Venice Canals...

We've been mixing business with pleasure over here at the Duckworth household.  We only have 8 days left as Californians, so we're in the process of packing everything up. While there's a lot to do at home, we're trying to hit our favorite spots one last time (and a few bucket list items as well).  I'll be honest, I've shed a few tears already.

Ever since the movie "Valentines Day" I've wanted to visit the Venice Canals.  One evening I decided to pack up my kiddos and go.  It was a gorgeous night and we had the best time walking around and exploring.  Its a cute little neighborhood, and my kids loved throwing rocks in the water and spotting fish and ducks and playing at the park.  Remmy snoozed the entire time in the Bijorn - her spot of choice - so I didn't get to document her presence.
 

I loved the bridges and little boats lining the canals.  The water was quite low, but I bet it is a gorgeous place when it is high and the boats can actually go for a paddle.

Hollywood Sign...

We checked the Hollywood Sign off our bucket list on Saturday.  We've been wanting to hike it for a while, so we took advantage of our free day and tackled it.  It also helped that I'm 37 weeks pregnant and really need to get some contractions going. ;) We had fun spending the day with half the Poelmans and Hawkleys, as well as the Papworths and Lambournes.

The views were amazing, the weather was perfect, and the company even better.  When I asked Dieter to show me his muscles, he pulled up his shirt like this.  This little tank of a kid cracks me up.  Finn was a trooper and hiked the whole way up with her buddy Grey.  You go girl. ;)

Grey, D-man, Beck, Miss Finn, and Maya (Little Rowan not pictured)

 The girls - check out that belly....actually, please don't.

Happy New Year...

Well, this little bit late, but here we go anyway!

My parents and the Bateman family made their way out to Southern California for the New Years weekend. We were so excited to have them come up to South Pasadena for New Years Day and hang out with us. We took them down to the Rose Bowl where all the floats were lining up in preparation for Monday's Rose Parade.  It was also all set up for the big Rose Bowl Football game, so we enjoyed the surroundings and soaked in the atmosphere.

The floats were amazing, as expected, but it was neat to see them up close and all the detail that goes into them.  If you didn't know, everything on them has to come from natural substances.  So, some of the floats had potatoes as cobblestone paths, or oatmeal and seeds as skin, etc. 

We were welcomed back to SoCal with 85 degree weather.  We didn't complain.  We were told it was the warmest Rose Parade in 20+ years.  The Rose Parade was one thing that had been lingering on our bucket list for the past few years.  With it starting only a mile or so from our house, we couldn't not see it, but every year we'd go home for the holidays and stay over the New Year.  This year we decided was the year.  We started planning months in advance and scored some A-MA-ZING seats through a guy my dad knows that produces the parade with NBC.  We couldn't have done it any better.

Here we are at the front of the parade, waiting for it to start.  There was a fly-over in the beginning by a Stealth Bomber.  It was awesome.. 

Dieter was loving the parade.  When he wasn't sitting on his daddy's lap, he was on the street in Finnley's beach chair. He had the best seat in the house if you ask me!

After the parade, my dad's friend led me and my mom into Al Roker's trailer (he had already left) and let us use the restroom.  We had fun taking pictures and my mom noted that he'd left the toilet seat up. ;)

After the parade we headed down to LA to eat breakfast at one of our favorites - Jack N' Joe's before heading to Malibu to finish the day off at the beach. We were all beat, especially the kiddos, but it was worth it for such a fun day.  I'd say we started 2012 off right!

Getting Our Winter Fix...

We'd been craving a fall fix for a while, so we headed up to Big Bear to feel the chill. Boy, oh boy were we chilled! It was a balmy 28 degrees, and all we brought were sweatshirts and hats. Whoops. We layered ourselves up, threw some socks on the kids hands, and made the most of it. We definitely got our fill of the cold - and loved it.

"It's like Christmas!" is what Finnley said when she woke up from her nap to see the winter wonderland we were embarking on. I had shown her a picture of her Utah cousins playing in their fresh snow earlier in the day, so she asked "Is this where Jack and Rex are playing?" The first thing she wanted to do when she jumped out of the car was eat snow. Second on the agenda, find an icicle.

We stopped by the Moonridge Animal Park to check out the animals. This is such a fun, small zoo with great access and visibility to the animals. Our kids loved it. We came here the first time with the Salmons back in 2008 and the animal keeper was feeding the grizzly bear by hand. Cra-zy.

The wolves were definitely my favorite, and I think Dieter's as well. D also loved the "Bog Ego" or the bald eagle. Mitch and I can't get over how cute it sounds when he says it, so we ask him to say it multiple times a day.

Here I am at 25 weeks. This is about the time I go behind the camera and don't come out until the baby is born. Believe me, its whats best for all of us. ;)

After a quick tour of the town, lunch, and a stop by Boulder Bay it was time for us to head home. Next time we'll have to be better prepared so we can stay a little longer. Us and our thin California blood just couldn't handle the cold temps. Wish us luck this winter in Utah. Brrr!

Glorified People Watching at the ESPY's...

A few weeks ago, Mitch and I scored some tickets to the ESPY Red Carpet. Talk about glorified people watching. I enjoy sitting at the airport or Disneyland watching the wacky crowd walk by, so imagine my delight as I got to watch real celebs in action. It was great. Plus, I had a pretty hot date.

We weren't allowed to have cameras, but we snuck in our little point-and-shoot and stole a few pictures. I'm surprised they turned out - half the time I wasn't even looking. So, here you go...our date to the ESPY's.

Top Left to Right: Jimmer, Bunch of celebs/athletes, Bethany Hamilton, Brooklyn Decker, Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, and Bieber.

Bieber was the real attraction - which is funny since it is a sports awards show - and there were hundreds of little girls outside the gates screaming for "BIEBER"! Unfortunately, he stayed inside on the red carpet, but they did get a up-close-and-personal view of Selena Gomez. We did too as they rushed her past us on her way into the show.

It was a great night, and so much fun. Now, I've gotta get some tickets to the OSCARS...talk about amazing!

Griffith Park, I know...again?

It's true, we do love Griffith Park.

My kids love the ponies, even though they are half-dead and to make them go the workers have to chase them.

My kids love the train, even though the conductor sits in a miniature engine with only his head and shoulders poking out the top.

My kids love the random yard art the train passes by, like Snow White and 6 dwarfs, a few deer, some Gnomes, and an old western town.

My kids love running around the grass, even though it is littered with bird poop and yucky garbage.

I have to admit, I love it too because it makes my kids so darn happy! Well, maybe not Dieter, at first.

This was Dieter's first time on the ponies. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the kid is so darn laid back I just thought he'd go with it. He did at first, but then the guy sent him around the track, he realized he was alone, and he lost it. His cute big sister was in front of him, calling his name and telling him it was okay. I love her and all her mommy-ness.

It got worse when he saw me. The other (random) moms were telling me this was their kid's first reaction on their first pony ride too. He he, I was secretly laughing because to me it wasn't sad, but funny! I knew he was safe, and frankly I love when kids have adverse reactions to fun things.

By the second lap, he was smiling and waving. He actually looked like a rodeo queen out there, you know, trying to wave while keeping their balance so they are leaning way over the horn and their hand is waving fast and low by the horse's neck. So cute.

I'm excited for Dieter to have another go at the pony rides. I'm sure we'll be going back sooner than later.

Want a good laugh? Check this out.