Beach Day - March 16

Next up for our marvelous spring break, a beach day!  It was Jake's first time going to the beach where he was actually aware of where he was, and mobile.

Disneyland - March 15

At the end of Ben's winter quarter, he didn't have any finals during finals week.  SO, instead of a week of finals and a week for spring break, we had a 2 week spring break and it was the most glorious spring break ever!  We stayed right here in LA and had a total blast.  Of course we went to Disneyland at least one day.

California Screamin' is the perfect ride for our family.  Ben & I can easily take turns riding, using the Single Rider Line that moves super quickly, and Jacob loves to stand here and watch the roller coaster take off!  It's the best!

Hollywood Sign Hike

Disneyland - February 23rd

Disneyland - February 5th

Jake & I went 2 times that week!  So fun . . so exhausting!

Show Biz: Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy, Conan, & Ellen

We are trying to squeeze in every LA experience we can before we leave - - and attending tapings of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy was *definitely* on my list.  Our thoughts:

the stages/sets are MUCH smaller than you'd imagine

the audiences are much smaller than you'd imagine

Pat Sajak is awkward!

Alex Trebec is very well-spoken and hilarious - with a dry sense of humor.

Wheel of Fortune is SO. MUCH. CLAPPING.  Seriously, it is kind of exhausting!

Watching people in real life is . . hilarious.

If Alex Trebec pronounces something incorrectly, the crew will re-tape him reading that clue, and then fix it for the TV episode.

We much preferred watching Jeopardy - it was SO low-key and chill, it required a lot less work from us, and there was more fun content to watch.

Wheel of Fortune with Chelsea & Will

Jeopardy

When Ben was finished with his Applied Market Research project - the capstone of his MBA program, he and his team attended a taping of Conan O'Brien

I was invited to go to The Ellen Show with some friends from our ward.  We had stand-by tickets, and unfortunately we were about 15 people away from making it into the studio!  We had to wait outside the studio, in the Riff-Raff room, and watch the show on TV.  We could still hear it all live, though . . and that was kinda fun . . ?  Ha!  We were given guaranteed return tickets, but they are for after Ben & I will have already moved.  Major bummer!  

Jacob: Eleven Months

Seriously, this is shaping up to be the best year of my life.  I can't believe Jacob is 11 months old!  Time is flying by at the speed of life and I am trying to savor every moment.

At 11 months, Jacob: 

- is WALKING!  Holy smokes, he was full-blow walking at 10.5 months.  Talk about advanced ;)

- finally taking an interest in eating!  Maybe he'll manage to put on some weight and grow out of his size 3-6 months clothes.  Daily foods include: corn, beans, strawberries, raspberries, avocado, applesauce, and Cheddar Rockets (Trader Joe's goldfish)

- starting to communicate with us in more understandable ways . . he says "bah" for ball (first word!), and sometimes says "uh uh oh oh oh."  When Jake is ready to eat, he walks over to his booster seat and looks at us.  He can't say these words, but he definitely knows what we mean when we say books, shoes, milk, Mickey Mouse, ball, diaper, outside, . . .

- Speaking of outside, this little boy LOVES to be outside.  It is his happy place.  When we go down the stairs and turn left to go to the garage instead of turning right to go to the playground - - tears!  He loves to play in the fake grass, slide down the slide . . or crawl up it, play with balls, ride on tricycles (our backs don't love that one), play with other kids' scooters, and eat rocks/dirt/leaves.  It's fun to sit back and watch him play . . and then run after him when he puts something in his mouth.  We have several little friends at our apartment playground - it is so fun!

- HATES having his diaper changed.  Like seriously it takes two of us.  It's a terrible battle.

- Sometimes enjoys his bath . . and sometimes slips and falls or gets water in his eyes, and then it's all over.

- enjoys long walks on the beach . . but really - last weekend he walked probably 200 meters up the beach and back down . . trying to stay out of the waves!

- has 3 teeth - two on the bottom and one on the top - and that 2nd top tooth is about to come down!

- is mischievous and hilarious and keeps us on his toes.  I'm getting myself in shape so I can keep up with the little booger!  :)

Oh, how we love our Jakey!!