Travel Time

You know me, or at least some do on this blog, but I am a nervous traveler.  I don't mind flying at all, it's the lead up to it.  Like buying a ticket, checking in, checking your bags, SECURITY (although they could strip me right in front of everybody and I would not make a peep!)  Once I'm in the airport past all the "stuff" I'm fine.  

My oldest, Bri, Snicklefritz and I decided that this spring for spring break that we would travel to LA to visit daughter #2, Afton.  Scary part was buying the tickets, but with Allegient Air we were able to fly non-stop, a HUGE plus in my nervous travel book.

It was also Snicklefritz's first time to fly and she was so excited.  Her face when she realized that the wheels were off the ground and we were FLYING was priceless!

Afton was there to happily pick us up and then jaunt off to a quick vegan lunch.  You see, she and here hubby, Nick are vegan's in veganland, California.  I really don't mind because some of the stuff she fixes for us is quite yum.  Bri is vegetarian also so the food thing for her was easy too, and Snicklefritz doesn't eat much meat at all.

Then a quick stop to Hermosa Beach for Snicklefritz to see the ocean for the very first time.  She had a lot of firsts this past week.  We knew that the chance for beach time was non-existent this trip so this was our only chance.   

We could hardly get her off the sand as she rolled and rolled around in it.  

My girls!

Since we were staying a week we decided to rent an Airbnb.  It was an older apartment/condo kind of thing and Bri loved it, me, not so much.  But it was clean and very close to Afton as she was our ride/taxi driver while out there.  I even had MY first Uber ride.

The courtyard was lovely, really charming. 

After the beach and a 16 mile 1-1/2 hour drive to their place Afton was pooped, as were we and so our new son-in-law, Nick dropped us off back at our Airbnb.

The next day we planned on a trip to Universal Studios and Harry Potter World!  I was apprehensive for the walking but stoked about HPW!

Right off the bat when we entered the whole place we saw this, Scooby Doo and his entourage.  Bri loved, LOVED, LOVED that show as a child.  She had/has a Scooby Doo stuffed dog and watched the show for hours when we first got cable as it was on for like 2 hours a day.  She was beyond excited to see them and was nearly in tears with giddiness!   

Harry Potter World was fabulous. 

We bought a wand, scarves and a stuffed puppet Hedwig for Snicklefritz. 

  Food and drink was had at Three Broomsticks.

Boy was I beat that day.  That evening after dinner at one of their favorite Pho restaurants, Lemon Grass, we dropped Snicklefritz off to spend the night with her Auntie Af and Uncle Nick while we got some R&R.  The next morning we walked across the street to the Panera Bread for much needed coffee and food then Ubered to their place to get the kiddo.

The next day we went to Target to check out maternity clothes, yes, I said MATERNITY  clothes.  We are going to be grandparents again.  Afton and Nick are expecting...

a baby girl. 

We got to find out just before we left for Target. While at Target my niece, who lives in LA now and is a budding photographer came over to take some publicity photos of Nick for his use in his jazz music career.

Then we all went to lunch/dinner to yet another vegan place that the name escapes me right now.  Britt was able to join along and then she snapped the baby announcement photos.  It was good to see her and she is doing so well.  I'm proud of her.  

Oh and on the weather front, unfortunately we had one day of partial sun.  Seems we brought the Oklahoma rain, dreary and cold with us.  In fact, on the way to lunch/dinner it rained so hard and then HAILED!  Afton said she couldn't remember the last it had hailed in California.  

Sadly, the visit was over and we were up at 3:30 AM, yes AM, to jet off back to Oklahoma, which they had had an entire week of fantastic weather.  We got back to RAIN AND COLD AND DREARY!  Good Grief.  

Anyway, we are back and they will come here in June so we can see her growing belly and then in September sometime I will fly out there ALONE, ALL BY MYSELF to help her when baby girl comes.  I can do this, I can do this, I can do this!