Spring Break part 3

Today we went to the Los Angeles Temple and showed the kids where my father was sealed to his parents when he was just Ben's age, and where Austin and I spent some time on our honeymoon.  It's a very large, very beautiful Temple and I was so grateful we could go.

Then we went to the Santa Monica Pier and enjoyed the carnival style park, being extras in a movie, and playing at the beach.  We couldn't get in the water because it was freezing, but the ocean is always amazing.  It was a long and glorious day!

 We have a picture almost identical to this, taken 15 years ago on our honeymoon.  If I can find that picture when I get home, I'll scan it and post them side by side.  We haven't changed much :)

Santa  Monica Pier

Grace was too scared to go on the Ferris Wheel, so she and I stayed and watched the other three go.  Ben was very nervous, but he handled the extreme height (85 feet) and high winds like a champ!

 Ben got better the second time around.

 The view from the top.

Ben is always chasing birds, trying desperately to touch one.  This guy on the pier let Ben hold an exotic bird for just the cost of a small tip!  This is a yellow headed Amazon, and at one point he also had a blue Macaw on the top of his head.  Ben is my bird lover, and he was in HEAVEN.

 The water was freezing, but we couldn't resist dipping our toes in anyway!

Also, here's a few pictures from our visit with Great-Grandma yesterday.  She LOVED the re-upholstered footstool, and it made my day to give it to her.  I also asked her to tell the story of the day she was sealed to her family in the Temple, and my kids sat respectfully and quietly listening the whole time.  It was a great afternoon.

Today's anecdote:  I got a mild sunburn on my head on Monday playing at Craig Park, so I ran to Old Navy this morning before our day began and bought a new hat.  This would protect the parts in my hair and my tender, already burned scalp for getting worse.  I also covered my arms in sunblock and the tops of my ears, so I was good to go.  It turns out I forgot to put sunblock on my neck and chest, and they're burnt pretty crispy.  I always forget something, and my skin never lets me forget it!  :)