Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Scott and Tracy come to visit!

Last week our friends, Scott and Tracy, came for a visit from Chicago!  It was so great to have familiar faces in town and people we love to spend time with take the time to come see us.  It was a welcome reprieve from the cold weather for them, and very rejuvenating for us.

Day One:  They got here in the afternoon and we just spent the rest of the day at home, relaxing, and grilling steaks for dinner.  We played Scattergories, which I won for the first time ever, and had chocolate fondue for dessert.

Day Two:  Tyler had to work so Tracy, Scott, and I did one of our City Walks:  Runyon Canyon.  This was a city hike.  But the views from the top were very rewarding...

taking a breather at the half way mark.
chugging some water and views of the sign.
tracy and downtown.


me and tracy!
After the hike we were ready for something cold to eat.  So I introduced them to Pinkberry, a frozen yogurt place that is very addicting.

Scott surveying the options...
Tracy enjoying her treat.
Then it was another first for them, lunch at In-N-Out Burger.

Day Three:  Scott and Tyler went to a movie and checked out Ameoba Records while Tracy and I shopped at The Grove in Beverly Hills and had lunch at The Farmer's Market.

Tracy trying on dresses...
That evening we dined at Saddle Peak Lodge, a very nice place in Malibu.  Tyler and I each had the trio of elk, squab, and antelope.  Tracy and Scott each got the chef's sampling.  I had the best wine of my whole life.  The whole evening was a real treat.  (S + T: blackbird the next time we're in Chicago!)

Day Three:  Today was Disneyland!

It was decked out for Halloween!
The token Castle Shot.
Our Mickey and Minnie sighting.
Scott, on his way to Pirates of the Caribbean for the first time! (we rode it again later that day)
The Haunted Mansion, Nightmare Before Christmas style.
On the way up Mulholland Madness. 
Waiting (happily) before California Screamin', the worst roller coaster in the world.
Me waiting (a little less happily) while the 3 others go on Soarin' Over California because I was too sick after the roller coaster.  We also had to miss the Hollywood Tower of Terror (sorry Scott).
Dry before the rafting ride.
Scott and Tracy enjoying the water...at this point.
High Five!
Scott was soaked for the rest of the day.

The obligatory stop in Mad Hatter for some hamming at the camera.





And ice cream to end the day.  We were wiped!

Day Four: Catalina.  This is an island off the coast of California where you can only walk and have golf carts, no cars.  It's so relaxing and awesome!

on the ferry





Scott thought this was hilarious: fine dining is never mixed with giant burger statues.
Waiting for the ferry home after a long day.  

Thanks for coming, Scott and Tracy!  Next time we'll do Santa Barbara wine country! ;)

Scott & Tracy | Anytime

Last week my best friends, Tracy and Scott came to visit from Chicago.  So we took the opportunity to do an anytime couple's session at the Walt Disney Concert Hall downtown. The location is reminiscent of Frank Gehry's work in Millennium Park in Chicago while still being very much Los Angeles.


I loved her red shoes!






My favorite of the day!

Scott, the thespian, never misses a moment.





Awe, honey...sugar, sugar.  ;)