A couple years ago we decided to make an epic trip across the US so we could see as many family and friends and visit as many places as we could. Living abroad has many advantages, but the disadvantages are that we don't get to see people back home enough and while our kids have seen so much of the world, there's quite of bit of the US that haven't. The scope of that trip brought us all over the US, from California to New York. I guess we must have forgotten some of the pain of weeks of nonstop travel from that trip as we planned an even longer trip with more stops (and flights) for 2019. Seven weeks of continuous travel, with 13 flights visiting seven states (plus three countries for one!) . . . and I think we stayed in 15 different accommodations. It was an incredible task booking and keeping track of all our the travel arrangements, and amazingly I didn't make any mistakes! It was a crazy summer, indeed, and we were more than ready to get back home to London at the end of it all, but what an epic summer it was. So many highlights that included family time celebrating my parents' 50th wedding anniversary at Lake Tahoe, getting acquainted to Dallin's new stomping grounds in Utah, discovering how much we love New England spending time in Massachusetts, an amazing HEFY experience in South America for Madeleine and adventures in the Florida sun. In favour of traveling light I left my camera at home and relied mostly on my phone. I sometimes regret the inferior picture quality, but I never regret traveling light.
No mater how long I live in London, California will always be home first. It always feels so good touching down in the golden state. Trevon, Madeleine and I left the UK a bit ahead of Scott to get in some time to do some college touring for Madeleine and visit some family and friends. It was such a great first week in the US. I love California!
We spent the first few days in Los Angeles, and our first day stateside at the fun Santa Monica Pier soaking up the sun and celebrating summer holidays!
A little California girl souvenir shopping on the pier
To kick off the summer we bought ride passes to enjoy all the rides at Pacific Park on Santa Monica Pier. The kids loved it and rode as many as they could fit in.
Time for some beach action! After enjoying the activities on the pier we settled in for a few hours on the beach.
A stroll down the boardwalk
We called Westwood Village home, a great place to stay to enjoy some of the amenities of west LA, and a great chance to get a sense of life at UCLA.
First college tour, UCLA. She liked it!
We took advantage of the jetlag going west and went on a morning hike up to the Hollywood sign. I've never done this before and thought it would be fun for the kids. The morning turned out pretty fogged in, so the views were not on display, but gratefully the fog opened up just enough for us to see the sign on approach. I'd love to do this again on a nicer day, but it was still a fun experience.
Before we left LA to head south to OC we took a tour of Paramount Studios. I've done a studio tour before, but the kids had not. Fun to let them experience a real Hollywood studio.
So much history here!
The OC! It's amazing how often we get back here considering we only lived here for three years. It must be the beaches and the Mexican food. Or maybe the people. Yeah, probably that. Fun with friends on the beach in OC, such a great day!
Love these ladies! Jenni, Shelley, Brena and Kelly
Another fun gathering with the Rydells and Mathews at Chez Rydell
After saying goodbye to southern California, we flew up north. First stop was another college tour slash walk down memory lane. We were at Stanford for three years ending in 2003 for law school for Scott. It was an amazing three years for our then little family. We have always cherished that time. Madeleine was born here a couple of weeks after Scott graduated. This visit was all about her, a chance for her to explore the campus from a prospective student point of view. She loved it!
So many memories in these places, long before Trevon was born!
Our little student duplex in EV. We moved here when Dallin was 9 months old. It was simple, but truly idyllic.
Family time in the bay area, great to have time alone with my parents!
Wonderful Fuhriman gathering at Rod's
A wonderful first week in the USA, farewell, California!
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