Baby If You Ever Wondered

The California Jordans were living on the air in Cincinnati for a full week over Thanksgiving.


To Laura and I it's just Union Terminal, but to Carson it is most definitely the Hall of Justice.


What we didn't know was that it actually was used as a model for the Hanna Barbera TV show back in the 70s.


As much fun as the miniature stuff was, the life sized toys equally rocked.



Although not as much as the famous Alms Park rock slide.  I have to imagine Aunt Colleen relents and allows any number of her nieces and nephews to be playing here during her wedding reception next June.



Even without the super connections Fall is a fun time to visit the 'nati, especially with the week of weather we had.


It was nice enough at the Thanksgiving race that Laura said she barely felt superior.  That said, my 10k PR made me feel quite superior, regardless of the temperature.



The warm weather wouldn't last through the weekend, so we did get some use out of packing our warm clothes.


It was quite the locomotive themed visit, with multiple visits to Union Terminal, as well as a trip on the Zoo train.


The inspiration for this photo required a trip all the way back to 1981 to capture, hence why Colleen felt Instagram was the way to shoot it.



We took full advantage of the family definition on Ging-Ging and Pop's Cincinnati Zoo membership, with the aforementioned ride on the train, as well as a spin on the new carousel for everybody who can handle such a dizzying ride.


We flew out to the Northwest part of town to pay Laura's Great Aunt Ginny and Cousin Heather a visit at Winton Woods.



Even with a full week away, all these activites made it feel like a quick swing through the 'nati.


Suffice to say, the trip to Cincinnati did not blow.


With their requisite two days of sub-30 degree temperatures behind them, Carson and Summer are looking forward to the more manufactured Winter wonderland of Southern California.

There Beneath the Blue Suburban Skies

We wanted to share just a few pics this week before a holiday break will take us back to the 'nati for Thanksgiving.  We prepared for those elements last weekend at a very blustery birthday party at Hermosa's Fort Lots-o-Fun.


Although the truck was turned off, Summer did her best to let people know to stand clear once she was behind the wheel.



Sunday had us down at the Natural History Museum.  While there Carson did he best Steve Irwin impersonation.


Although with a dinosaur for a sister he will definitely have his hands full.


Sunday night concluded with a trip to the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier.  With the Roundhouse Aquarium closing at sunset, we were only minutes too late.


Finally, it is with much sadness that we note the closing of Penny Lane Sushi in Manhattan Beach this week.  Penny Lane was the site of Carson's first dinner out, as seen here. We've been "members" since 2005, but had to come in and pick of our chopsticks on our last visit on Sunday night.

Low Hanging Fruit & Donuts

There were suggestions from many members of the Midwestern Jordans that the blog wasn't updated with Halloween pictures quickly enough.  Apparently everyone else in Ohio has gotten 194 posts of pictures of their grandchildren/nieces/nephews on a weekly basis over the last four years.  That's probably even more posts than robocalls.


Something really took Summer's breath away at the Redwood Village Halloween Parade (that something being a powdered sugar donut on a string).


As usual, Bill's pumpkin carving brilliance was on display again this year.


Backing up a weekend, we got plenty of treats at Dan & Danielle Feinbloom's Halloween party.


Then on Sunday we made way for yet another open house by venturing out into the country for some apple cider donuts in Oak Glen, CA.


Of course we made the two hour drive for more than just donuts.  There was also some apple picking to accomplish.  Laura was pleased to finally use the phrase "Low hanging fruit" in its most appropriate context.


While Carson was happy to take on a more vertical challenge.


Not seen in this photo is Bill with a recently picked apple on his head.


Closer to home this past weekend we watched the Playa Vista firemen test out some new hoses.


As well as taking a spin in the marina on the Sea Sheppard's Brigitte Bardot.

To Go Where No Family Has Gone Before

We had a rather unique visitor to the neighborhood a few weeks back.


Despite the multi-billion dollar piece of aircraft that rolled through the neighborhood, it was equally entertaining to just play in puddles.  I'm really hoping that is some sort of iced coffee beverage that Carson was holding for Thea, and not just muddy water, but I have a pretty strong suspicion that that it isn't.


Although our love of costumes has us celebrating Halloween year round, it's nice that other people get on board in October.  Superman should really be more careful with his bone-crushing grip.


Despite growing up in the midwest, neither Bill nor Laura entered a corn maze until well into their 20s.  Although it's a mostly fake corn maze constructed more for Halloween festivities than for actual corn consumption, Summer still get's to experience the lab rat feeling much earlier.


Carson was one step ahead of us the whole time.


Although the Bailey's didn't make it on to this hayride, it's still not polite to taunt at them.


Of course, if you're taking advantage of free hayrides and corn mazes you eventually have to buy some pumpkins.  Carson was appropriately dressed in pumpkin camo and still couldn't escape.


Summer tried her best to negotiate with the proprietor, without much success.


Given the proposed punishments we happily left with 4 pumpkins purchased.


Sorry for the long delay on getting this post up.  Bill will endeavor to do better over the coming weeks.

(Sea)Lions & Ponies and Bouncers - Oh My

The calendar has flipped to October and Summer is pretty happy about it.


Ging-Ging hopped the first train west for the opportunity to hang with Carson & Summer this past weekend, and we did our best to make her visit eventful.


While the month will likely end trick or treating on this same street, Carson got an early start while cheering for Laura at the Manhattan Beach 10k.  While she didn't match her PR from last year's race, Laura certainly started strong, and finished in a Geddy Lee approved place.


Of course, with the MB 10k comes the Hometown Fair, giving the Summer the chance to get her hands on a goat.


Carson led Summer out for a ride on the back forty (which apparently is actually in Culver City).


She was old hand after her ride last year.


Playa Del Rey celebrated the grand opening of Tower 42 in the space formerly occupied by Playa Cantina.  The remodel has made the views much more palatable to Ging-Ging.



After the Hometown Fair on Saturday we went north for more bounce houses at Discover Marina Del Rey.  Carson remembered this slide fondly.



Unfortunately there was no coast guard water rescue demonstration as the airspace was being freed up for President Obama to visit, take campaign dollars and then fly somewhere else where he would actually promise to do things for voters.  That said, we do have wild sea lions to entertain us, so take that Ohioans.


It wasn't the only animal that we discovered in Marina Del Rey.