Another Friday

We are winding down our time in L.A., I think.   I do believe that L.A. is a vortex that just keeps pulling you back into itself.   In November, we made plans to leave and my daughter was booked on something and put on avail. for a commercial.   That meant we flew back to L.A. twice in December for the booking.   She didn't get the commercial.   Then in late December she booked a film that she needed to be in L.A. for most of January.   She filmed 11 days for that project plus two blocking rehearsals.   This time, we filmed today and my daughter has three things to film between Sunday and next Thursday.   She is filming an internet only commercial for a national chain, and two short independent films.   One is union and one I'm not sure of the status.   We are planning to leave by May 1st, unless she books something else.   She is in a time where she is non-union, but may need to join the union soon.  We hoping to get as many projects on her resume before she moves to the next level.   She has an audition tomorrow and two auditions on Sunday.   It is a vortex...

We heard on Thursday that the series my daughter was a part of filming in December was announced as one of the new shows to be aired this year as part of Hulu's original programming.   Now, will the public like it???   We hope so!

This week we went to the American Girl store at The Grove for my daughter to make a much anticipated purchase.   She decided she wanted to buy McKenna, the doll of the year.   I think the dolls cost entirely too much money.   We allowed her to save her money and buy it.  We are attempting to teach her how to handle money.   She would not be dissuaded from buying the doll.  She saved and saved and saved.   Her Grandparents sent her money for her birthday and that put her over the amount she needed.   She got her doll, a crutches set, a pair of shoes, and a book.   She stood at the checkout counter and counted out exact change.    She is thrilled with her purchase.   She wants to take McKenna everywhere.   I limit her on taking the doll some places because it is an expensive item to either lose or have stolen.   I do love that she still loves to play with her dolls.   I want her to hang on to her childhood as much as she can, it is so short.   This is Marilyn with the kids at American Girl.

My daughter and McKenna.

Tuesday, we walked/scootered with our friends the Ewings.    The kids and I hiked Fryman Canyon on Wednesday.   They are funny about hiking.   When we are with friends, the complaints are few.   Since it was just us, they complained most of the way up.   Then, they decided to run on the downside.  The kids then chattered amicably all the way back to the car.   Silly!   My son and I walked/scootered for an hour in the neighborhood surrounding my daughter's acting class on Thursday.   The kids swam for an hour on Wednesday and and hour tonight.   They are snoozing well tonight.   When we walk with our friends we typically use the biking trail that runs through the town we live in.   I took this picture a couple of weeks ago attempting to capture the incredible views.  

My son was not terribly thrilled at looking into the sun, but you can see the mountains behind him.   The mountains are much more impressive in person.  

Tomorrow after the audition, the kids are going to a hip hop class for fun, then we plan to see a movie with the Ewings.   The Ewings are heading home this coming week and we enjoy them dearly. 

I need to start a book review and then head to bed.  I may skip the book review and head to bed...sorry if I missed any grammitical errors, I'm tired!

"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."
Colossians 1:10-13

Reagan Presidential Libray

On Monday, we headed over to Simi Valley to visit the Reagan Presidential library.   We planned to stay a couple of hours and move on.   We spent the entire day there! This was my first visit to Simi Valley.   Wow!   It was beautiful.   The library is perched above the surrounding areas giving you a stunning view.   There is a beautiful courtyard just outside the main entrance.

We went inside and found everything very organized and clean.   Several docents are stationed throughout to guide you along on your journey.   We rented a special itouch that gave information.   This was especially helpful for our son who does not yet read.   My daughter and husband shared one, while my son and I shared one.  My son could listen someone talk about the various exhibits without having one of us read to him all day long. We could also use the device to take pictures and video.   We found that feature very convenient as we toured. 

The library has a path that takes you chronologically through Reagan's life.   It hits the high points of his life.   You see the good and not the bad of Reagan's life.   The artifacts are very interesting.   Many of the exhibits have different multimedia pieces.    This exhibit was replaying his radio addresses.

A movie of Reagan's work in Hollywood, including presiding as president of SAG.

The kids took turns standing behind the presidential podium and looking at the teleprompter.

You walk through Reagan's early life, campaign and governorship of California, campaign for President, and finally the presidency.

We saw a full scale model of the Oval Office as it was decorated during Reagan's Presidency.

  We spent a lot of time in the wing which houses a retired Air Force One and several vehicles. 

This picture does not do the view justice.  Inside the Air Force One wing, you could see an amazing view from the multistory window.

The tribute to the Challenger astronauts was particularly moving.   I remember watching the Challenger disaster live on a TV in my school library. 

I also enjoyed the Berlin Wall exhibit.   There is even a chunk of the wall outside the library.    This picture was taken inside the library, in front of a replica of the wall.   I could not get a good picture of the wall outside because I had to shoot directly into the sun.   

I think I found these exhibits particularly interesting because I remember living through these events. 

The tour ended with artifacts from Reagan's California ranch.   The kids got to "ride" a horse.

