I wasn't there..... but I still have pictures to share!

As many of you know, while Steven & I were in LA, Jackson was with his Grandma back east. While there they had a birthday party. While I wasn't there... I have to share my favorite pictures that came back with him! Both have told me about the trip and party and seem happy.


Hopefully Jackson is going blog his own trip results -but for now, here is what he told me about the pictures I chose...

Jackson says this is his cake.. made by our cousin Kim -all chocolate!


He says this is Grandma's cake.. made by our cousin Paul (who lives by Aunt Vi)

This picture is Grandma and Zack -he stayed in Jersey to hang out with them and took the train to Philadelphia with them. Jack says he is pretty cool to hang out with. Of course there are no pictures of him & Zack in what I've seen so far.. but I like this one alot.
Blowing out the candles has never looked so fun!


All I can say is it looks like it was a great time and I am sorry I missed it!!! Better luck next trip, huh.
Sally, I am especially sad I missed out on meeting you and was flattered to hear you follow our little family journal. Thank you!

Our trip to LA -part 3

In case you are wondering why so many parts.. unlike many of my friends, I cannot seem to load more than 3-4 pictures in one post. So to show all the pictures, I had to break it up!


Monday night we were lucky to attend the Angels vs. A's game. It was a whole lot of fun. We had sweet seats -first row of the upper deck.. so our view was amazing -with no one in front of us. Picture number one is an unzoomed view from our seats. The opening ceremonies were moving, with the flag being walked out during the singing of God Bless America prior to the National Anthem and fireworks as well as a flyover by Blue Angels. Steven and I are working our way to all the baseball parks in the US ... eventually we'll get to them all!
I forgot to post this picture in the last post =-it is the Shirley Temple sidewalk square!
Here is the picture after we all met at the gate, the boys had hit the restroom, grabbed their stuff and headed downstairs to meet Papa and Dad. We got downstairs, met my dad and talked for a few minutes. Jonathan was on his way, so we said goodbye to Grandma & Papa and they headed home, we waited just a minute and jumped in the car when Jonathan pulled around.

We went to Lucille's for dinner on the way home. After waiting about 10 minutes to be seated, they took us to a really small table, right outside the kitchen, in the walkway. I asked about the booth across the way and the host said for us to follow him back up front. The other guy said I am just seating the last booth I have open, gesturing to people who arrived quite a time after us. He said we would have to wait, 15-20 minutes. I was tired and cranky and just said thanks anyway and we left. We headed to Chili's where we were seated right away, had great service that was fast at a fraction of what we would have paid at Lucille's. Sometimes it is all about the service! and I will write to Lucille's to let them know about our lack of experience (lest you all think I am over-reacting, this is just the 3rd strike for them- our last 2 experiences have been less than good).

Finally 7 pm we headed home, got lots of kisses from the dogs, got settled and had a peaceful rest of the night... the end.

Our Trip to LA -Part 2

Tuesday morning Steven and I took a walk to Noahs for bagels and packed our bags, while Maggie worked a bit. Then she & I did some beauty parlor stuff (don't we always!), such girly girls we are. Finally we loaded up the bags and bid Frank & Laurane goodbye and off to Hollywood we went. We walked the Star of Fame sidewalks for several blocks, checking out names we knew and entertainers we loved, past and present. We stopped by Graumanns Theater and saw the original blocks done by Shirley Temple and others, just handwriting in the cement -way more crude than the "stars" on the sidewalk, but authentic and moving -knowing those people wrote with their fingers (or sticks) in wet cement.. awesome. Steven had me take his picture with the Simpsons star.. but we didn't realize at the time that the glare makes the photo unreadable -sorry dude! Then we headed to Pinks.. famous hotdog stand. Where we enjoyed super yummy chili dogs and fries after waiting in line for 45-50 minutes. After eating the chili dog (with mustard) I can see why they are a favorite of many in the city. Steven said it's the best chili ever.. today he said that he wished he could have another.. that's a big compliment coming from him.



After Pinks we headed to the airport and were running a bit behind behind with traffic. We got to LAX at 3:10 for a 3:45 flight.. but no worries -we breezed thru security (even after forgetting to take our liquid baggie out of the front pocket of the suitcase -they said nothing about it) and were at our gate by 3:18! Steven headed to McDonalds to get himself a Lemonade (he gave up soda for Lent and has been really good about it) and me an Iced Tea... when he returned he said there were 2 problems... they didn't have iced tea or lemonade. So he got me a coke and HiC Orange for him -but he wanted to confirm that wasn't soda -right? I giggled and reassured him no.. then we boarded the plane (about 3:35) and after a bumpy flight, arrived in Sacramento at 5 p.m.

As we hurried to check the monitors to see what gate to meet Jackson & Grandma at... the monitor said they had landed! So I was rushing toward the podium at our gate to ask for help with what gate number, when Steven called my name and pointed right across the way --there they were getting off their plane!

