The First 6

It's been a few weeks since we've updated the blog and my mom has been asking me every time I've talked to her if we've written a new post so I think it is time for a quick update!

Mike ended his first work contract at the beginning of May down in Poway/ Escondido.  We decided to spend the weekend in nearby San Diego after his last shift.  We've had tickets for the San Diego zoo for a few months and I'd been itching to check it out so this proved to be the perfect opportunity.  We didn't take too many pictures but did snap a picture of this cute little panda bear munching on eucalyptus.  The zoo was huge and amazing; we really enjoyed our time here.

While in San Diego we also visited the Gaslamp Quarters which is full of restaurants, shopping, and bars.  We took in a movie ("Act of Valor"- we liked it!) and then had dinner and drinks afterwards.  It was a perfect weekend.

The first weekend in May Mike completed a half marathon in Newport Beach.  He signed up with a friend from our small group, Dustin, and a few of Dustin's friends.  Mike had a few weeks to train and did an awesome job; he received a time of 1 hour and 47 minutes, a personal best for him!

Dustin is standing next to Mike

Bear Grylls, from the show "Man Vs. Wild" spoke at Saddleback Church.  I was working but Mike was able to attend.  Below is a picture of Bear scaling the wall at church.  He's definitely an entertaining and talented outdoorsman.  

This past weekend Mike and I briefly visited Long Beach.  After work on Friday we drove over and walked 2nd Street.  We found a tasty mexican restaurant and enjoyed happy hour specials while watching the Laker's playoff game.  Afterwards, we found a cute cupcake shop, "The Frosted Cupcake", and both picked out decadent cupcakes to enjoy.  Mike got chocolate toffee and I enjoyed white coconut. Yum!  

On Saturday we headed to downtown Los Angeles (can you believe we've been here for almost 6 months and I haven't even explored LA yet??!!).  We watched the Clippers play...and lose. It was a good game, though, and was close for most of it.  We had nosebleed seats at the very top of the stadium as you can tell from the picture but they were comfortable and roomy on the aisle and we could see pretty well even from that height.

All the fans got free Clipper's t-shirts 

Standing in front of the Staples center where the Clippers and Lakers play

After the game we walked around LA Live.  This area is full of a variety of restaurants, bars, museums, and stadiums.  The taping of the show "American Idol" is held here in the Nokia Theater and this is also home to the Grammy Museum.  Mike and I found an outdoor patio to sip on a few drinks and people watch.  

We headed to Santa Monica after that and did a little shopping in downtown Santa Monica.  We also enjoyed watching the numerous street performers along the way.  Below is a picture of a woman in her 70's who was putting on a singing and dancing performance.  It was not very good but it WAS entertaining.  I made Mike take a picture.  Many of the street performers are actually very talented and I've been told some famous singers/ musicians have been discovered this way. It was also rumored that one of the women contestants from the show "The Voice" comes out and performs regularly; however, we never saw her.

  

Dragons made out of bushes in the middle of the shops.

At night the trees lit up; it was actually much prettier in person. 

We finished up the evening at a restaurant called "Yankee Noodle" and coincidentally ran into some of Mike's friends from Purdue (crazy, huh?!).  The couple moved out to Santa Monica around the time we moved to California, too.  We were excited to find that we have a few more friends here! 

We are just coming up on 6 months of living here in California and couldn't be happier.  We feel very settled and are enjoying exploring all that California has to offer.  We can't wait for what's in store for the next 6!