Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, and the L.A. Temple!

On our California vacation, we learned Summer has definitely inherited the "travel bug" from Jerald and me (he and I both crave travel and adventure). She adored all of California's sights, sounds, people, and scenery. Her normal at-home schedule was completely thrown off with long, all day sight-seeing extravaganzas, but she adored every second of it, never complaining of boredom or tiredness. Even with all of those hours in the car, she was so content and carefree in her car seat. My parents are ordinance workers in the Los Angeles Temple on the fourth week of every month. It's quite a commute, yes, but they love the experience. We traveled with them this time and we all made a vacation out of it!

Ah, Rodeo Drive! The most elegant and sophisticated stretch of road with the glitziest and ritziest shops in the nation!

Okay, so first we stopped at Tiffany's for a diamond bracelet I'd been eyeing. Then, we stopped at Dolce & Gabbana to purchase a few key pieces from their spring collection, but not before we swung into Jimmy Choo to buy some fabulous sandals made with 24 carat gold, whilst waving nonchalantly at the hovering paparazzi. Yes? Nooooo, but we can dream, right? It was actually a bit intimidating to enter those stores with the security guards standing at the entrances, and viewing beautiful clothes, shoes, and jewelry at astronomical prices. Get this...a designer fur-lined black mini cape in Vallentino's was a whopping $7,700! Holy stars! We laughed, though, because we saw a shockingly expensive glittery silver purse nearly identical to a purse I have...but mine is the $10 Wal-mart version!



Summer's sparkly silver shoes from Target made quite a splash on Rodeo Drive. She had countless sales people in the posh stores complimenting their sheer fabulousness. An employee in Tiffany's actually asked if they came in her size! They were all so sweet to her. :)

Later that day, we went to Hollywood! We strolled the Hollywood Walk of Fame and visited the Kodak Theatre, where, in less than an hour, American Idol would be filmed!

One evening, we went to Monte Alban, an Oaxacan style Mexican restaurant - so authentic and delicious!

Here's a picture of the stunning Los Angeles Temple! Jerald and I took the opportunity to perform some temple work and loved it! We later took Summer on a walk on the grounds and took some photos.

The temple is surrounded by luscious flowers!

Of all the things to see in Los Angeles, the place bringing the most peace and happiness is the temple. The bright lights of Hollywood simply cannot compare with the beauty and the spirit of the Lord inside those walls. We felt so thankful to be a forever family.