California!

It's only taken me four months to finish, but finally, here are the highlights from our June trip to L.A.

At the Nashville airport, waiting to board our flight

All settled in on the plane - thankfully, there were extra seats available, so Hannah got her own on both legs of the trip.

So excited to be on an airplane!!

Hannah spent a decent portion of the flight asleep :).

Danica spent quite a bit of it looking like this :).

Danica in front of Torrance Memorial Medical Center, the hospital where she was born.

The first of many visits to the beach on this trip

Danica's shell castle

Hannah meets Grandma Waynel for the first time

Danica enjoys playing with her cousins.

Hannah with Aunt Beth

Danica and Lola

This was taken at Marilyn Ryan Sunset Point Park.  Marilyn was a wonderful woman who served as a mayor, state assemblywoman, and, most importantly, Jessica's employer for several years.

At Cal State Dominguez Hills, Danny's alma mater

Our first poke of the trip - so good!!

A visit with the Boltons

Danica hits it off with Mark T's kids.

No trip to Los Angeles is complete without a stop at Philippe's!

Griffith Observatory

Danica checks out the sun.

A future great mind

Pointing out the Hollywood sign

Playing at Polliwog Park

Got to get those toes in the sand!

Building a sand castle with Daddy is only half the fun...

...the other half is smashing it!

Getting warmed up

Hannah loved the water, too!

Hanging out with cousin Espie

Danny's childhood home

The Beach Boys monument, right around the corner from where Danny used to live

The first obligatory trip to In-N-Out

Danica plays with the Lin boys

Danica and Brandon discuss their views on world politics.

Hannah and Parker meet.

Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center

A visit with the Seltzers

Jessica's childhood home in the background

Dinner with the Chins at Seafood Port

Hannah liked the rice.

Danica liked the chicken.

Danica entertains Alicia and Stuart

A walk alongside the golf course, followed by a family reunion picnic with sandwiches from Busy Bee!

Danica loved taking her own pictures along the way.

In addition to the California residents, we were joined by Jackie and some of the kids from Georgia and Mark from Nevada.

Kylie and Danica

Konner and Danica

Danica with Uncle Mark

Danica and Gabriel

Thirsty girl

Lola and Danica

Danny, Grandma Waynel, and Mark

Almost all the siblings - Jackie, Beth, Mark, Danny

The Grandkids!

Lunch at Rice Things - YUMMY!  Danica was a big fan of the sesame chicken.

More poke.  Oh, how we miss poke!

Watching the sea stars at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium

The touch tank - but, she didn't feel like touching anything!

Grunion display, in honor of Meridian's "Apple, Apple, Onion"

Hypnotized by the jellies

Cutest Garibaldi and Goby I've ever seen!

Daddy bought her a special treat at the Aquarium.  Can you see the excitement in her eyes?

She only made it about a quarter of the way through the lollipop before this happened.

Another trip to In-N-Out (you can't go too many times, right?)

We taught Danica the fine art of dipping your fries in your chocolate shake. 

Back at the beach (again!)

Hannah took to the sand right away - so different from her big sister, who was terrified of it at this age.

One happy baby + an afternoon at the beach = One Hot Mess!

Catching some rays

The long, steep hike back to the car

We miss this view. :(

And this one.

We had such a wonderful trip.  It was great to visit our old stomping grounds and reconnect with friends and family.  California, we'll be back to visit again someday!