TRIP TO LOS ANGELES

We flew into LA on Wednesday evening.  We were able to spend 4 days with Todd and Megan. We had a lot of fun and also had time to relax.  We ate at great restaurants, did a little shopping, played tourist, went to church, visited with Todd and Megan's hometeachers, went to the new Night at the Museum movie, cheered at the Dodger/Angels baseball game, we also watched one of the saddest but most thought provoking movie I have seen in some time---'The Boy in the Blue Striped Pajamas', and taught John Pinochle.   He learned quickly and then he and Todd teamed to beat Meg and me soundly.  I also read a real page turner of a book.....LOOK AGAIN, by Lisa Scottoline.   I loved the plot and the main character.  If you want a great book for summer reading, try this newly released book.  We ended up changing our flight for earlier on Memorial Day......It worded out GREAT!  We even got money back!  I love Southwest Airlines!

We FORCED John to come with us to get his very first pedicure.  He keeps showing off his smooth feet and I think he needs to have a pedicure monthly.

John doing a serious editing job

Megan is writing a chapter for a medical book that is being published.  She asked me to edit her writing ---- I started......didn't understand the medical jargon.....asked John to look at it and he did a great job.  Megan said that he improved the chapter so much.  I think John could have a second career as an editor of medical books.  

A nice family from Rome took our picture and we took theirs.  This is the beginning of the pier.

There are MANY little kiosks all along the pier.  John and Jocey tried on hats...

When you watch movies and television shows, a prominent local attraction in LA is used....the Santa Monica Pier!  We had never been there in previous visits so we ventured out.  This picture is from the top of the Ferris Wheel looking out over the ocean.

The Promenade is block after block of stores for shopping.....down the middle of this pedestrian street are MANY sculptures of dinosaurs that are fountains.  Colton and Cannon would love all the different dinosaurs they have.  

We spent the morning helping clean Megan's Stake Center.  The building is certainly a classic. The building was designed around an open courtyard.  The classrooms are huge compared to today's standards.  They have an old time full size gym and the Relief Society room has double sliding glass doors to let the air in when needed.  Meg's sweet 75 year old Bishop (3rd time as a bishop and has also been a stake president) must have arrived at 7:00 am to clean ALL the bathrooms.  The rest of us were asked to start at 9:00.  He is a gem!

Saturday afternoon found us at the IMAX theater watching Night at the Museum.  It is certainly a fluffy, laugh out loud movie.  Don't worry about deep thinking during this movie.  I can't wait to take my grandsons....I know they will love it.

We spent Saturday evening at the Inter-League Dodger/Angel baseball game.  Growing up, I was a huge Dodger fan and would watch their games every Saturday afternoon on TV.  I was excited to actually go to a game in Dodger Stadium.  John was also a huge Dodger's fan growing up.  I was amazed to see the "passion" of very young Dodger fans at the game.  I guess baseball isn't a dying pass time.  

Todd and Megan with the old County Hospital where Todd has worked for 21/2 years on the left......the new hospital is on the right with the blue glass windows...this picture was taken from the parking lot of Dodger Stadium

Dodger Stadium is set on a hill so that we could take this picture of Jocey and Megan with downtown Los Angles in the background

At one point in the 10th, the Angels kept meeting at the pitcher's mound to "visit"

We had such a good time at the game.  10 innings.....bases loaded...a runner was walked and the Dodgers won.....5-4

I had to take this picture of Megan while she was sleeping.  She has truly perfected the art of sleeping without messing up your hair.  Sunday afternoon catnap....