Left Cold Minnesota to Sunny California!
I finally packed all of my things (lots of shoes and clothes) and left St. Paul to go to Pasadena, CA to meet up with Gigie, my aunt Carmen and Uncle Cesar.
I left the snow without any regrets.
Gigie came down to spend time with me before my big trip to Barcelona, Spain. It was Gigie's spring break and we had a blast. I rented a car and we drove all over Los Angeles. We visited UCLA because Gigie wanted to get to know the campus before her summer session begins. We walked a lot and explored all the campus. After that we went to Santa Monica and on the way back to Pasadena we drove all around L.A. I showed Gigie Rodeo Drive, we took Wilshire Ave. all the way to downtown L.A. I showed her where I met her dad, Ivanhoe Elementary School in Los Feliz and before we arrived in Pasadena we stopped and had dinner at an IN-n- OUT in Glendale. I guess for me it was great to visit all the places I hadn't seen in 20 years.
The following days we went back to Ojai to visit family and friends. It felt really good to see Willem, Joy, Adrienne and the gang from Oak Grove school where I worked and Gigie went to school. We then met up with some of her friends and my old students for coffee at the Coffee Connection.. old stumping grounds for all of us.
Allison, Alex and Felix they are so stinking adorable.... I miss these kids!
After we left her friends we visited Mike, Carrie, Nick and Quinten at their house. We had a great chat and joked a lot. Mike is really funny. The boys are so tall and grown up. I hadn't seen them in a year. I love this family they are always so welcoming.
Mike, Carrie, Nick, Quinten and I in fornt of their house in Ojai, CA.
Then Gigie and I met up with Timothy so we could go visit Grandma and Grandpa Hall. They are the most adorable couple I have ever met. They have always made me feel like their own. Grandpa especially, when I walk in the first thing he says, "Come seat with me".... he hugs and kisses you every time. I love being with both of them, we always have great conversations and laughs. I'm amazed how well they are doing, Grandpa is 94 and Grandma is 91 years old, and boy they are in great shape. If I ever get to be that age I want to look and act like them.
(After I wrote this Grandpa Hall passed away in July after his B-day)
Here I am with Grandma and Grandpa Hall.
It is especially hard for me to see this picture because Grandpa Hall passed away and this was the last time I saw him and I loved him like a father. Grandpa Hall was a very distinguished gentleman, always thinking of others with kindness, also he had the best sense of humor, but what I loved most about him is how special he made me feel. I love you Grandpa Hall and I'm going to miss you tremendously.
Isn't this the most adorable couple you have ever seen!
Grandpa and Grandma Hall got to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary!
Amazing folks (like grandpa used to say)
After this visit I called Severo my adopted son (at heart)... he is the most amazing person in my life. He and I have developed a true friendship and I feel like he's my real son. We have been through a lot together. I'm really close with his parents and siblings. This family have been through it all and now the saddest thing is the passing of Eugenia, Severo's mom. She was a great person with a lot of charisma. Eugenia always had a great smile. Severo's dad "Joaquin" came to the restaurant to have lunch with us, we had so much fun laughing and remembering old times.
After this visit to Ojai, CA I went back to Pasadena, CA with Gigie and we spent some time together, just us girls. We ate at In-n-Out (of course)... we did some good shopping, we went to visit UCLA, drove around Santa Monica, and I showed Gigie, where her dad and I met and lived in Los Angeles, I also showed her the building where Tammy, Melissa and I lived before I married Timothy, also the school Ivanhoe Elementary in Los Feliz, CA where Tim and I met. I guess for Gigie this was kind of a new experience to learn about our history as a family in Los Angeles, CA. These are the moments that I love to share with my girls.
Next step of my traveling Journery...........Off to BARCELONA!
