Day 7 - at ease on the greens of Castle Park

This morning we ran errands, it made me very frustrated as I went all the way to Burbank for one thing in particular and they ended up not having it, we were planning on the zoo this afternoon but I couldn't drive all the way back to Burbank so instead we miniature golfed. Kate had a blast playing golf with granddad and I chased Sara who had a blast running around.

Day 6 - Golfing and The Grove

Today my dad was really excited, he was golfing!! A broker from Eric's office is a golfer too and so very generously offered to take my dad golfing, at the LA Country Club no less. Its was a totally different world for my dad, he left his regular shoes in the locker room and when he came back they had been cleaned! Also when Mark asked my dad did they want to ride (golf cart) or walk my dad said he didn't mind walking, he's used to it and my dad was blown away when out walked Cesar to carry both bags, my dad absolutely loved it. I'll take any suggestions on an appropriate thank-you for Mark McDonald.

Entrance to the oh so posh country club and my dad with Mark McDonald in the background.

After naps we went to The Grove, so pretty at night and everyone love the water show.

Day 5 - In loving memory

So yesterday was day 4 and that was church, my dad stayed home (he's not a member) and I think just enjoyed some quiet time, we grilled tri-tip on the BBQ for dinner and then headed over to a little open house shower for our friends the Cookes who just adopted a precious little baby boy. It was wonderful.

Which brings me to today, day 5 of our adventures. We began the day by waiting for the delivery of my new dining table, yeah, that's right, my new beautiful dining table, here is the story behind it (just in case you were curious). When my mum passed away her pension paid out to my dad in a lump sum, he said he would like to buy something for my brothers and myself out of the money. My younger brother is a plasterer by trade and really needed a big van to haul his stuff around in and so my dad got him his well needed van, my other brother also got a car. We are not talking fancy automobiles here, good plain old used ones, anyway, at the time I could not think of anything I wanted or needed in the realms of a keepsake to remember my mum by, I had told my dad that when we moved into a house a washer/dryer would be wonderful and so like my mum to buy, something totally useful and practical. Well, our house came with a washer/dryer and Eric's dad recently upgraded our dryer as a surprise for us and so I have been stumped again. Then it came to me that we really could do with a larger dining table, we only had a 4 seater and so whenever we have friends over for dinner its always a squeeze, plus we have the room and my dad thought it was a lovely idea, so he bought me a dining table and it is beautiful and something that I can always have and will always make me think of both my mum and my dad. And did I mention its beautiful? also, the thing is sooooo very, very heavy, I felt really bad for the guys delivering it but they did a great job and I tipped. After the table came we went to Cost Plus World Market to get some place mats and then met Eric at Johnny Rocket's for lunch, brought Sara home for her nap, after she woke up we then headed out to the park. It was wonderful to have granddad with us as he could spend the whole time swinging Kate and I was able to chase Sara around wherever she wanted to go. Then we had to make a pit stop at Ralph's and home for dinner, I made fish and served it with yummy tomato jam that Brooke so kindly gave me, we ate the whole jar, thanks Brooke.

Day 3 - the Aquarium

Today we headed down to Long Beach to The Aquarium of the Pacific. We haven't been in over a year and it was a fun day out, Sara loved it, she loved to be able to run up to the exhibits and watch the fish. We then headed over to the pike, grabbed a delicious pizza for lunch and then headed over to Eric's bosses house for a 1st birthday party for their little girl. A fun filled day and to round it all off we got a pumpkin pie from Marie Callendars tonight, the British don't eat pumpkin pie so Eric and I though it would be fun for my dad to try, his comments were "its not bad" but he didn't finish his slice so the proof of the pudding will be whether or not he has another slice tomorrow!! Oh! and I forgot to mention, as always Eric loved the Lorikeet Forest, just as we were leaving it he had about 5 birds on him.

Day 2 - Happy Birthday

Today is my dad's birthday, I won't reveal his age but he is not yet 60!! We 1st went to Target where I had pictures of him and the girls taken (will post when I get them back, oh, so cute), then home for lunch and a nap for Sara. Whilst waiting for Sara to wake up Kate and granddad played hi-ho-cherrio and watched Finding Nemo. Then off to the golf shop, one of my dads favourite places, he is a golfer, he is now retired and so that is what pretty much fills his time and he's not too bad either his handicap is 5 (for anyone that doesn't know the lower the better, 0 being Tiger Woods). The girls enjoyed the golf shop too which was fun, and then we went to Cheesecake Factory for dinner, my dad almost ordered the fish and chips but after I rolled my eyes he picked the Steak Diane, Eric and I split the Chicken Medira, delish!! A fun day and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my dad, I don't think that I have seen him on his birthday for 10 years so it was a nice change.

Day 1 of our adventures with granddad...

Last night we picked up granddad from LAX, its fun to finally have him on our turf. Today was day one of our adventures with granddad. We went to Kate's class, met Eric at In & Out for lunch and then went to the Huntington. I'm a little sad that in all the time I have been in LA I have never been to the Huntington, it was so beautiful and tranquil, are we really in a big city? Even though Sara doesn't remember my dad at all (we went to England when she was 6mths) and its been almost 2 years since he has seen Kate they are both warming up to him nicely, here are some pics.

The girls loved watching the koi carp.And getting wet.And even wetter!!Sara and granddad

Kate and grandad.

By the waterfall in the jungle gardens.

Granddads on his way!!

My dad left England this morning and should arrive in LA around 6:45 tonight, I have tried to plan some fun things for us to do but please post any suggestions for me that you may have, fun places to visit and fun places to eat, especially if you are not from here. Its my dads birthday on Friday so we are planning on taking him to Cheescake Factory. I am also planning a day out in Santa Barbara, I love that place, any good food recommendations there?

And, my beloved Civic sold on e-bay, we got about $1500 more than we hoped for so that was amazing but it was a little bit of a wrench dropping it off last night. A father from Colorado had bought it for his son, sounds nice right? well we drop it off and the guys, lets just say, one slice short of a loaf and drunk to boot. My poor sweet civic that has been so faithful all of these years, I didn't know I had such an attachment too it, I hope it has gone to a good home.