Day Trip to Chateau St. Croix Winery

We are in need of playing a little catch up on the blog for this year.  Here is one highlight that started out 2012.  The three of us took a quite Saturday in February and traveled out to the Chateau St. Croix Winery for a wine tour and tasting.  This winery was built to model a European estate winery, detailed with Medieval character.
Rozlyn (10 months) had fun crawling around the ballroom and tasting the variety of cheeses they had to sample.

Scotty was feeding Rozlyn samples of cheese and she got his finger with her new teeth. Snapped his reaction just perfectly :)

California

Heather, Andy, Gwennie, and Callan are living out in California for a year, so Scott, Rozlyn and I couldn't think of a better reason for a mid-winter getaway! Our L.A. adventure began as soon as we touched down.  The Hermansons picked us up from the airport and we headed right for the beach.  We spent all afternoon at Venice Beach, a beach known for its eclectic characters, playing in the sand, walking down the beach and people-watching on the boardwalk.

After a relaxing morning, we packed up the crew and head for the hills, literally.  We drove up into the Angeles National Forest for a hike through the evergreens. It was amazing to find such peace and beautiful landsacpes just outside of L.A. The kiddos did great. Gwennie and Callan got a chance to run out some energy and Rozlyn was content on her daddy's back the whole ride. She didn't say a peep, just took in the scenery. The treat at the end of the path was a waterfall; we could walk right up to the base of the falls.  That evening we got a babysitter for the youngsters and us big kids went out on the town in Old Town Pasadena to celebrate Heather's big 3-0!  We shared great company and coversation over a delightful Itialian cuisine.

Sunday morning was Andy's day to give the sermon. It was such a privelage to see Andy in his element. He has such a gift! And they have an amazing church to be a part of!
Our last day we had to make it to Hollywood. We first to a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard, checking out the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Grauman's Chinease Theater Forecourt of celebrity handprints. Then we drove up Mount Hollywood to the Griffith Observatory to get a closer look at the famous Hollywood sign and a vast view overlooking L.A.

You can see the Hollywood sign above our heads, way in the distance!

Our visit was definitely too short. We are looking forward to the summer when we get to welcome the Hermansons back to the mid-west and to meet Hermanson baby numero tres in September!