New Year's Eve

We decided to head to LA to visit Melissa over New Year's weekend. We started off mid-morning and made it an hour down the road before Joseph started to complain of hunger. A quick stop at In 'n' Out and we were on the road again.

Well, a "quick stop" family-style which equals 45 minutes.

The kids fell asleep while Chad and I chatted about all those important things you save for road trips. You know, was Sherlock Holmes a crack addict, is classical music more calming than Dave Matthews and what the hell is up with those Zsu Zsu pets.

Sadly, we'd forgotten to get gas during our lunch stop. We pulled over in Santa Barbara, Joseph let out a roaring yawn and Elizabeth woke up. Hoping the kids would fall back asleep, we continued on. Until a rancid smell started to permeate the car at the same time oddly loud gurgling sounds percolated from Elizabeth. We stopped in Mussel Shoals to change a diaper and let Joseph get the wiggles out.

We walked around the beach for a half hour. It was actually a really nice stop. By the time we pulled into Melissa's Silverlake home, we'd been on the road for five hours. So much for quick road trips.

Melissa and I went shopping for snacks and picked up Thai food. Oh the Thai food. It was so good, Chad and I ate it for dinner two nights in a row. Deliciously spicy. Chock full of veggies. It was amazing.

Shoot. Now my mouth is watering.

We stayed awake long enough to watch the ball drop and fireworks explode over the city. Melissa's house had an amazing view. The city, skyscrapers and neighborhoods, stretched below, framed by trees.

On New Year's Day we took the kids to Griffith Park. Joseph rode the ponies, we all rode the train and then Joseph and I took a spin on the carousal. We went out for a pizza lunch and then back to the house for naps.



Melissa wasn't feeling well, so Chad and I were on our own. Thai food. We're addicts. An early night and a busy morning getting out the door.



We'd promised Joseph a trip to the Natural History Museum to see dinosaurs. We headed over, Joseph's car seat straps the only things keeping him from bouncing all over the car. We parked and walked through the unseasonably, but very LA, warm sun and entered the museum.

Immediately in front was a T-Rex and Triceratops. Joseph couldn't hold still. Pulling me after him, he ran up to look at the bones. Thus the tone was set. From one exhibit to another, Joseph ran. Gasping at bears, boggling at bugs, spellbound by dioramas. We watched the paleontologists work, his face pressed to the glass, his eyes intent. "I want to be a palogist too!"

Elizabeth slept through the whole visit, snuggled tight against Chad's chest.

After a foot-aching morning, we relaxed under a shady tree, eating ice cream cones. Joseph talked a mile a minute about all he'd seen. Elizabeth lounged, belly full after her lunch.

The drive home went quickly. We stopped at Red Robin's for lunch/dinner and pulled into our drive way with two sleeping kids in the back seat.

It was a fun filled, busy way to start the New Year.