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Click on the link to see our girls on Ideal Bite's blog! We had such a blast--Thank You, Ideal Bite! It's great to be green...

Spring Break: Part 3--L.A....

Okay, so when we were in Florida we found out that we won a contest that Mommy entered on a new "green" website called Ideal Bite. It was a family trip for four to Hollywood for the premier of the new Disneynature film Earth. We weren't sure if we would be able to go or not because we were out of town already. But, the company responsible for the give away was extremely accommodating. They arranged for us to fly out of Tampa and then return to Reagan National. Originally we were supposed to stay in Treasure Island until Saturday. But, luckily for us, Nana offered to take us to the airport and drive our car home for us.

We left for the airport very early Friday morning, made one connection, and landed in LAX just before 11 am. The second our plane landed, Logan said, "It feels so great to be home!" What a funny girl. Then we picked up our rental car and headed over to Anaheim. The sweepstakes also gave us a one-day ticket to Disneyland! So, last weekend we were in Disney World...this weekend, Disneyland! Pretty awesome. The girls were super-excited. It was lastJune, just before we moved since we'd been to Disneyland...and we've really missed it. The girls had the best time. They were a little disappointed at first that we weren't going to be able to go to California Adventure too, but they got over it. We wanted to ride all our favorite rides, especially the ones they don't have at Disney World (or the ones that we think are better at Disneyland--like Pirates, Buzz Lightyear, and It's a Small World!) Small World had been closed the last few times we were at the park because they were refurbishing it and enhancing it. They added geographically appropriate characters to the corresponding countries. It was so exciting for the girls to spot all the new parts of the ride. It was well worth the wait to see the joy on their faces. It definitely is the "happiest cruise that ever sailed!" Carsyn got to ride Splash Mountain, and Logan rode Thunder Mountain. Maren was as happy as could be on the carousel and the tea cups. The park was packed, and it wasn't the same not having our annual passes and discounts anymore, but we had a blast and were so grateful to have been able to go to Disneyland again!

Logan, Carsyn, and Maren waiting for the tram to take us to the park...

We're at Disneyland...

Maren's favorite: the carousel...

Carsyn and Logan with Chip...

Getting dizzy on the Tea Cups...

After the girls all started dosing off (around 9 pm PST) we drove over to our hotel. They put us up at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel and Spa right at the Hollywood and Highland Center. We could see the Hollywood sign right from our room! On Saturday morning we went to the hotel restaurant for a delicious buffet breakfast. Then it was time to get ready for the Earth premier at the El Capitan Theater. The girls got such a kick out of walking the red carpet and posing for pictures (that Mommy was taking--not the paparazzi.) We did see a few celebrities attending the premier as well. In fact, Tony Dovolani and Carrie Ann Inaba from Dancing with the Stars were sitting across the aisle from us. The girls also got to meet some of their favorite Disney Channel stars: Jennifer Stone (from Wizards of Waverly Place) and Debby Ryan (from Suite Life on Deck.) They were so sweet to the girls. Inside the theater we were all given a souvenir bucket of popcorn and free drinks. The girls were stoked about that. They also loved the movie. It was very cute and well done. Go see it--it opens this Wednesday!

The girls across from the El Capitan Theater...

Rocking the red carpet...

Carsyn and Logan with their new BFF's...

Afterward we walked around the Hollywood walk of fame, checking out the stars. We also spent some time at Grauman's Chinese Theater. Then it was time for dinner. There's a C.P.K. at the Hollywood and Highland Center, so the decision wasn't difficult at all. What a super-fun weekend--incredibly exciting and memorable for sure! We'll never forget our first red-carpet premier.

Star struck...

Mommy and Logan, Hollywood-style...

Logan checking out Ali McGraw's hand prints...

Carsyn knew Debbie Reynolds from the Halloweentown movies...

Little Jean Harlow...

At the Hollywood & Highland Center...

Back to reality...we sure were feeling the jet-lag Monday morning. But, it was all worth it!

I Love L.A....

Saturday morning we checked out of our hotel in Anaheim and drove up to Dodgers Stadium for the Cubs game. It was a pretty nice ballpark, and you could see the Hollywood sign out past the third base line. There were a couple of the stars of the show Heroes in attendance as well as the Simpson's. Daddy and nana tried Dodger Dogs, but the girls insisted on pizza and cotton candy. It was a great game up until the seventh inning. Carlos had been pitching pretty well, but was left in one batter too long. We couldn't see it from our seats, but later on the highlights we saw Big Z beating up on the water coolers. Oh well, can't win them all.

Outside of Dodger's Stadium...

Afterward we checked into our hotel in Beverly Hills. Daddy had never been and we wanted to show him around before we moved out of California. We met Cousin Missy for dinner at our favorite restaurant (CPK) and then had some frozen yogurt from Pinkberry. The next morning we went to mass at the Catholic church on Santa Monica (but, we didn't see Vanessa Williams this time.) Then we did a little (window) shopping on Rodeo. Of course we had to take Daddy to Hollywood to see the sights there too. It was a fun little trip and a nice farewell to Southern California!

In Beverly Hills...

On Rodeo Drive...

Beverly Hills, 90210...

We are Red Carpet ready...

Well, we are just sooo awesome. We went down to L.A. this weekend and stayed in Beverly Hills. The purpose for this weekend was to take the girls to see My Little Pony Live...at the Kodak Theatre! How cool. So we took the girls around Hollywood. It was fun, but the girls were a little scared of all the "street performers." Also, it just so happened that there was a huge March for Peace right there at Hollywood and Highland that same day. I knew this before-hand, so we went a little early to see if we could spot any cool celebrities like Martin Sheen. He was there, but we never saw him! The show was pretty good. It was so cool to be inside the Kodak Theatre. It seemed a lot smaller in person than it looks on TV. Afterward we met Missy back in Beverly Hills for dinner at--where else? CPK. That was fun. Before we headed home on Sunday, we went to mass at a Catholic church on Santa Monica. Guess who was sitting right in front of us? Vanessa Williams. On the way out of church she was walking right with us and even commented on how cute Maren was! Are we cool or what!