Huntington Beach CA

CHiPs...remember that show about the California Highway Patrol? We saw Ponch and John.

wavejumpers

water was chilly but Levi loved the surf.

Molly always loves a good seagull chase...

SoCal has a lot of beaches (as if)...and we visited Huntington Beach (Hi Velvet...we didn't figure out till it was too late that that is where you are at....we were so bummed)

The Pacific Ocean is beautiful, powerful and kinda scary. We were glad to see it and we were glad to leave it. Scary with little people...that tide is a strong force and it was so awesome for the kids to get to see the Power of God in His oceans. Very salty. very salty indeed.

This was the last adventure of our Cali trip before heading out on October 23 for Indy. I love you, Palm Trees.

Hollywood is skeery...

City of Angels

E's hands are almost as large as Clint's.

for a tip, you can have your pic taken with whatever character you see walking outside of the theatre...no shame. David was really excited about finding this Stormtrooper.

Apparently, the Roosevelt is haunted by Marilyn Monroe.

Jimmy Kimmel's Cousin Sal (the guy in the black button down and jeans, by the easel), taping a segment from that evening's late night show. We didn't get to watch it because my slacker brother failed to get a converter box. and he's never home, so it works for him.

We ate at this open air thingy...and our view was the Jimmy Kimmel pic above. pretty cool. Charlie was NOT impressed.

When Marilyn isn't haunting at the Roosevelt, she's working it with Michael J. This guy was eerily similar.

And when the King of Pop isn't haunting with MM, he's getting coffee at this swanky little coffee shop in the uber expensive but super neat-o mall with US! (Levi's expression is like "Umm, thought this guy was dead")

the yellow vest on this fella was a wee bit teeny...

Char, you are a poser.

I was really hoping we'd see Tom and Katie. but alas, not on this trip.

There's that Chinese Theatre again...

I mean, it IS cool there....just so many people, and it's sooooo grubby. Money, apparently, can't cover grubby. or creepy. or weird. or odd.

Levi, looking on in complete awe!

Infamous Hollywood Boulevard...

ahhh, got it. didn't think I would, but when it appeared thru the trees, I swear little angels sang and the sun DID shine even just a bit brighter (than it already WAS, OMGosh, it was never cloudy there)

grid-lock...this is another of those "parts" ya don't see on TV.

Final Destination: California USA

we weren't allowed in but we could still get cool pix in front of this neat-o Chinese pavillion thingy.

Melanie has a hole in her lip, apparently. Charlie is amused!

Hanging with Ghandi

E and a cool Chinese dragon guarding this neat Pagoda

Palm trees are cool

touring the city of Riverside, CA...the Mission Hotel, which was a really old building...and so cool.

Uncle Andy tried the entire time we were there to get Molly to give him the time of day...she gave in the LAST day we were there.

Andy and his boys..

Palm trees and the people I love.

not sure why Dunc keeps making this face in the pix...I gather that he isn't fond of getting his pic taken.

I was in love with all the palm trees.

two big babies

Molly looks strangely psychotic in this picture...her big boy cousins really did like her.

If you can find a Starbucks, you can find home...and we did. many times. (thanks again to Juan for letting us use his GPS, which we affectionately named Kim)

We got in to Corona, CA on a Monday evening....We spent the next day recuperating because the trip from AZ to CA was challenging and the Mohave Desert was hot, windy and eerie. Andy took us in to Riverside the next night...and we enjoyed a walk thru the nearly abandoned downtown...

These are the pix from that evening...more to come later.

School is done for the day...Gotta go get ready to hit the outlet malls with Mom, Beck, Molly and Pipes. Woo hoo. Bring on the Christmas season. Have a splendid weekend!