 

The tour concludes documenting Reagan's battle with Alzheimer's and death.   His tomb is in the courtyard of the library.

I liked these Reagan quotes.

I would recommend a trip to the Reagan Library if you ever find yourself in the Southern California area.   I am curious to visit other presidential libraries to compare them. 

 

"Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;  a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. "

Psalm 45:6

Weekend Exploring

Jason was in town this weekend which meant it was time to find something to do.   We were in a blackout period for Disney due to the holiday weekend.  Jason asked me about day trips in Southern California.   I could only suggest seeing the monarchs in Santa Barbara.   After further research, I realized we missed the monarchs wintering this year.   He started researching things to do and came up with two.   We did the first one on Saturday.

We headed to the desert, Palm Springs, to visit the Aerial Tramway.   I am not a huge fan of heights or things suspended high above the ground, but there was supposed to be wonderful hiking on top of the mountain.   That fact made me overcome my fears and step on a rotating tram.  Did they really need to make it move in a circle as well as up?  It went from 2000 ft. to 8500ft. in about 15 minutes.  We drove up a road to the tram station that started at 440ft and went up to 2000 ft.   It was a really steep road!   There were multiple signs warning you to turn off your A/C.   Thankfully I didn't need to get out and push.    Once on the tram, Jason laughed at me all the way up. I gripped the bar meant for steadying yourself with sweaty palms.   The kids stood right at the window and loved it.   I enjoyed what I could see as long as didn't look down.   At the bottom:

At the top:

Once at the top it was beautiful.   There was still some patches of snow on the ground.  I am guessing after the storm we had last night that there is fresh snow up there now. 

The children enjoyed walking across a little stream on this fallen tree.

We found some huge Jeffery pine trees whose bark smelled like caramel. 

I shamelessly posed the kids for this picture.



We hiked about 1.5 miles.   The kids ran, jumped and skipped most of the way, if they were not climbing on rocks.

We hoped to eat on top of the mountain and ride down at dusk.   Unfortunately, the restaurants ran out of kid friendly food and we were starving.  We headed back down the tram and into Palm Springs.   We found a great little restaurant called the Matchbox.   The kids got their pizza and we got to see downtown Palm Springs.

We headed home so that we could attend Easter Services on Sunday morning.   Our L.A. church did not disappoint.   Easter services were great.   The kids had a blast in the kids activities.   Sunday afternoon, my daughter shot a few scenes of a short film with a director she worked with in the fall.   She got to play a fairy and had a blast blowing glitter all over the set.   Her set teacher was also pretty cool, she came home with a balloon animal in the shape of a poodle.   That has never happened before. 

Monday was my daughter's birthday.   We planned to visit the Reagan Library for a few hours and then fly kites on the beach.   I'll post about the library another day, but we never made it to the beach.   Jason flew home Monday night.  

In acting news:
We found out this week my daughter was cast in two short films that film at the end of the month.   We also found out this week that a film she worked on in the fall was submitted and accepted to the Cannes film festival.  

I'm tired and tomorrow is a busy day!   The Reagan Libary post will have to wait until Friday.

Friendly Visit and More Hiking

On Monday, I got to see a friends from Chicago.   I haven't not seen them since we moved in 2005.   It was so good to see them!   They got to see my much more grown up daughter and meet my son.  A new nephew's baptism brought them to L.A.  I think it is crazy after all this time we are able meet up in L.A.!   We went to play Putt Putt.   The kids played, Jeff kept score and supervised the kids, and Becky and I chatted.   It was so good to chat, catch up, and just enjoy her presence.   Jason and I met Becky and Jeff as newlyweds in our Sunday school class in Naperville.   We experienced milestones such as buying our first houses and having kids together.  Becky got me into quilting as well.   I had such a great time!   We all enjoyed a post putt putt treat.

On Tuesday, we went back to Putt Putt with the Ewings.   I actually tied 2nd place with Cole and made a hole in one! 

Just what you wanted to read about, we went hiking again on Wednesday.   This time we went to the area around Lake Hollywood.   We hiked right under the Hollywood sign.  

We also enjoyed a panoramic view of L.A. and the lake.

I found someone who loves books more than me.  Yes, books painted on the garage door.

Total miles: 4.05.   My son was piggybacked for about 1/10 of a mile.   My daughter piggybacked for just long enough for it to feel fair.  

I'm trying to write a post without acting updates.   She has worked some and auditioned some...there is the update. 

I found this pictures on my phone.   I thought the grandparents would enjoy them.  

From the electronics commercial of a few weeks ago:

That is the director watching my daughter and her faux Dad on the monitor. 

The kids and Cole hanging out before bedtime:

The Ewings are moving into a condo tomorrow.   We are planning to help them move.   Other than getting school and violin done that is all we plan to do.  Our Good Friday service is at 8:00pm.   I'm not sure if we are going.   It is a bit late for the kids. 

 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” 

1 John 3:16