heyy batta batta

So, sometimes on this blog I will write about more than baby updates and fun things I found on the web.  This is one of those times. 

Saturday was a day of vacuuming, David golfing with the guys, trying (and failing) to find the iPhone 6, and then finding out Dave's work had an extra ticket to the Dodger's game that night.  Dave was planning to go to the game with his team that night and I was going to make a cup of tea and watch chick flicks til I fell asleep on the couch, but, you know, plans change. 

What with me being an 8 month pregnant lady I was skeptical about what kind of bleacher style baseball stadium seats I would be able to endure for 9 innings, but it appears the pregnancy angels were smiling on me that night.  Those seats were actually comfortable-ish and baby boy didn't kick my badder once.  Plus I somehow scored a seat on the aisle close to a bathroom - miracles do happen.  Also we had pretty stinkin' good seats: second tier behind home base.  Not too shabby.  Thanks E&Y!

Technically I guess I'm an Angles fan, but I can't really back that up with anything except I grew up in Orange County, went to a handful of Angels games as a kid, and somewhere along the way I picked up a bright red Angles cap (that I never wear).  Now that we live in Dodger territory I'm more than happy to root for the blue over the red.  Shhh, don't tell anyone.

The munchies at Dodger stadium didn't disappoint this time around either.  Those Dodger dogs??  Give me another one please.  I can go for a good hotdog and a baseball game any day. 

Also worthy of note:  I actually watched a baseball game for the first time pretty much ever.  Since going to college I can get into a good football game, but baseball has always been a snooze fest in my book.  Not so on Saturday night.  The Dodgers were putting on a great show and when the Rockies hit a home run in the top of the 9th that tied the game we just couldn't leave early.  There ended up being 12 innings (which I predicted) and the Dodgers came out with a win.  I think I could like baseball now...

It was pretty fun night, topped off with a great view of the little skyline LA has to offer us a backdrop on our way home.  It's a pretty fun city we live in.

weekending tidbits

I've got to tell you, this, is still the best pizza dough recipe around our apartment lately (and we've tried our fair share of them).  Top that with some fresh basil, tomatoes, and pepperonis (even the cheap Ralph's brand kind), and what do you have?  Deliciousness.  Pure deliciousness.

It is also my opinion that summer fruit should always be cheap and in season.  If someone could just let the nectarine trees know that would be peachy.

And lastly, I'm a pretty big fan of free movies across the street and a good old fashion root beer float sipped through a striped straw.  Baby boy agrees with me.

a weekend of free

Whilst I sit on the couch, between loads of laundry, listening to the plumber grunt as he unstops our kitchen sink on this grey and socked in Monday morning, all I really want to do is go back and do this weekend over again.  (And the plumber just gave me a talking to about putting egg shells and carrot shavings down our garbage disposal.  I've always done that!  When did this become a no-go?  And how come no one told me?)

This weekend started off with a free Shakespeare in the park and a picnic of corn dogs, ham sandwiches, and broccoli salad.  No judging on the corn dogs though, okay?  My pregnant belly has been craving them since about week 9 and I just now slicked my thirst for that wonderful fried treat.  I'm pretty sure the LA peeps sitting around us were giving me the stink eye as they feasted on their red wine, cheese, and fruit.  Whatever.  Pass the ketchup, please!

The show was great and free so there's really nothing to complain about (except maybe the park bathrooms...).  This month the company is performing the Bard's, Twelfth Night, and we got some good kicks out of it.  A little ways in I started to put the dots together and remembered that She's the Man is based on this Shakespearean comedy and all of a sudden the convoluted plot started to make a lot more sense (don't try to read the Wiki page on it - just don't).

We had a great, simple night out and we'll definitely be going back next month for Taming of the Shrew, which I've never seen before.  Should be fun.

