At noon Wynn came back for lunch. It had actually warmed up to 74* so we could go without a jacket. We just went down the street to a place where they have just about whatever you would want. I chose The California Fish Grill where I had the Mahi Mahi and Wynn had the Cajun Salmon Tacos. They were both delicious. Nothing beats fresh fish! I am such a seafood fan. Wynn isn't. So he gets to pick tomorrow. They have a really cool wall there that I took a picture of (to come when I get home). Hope it looks as cool when I post it here.

California Fish Grill

Cool wall

Mahi-Mahi.....delicious!

Wynn had to get back to class at 1:00 so I just hung out in the room watching something on the Sci-Fi channel. It had Michael Weatherly (aka DiNozzo on NCIS) that caught my eye as I was flipping by, how could I not watch whatever it was, at least until housekeeping came.

I came down to the computer to get part of the days blog done and read outside. I decided to delete my one email that I hardly ever get on instead of reading. Good idea. There was an email on there sent just today from Gary's mission home in Texas asking about some info they sent. We never got it. So I forwarded the email to him and tomorrow is his Pday, so he should get it.

When Wynn got out of class, we decided to drive to Newport Beach to the Crystal Shake Shack and get a shake. Wynn got a Butterfinger/Oreo and I got a Pina Colada/Double Chocolate Chip. They were definately worth it! So good. I really liked mine, kind of a chocolate fruity taste. Yum.

Crystal Cove Shake Shack

2 views from the Shake Shack

Then we just drove south on the PCH for a while. We stopped in Carlsbad and took a picture on the beach. It had cooled back down to 68* and the wind was blowing, so it was a bit cold.

Nice picture I think

He was braver than I. He said the water was freezing and his pants are wet up above his knees!

Isn't it pretty

Wynn had got out of class about an hour later than we planned, so we decided to turn around and take the 5 back to Lake Forest. The PCH takes longer, since it runs through the cute, quaint little towns with all the stop lights.

It was a nice day today. No pressures to get to. Do what ever I want. We'll see what adventures tomorrow brings.

From Bad Beginnings Come Leisurely Wanderings

We made it! And they do have a computer to use here at the hotel. So I will write while we're here and post pictures when I get home.

We packed everything we could last night so we wouldn't have to do much except the bathroom bag this morning. We figured we would go to Church long enough to take the sacrament and then take off for the airport. That would put us there about 1 1/2 to 2 hours before the 'be there this early' time for the flight if there were no problems along the way. So that's what we did. We got to the house to grab the suitcases and write down a few last minute things for the kids, but we still should have been to the airport the 1 1/2 to 2 hours earlier than we needed to be.

Things were going great, hardly any traffic, it is Sunday in Utah after all. Then we got slowed to less than a crawl, and we weren't even to Ogden yet. Not a stop, but almost. If they had set the cops up just a few feet earlier, we would have been able to take the exit and keep going, but they were where you couldn't see them until after the exit! We crawled along the freeway watching our time pass too quickly. We figure there was an , but never saw evidence of anything. Once we were able to get going again, we knew we were going to be too close for comfort, if not late. We got to the airport, a shuttle was right there to pick us up, it was his time to change drivers so he flew to the airport.

The guy at the check in stopped us (he was stopping everybody), told us we probably have missed out flight already, we should have been there early (duh, ya think? Tell whatever poor soul had the on the freeway!) sent me to the wrong line and Wynn to the kiosk. We don't have any time to have any delays of any kind. I got out of the line and went over to the right line to wait for Wynn. We got to the counter and she informed us that it would cost $40.00 to check 2 bags each. That was different that when we flew to Las Vegas in September and the company didn't tell us this when they booked our bags. She told us we could readjust our baggage and check only 1 bag each (making it sound like that would be free that way). Fine, Wynn hurriedly readjusted. We checked 1 bag each and was informed, "That will be $30.00." Are you kidding! We would have just checked both if we know it was only $10 more for 2 each and NOT free for 1 each! And we just wasted all that time we didn't have for nothing. We grabbed our bags, thank goodness for luggage with wheels, and hurried for the gate. Usually I'm a pretty fast walker and can even run pretty fast in 4 inch heels, but today the shoes I had on with my skirt were slides. I should have just taken them off and run barefoot, but...eeeewwwww. So I ran-ish in them, I mean, imagine all those scenes you see in the movies, now imagine me. Ya, ok, it wasn't that bad.....and WE MADE IT!!!! There was at least one guy that ran up behind us even. The flight was totally full.

