This Summer

..went at normal speed. You know how people say how fast or slow their summer went?  I figure that mine went at normal speed.  There was a beginning, middle, and an end.  The beginning: re-cooping from London Study Abroad withdrawls.  The middle: Washington DC trip with my family.  The end: vacation to California.  I worked, I played, I worked.
I haven't updated since my trip to California.  What a fun ending to my normal speed summer.
PART ONE: Kickin it with Grandma Rosie and Grandpa Roger
FRIDAY
Six Flags with my sister, Sydney.  6 hours of adrenaline bliss.  And it was great since California went back to school, already, so shorter lines!
SATURDAY
Basically, today was a blast to the British past.
Morning tea time with the girls!  They brought out these pots with our hot cocoa/tea in them and we had scones.  I ordered the classic English Breakfast.  (ohhh, memories...)

We found Taylor Lautner's house.
Then we went to see "Annie" the musical at C.O.C. 
Then we had a family bar-be-que.
SUNDAY
My family left this morning, so I had my grandparents all to myself :)  After church, we drove down to Malibu.  As we relaxed/walked along the beach, we watched the guards patrol the $300 million yacht owned by a Russian businessman.  No big deal.
My grandparents introduced me to a cute little cupcake place called Crumbs.

And then I made my famous shrimp fetticini alfredo for them.
MONDAY
We went to this cool black light mini golfing place.

Then we saw "Eat Pray Love". Review: fun to see the different places around the world that she went to. Still not sure if I want to read the book or not. I love Julia Roberts but not her character.
TUESDAY
My family and I try to go to California to visit my grandparents each summer.  I realized this time around that I have never been to Hollywood Blvd to see the Walk of Fame.  So my grandpa and I drove down and snapped pictures of our favorites.  We ate at this cute 50s themed Disney cafe.  Then we drove by the church where my grandparents were married in and where they first lived after they married.  What I loved about having this one-on-one time with my grandparents was how I learned a lot about them that I'd never know before.  Like how they met.  And the types of cases my grandpa has taken (he's a retired homocide detective for LAPD, so his life was basically CSI=gnarly stories). 

{'arry Potta!}

We went bowling that night and enjoyed some classic In-N-Out. Mmmm.

PART TWO: Temecula w/ Brittany and Kira
WEDNESDAY
I got up early to drive down with my aunt to meet up with Brittany!  Annie, Kira, Brittany and I have been planning this trip since London.  Annie drove down with her BF from Provo and I drove down from Santa Clarita and Kira came back from Oklahoma to be reunited with Brittany in Temecula! 
After the jumping up and down and squealing, the first thing we do is throw on our swimsuits and head straight for the pool to soak up some California sun. 

Then we had some authentic Californian Mexican food.
And unlimited bowling.

{we didn't plan the blue, but there you go}

THURSDAY
You can't miss out on the beach in California. So, of course, Brit, Kira, Annie and I hit up Oceanside.  There was a cute little farmer's market (memories!) and it was the perfect weather.  We splashed around, walked down to the jetty, got hit by some waves at the end of the jetty, and ate some good food/milkshakes.

{such a perfect day!}

"nothing comes close to the Golden Coast"