Prop Day and Warner Bros. Studio

Friday we left Carlsbad and headed to Los Angeles. While there we went to visit the Propstore of London where Ryan had particularly wanted to go. We had a personal guide take us through cool props such as the stuffed Aslan from Narnia, but Ryan was interested in Stargate items. He thought he had died and gone to heaven. He looked through bins of props but decided against buying any. The man who was guiding us actually gave him a free prop - a crystal from the Stargate series! Ryan was sooooo excited!

Here is Ryan pictured in front of two huge props used in the show.

After that we went to Warner Bros. Studios for a tour of the backlot and prop sections. We learned a ton about how movies are made - it was fascinating! We drove by sound stages where the new Batman movie was being filmed as well as the Ellen show. The highlight, though, was an entire floor of Harry Potter props. It really was neat - we all got to sit on the actual stool that they used in the film to get sorted - and wore the sorting hat and got sorted! Very cool.

These are books use in the Harry Potter films...

This is the wall where they filmed the famous Spiderman kiss!!

The famous set where Friends was filmed.

And of course, the car that was used in one of the Harry Potter films. As we came out of the tour, Jacob said "Well that was highlight number 19 of the trip!" haha Truly, there have been so many highlights that if I weren't recording them all here we would probably forget some of them. We have been truly blessed.

Visit to Hollywood in style!

Yesterday we went into LA and toured Hollywood and Beverly Hills - but Danny surprised the kids and had lined up a limo to take us in and show us around! It was such an experience - one we will never forget, to pull up in front of the walk of fame and get out from a stretch limo, everyone was looking to see who was getting out. I am sure there were lots of disappointed people as it was just us getting out... but it was fun!

Unfortunately it was an overcast day, and so the Hollywood sign wasn't all that visible from the lookout point.

The famous Dustin family in front of their ride! haha

Did I already mention how cool it was?

These are pictures on the famous Rodeo Drive, where all the rich and famous shop. It was pretty, but we were rather unimpressed. Our driver was surprised when we spent a whopping six minutes there...

I have to say it was rather depressing to see such worldliness and materialism, so sad that so many cling to the false and temporary fulfillment this world has to offer. I left feeling like the people there are more lost and unreachable than many others in the nation as they are so very unaware of their need for salvation and seek the pleasures of this world.

Seeing the Kodak Theatre was neat though!

And of course the handprints of the Harry Potter stars - that was a neat thing.

While we were there, we met a few celebrities...

Okay okay, it was a wax museum... but really cool to see the wax celebrities!!

Hannah, for whatever reason, really doesn't like Penelope Cruz, so she was happy to make this pose!

Jacob and Leo are best buddies now.

On the way home we stopped at the famous Randy's donuts - seen in both Iron Man 2 as well as the movie 2012. That was really neat... and the donuts were good too!!

Guns, Go-Karts and Golf

Tuesday was a busy day - especially for the boys! In the morning Danny took all three boys to a shooting range to shoot handguns, something you can't do back home as far as we know. Even Ryan was old enough to do it. It was really sweet - one of those rare times that Danny was able to do something with all three of his boys. Who knows when that will happen again.

Then we all went to a go-kart range - very cool - the karts went up to 40 mph - so only Danny, Hannah and Jacob did that. I have to admit that I was nervous watching them...

Later in the day we went back to play miniature golf again. (yes, the Dustin family loves to play mini golf)

A shot of Ryan shooting a gun... this was absolutely the highlight of the trip for him!

We ended the night at a local restaurant famous for their fish and chips called Harbor Fish Cafe, and let me tell you we were not disappointed. Their fish tacos were also amazing, and it was absolutely by far the best clam chowder we have ever had anywhere. Wish I could get the recipe...

San Diego Zoo

This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip so far. This zoo was amazing!

Everyone's favorite was the polar bears. They were seemingly "performing" for the crowd as they swam toward us underwater as we observed through glass. They swam so gracefully and were absolutely beautiful! The kids happened to be at the front by the glass when they swam toward us and Ryan was just an inch away from the bear as they faced each other.

We ended the night here for dinner...

Day at the Beach

Matt and Sherry arrived Saturday night and the next day we headed down to the beach for a bit... we just kept marveling how we could be at the beach and not feel hot and sticky. We were actually a bit cool! My kind of beach experience.

That evening, after some of us nursed our sunburns, we decided to go out and play miniature golf and then go out for frozen yogurt.

Jacob making an awkward shot... haha

This really is a "once in a lifetime" trip, and we are trying to make it so for everyone. There is so much to see and do, and it has been a nice break from the focus on health issues. Nice to think about what to do or where to eat rather than how we feel. Danny has done an amazing job selecting accommodations, planning fun things, and getting us around. I know he is exhausted but he looks around and sees us all having fun, and he smiles with contentment... what a wonderful husband and Dad he is.

We never want to leave

When you drive along sights like this, and have absolutely perfect weather (meaning around 70, sunny and no humidity) how can one want to ever leave this place?

Yesterday we went to a pick-your-own strawberry field, and it is like no field I have ever seen at home. There are no bugs to contend with, no heat, and the plants are in such neat rows - the berries just hang over the edge waiting to be picked.

We have enjoyed a lot of frozen yogurt while on vacation!

And doesn't Danny just look like he fits in here? All happy and relaxed, enjoying some yogurt and sunshine... ah yes, California. Lovin' it.

Driving Day

Yesterday we drove. And drove. And drove some more. We traveled from Phoenix to San Diego through the desert. At one point it dropped almost 30 degrees in less than an hour! The scenery kept changing as we drove...

This was Danny's favorite part!