A Complicated Relationship

I have a love/hate relationship with LA. It's stressful there. Especially the driving. Everyone seems like they're in a hurry and angry. It takes forever to get anywhere. On the other hand, there is SO much to do and it's all so fun. It drove home how little there is to do in Raleigh, and how slow-paced life is here. I'm okay with that as long as I can escape for fast-paced, exciting vacations. 

On Tuesday morning we picked up Ethan and Henry and headed to the Santa Monica Pier. We walked the pier, played in the arcade, and ate lunch. The boys wanted to play on the beach before we left. Henry and Ethan were not completely sure how they felt about each other. In many ways, they are completely opposite personalities. They would be best friends, then hate each other, then be friends again over the course of just a few minutes. They both love trains, which helped. A common passion for trains can overcome so much. It should be incorporated into more diplomatic efforts, I think.

The sand was "too hot" so the boys found shade to play in. Then we went to the Skirball, a Jewish cultural museum. They have an unbelievable Noah's Ark exhibit that's fun for kids and adults. It was amazing. It's very hands-on and well done. We left the Skirball and headed to the Grove, which is the nicest outdoor shopping area I've ever seen. The kids loved the fountain. Morgan and Kate (and then later Chris) joined us for dinner. On the way home, we had to run to Diddy Reese for ice cream sandwiches, which have gone up in price since I first went there 10 years ago (to $1.50!).