LACMA...

Our friends performed at LACMA one day so we decided to head there and check out an exhibit that we have been dying to see as well has hang out at their performance.  So we went and checked out the exhibit Metropolis II, which is basically a city that has miniature cars that speed through it approximately 240 scale miles per hour.  The cars are not electric or motorized in anyway, they go up a conveyor belt and then use gravity to travel around the track.  It is amazing, and Kurtis and I LOVED it!!!  After seeing that we had some time to kill we walked around the grounds and saw lots of different statues and artwork.  Then we took our seats to see our friends Rhythm Child perform.  The kids had a great time drumming and singing...it was a fun time!!

Well...one afternoon I got a call from my sister....

She was flying through LA to go to Hawaii and had time for us to visit a bit.  So I of course had to go and get Kurtis out of school to make sure he got to see her too!  We went and grabbed food at McDonalds and then back to the airport we went!

It was a lot of fun, the children were both sad that she could not stay for longer, but enjoyed seeing her while she was here!!

Pets....

Since Kurtis has been able to talk he has always wanted a pet.  He is an animal lover just like his father and grandma.  So one wonderful Saturday morning when we were walking to the store there was a rescue shelter doing an adoption fair at the pet store.   There was this beautiful black staffy bull (staffordshire bull terrier), we all immediately fell in love with him.  We brought him home two days later, and he started to fit into our family quickly.  Long story short, we found out Kurtis is allergic to pet dander and was having breathing issues because of the dog.  Sadly, we had to find a new home for our doggie Jango.  He is with a great family that is loving him as much as we did so we are very lucky! We took these photos the night before he left us.

Yes, I know what you are thinking, we took away his dog then what did we do.  Well, we went to Chinatown and found two perfect turtles.  The perfect pet for a child with allergies!!

Kurtis and Sarah love them very much and enjoy seeing them

I can't say it enough....

This is why we live in LA.  In early January when in other places it could still be snowing, we decided it was warm enough to hit the beach.  So we called some friends and family and had a great time!!!  The waves were so big, and the kids actually got in the water a bit too.  It ended up being a wonderful afternoon.

LA ZOO

We became members at the zoo this year again, so we took GG to enjoy a day at the Zoo.  It was so much fun we saw tons of animals, we enjoyed kettle corn (MMM!!! The zoo's is so very very fresh!), and got some exercise after all that holiday food!!

Kurtis checking out the prairie dogs!

 Sarah petting a sheep!

 Kurtis petting a goat!

 GG petting another goat??

 This is the really cool water faucet to wash your hands in.

 They were so excited to have daddy with them on this trip to the zoo!

 They both mashed pennies! (This is our prize we get at every fun adventure we go to!)

 Kurtis foot compared to a monkeys!

 GG favorite to watch!

 Sarah's favorite to see the baby Orangutang.

 My favorite...I always love to see the HIPPO!

 Baby tiger!  There were lots of babies in the zoo this trip!

 GG and Sarah checking out the bear, Sarah looks a little nervous!

 Sarah enjoying the train ride there!

Christmas Lights and...GLADSTONE'S

Derick and I took the kiddies to see the Christmas Lights at the temple one night.  They were as beautiful as they are every year.  It was a lot of fun, and we enjoyed our family time.

The next day we went to one of GG's favorite spots on Earth...well maybe in California!  Gladstone's...and it was delicious!!  My favorite was the chocolate cake, but the people who love sea foods favorite was the crab, lobster, and shrimp.  Then we took some lovely photos down at the beach just next to Gladstone's!  As you can see it was a very very clear day at the beach!

To finish the night we played memory, a little dancing on the wii and with the beep beep.