Welcome to Cali!

Sorry its been awhile since I've posted, things have been pretty busy around here, a good busy tho I'll explain more later about that! Last week my dad came to visit Ben and I here in Anaheim. He had a lot of vacation time saved up and either had to use it or lose it. My mom was unable to come since she started a new job awhile ago and hasn't built any vaca time yet. We took my dad all around Anaheim and the surrounding towns. Showed him around IKEA, Whole Foods, El Super, Farmer's Market in LA and the local farmer's market, went to the beach, of course we went to the San Diego Zoo and walked around Old Town San Diego, ate at Bruxie's Waffle Sandwiches, drove around LA and went to the La Brea Tar pits AND of course we took him to Bookman! It was a pretty busy week to say the least but we had a great time! We love having visitors so if you ever come out to Cali give us a call!

Huntington Beach

Waffle Sandwiches from Bruxie's!

Trolley @ LA Farmer's Market

Page Museum

San Diego Zoo

Speechless

As ya'll know I got a sewing machine for Christmas this past year. I've been working on some sewing projects and have been trying to find good fabric that doesn't cost a ton! Wednesday Ben and I found M&L Discount Fabrics online and decided to check it out. All I can say is W.O.W! We walked in and I was speechless. Fabric of all types, styles and patterns were everywhere. This is the BIGGEST fabric store I've EVER been to. Best thing is that they have really great prices, sure there are some that are rather pricey but they have a lot of fabric that is affordable. Needless to say this store and I will become quite good friends! :) Just a pic to show you what I saw when I walked in.

Down By The Bay

This past Saturday Ben and I went with my cousins Sara, Jake and his family to Sea World in San Diego. We had planned on going in February the weekend of Jake's birthday but things came up and we had to rearrange the plans. Good thing too because that weekend in February was a cold and rainy one! I've only been to Sea World once in my life and that was when I was 9 or 10 I think. My parents took us kids, well Jedidiah, Meredith and I down to Sea World in San Antonio (Naomi was still really little so she stayed @ Granny & Grandpa's) Ben on the other hand has been to every Sea World except the one in San Diego, so we were both super excited! Saturday was a pretty nice day to go, not to cool and not really hot! We had lots of fun and got to see some really cool animals! Here are a few pictures of what we saw:

Sea World Sign!

Sea Lion taking a nap

Dolphin Show

Polar Bear snoozing

Shamu!

Ben touching a Star Fish

Mary (Jake and Molly's little girl) Isn't she super cute?!?

We had a great day and were SUPER tired by the end but had lots of fun!

Popeye Ain't Got Nothin On These

In honor of St. Patrick's day next Thursday I decided to send a little treat with Ben to the youth tonight. The past couple of months Ben and I have been trying to eat healthier and not eat out as much as we have in the past. Since eating healthier I have found quite a few blogs with great healthy, yummy recipes! Today while looking at www.greenlitebites.com I discovered this great cupcake recipe and thought I should make these and see if their good or not! The thing I love about this recipe is that its really easy, doesn't make a huge mess, has only 3 ingredients, is super yummy and has SPINACH in them! (You wouldn't even know it, can't taste it at all!) So if you're looking for a easy, yummy, GREEN snack to take to work or school or just have at home for St. Patty's day these would be perfect! To check out the recipe click here!

Here are a few pictures of my afternoon of baking! Enjoy!

SPINACH!!

Blending!

Yep, its GREEN!

Ben enjoying his cupcake!

READY, SET SEW!

In high school I took Home Ec., well it was either that or Ag. (no thanks!) Starting our Freshmen year we started learning to sew! Freshmen year we had to make a clothing article and then Sophomore, Jr. and Sr. year we made quilts. While I'm not an expert or amazing at sewing but I really enjoyed it. Recently I decided that I would like to start up sewing again! I now have everything that I need to get started with so here it goes, wish me luck!

Rotary cutter, ruler, pins, seem ripper and thread

from Ben for my birthday!

Amazing Book from Bookman!

Sewing machine I got for Christmas from my parents!

Argh!

Thursday and Friday Ben's Aunt Cindy and two boys(Steven & Andrew) came up from Camp Pendleton to spend Andrew's birthday with us! Our plans were changed a few times but we still had a great time! Thursday morning we went and visited the Page Museum and La Brea Tar pits. Ben and I have really been meaning to go and check this place out but just haven't had time.

The Page Museum houses the Earth's richest and largest and important Ice Age fossil collection. We were able to watch paleontologists at work and see scenes showing Southern California and North America how they were thousands of years ago. One thing that I learned was there are NO dinosaur bones here, the dinosaurs were extinct way before the tar pits were formed! Here are just a few things we saw:

Later Thursday evening we went to the Pirate Dinner show! Last summer when Ben's Nanny and Papa and his cousin Grant came to visit we all went to the Medieval Times Dinner show and had a blast so we were really excited to see the Pirate Show! We couldn't decide which we liked better and agreed that both were really fun! The Pirate Show was very interactive, Ben, Steven and Andrew got to play parts in the show!

Ben and I LOVE having his Aunt Cindy, Uncle David and cousins so close, they are lots of fun and things are never boring! So if you're in Southern California for a few days I definitely recommend checking these places out, ESPECIALLY the museum!

**Melissa**

Bookman

This perhaps is my favorite place in Southern California! I know right I actually have a "favorite" in California! Ben and I happened upon this wonderful bookstore a couple of months ago when we were out driving around. Bookman sells used out-of-print and unique books. Books ARE EVERYWHERE! Ceiling to floor and door to wall everywhere you turn books! Its a readers paradise! AND the kicker is that its inexpensive which makes my heart happy. I think that one of the highlights about the store is that outside in front they have 4 or 5 racks of books which costs 92 cents so plus tax its a dollar! *sigh* I love this place! Ben and I have spent countless hours here, sometimes I just park myself in the floor and read! So if you ever come to visit I promise that we'll take you to visit!

Here are a few pictures so you can see how wonderful it truly is!