Favorite Picture Friday: October 28th, 2011

We thought we would post some pictures from an evening that we spent down by Newport beach with Jason's Uncle Dee and Aunt LeAnna.

We started off the evening at a local resteraunt that serves amazing seafood, which is so appropriate since it is a few steps from the beach. The Crab Cooker is one of those places where you get great, quality food but it's served on paper plates and you tear off your own pieces of bread. We actually like finding those kind of places and become regulars there. We loved it and it has become one of our favorite restaraunts in the area.

Then Uncle Dee and Aunt LeAnna and were nice enough to take us on a boat trip... just across to Balboa Island. But still we did journey on the ferry on the Pacific Ocean to get there and it was a fun ride. They showed us around Balboa Island, which is tiny but adorable to see all of the local shops and homes with their own pesonality. Here is a picture of Uncle Dee and Aunt LeAnna on the ferry ride at sunset.

Of course I have to take a picture of Jason on the water. He looks so good next to the ocean.

We had such a lovely evening and were stuffed with shrimp that we didn't have another craving for it... until the next day! Thanks Uncle Dee and Aunt LeAnna!

Favorite Picture Friday: October 21st, 2011

Here we are at the Getty Villa next to some vines that are just starting to turn to the fall colors.

The Art of Looking at Art

One thing that I grew up doing with my family is an annual event called "The Art Trip." My sister first discovered it when she was taking an art class at Dixie State College, and since then my family attended that trip several times. It is when the DSC art professor takes college students and locals from the community down to California to see some of the finest art on the West Coast. I was lucky enough to attend a few times and I remember thinking it was so cool to be in middle school and be able to hang out with college students. But since then my family has a real connection with some of the art museums in California. So it comes to no ones surprise that when my parents came and visited us for the long weekend over Labor Day that we took a trip up to LA to see a couple of them.

First my parents and Jason went to see a local boat yard and factory where they make my dad's boats, The McGregor.

Here are my parents checking out the boat and trying to decide if they like it.

The next morning we traveled up to Malibu to visit the Getty Villa. The Getty Villa is a small museum and garden area that is set up like Roman villa, complete with fountains, pools, and statues. It is so relaxing to go there and walk the grounds feeling like you own the area. We arrived right when it opened up Saturday morning so we had the place to ourselves. Here are some pictures of the outside of the Getty Villa.

The inside of the Getty Villa is no disappointment either. It is filled with Greek and Roman artifacts and art that were spectacular!

We even enjoyed the kids area where you could learn about how they use to make pottery. They had examples of what certain vases and pots were used for what occasions. They also had some fake pots that had a thick coating of gloss on the outside so you could use dry erase markers on it to make your own design. Naturally I spent more time than I should playing with them.


They had many hallways lined with pillars that really added to the atmosphere. Here is Jason peeking from behind one.

We enjoyed a fantastic lunch that overlooked Malibu beach and the ocean. Then we were off to the big brother of the Getty Villa: The Getty.

These "trees" are one of our favorite icons of the Getty. They are made out of rebar and then the plants grow up and out like a tree.

The grounds here are beautiful, as well.

Even though the outside of the Getty is amazing, what is truly fantastic are the pieces of art that are held there. We have had to travel to Europe to see a collection comparable to the one found here at the Getty. We are so lucky to have an art museum with amazing pieces so close to us.

We stare in amazement at the Van Gogh's.

We drooled over this one on Venice. It makes you feel like you are actually there!

My parents love the ocean so naturally when they were here we had to take them to the beach.

Here is Jason looking adorable as always!

Aww, my parents are so cute!

My parents left the next morning and it was so wonderful to have them come visit us here in California.

Favorite Picture Friday: October 14th, 2011

Memories of Niagara Falls. I don't think we ever posted this panoramic picture when we went to this memorable place.

Favorite Picture Friday: October 7th, 2011

Here are some Disneyland pictures we took one morning at one of our favorite places in So Cal.




This is one of my favorite places in Disneyland that most people miss when they are there. It's a little hideaway that's never busy but has this wishing well. Every few minutes it will start to sing the Snow White song which makes me smile every time.

Here's the Snow White waterfall. It's so relaxing over there that sometimes we will get a churro and just sit over there for a while.

Jason and I use the term "Disney Kiss" when we kiss this way because that's how they kiss on all of the Disney movies. Of course that's how we kiss at Disneyland.

This picture is taken by another favorite spot in the park that most visitors don't take the time to notice. On both sides of it are rides that everyone rushes off to go get tossed around and get motion sick on, but then there is this serene fountain right in the middle. It's best at night so I will have to post some pictures of it later.