"Sing it if you know it..."

I purposely timed my parents visit last week with Hanson's tour schedule, so that my mom and I would be able to go to a concert together.  Yeah I did!  My mom and I have been going to Hanson concerts together since 1997.  That's 16 years.  I'd call it something special we've got going on between us, for sure.  This particular show in Anaheim last week marked my 30th Hanson concert.

And what's a Hanson concert without a little walk first!

 And later that night, our 30th Hanson concert.

And it was AMAZING.

And since we weren't too far away,

we squeezed in another walk the next day on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood =)

I am so happy I got to have this West Coast Hanson experience with my Mom.

I love this band.

Fall, I Miss You...

I made the most awesome apple pie last Fall.  I want to make it again.  But it doesn’t even remotely feel like Fall here in Southern California… It still feels like Summer.  It’s hot outside.  The leaves aren’t changing.  There is no brisk chill to the air.  I’m sure I will appreciate the nice weather come Winter time, when it’s a blizzard in Pittsburgh.  But man, do I love Fall on the East Coast.  It is the most perfect weather.  This time of year is making me miss home a lot.  I want to be doing all the fun traditional Fall things we normally do: adding pumpkin spice to everything, going to Trax Farms to pick out pumpkins, enjoying the changing leaves, and watching Brett brew his annual pumpkin beer.  It may be October, but it doesn't feel like it's the time of year to do any of these things.  We are still laying out on the beach over here... and I need my Fall fix!  I guess I’m just going to have to pretend and do all my normal Fall things anyway... But deep down, I’ll really just be wishing I was home enjoying this most perfect season where it's really happening.

On another note, HAPPY FRIDAY!*

Mom & Dad Visit Southern California!

Well, we dropped my parents off at the airport on Sunday morning.  Womp womp.  We had the BEST time with them visiting this past week.  Our time together flew by way too fast and I miss them already.  We had such a good time showing them around California and definitely did a ton of FUN stuff!

While my parents were here, we...

 Walked along the beach at Crystal Cove in Laguna

Checked out Downtown Disney & the awesome Lego store

 Took the walk with Hanson =)

Went to the Hanson concert at House of Blues Anaheim!
(Dad & Brett did not partake in this part...haha)

Checked out the Griffith Observatory and awesome views

 Saw the Hollywood sign

Introduced Mom & Dad to the amazing In-N-Out

Walked down Hollywood Blvd
(My Mom's nickname is "Fred" haha)

And my Dad got interviewed for Jimmy Kimmel Live!
(and he was ON that night!)

Took another walk with Hanson on Sunset Blvd =)

Made some delicious homemade pizza

Went biking along the beach

Took them to the Top of the World!

Went to Downtown Disney again for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe

Explored Tablerock Beach

And walked along Thousand Steps Beach

Found the Elephant Parade at Dana Point

Witnessed a beautiful San Clemente sunset

And hung out on the pier before dinner at Fisherman's Wharf for their last night

We had such an amazing time together.  Seeing my parents made us miss home even more.  We can't wait until we can get back to Pittsburgh and see everyone!  What a wonderful week we had together.

Counting down the days until we can see them again!

Today is a very great day!

...because I get to see these people!

That's right!  My Mom & Dad are coming to visit us in California!  They land at LAX this evening and then we get to spend the next 5 glorious days together.  I can't wait to show them around and take them to all our favorite spots!

Hooray!!*

Scenes from the Weekend

A relaxing Friday evening with homemade brushetta

Camping in Big Bear!

Fall beers and fall weather

Brett and his favorite things: beer & biking :)

Here comes the sun

Hiking the Forsee Trail that overlooks Big Bear Lake

Awesome views the whole way up

We found it!  That's Big Bear Lake behind me!

You could see for miles and miles

It was a steep climb up, but totally worth it!

Which made it necessary to indulge in deep dish pizza afterwards ;)

I love our weekends spent in Big Bear!

(Even if the temperature did get down to the 30s at night!)

Next time, we're renting a cabin :)

San Francisco (and that time we biked across the Golden Gate Bridge!)

Some photos from the few days we spent in San Francisco over Labor Day weekend!

San Francisco is such a great city.  We had so much fun adventuring around for two days.  We rented bikes and rode them across the Golden Gate Bridge; wandered around Haight-Ashbury, browsing the music at Amoeba; relaxed in Union Square; ate delicious pastries in Little Italy; drank beers at 21st Amendment Brewery; and walked all over the place, even down to the docks by the Giants Stadium.  Every time we visit San Francisco, there is never enough time to do everything we want to do!  I guess we'll just have to keep coming back. ;)  San Francisco, we love ya!