California, Here We Are!

Well, we've done the touristy thing today at Universal Studios. It was fun. We took the studio tours, saw the campy Jaws shark that comes up out of the water and looks phony; Erin had her picture taken with Frankenstein (she was really excited about that); We paid $16 to split a chicken taco meal at the Pollo del Taco inside the park. But all in all, we had a great time. I always learn a lot about each of my kids when I spend time alone with them on a trip. For instance, Erin doesn't like to get lost...even though I told her you always see things when you're trying to find your way back onto the path that you wouldn't see otherwise. It still makes her nervous. And she is very careful how she spends her money when it's HER money. She got cash for her birthday from the grandparents, so that is her shopping money while she is here. So far, she's bought a pair of socks and a little American Graffiti poster. The socks were on sale, and the poster was $12. And she's worried that she's spending her money too fast. Ahhh, it's fun to watch your kid being a cheapskate.

Tomorrow she will be sixteen. I still remember the day she was born, and how I couldn't believe that I was going to be a mommy to a little girl after all I had known was this wild all-boy boy. On the way back from Universal in the shuttle, we watched a little boy, about 3, and his sister who was about 2 sitting side by side between their parents and holding hands. The little boy was subtly trying to wrench his hand free so he could play with his toy, but the little girl sat with the biggest smile on her face, swinging her short little legs and needing nothing more in life. There was my real life memory of my little boy and little girl. Colin the busybody, never wanting to get too close...Erin, content and smiling and happy to be along for the ride. Things have changed a bit over the years, but she is still a joy. Still ready to go anywhere at a moment's notice. And today in the House of Horrors she held my hand the whole way. What a great day.

We're meeting Randy tomorrow - Kyle's roommate from OBU and a good friend of both of ours who has lived out here for years. After that, I think we're going to cruise around Beverly Hills and see how .001 percent of the world lives. It will be fun to watch Erin pinch her pennies on Rodeo Drive, and I'll probably make a wrong turn somewhere and who knows where we'll end up. Maybe the beach.