Cali

I seem to keep having excuses for the my lack of posts on the blog, but this week, the excuse is a great one! Matt and I were in California for a conference he had and a much-needed week of R & R for myself. Everything went well as we dropped the kids off in Madison with Grammy and Papa and were on our way. (I was so anxious to make the most of my time without kids that I finished an entire book on the flight out there!) We spent our first day there driving around Beverly Hills and checking out Rodeo Drive. (You'll have to excuse the lack of people in the pictures....that's what happens when you're on vacation with just your husband!)
Neither Matt nor I had ever been to Southern California, so we were a bit awestruck.

driving through Beverly Hills---the palm trees were beautiful

I had to take this picture--reminded me of 90210

I took this picture of Rodeo Drive while we were shopping--notice the Ferrari (yellow) on the right. We couldn't get over how many nice cars we saw out there---and even parked along the street! Who parks a $150,000 car on the street? We saw more Bentleys, Rolls Royces, and Ferraris than we had ever seen in our lives---and to top it off, we saw a Lotus on our way to our car. Last time I saw a Lotus was in Pretty Woman!

They seem to find my husband no matter where we are!! As if they don't have enough money in Beverly Hills, now they need ours? We weren't even 5 minutes over on our meter!

Beverly Hills Hotel

The Beverly Wilshire (on Wilshire Blvd.) from Pretty Woman!!!!

Our second day there, we drove down the coast to Laguna Beach. Although it was pretty foggy early in the day, it did clear up. And we loved Laguna! The coast is beautiful, the homes are gorgeous, and the shopping and restaurants were great. We would love to go back and spend an entire week there. It's a bit hard to see in this picture, but the homes are just one on top of another all along the coast.

This picture was taken in the hills of Laguna Beach, looking towards the ocean from some of the homes. The pictures just don't do this justice.

Another view from some of the homes on the coast in Laguna--at some points, it was hard to see over the hood of the car on the way up as the roads were super steep.

There was a beautiful upscale spa in Laguna Beach called the Montage. Earlier in the day, we walked around on the public walkways that they have that extend out to the coast. In the afternoon, Matt thought it would be fun to see if we could ask to see one of their rooms and act as if we might be interested in staying at some point in the future. (And we are definitely interested, it just won't be in the near future!) They gave us a complete tour and it was AMAZING!!! They let us wander around the grounds and check the place out, so we took this picture by the pool as it overlooks the ocean. Matt is still talking about this place and trying to plan when we'll be able to return as guests!

Gorgeous! (The sunset and the man!)

On friday night, Matt had dinner plans with some guys from the Ohio State fellowship, so I was on my own. But it turned out to be a great night for it, because the U2-3D movie was coming out nationwide on friday. I'm a huge U2 fan and was bummed I might not be able to see it, but I found a theatre in Long Beach that had the movie. I thought I would end up going alone, but a good friend of mine Jen came with. (Her and her husband Drew went to undergrad with Matt and Drew and Matt were in podiatry school together in Iowa.) Her husband Drew was at the same conference as Matt and she came along with their two kids , Kael (2 1/2 yrs) and Ellison (10 mos.) I was able to spend time hanging out with her and the kids while the guys were at their conference, but it was great for us to be able to spend some time without kids in the evening! And Jen was so sweet to come--especially since she's not a big U2 fan! As we sat down at the beginning of the movie, Jen said, "This isn't like a concert the entire time, is it? They must have some interviews with the band too, right?" Poor Jen! I loved that it was a 3-D concert the entire time, but I think she just endured it.

But we did look pretty hot, don't you think? You've got to love the 3D glasses!

Matt and I had such a great time in California and although I was ready to see the kids, I could have stayed for another week or two. We are so thankful that we have such great families both willing to watch our kids for us and allow us some time to spend with each other. It was much needed and much appreciated!!