The Huntington Library

On Saturday we went out for the day to the Huntington Library.  The weather couldn't have been better, well Jamie was a bit hot but I was loving the sun.  The Huntington Library is now a botanical garden, library and museum.  The grounds are really impressive with different types of gardens and the museum has some amazing American art and furniture.

Here is the desert garden, some really unusual plants and some beautiful flowers!

Lot's of Cacti :)

This one could have come right out of a cartoon, lol!

This was from the bonsai garden and also looks like its out of an old Disney cartoon.

The Japanese tea garden was closed for renovation but we were able to peek in and see what it looked like from a distance.

Love this Frank Lloyd Wright dinning table, so awesome!

Did I mention I loved the sun that day!

The next two are taken from the Chinese Gardens.  They were really beautiful and peaceful.

Can you think of anything better to do than wonder around here on a beautiful spring day.  It was a really impressive museum and it was nice to have the variety and option to wonder the gardens, the art collection or see the house.  We spent a good four hours there and we still didn't see everything.  I think another trip out there is definitely a must.  I'm so happy spring is here and summer is not that far!

Amanda's Baby Shower

Last Sunday Amanda had her baby shower at Taco Rosa in Irvine.  We went for brunch which was amazing as usual.  Amanda is having a boy and is due June 3rd.  I can't believe it was only a year ago that they got married.

Here's Amanda and Mark with dessert, coconut cupcakes made by Natalie :) Mark was convinced to attend by Amanda.  Usually this is an all girls event unless it is a co-ed shower but she really wanted him there.  Eddie also went so he didn't feel too out numbered.  Of course the Laker game was on to keep them entertained.

 Some of the girls. 

Amanda opening our present, such excitement :)

 

Amanda and Mark got some pretty awesome stuff for their little boy.  I had a really good time and we even played some good baby shower games which really says a lot.  Normally I'm not at all for games but Natalie really thought these ones out and there were only 4 of them so we didn't spend the whole 2 1/2 hrs playing games and not being able to just talk.  Can't wait to meet the new edition, less than 2 months now.

Happy Birthday Angela!

Happy Birthday Angela!  Below are a few pictures of a great night out at Bistro 400.  The live Jazz music was great!! 

Achievements

Well, its bonus and review time for most of us and this year has turned out to be a pretty big year.  Jamie was promoted from a Research Chemist to a Research Scientist :)  I've been offered and taken a new position as a Data Analyst within the Regulatory Reporting team (yeah me).  My Dad was given two awards this year; Manager of the Year (for the 3rd time in his career) and the Lifetime Achievement Award!  No one deserves it more than him in my opinion :)  We've all worked hard this last year and it is nice to get some recognition.  Not a bad way to start the year! 

Orange Picking

While reading a magazine, we discovered there is still a place in Southern California where you can pick your own oranges.  Unfortunately, its not in Orange County but we enjoyed the drive inland and surprisingly didn't hit any traffic.  So last weekend the weather was perfect for some good old fashioned orange picking. 

Unfortunately we weren't the only ones in on this great idea, so the oranges were all the way up there.  Easy for someone with long arms not so easy for someone like me.

 Jamie had a much easier time

I still managed to get a few. 

It was $5 for a whole bag of oranges, which is pretty amazing.  We also picked a couple of grape fruits and some really nice looking lemons (although not as big as the ones growing in our yard :)  We had a lot of fun and learned its a bit harder than it looks, lol.  Now what to do with all these oranges...maybe some marmalade I guess!

Miss Us!

Have you missed us?  It's been a while since we last posted.  We've been busy but not really doing anything that exciting.  We have started to plant some things in the front yard, which I'm sure our neighbors are happy about and have been doing stuff around the house, getting pictures framed, buying storage racks for the garage.  Not too interesting to write about.  Jamie is also taking a woodworking class on Sundays.  I should have some pictures this weekend for the Super Bowl.  The picture above was taken last year in October at our Neighborhood Meeting.  Our signature Giant Battenburg and Marzipan Fruits that everyone loved :)

Happy New Year!

2011 is here!  I can't believe it's January already and we are starting another year and another decade.  The time seems to go by so fast.  The holidays are over and we are all back to work now :(  We had a really amazing Christmas and New Year, simple and quiet but a lot of fun.

  

New Year's Eve we decided to go out to Palm Springs for the day and see the Air Museum.  We got an early start about 8:15 am and found a thin layer of ice on the windshield.  So Jamie had the luxury of scraping it off while I sat in the cold car.

Of course I didn't miss the opportunity to take a few pictures of the process.  It doesn't happen often but it does happen!

Luckily there wasn't much traffic on the way up or the way back.  It was a clear day,a bit cold but at least it stopped raining! 

It was a really neat museum and most of the volunteers were WWII vets.  We ended up getting a private tour from one of them.  He liked to talked and definitely was happy we were there to listen.  We heard some good stories and saw some pretty awesome planes.

We had a lot of fun out in the desert.  New Year's day we went over to my parents house for dinner and then over to my brothers place to play darts and cards for the evening.  We had a relaxing weekend, quietly dreading the start of the week knowing it was back to work and back to the gym.  At least we are now half way through the week, only two more days to the weekend, lol.  Hope everyone had a great holiday!!!