Our Future Home

This past week we took a trip to Riverside, CA, our future home. We decided to take this trip a few months prior to moving there, so we can get more familiar with the neighborhoods and attend church to meet some of the people. Also, since Tracy spent a couple of days there in February, he couldn't wait to show me why he fell in love with the city. Lets just say we had a good time mostly just driving around and looking at all we could.

The drive down was well, long and hot and boring. Not much to see or do when you're going through deserts, or as Tracy refereed to it as "Hell." We took 2 days to go down and spent our first night in Mesquite. One the first day we stopped in St. George at The Dinosaur Discovery at Johnson's Farm. Here is James looking at dinosaur tracks.

The next day we drove and drove and drove. James whined and whined and whined. He doesn't like having nothing to look at. We did make a quick stop in Vegas for pictures in front of the welcome sign. Big Bird just happened to be there as well. Couldn't have planned that any better.

My little sister came along as well.
It was nice having someone else to help keep James happy in the car.

Then we finally made it into California and had lunch in Barstow. After that James was happier and so were we. A few hours later we made it to our destination, Riverside. Checked into our hotel and headed around town. Tracy took us to the awesome Fairmount Park. We will then make a stop there just about everyday we are in Riverside. Arrived at the park just at sunset. Beautiful.

The next day we headed out to the beach. Took the ferry across the harbor to Balboa Beach. James thought the boat ride as fun. We also had a nice lunch on the pier at Ruby's Diner.

James' first time seeing the ocean.

Loved playing in the sand, as long as his feet didn't touch it.

The drive home from the beach wasn't very fun. It took longer since we hit the traffic out of LA, but we had to take my little sis past Disneyland. When we got back to Riverside, we were treated to dinner at Tio's Tacos by Tracy's soon to be graduate adviser, Mary. Her two kids and some other graduate students joined us. It was fun meeting everyone that will be apart of our lives down there.

Saturday we spent the morning at Parris Reservoir and then went driving around and looking at neighborhoods and possible house rentals. 

At Perris Reservoir

How could I not be excited to live in a place where some of the streets look like this?

Sunday, we went to church, then had lunch at Fairmount Park and walked around for a bit.

Such an awesome place.

 Later that evening we drove over to Bloomington to visit Tracy's mom's friend from high school. They fed us bbq steak, corn on the cob and other yummy food. We had a fun time visiting them. At the end of the day we took a trip over the the Redlands Temple. All temples should have Palm Trees.

Monday, we had to say good bye to Riverside and head home. :( We did make on last stop at Yogurt-land. Pretty sure I'll just move there for that place. lol.

We arrived that night in Vegas and stayed in Sam's Town like we did in November. James was happy to see the bear and waterfalls and the laser light show. He sure was a happy boy that night. We also took a little stroll on the strip and watch the Bellagio Fountains.

Then we came home. Now it is back to the everyday life. Had a good time and can't wait till Sept. when we'll move there for at least the next 2 years.