Beth has known that I was coming to Vegas for her birthday for a few months. I told her we were seeing the best show ever. It became our joke that we must be seeing "Thunder from Down Under". When they came to pick me up at the airport this sign was just too tempting. We had to take a picture!

We stopped in a small town for gas and saw this store next to the gas station.

Jason loves Jerky so we just had to stop!

The official company car!

After four months of waiting, I was finally able to give Beth her surprise birthday gift: Wicked in LA! We had a blast!

"Elphabeth"

She has always been Beth's favorite character!

Magnificent, Marvelous, Mad Madame Meg :-)

Otherwise known as "Galinda the Good"

I was really upset when Beth told me to stand in front of Galinda for this picture. I don't want to be her. I am Elphaba! I guess Jayne does get her "blonde-ness" from someone. By looking at this picture I guess it really is me. I am trying to come to terms with this!

Meg, Beth, Nina & Violeta inside Pantages Theatre in Hollywood

Saturday afternoon at Olvera Street in downtown LA.

Olvera Street is LA's founding spot.

Beth tasted the best taquitos in the world along with custard & caramel filled churros.

YUMMY!

Oops, we spent tooooo much!
Don't tell George and Jason about our new boyfriend!
We stayed up late on Thursday night making matching shirts. Our theme for the trip was "Wicked Thunder Down Under". We thought the shirts were adorable.

Saturday afternoon in Oxnard, California.

We went to visit Nina's family and took a little drive down to the beach.

Nina, Violeta, Beth & Meg :-)

There were some guys fishing off the end of the pier. This man caught four of the big crabs and four of the smaller, spider crabs. I was amazed!

Freezing our tails off at the end of the pier!

I don't think I have been to a more beautiful, peaceful beach in California before.
It was wonderful!

Beth & Nina:

Two of the many wonderful people who influence my life for good!

This particular post is for those of you who ask why I am always the one taking the pictures and am hardly ever in the pics I blog. I hope you are happy...

Violeta drew our names in the sand so we did silly poses just because we could!

Beth didn't get the memo on the "silly" part.

"The Rhythm of the Waves"

I have always made fun of my mom, who grew up on Long Island, NY, for spending day after day at the beach in her youth. I don't mock her for going to the beach...it's the reason why she went. She hardly ever went swimming. She just went to sunbathe and "listen to the rhythm of the waves". I thought that was the dumbest thing I had ever heard. Now I finally understand. Maybe it just took a little more chaos in my life for me to appreciate things like that. This trip to Cali was more of a relaxing retreat than a fun-filled vacation. Isn't that the way all "vacations" should be?

Fun Treasures!

New Friends

We all enjoyed walking on the beach. It was so relaxing!

Yeah! Nina gave us more pics. Here are some of the shooting part of our outing last weekend. Jay's dad, Larry, is a Civil War historian. He brought some of his muzzle loaders and he even cast his own lead miniballs the night before. Everyone enjoyed learning a bit about the history of the guns.

Ed Dimalanta & Larry Bowman

Meg & Rachel (mid-tantrum)

Nina & Jayne

Paul Dimalanta (Nina's brother) & Jay

Ed Dimalanta (Nina's dad), Larry (Papa), Paul & Jay
Ed & Paul

David Castillo shooting Jay's 9mm.

Daddy & Jayne shooting the bb gun.

Jayne, Jason, David & Paul
Rachel is waiting for her turn
Look at Jayne's beautiful hand!!!

Violeta (Nina's mom) & Rachel

Nina & Jayne