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Hawaii / California Extravaganza
Events of Dec 2-24th
Posted on January 24, 2009
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Ok ... it's now the next morning, Meliss and I have just gotten off the plane, and she comes up with the brilliant idea of heading to downtown Los Angeles to visit this little joint called Mani's Bakery for a little healthy desert and breakfast. I guess everything is sweetened with fruit concentrate, which is like the best for you or something. I have to say, it was pretty incredible. I guess celebrities are known to frequent here.
An awesome breakfast (and a little pricey).
Whoa, what hotel are you staying at? Actually ... it's not a hotel. My best friend growing up was Adam Williams, and his sister Ashley and her husband Randy kindly opened their doors to us for our California stay in the area. Thank you SOOOO much!
Check out our wheels! Got this puppy for only like $25.00 a day!
Inside the house. Yeah, slightly nice.
Our room. Don't think the obvious needs to be stated.
They recently bought this gorgeous piano, and actually had it tuned just for my coming. The reverberation throughout the house was beyond words.
Danielle and Keoni and Ashley and Romey.
First it was off to see my dear grandmother (mom's side).
Keoni gets his first glimpse of great grandma. All smiles. :-)
This jug has been sitting on my grandmother's patio for like as long as Jeremy and I can remember. Just wanted to snap a pic for posterity. (I'll bet if you drank that water you'd be transported to another dimension or something).
Like Toody, she can still play the piano! (and 90 years of age!)
Looked frighteningly similar to that doll.
Love you, grandmother. So wonderful seeing you again.
We part ways with Jeremy and Danielle for a time, snapping a quick photo as we blow past them on the freeway.
Where you at? A church. What for?
Oh nothing ... just to see MICHAEL W. SMITH in concert!!!!!!!!!! :-)
The man himself. He basically performed a bunch of the songs from his last two Christmas albums.
Speaking to the crowd. I actually didn't know he was from Tennessee and sports a slight southern accent.
Recognize her, anyone? Melinda DoLittle, who was a finalist for American Idol a few years ago. Man she had a voice!
One more look. Was such a great night. Oh, and we went with Nathan Daher! There's a picture of all of us that I'll have to post when I get back.
The next morning after our late night with Michael W. Smith. Many memories in this house ... filming memories with Nathan that I shan't ever forget.
Course, in typical generous Daher fashion we were taken out to breakfast at Torey Pines golf course. Recently had the US Open there and it was looking nice.
A little San Diego site-seeing.
Chatting with some local liberals. lol, no, it was good. Got into politics for what was quite a stimulating conversation. I just know she walked away a staunch conservative.
"Oh hon, we need to get this for the baby!"
That evening we quickly raced back up to my hometown of Laguna Niguel to spend a lovely dinner with the Georges and Grants, good friends of ours from waayyyy back.
So weird seeing Melissa with familiar faces from my past. It was just awesome.
Then ... we raced back down to San Diego that night and the next day were out again site-seeing with the Dahers. Pretty awesome museum here.
This guy could play.
Everyone in stride. That's Mr. and Mrs. Daher and Jamesy on the left there.
Welcome to San Diego.
Time for a trolley ride!
Cutie.
Great shot, Nathan. You've got skeels with your Nikon.
Inside a conservatory at Balboa Park. Immaculate.
A merry-go-round! Or ... a carousel, as Melissa calls it (guess it sounds more eloquent).
Nathan, you are so cool! :-) Kalea politely waves.
Nathan's brother Abram and his family join us for dinner. Abe's always had the best manners.
Group shot.
Awesome job, Nate. You really outdid yourself this time.
Out for a Christmas light stroll. Just up the street is Christmas Card Lane, which I guess has become a popular drive-through spot for Southern Californians in the area.
Kinda freaky.
Talk about freaky ... now's the time to vote for the freakiest Christmas picture of the night. Please choose from the following three ...
#1
Here we have a demented, carrot-nosed manikin with what appears to be no mouth and lame right arm.
#2
Here we have an oversized doll with a blank, empty, psychotic stare.
#3
And here we have ... well ... Cookie Monster.
How would you like to meet him in a dark alley?
Got to also see my sister Brynn and her family.
Timmy, my sister's oldest, entertains Keoni.
Back at Randy and Ashley's ... Kalea reads to Gavin. Remember, she's always in charge.
Me and Adam. Hadn't seen him in 4 or 5 years. We were the best of friends growing up (INFP and ENFP). Let's keep in touch!
Ok, these next few pictures are gonna be boring, but this is like my journal, so just sit still and shut up. Or, I mean, just be quiet. Thanks. Ok, so anyway, here I am in front of Moulton Elementary School, were I went from kinder garden to 2nd grade. Sooooo sentimental for me coming back here.
Man, lots of memories on this field. I remember outrunning Darvel here, the fastest black kid in school (well, the fastest kid period).
And here's my junior high, Niguel Hills.
And here's George White, where I went from 3rd to 5th grade. This school was by far my favorite.
Stopped by the Cheesecake Factory for a quick lunch before heading to the Stevens' for dinner a little later. Oh my goodness ... hadn't had avocado egg rolls for awhile ... SOOO good!!!
At the Stevens' for dinner ... holding Jonathan's pet boa. I was scared at first. Used to have one myself, but it had been a long time!
A wonderful dinner. Thank you so much!
The fam.
Now, back in Springfield Airport, waiting for mom to come pick us up. We're tired, and are ready to go home.
The looks says it all. What a trip!!!
Thanks so much for sharing it with us. Lord bless you all!