To keep in theme with a weekend of free entertainment we heard about a free outdoor movie showing just across the street from us on Saturday night at this local pop shop.  Dave and I are pretty big root beer fans, plus who turns down a free showing of Hunger Games?  We walked over a little late (lesson planning for Sunday went longer than expected...), and shared a blueberry, vanilla float whilst watching Katniss volunteer for tribute.  It was pretty delightful to just walk across the street.  Literally.  Next week they're showing Jurassic Park: you better believe we'll be there.

memorial day

E&Y gained a few points with me when I found out David gets two whole days off for Memorial Day.  Instead of just the Monday after the weekend, he gets the Friday before off as well!  Thanks Uncle Ernie, we sure enjoyed our vacation time this weekend.  Four whole days to ourselves?  What should we do??  Well, the answer was obvious to us: go down to Orange County and hang out with the family!  We had plays to go to, shopping to be done, swimming to be enjoyed, it was delightful.

Brooke played Madame De La Grande Bouchet - aka the wardrobe - in her high school's spring musical, Beauty & the Beast.  She was faaaaaabulous and the play was thoroughly entertaining, even by high school standards.  I was charmed by their cute little cast and found myself smiling the whole time.  Thanks for giving us a reason to sing and clap Brookie!

^^ Can you see a little, itty, bitty bump there??  It's coming! ^^

We spent the rest of the weekend studiously taking...barely any other pictures.  I definitely should have snapped a few of me wearing the huge fake bump they provide for you in the maternity store to get a feel for your new shapely figure to come.  It was a ton of fun to actually look pregnant.  The ladies in the store were surprised when I told them I was already 4 months along - they predicted I'll have a nice petite little baby bump.  Fingers crossed!

I then, most inconveniently, got horribly, terribly sick.  Not because of baby Nemrow, but because of some evil little germ or other.  I swear, it should be against the rules for a pregnant lady to get sick.  It's like hitting a gal when she's down: no meds = so very miserable.  Ah well, it was a short lived little illness, but it was the worst.

We also announced our happy news to all our cyber friends on Insta and Facebook, which was so crazy fun.  I love sharing our excitement with everyone now that the cat is outta the bag. 

All in all, despite the best efforts of my cold/flu combo, it was a great weekend, and I'm pro having a 4 day weekend every weekend if you're game Ernie?? 

weekending

After spending Memorial Day weekend with my family, we rolled into our garage Monday night and David realized he had left his suit at my parent's house.  Oops.  I told my mom to which she replied, "Wonderful!  We'll bring it up to you on Saturday!"  Any excuse to get together right?

We took them out for burgers and all sorts of friend vegetables at Bricks for lunch and headed to our favorite shaved ice joint for dessert.  It was a scorcher in the 100's, but we made do.

 Turning 24 and 18...or 42 and 81...?

It's always a treat to hang with the fam.  Never complaining about that.

Later that afternoon Dave and I decided to head down to the LA temple.  We were very happily surprised by the coastal Santa Monica breeze that was MUCH cooler than up by our home.

We were finally able to finish up some family names we've been helping my cousin to complete (after like 10 months  - sorry Christa!), and spent a good three hours in the temple just enjoying.  We were in no hurry and that was nice for a change.

We topped off the night with chocolate chip cookies (ohmygosh this was a really good batch, ask Dave) and Inception...during which we fell asleep.  Which feels appropriate somehow...and a good excuse to watch it again.

Now that it's officially June I've gotten the summer bug and can't wait to get out and about doing all the summery things southern California has to offer...let the fun begin!

gateway to summer

Our long weekend started Friday night when we hopped in the car and headed down to Orange County to stay with my parents.  I know I sound like a broken record, but it rocks to live so close to them.  We honestly see each other every other week at least.  It's great.

The boys were up bright and early Saturday for a 7:45 tee time down in San Clemente and we ladies got our beauty sleep.  We decided to head to the beach for the afternoon around 12:00, but upon entering the freeway on ramp we realized our mistake.  Duh, it was Memorial Day weekend!  Everyone and their dog were on the 5-South on the way to the beach.  We waded slowly through the sea of traffic, but around San Juan we decided we'd try to shoot down to PCH...with 100 of our closest friends.  Turns out everyone else had the same idea.  It was at that point we decided to jump ship, turn around, get some lunch, and salvage the afternoon.

