SoCal

Just before we left California, we took one last road trip to Southern California so Nana could meet Henry and the kids could see Grandpa once more.  Although I had vowed never to drive there for fewer than two full days after our Thanksgiving trip, circumstances (read:  Steve's work commitments) conspired to mean that we had to make a last minute plan change to drive down Friday morning and back Sunday afternoon.  It was all complicated by the fact that Henry was still on a fairly frequent feeding schedule (even now, almost 6 weeks later, he still wants to eat about every two hours during the day).  We did have to make a stop in the middle of nowhere to feed him in a gravel pit by the freeway.  Steve and I pride ourselves on being able to do really long days with very few stops, but with a newborn it just isn't possible.  It's rather humbling to have the 5 or 6 hour run from SF to LA last 8 or 9 hours.  There was a huge forest fire near the grapevine and we also witnessed an accident right in front of us on the 210 (Steve narrowly but expertly avoided it, although it woke Grace up and then we hit traffic and then had to stop unexpectedly for gas, which woke Henry up, and it was so hot and we had two sobbing children and it all became a bit of a debacle, the kind where I'm white knuckling and trying not to scream at everyone in the car - my head explodes a little when I'm trapped in a car with a screaming, hungry infant).  

This, however, was a peaceful moment.  

Visiting Nana.

Saturday we wanted to do some fun stuff for Grace so we headed over to Travel Town in Griffith Park with Grandpa.  For years when we drove through the Valley, Steve would point it out to me and say "there's Travel Town.  They have trains.  I loved that place when I was little."  It was fun to finally see it.  It's full of old trains to play on and has a small train ride that circles the park.  It was outrageously hot, though, even by LA standards given that it was early June.  Grace had a great time.

After a trip to Rubios (when near San Diego...), we went over to the Griffith Park Observatory.  Grace has a recent interest in space, particularly in Neil Armstrong (which she pronounces with an emphasis on the second syllable of armstrong that is so cute), so we thought she would enjoy the exhibits there.  Still so hot, but the chaparral smelled so good as we took short hike up to the observatory (and then discovered tons of parking at the top - don't you love when that happens, especially after you've just had tense words with your spouse about whether to just take the parking spot you saw partway up?).

Here's Grace showing proper reverence for Einstein (just realized this is a tradition - here she is at 10 months at the Athenaeum at Cal Tech).

Henry, me and the Hollywood sign (note my Dodger Blue shorts!).

Future astrophysicist (tho I'm sure she will be wearing a princess dress while gazing at the stars and performing ballet in her time off).

With Grandpa.

We hit the pool after that long, hot day, and then had an easy morning Sunday before a final visit to Nana's.  

Zoned out kids.

Trip back was pretty uneventful, except for the unplanned nursing stops.  We took Pacheco Pass for a change, which is so beautiful.  We also discovered that Casa de Fruta is a fabulous rest stop for a four year old (peacocks, playground, trains!).  Maybe (hopefully) someday we will actually be able to use that info.  It was a long, hot trip for such a short time, but glad we did it.  It's possible Grace had more than one meal that consisted of french fries and a milkshake... but I guess that's what road trips and memories are made of?