Wynn and the guy next to him talked the whole way to LAX and I read, which is odd because Wynn isn't a talker and I am. It was a nice relaxing flight after the mad dash at the airport. We picked up our luggage and trekked to the shuttle to go to the rental cars. We are driving a nice silver sporty Pontiac GT, with Nevada plates.

We headed for the 405 freeway and then to PCH...Pacific Coast Highway. We found an In and Out Burger, but didn't know to get it animal style, so we'll get another one a different day. We just had a nice pleasant drive down the coast.






We stopped at Huntington Beach, and it was cold with strong winds. I did get a few pictures though. The surfers were wearing wet suits. We chose to not feel the water. I needed a hot chocolate.

Different

Huntinton Beach

Signs

Surfer---wet suit

The Pier

Fishing off the Pier

2 Views off the Pier

Doesn't it just look cold?

As we continued to drive I spotted Tawnya's favorite restaurant and the Shake Shack she told me to go to, we will make a drive back over there to go to them. I found where to go to Balboa Island as well. We got to Lake Forest with only a couple of backtracks, but it was nice that they even were no big deal. We got to the Staybridge Suites, had my hot chocolate, found where everything was here, and zonked out. I hope it warms up at some point this week. 60*-65* in California is a bit chilly with the wind.

The Day Before

Wynn's work is sending him to California to take a class, called PC Demus or some such thing. He flies out tomorrow and flies home Friday night. He will be in class 8 hours a day Monday through Friday. AND I GET TO GO WITH HIM!!!! His work pays for his flight, rental car, hotel room, $65 of food per day, so all we had to pay for is my plane ticket and any personal thing I want to buy. WooHoo! The hotel is right on Laguna Beach. I am going to have a real vacation for once, and all you moms know what I'm talking about. The family goes on vacation, except mom is still mom so it doesn't seem like much of a vacation to her. No kids and 8 hours a day to do whatever I want.

I am going to read. I borrowed a book from my sister, Tawnya, that has all the Jane Austin books in it. Plus I bought a book Monday (I think I put that in an earlier blog) that is a #2 in a series. And I have a couple books I haven't read yet because I was so busy with AmeriCorps I haven't been able to read much since August. I can shop and go to the beach, work out and take a bubble bath, watch tv and eat snacks without having to share! My friend, Vicki, told me to make sure we go to the Newport Beach Temple while we're there.

Doesn't it look pretty? But it is a smaller one so they don't rent the clothing which means we need to remember to pack ours. And we didn't think about the fact that Wynn has been renting his pants when we go. Which means we had to run and buy him some this evening, and they AREN'T hemmed! So I will be hemming them tonight. So it has been a busy day before vacation. We needed to get all the laundry done so I have all the clothes I need to pack. I needed go shopping so I have sunscreen and all those incidentals. I realized it was the library summer kick off program today that I always take the kids to. They have fun rides and treats and get there packets for a summer of earning prizes. How could I not take them to that? And I need to get it all put together so we can leave here tomorrow around noon, which means we're only going to part of church, but Drew will be here to bring them home.

Drew is coming up for a bonfire with her friends, so she is going to my nails and cut Wynn's hair before we leave. She'll be here through Monday and then my friend that lives 3 houses down is going to keep an eye on them. Andy and Leza will be checking on them as well. Drew will be taking them to the first summer matinee for me Monday. Good thing I've already seen it! And my friend should be able to take them to the Tuesday Library movie.

Vicki also told me to make sure we take the ferry to Balboa Island and get a Balboa bar. Tawnya also told me of some places to eat. Her favorite restaurant, Las Brisas is there as well as Crystal Cove Shake Shack.

I am soooooo excited. I don't know if I will be able to post while I'm there. Depending on if the hotel has free internet access. If so, I'll just have to add pictures after I get home. If not, I'll be behind again and get posted as fast as I can while it's all fresh.

That is one of the next things on my list to get...a laptop just for me. I'm off to get packed! Did I mention I AM SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!!