We ended up in downtown San Juan for afternoon tea at The Tea House on Los Rios and had a great time sipping tea and eating cucumber sandwiches.

We had a pretty great time trying on all their hats while we waited for a table...

We were a tad bit under dressed for the occasion - ahem, swimsuit coverups and minimal makeup - but we decided we'd just roll with it.  This was a spontaneous afternoon.

 PS they served scones with clotted cream...I was in heaven.

After tea we walked around the charming street of downtown San Juan where, it so happens, we took pictures on our wedding day.  This house look familiar to anyone...?

May 2013

August 2011

Time flies...

Sunday was spent quietly with the family attending church in my home ward, and getting to hear Brooke sing in Sacrament Meeting was a special treat. 

Monday was planned for a beach day, but after Saturday's fiasco we decided to play it safe and lounge by the pool.  The morning was brisk so we caught a matinee of the new Star Trek movie and came home to hop in the pool.

Quite literally...

It was a lazy afternoon in the sun and a day well spent with good company.

This long weekend was over too soon, but we're starting to get excited for the Tobler family 4th of July on Balboa Island!  It's only a month(ish) away!  Let the countdown begin.

time flies

One year ago this holiday weekend we were loaded up in our U-haul cruisin' down the I-15 towards sunny CA.  Honestly the most memorable part of that trip was trying to figure out how to park our huge truck, staying at Buffalo Bills for the night (leaving much to be desired...), and waiting in bumper to bumper traffic for over an hour to drive less than a mile to our pit stop.  Oh and then unloading the contents of said truck into our apartment...on the 3rd floor.  Thank goodness for our elder's quorum and the missionaries.  They were LIFESAVERS.  Literally.

Needless to say, I'm really pretty glad we're not driving too far this weekend (cough cough, please be kind LA traffic).  We'll be hanging out with my fam down in Orange County, and, weather permitting, we're planning to be soaking up some rays at the beach.  Fingers crossed.  Sunscreen packed.

Three day weekends are really my favorite kind of weekends.  Waking up Monday morning and knowing you have no responsibilities is bliss.  Can't wait.

Pictures via Pinterest: left, right

locals

Last week I asked Dave if he wanted to meet up with my parents on Saturday to go to my mom's, cousin's, son's wedding open house...confused yet?  (we figured out later that he is officially my full second cousin, but would have been too easy to say)

So on Saturday we hopped in the car and drove down the 405 to Mulholland Drive, got lost once (thanks a lot Google Maps...) and finally found my cousin's house.  They live on a lovely cliff side with a view to kill for and it was such a lovely California evening to spend eating raspberries and bundt cake with the newlyweds.

Gorgeous right? 

After leaving the open house it was Dave's and my job to find a local spot for dinner.  We Yelped and found a few promising spots, but Dave thought he may have found the winner in a gastropub off Ventura Blvd called The Local Peasant.

Turns out the place was so local they don't really even have a sign on the front...so yes we walked up and down the street several times totally lost and almost gave up, but we finally found it, and we were so glad be did.  

This was the only advertisement of its existence...I don't feel too bad about missing it (and then getting mixed up with addresses, but that's another issue all together)

Dave had high expectations after introducing my dad to his new favorite LA restaurant, so it's not like there was any pressure or anything.  However, after deviled egg appetizers and seeing an heirloom tomato salad on the menu they were pretty much sold.  Oh, and pear, blueberry, raspberry crumble for dessert?  We weren't complaining.

Too bad we don't like spending time with these guys at all...

It was a fun local find and on a Saturday night around 6:30, the said locals started pouring in.  Always a good sign.

Perhaps we'll have to come back soon!
Adios! We're goin' back to the suburbs (where there's parking...)