California!

Rich and I had so much fun on our trip to the LA area for my brother Brad's wedding. We almost didn't want to come back. Well, almost. :o) The trip didn't start out so well...somehow I got a horrid migraine on the plane, and wanted to smash people's heads together so they would stop talking. We went over to get our rental car, and despite the fact that it was 11pm, Rich wanted to stop at In-in-Out since we hadn't eaten dinner yet. Once we got our food, we tried to get on the freeway, but it was blocked with road construction. After driving around for about 30 minutes I started to feel extremely nauseous. This is when I started "yelling" at Rich to eat his cheeseburger. I couldn't stand the smell and I couldn't see out of my right eye. My head was pounding and I wanted to throw up. We finally got on the freeway, and once the GPS said we were about 5 minutes from my parent's house I called Mom with a special request. Open the front door... and show me where the bathroom is... I need to VOMIT. And that's what happened. I went running in the front door and straight for the bathroom. Then I stumbled up the stairs and fell into a bed. The next day, vacation began. I felt MUCH better!

The trip was a whirlwind and I felt like we couldn't fit it all in. We saw so many great friends that we haven't seen in a couple of years, and the wedding was beautiful! We also celebrated my grandma's 74th birthday and drove her to Santa Paula see a childhood friend she had not seen in 30 years. We had dinner together on Ventura Pier. Tuesday we all went to the Reagan Library (completely amazing) and then Michael and Mary Kate and Rich & I stayed in LA so that we wouldn't have to get up at 3am for our flights. It was so much fun getting to see everyone again. We all live so far apart and don't get to see each other very often. My parents are true empty nesters now!! :)

Enjoy the trip pics!

This trip happened because these two people fell in love :) 

 My childhood best friend, Amber, lives in Lancaster these days. So, Thursday night was dinner at a Mexican restaurant. This group included My entire family, Grandma, the Harters, & Amber. 

 Mom & Me! :) 

The happy couple! 

The whole group :)

I found dog on the menu....Pollo Acapulco (that's my dog's name!) Yes, I know, cheesy.

Happy 74th birthday, Nana! 

The wedding rehearsal

Mike & Mary Kate at the rehearsal dinner. 

Rich & me at the rehearsal dinner. With the sun behind us, it was hard to take pictures! 

Mary Kate & me on the wedding day.

Got to see Kim! She is quite a lovely young lady these days. 

The platform, before the wedding.

Waiting for pictures to be over.

Cutting the cake!

The boys.

Rich & Brad

Brad & Jenna

Leaving the reception in a blast of purple petals! 

Spending some time with the kids! Our dear friends Nanette & Jim made the 6-hour drive south with their four kids! Kudos to them :) 

Chloe & me

Seth, Taryn, and me

Snuggling with Taryn. Such a happy baby! 

Rich & Taryn

Taryn! 

Brandon! 

Chloe! 

Nanette & me :) 

The beautiful drive to Santa Paula

The view from the neighborhood in Santa Paula

My Nana and her friend Willadeen. They went to school together in the 1950's I believe.

In Santa Paula. It was such a lovely, quaint town. The kind of place you retire to, I suppose. :)

Ventura Pier

Ventura Pier

Ventura Pier. After spending my whole life making fun of people who go to the beach in CA and forget to bring a jacket, I forgot a jacket...lol! It was so cold and windy! 

Ventura Pier

Ventura Pier

At In-in-Out in Santa Clarita

In-in-Out! I was pretty happy about my cheeseburger and chocolate shake. :)

Driving to the Reagan Library

Airforce One, parked in the Reagan library.

Goofing off in the elevator

The view from the patio at the Reagan Libary. It was so beautiful. And we just wouldn't be us without acting like children.

A piece of the Berlin wall. Very sobering.

Wish we had a leader like this when Occupy happened. 

Nana posing as Ms. President. 

More goofing off in the elevator.

Mary Kate fell on our way to the wedding and injured her ankle. Soooo....basically we dragged her out in a wheelchair. :) She was such a good sport.

Bronze statues of the Reagans (obviously) :) 

Well, folks, that's a wrap. :)