Valencia, California

After we settled in Valencia, we decided it was time to look up some old friends and check out our old stomping ground.  We had dinner with the Crawford-Castan Clan.  We went to a pizza place where the kids could run around and play games while we caught up.  It was great seeing them and how grown up everyone has become, time sure flies.  Their kids used to babysit for us when Jake was little.  They have 6 kids so its always fun and entertaining to hang out together.   The Valencia area has grown a great deal.  We even took the kids by our old house where we lived before moving to Minnesota, it still looks the same.

California

Mike, Karen, and Ty Sexton with the kids

Papa and Grammy with the kids

I know, I know, I keep getting behind on the blog.  On Sunday, March 6th, some family friends took the kids to an indoor fun place.  They played laser tag, games, climbed all around, had pizza and drinks.  Needless to say they had a great time.  This gave Bryce and I a chance to get on the bike and spend some alone time together.  We ended up staying with my dad until Tuesday because the people at the Camping World did not do their job and get our camper fixed while we were in Mexico...they had it for three weeks.  Anyway the kids enjoyed spending time with their grandparents.  They went bowling, golfing, hiking, shopping, and just enjoyed spending time together.  We left there on Tuesday and are now in Valencia, CA at the Valencia Travel Village.  We plan on leaving on Friday the 18th for Washington State.

March 5th - Universal Studios

Bethlynn and the kids

Bryce and Marilyn Monroe

The Family headed out to Universal Studios on Saturday.  Wow, did we get a treat.  We got free tickets through a family friend of my dad and his wife Deb named Bethlynn.  Thank You Bethlynn!!!  We greatly appreciate her hooking us up with tickets and front of the line passes, what a way to go!  We really enjoyed the tram ride, brought back lots of great childhood memories.  It takes you through all different movie sets and props, we even saw the Desperate House Wives set, where they actually film it.  Here are just a few of the things we did:  Simpson virtual roller coaster ride, Water World stunt show (you even get a backstage access tour with the front of the line passes), Jurassic Park water ride, haunted house, special effects show, etc.  We then enjoyed Universal CityWalk after the park closed.  Even had a star sighting...Wayne Brady from Let's Make A Deal. 

Water World Set

Bates Motel - See Norman?

Eva Longoria's House on Desperate Housewives

Whoville

Knight Rider Car

War of the Worlds Set

City Walk

Wayne Brady

Cabo San Lucas

Did you miss us?  Well we took a little break from the traveling when we arrived in California.  My mom owns a time share down in Cabo San Lucas so we decided to fly out of Los Angeles and join her for eight days.  The internet was very weak, so I was not able to update our blog.  And of course while we are here we are having that lovely trailer of ours fixed while it is still under warranty.

View from our room

Pool

Whale's head, this was the only time we saw it.

Famous arch

Let's see, what did we do while in Cabo you ask?  Well of course we soaked up the sun and enjoyed beautiful views.  We did water aerobics almost everyday.  We went into San Jose, the other city part of Los Cabos to do some shopping.  We did some pottery painting.  The boys went out fishing twice, the first time they caught six fish and the next time they caught 20 Bonita, wow!  They had a lot of fun.  Then Bryce, Jake, Trent and I went on a four seater dune buggy for a couple of Zodiaks.  It seats only ten people and we got as close to the whale as you can without being dangerous or disturbing the whale.  We saw both humpbacks and grey whales, wow, what a way to end our trip.  We had a great time!

We arrived back to Los Angeles on Tuesday to rainy and yet not so warm weather!  Oh I miss that sunshine!

CALIFORNIA

Rees, Trent, and Dylan

The Malone Crew

Austin, Rees, Jake, Trent, and Dylan

Austin and Jake

Well we made it in on Thursday!  We dropped the trailer off in Santa Clarita so that we could get all the warranty work done while we are here in California and when we fly down to Mexico.  We are staying at my dad's house in Westlake, he is leaving for Hawaii on Friday, so we are kind of house sitting.  Needless to say, I hate having to pack all of the stuff we will need into garbage bags and then into the back of the truck.  It really sucks when your home is being fixed and you can't stay in it!  Anyway we are now at my dad's house getting settled in.  It is fun to be back in all the places you grew up in, it is very comfortable.

Yesterday (Sunday) we went to visit Bryce's brother out in Oak Hills (Hesperia area).  They have 2 boys around the same ages as mine and boy did the cousins have a great time hanging out.  So did the adults, it was fun to catch up and visit.

Phoenix, Arizona

Bryce and Trent on their way over to Uncle Dale and Caroll's house

Uncle Dale, Cousin Sandra, Aunt Caroll, and the rest of us!

Well we sadly left our Florida friends and headed west.  We have done a couple 10 hour days to get into Phoenix.  The first night we stayed in Slidell, Louisiana, San Antonio, Texas, and then in New Mexico.  We arrived in Arizona on Monday evening.  I have some relatives here, my dad's twin brother and his wife and some cousins.  We had dinner over at their house on Tuesday, Bryce and Trent rode the bike over and the rest of us went in the truck.  My Uncle just moved into Sun City Grand, which is a Del Webb facility, so he showed us all around.  Boy do they have a lot to offer.  It was great visiting and catching up with them.  Wednesday(today) we had an appointment with our tax man, yeah, who lives here in Tempe, then we went to see my grandmother's gravesite.  I have not been there since she died in 2007.  We are headed out tomorrow for California!!! Can't wait to see family and friends!

Tuesday night Potluck

We had a very nice potluck with some friends we met here at the park.  Some good food and conversation.  Thanks to Rick, Barbara, Nelson, and Gloria for a very nice evening.  They are here from Canada and have been very kind, especially with the kids.  We ended our night in the pool, were we have a group that typically meets there about 8 o'clock at night for a little swim and hot tub time.  Last night Rick and Bill had chicken fights with the kids, can't wait to hear how their necks feel this morning!  We are going to have a very hard time leaving here on Saturday.  It hasn't been all sunshine and fun, the kids are still schooling.  I know I haven't updated their projects, but Rees did a planet report on Neptune and Trent did one on Dolphins.  Jake is almost finished with a biography report on Arnold Palmer.  I will post those a little later.