California Trip

So this past week, Alise and I packed up some beach clothes and food in her giant white van, and traveled down the coast of California! 

Holy cow, guys. It was SO fun! And b-e-a-utiful. We took good old Highway 1, which literally takes you right next to the ocean for the whole trip. Gorgeous! You better believe I was going craaaazy with pictures. I tried to narrow it down the best I could, but there is definitely a good chunk of 'em left. Like, we're talking 176 pictures to be exact. But don't let that number scare you away! Even though there's lots, they are all worth a looksie. Here we go!

If they're extra-large in size, that means I extra-like them! That way when you're scrolling through you know which are the best. (:

Told you it was a big van! Kind of a creeper van, but we didn't care.

Hands down the prettiest most jaw-dropping road trip I've ever been on.

Aren't all these pictures killer? We had a good 6 hours straight just taking in all the perfect surroundings.

We also listened to Nicholas Sparks' book on tape, "The Best of Me." It was such a good book! We looked forward to spending time in the car, just because we got to listen to it.

There was a squirrel! The guy in the car next to us was making fun of us for being scared.

Seriously, the beaches were SO WINDY. See how many wind-blown hair pictures you can count. I'm not talking a model kind of look, no. I'm talking the crazy Einstein and hair-in-my-mouth look.

Alise writing I <3 Alex to send a picture to her man.

My rockin' new hat (pun intended).

Sand dollar hunting

That night we crashed at a family friend's house, Lindsey! Her adorable abode was perfect, and we were so tired that sleeping on the floor didn't bother us in the slightest.

We found a place way at the end of the dock where you could go underneath it! So fun.

You can tell just how windy it was by the noise!

This next part of the trip was probably my favorite. We went to Pirate's Cove!

We started out far away and had quite the hike over, including standing on multiple cliff edges.

I LOVE this picture of it:

Do you see the cave?? I'll help you out.

It's right here...

So we hiked aaallll the way over to it of course!

Ta-dah!

We popped out the other side to find ourselves on another cliff, with a nudist on the beach next to us, just how we like it (;

It was pure serenity just sitting there with the beautiful water, watching it crash on the rocks below us.

See the water? Gorgeous.

Creepin' on some surfers.

K so this great thing happened...

and I have NO IDEA HOW! It's driving me nuts. I'm just going along, choosing all the pictures to post on here, then I see this:

Say whaaa? How did this happen!?? I wish I knew...then I could make more! But no. It just magically did it itself, and it keeps taunting me. So enjoy this one, because there won't be another one!

 Apparently Splash Cafe is really famous?

I survived Highway 1!

 This beaut was voted America's prettiest court house. I'm inclined to agree.

 Walking around the streets, looking like a maniac with my beach hair.

 We did a little shopping on State Street.

Found this amazing store where everything is $16 or less!

 We stayed with my good friend Kimi that night, and the next morning she took us surfing! We got wet suits, boards, and all, all for free! It's nice to have friends with hook-ups.

 Had the beach all to ourselves.

 Carrying the massive board down there was no easy feat.

 These pictures were taken right at shore, but for the most part, we were actually way way way far out in the ocean! That's where the big waves were.

 Basically me and Alise just floated around on our bellies, way out in the ocean. It was pure bliss. I got a lot better at standing up! That was my big accomplishment, just standing there.

The only downside was my random bursts of fear. I would just be floating along and brush up against something underwater, and my mind would automatically go SHARK! But no shark encounters, just a sting ray (which gave me a big enough scare to last the whole trip).

We got there just in time for the sunset! Holy cow, just amazing. So beautiful.

 Except the Ferris Wheel was shut down...so disregard that last statement.

 Love the colors in this one:

 This guy playing his music and singing made me over-the-moon happy. I'm a sucker for live acoustic music.

 After I sent a picture of the Santa Monica Pier & sunset saying "my view right now," this is what Corbin sent back...

I don't even find this offensive. Just way funny. Love him.

 The first sign I saw with San Fernando on it!!

 That night and the two following, we stayed at Alise's grandparents' house, which is in San Fernando (they are currently serving there!).

Here are some random pictures of my  mission.

 I love this one. It surprised me how hill-y the area was, and how green! Everyone told me it was a dessert, which I'm sure it is, but it's covered with trees and just beautiful. I seriously love my mission so much! Can't wait to be there in less than 2 months (ahhhh!!!!) (:

 We went to the LA temple, but I forgot my recommend so Alise did baptisms while I was in the visitor's center chatting with the Sisters there.

 Hollywood Boulevard!

 (side note: if you've seen the new Iron Man, this famous Chinese Theater is the one where the first explosion happens in the movie!)

 San Fernando Mission Blvd.

YOU MADE IT! No more trip pictures!
We drove up Sunday the boring way, on a different (and faster) freeway. Such an amazing trip!

Now I fill my time babysitting. I love babysitting here, the kids worship me and the pay is twice that of in Utah. Holla!

Today I watched these cuties:

And a few other kiddos as well. That baby was to die for. So smiley and happy!

Brody, on the left, is such a funny guy.
When telling him no for something, he just says,
"Well I don't listen. I'm not a listener, so I'm going to do it anyways."
Ha! That'll be something we work on (:
When eating mac n' cheese:
"I'm going to take this mac n' cheese and flip it all over your face."
I promise he likes me though, despite his threats and not listening.

I've been feeling like this lately as I try to finish up my mission wardrobe, or as I like to call it, my mishdrobe.

 

And if you want a good laugh, please watch this video. My family and I love it. It's so quotable too!

"You can tell it's an aspen by the way it is."

The animal calling is my favorite part.

Well that's all for now, have a splendid week!