Our trip to LA -part 1

Jonathan drove us to the airport Sunday morning. We left home about 9:30 and were at the gate, ready to go by 10:15 (including a stop at Starbucks after security where I got a caramel macchiatto & oatmeal and Steven got a vanilla bean frappuccino & blueberry muffin). Our flight was delayed about 1/2 hour .. we arrived in LA about 12:40 and were picked up at the airport by Maggie. We headed to Malibu for a real treat -lunch at Gladstones! Right on the ocean -we had a wonderful view of the water from our balcony table. We opted to sit outside, which was lovely, albeit a bit hot right in the sun. After a yummy lunch, our leftovers were wrapped in gold foil creations --one a swan and the other a sting ray! We headed back to Maggies to enjoy the rest of the day. After unloading the car, walking the dogs and a trip to the video store and pizza place.. we settled in for a movie & pizza night. Johnnies pizza is one of my favorites! Real New York style thin crust -1/2 pepperoni and 1/2 sausage --with some apple slices on the side. We watched How to Lose Friends and Allienate People -which I had seen a couple days before, so I read my book as I watched. A peaceful, relaxing (and late) night....


The next day after waking late we hung out at the house watching the Mets play their season opener on TV. Around 11 Steven and I headed to the Venice boardwalk where we walked, shopped and people watched for a few hours. We had lunch at a BBQ place that I really enjoyed (Steven not so much as he doesn't like Memphis style ribs). Then back to Maggies and in a bit we were off to Anaheim to see the Angels play the A's.

Frank picked us up after our Venice adventure and then he and Steven played some catch as they talked sports and baseball caps by the car! I couldn't resist snapping a picture of this very beachy, relaxed street scene.


Off to watch Survivor with the boys --back in a bit with part 2.

It was a great day for baseball...

It was a beautiful day here today. 75 degrees outside, hardly any wind. Steven's team lost in the end, 6-5, but they played a GREAT game all the way thru. They were leading the first 4 innings 4-0 and never looked defeated.. the game ended with 2 kids on base, 2 outs and Steven struck out, making the last out. He was bummed, but that's the game. The best part... although our team has yet to win a game, the other team is undefeated and their coaches admitted we gave them a run for it. The game was at 4:30 with sunlight still abounding.. so I was able to get a couple shots of my guy playing.. thought I'd share...


That's it for now... he and I head off tomorrow for Los Angeles to visit Maggie.. we are looking forward to a 2 day visit with her.. be back on Tuesday.... so will Jackson as he is scheduled to arrive home about 1/2 hour after us...

Watching....

The other day when everyone was over for my mom's birthday ... Brian went outside with the kids to play basketball. Jackson had other ideas and this is what he did as he watched them play. I snapped the picture because it just cracked me up.. so cute, so him! I am thinking of him alot and wanted to post the picture today. Love you big guy!


Things around here are quiet. I worked yesterday morning while Steven slept. Then we had lunch out yesterday and then he got a haircut. After that we just hung out waiting for his game time of 7:30 -of course he had to be at the field at 6. The team lost 4-0, Steven played well though -6 innings at catcher. It was cold out last night, windy, almost as if the weather is going to change again... I hope not! I welcomed Spring and it needs to stay!

Today is a repeat of yesterday.. I am working (trying to finish my quarter out so I can relax on our trip~) while he is sleeping. When he wakes up we have a few errands to run, then he is going with his dad to the batting cages, then he is going with my dad for a sleepover. They are going to watch my nephews first basketball game (my brother is coaching) and then hit pizza hut on the way home. Steven is looking forward to some time with his Papa....or G-pa as they have started referring to him. My dad pointed out that means that hubby and I get a date night... now, what to do?

For Jackson

Yesterday...

Yesterday started super early -4:30 a.m. to be exact. Jonathan work me, then I got up and woke Jackson. He popped right up and got ready way faster than I expected, in fact by 5 we were ready to go. He had packed his suitcase and gotten everything ready over the weekend, so that morning we just had to get the phone and ipod (and chargers) unplugged and in the bag. So we left home about 5:10 and headed to Starbucks -where he got a hot chocolate and coffee cake and I got a decaf caramel macchiatto. Decaf for me because I had a dentist appt later in the day and they told me to avoid caffeine, it makes it easier to get numb. Jackson decided he didn't like the hot chocolate because of the aftertaste (which was bitter chocolate), and he wasn't hungry -so he packed his coffee cake in his backpack for later.

We arrived at the airport about 5:40 and got an escort pass for me so I could go with them to the gate. The first picture is him waiting for grandma to get there. The kid loves hats. This is one of his favorites -Steven and I found it on clearance at JC Penneys right after Christmas, a $55 hat for $3.47 -totally glad we bought it. My mom arrived about 6 and we headed upstairs and thru security --no problems! We went to Starbuck where I got my mom a soy white mocha, no whip and bottled water for both of them for on the plane. Then we headed to their gate. They both seemed excited and happy (except when i was taking pictures) and smiled when I kissed them good-bye.

So the rest of the day is a blur... I went home, Steven was still sleeping, so I headed out to finish some shops for work. Then I had my dentist appt and I got nitrous gas to relax me -which when I got home made me very tired. So I took a nap and then felt better.. although I stayed numb a long time. It is quiet here, strange without Jackson. I miss him, but know he is having a great time. Today he is at the Please Touch museum in Philly --I can't wait to hear about it!