MetLife trip to California (part one)

So my computer won't turn on....which means I can't access my photos saved to my computer, upload new pictures to my computer, and therefore update my blog....luckily I am borrowing my dad's until mine is fixed (or a new one is purchased...)!

In the beginning of May we took our annual MetLife trip.  This year it was to Palm Desert, California.  Since I had never spent any time in California outside of LAX, my mom hadn't been south of San Francisco, my dad had never been, and it is such a long flight, we decided to bring the Booms' along and extend the trip from four days to eight with a few stops along the way.  

First stop...Los Angeles!

 Right off the plane we headed to the TCL Chinese Theater to 

check out the stars, hands and feet.

 You can't tell by the look on her face, but I have passed on my love for Julie Andrews to Bryn already.  She loves Mary Poppins, only a few more years until The Sound of Music!

Bryn wanted her picture taken with all the "characters" on the street, but Shrek was free!

That night we walked to the Santa Monica pier.  Bryn had been saying for at least a year that she wanted a bird to land on her hand or arm.  While avoiding all the giant snakes, we stopped to see the parrots and this man just put this bird in her arms.  It was perfect!

Brian and Bryn had never ridden a ferris wheel, well, Bresnan either I guess.  Hard to believe, but the Huron County Fair is good for something! So, we got on the ferris wheel, while Papa kept his feet on the ground.

Me and Bryn

Mumma, Bresnan, and Dad 

A few blocks from the hotel was a great little park.  Bryn was excited to play!

Loved the roller slide!

The next day, after a drive to Malibu, we headed to Venice Beach.

 With the famous structure in the background, Bryn found a 

great spot to practice her ballet and teach Papa her moves.

 Bryn found the street art interesting as it was on the trees and garbage cans too.

 The sand!  I don't think Bresnan had played in sand since New Years.  He was so excited!

 Happy Man

Bathing Beauty

He couldn't get enough of it!

We had an afternoon at the pool, then back to the park, and a quick dinner to catch up on sleep and get ready for the next leg of our trip!

On Monday we headed to San Diego.  We pulled into town and stopped at La Jolla.  

 All the seals at the bottom of the bay

 All the pelicans

up close and personal

 getting closer to the seals

 checking out the view

Fun at the hotel

 We tried to rent bikes, but their kid trailer was broken, so we decided to do this!  

Yep, we were those people!