California Virgin...

All right, people.  Get your minds out of the gutter.  I'm talking about a person who has never been to California before!

I met Kevin in Hawaii when I took his SCUBA Open Water course with Island Divers.  We've been friends ever since.

(That's one of my first giant strides off the boat with Kevin's assistance -- accident prone, remember?)

He had about 2 days he could detour on his way back home from the Arctic Circle for the holidays so he decided to make a special appearance in California!  And what can you take one to see during their first (and VERY short) trip to Southern California?  Well, I am so glad you asked!

The beach is the number one thing, of course.  First, I took him out to eat at one of the local spots I have been going to for years (although, not too often as of late).  For all of you native Southern Californians (and you know who you are because you don't call California "Cali"), think late night eateries, 24 hours to be precise.  Movie posters and actor glossies covering the walls.  A tall circular neon sign off PCH.  That's right.  Harbor House.

After we ate lunch, we walked down to the beach so he could take his trademark photo: standing in the ocean water, thumbs up.  And then he tried to drag me into the 50 something degree water... Thank heavens I'm stronger than him ;)

(Who has two thumbs and loves the ocean??  This guy!)

Next I took him to the "next Waikiki," aka, downtown Huntington Beach.  Seriously.  After moving back here, I'm amazed at how touristy it has become.  A lot of the mom and pop stores I once knew have been replaced by the bigger, name brand stores.  And they've even created a "second" main street.

Now, I know you're thinking to yourself, "Wow, this guy only had 2 days to spend in Southern California?  There are so many fantastic places to show California virgins!  How on Earth did you decide?!"  Well, again, I'm glad you asked.  Disneyland of course!!!

(The "tiny" Christmas tree on Main St. Disneyland.  Kevin sporting his "1st Visit button.)

As you all know, I am a Disneyland fanatic.  It is my therapy.  I have had an annual pass pretty much my whole life.  It was mandatory he experienced the original.  Yeah, yeah, he's been to Disney World in Florida and they may have an even more amazing castle, but come on.  THIS was the original!  Sleeping Beauty's Castle is just gorgeous decorated in its icicle lights!  And yeah, we went during Christmas break and it took us about an hour just to get his admission ticket, but you know what? We still had fun!  I think we were able to go on about 5 rides the whole visit, but I mainly wanted him to see the holiday fireworks show anyway.  Not to mention the "snow" of Southern California that follows.  Plus, Disneyland is one of THEE greatest places to people watch!

(Very scared for Tower of Terror!)

(Sleeping Beauty's Castle)

Overall, it was a fantastic visit!  At least, for me it was :)

Gingerbread Galore!

(Chateau Gingerbread de Hollie)

Every year, well... just about... We get together and make gingerbread houses for Christmas!  And when I say we, I mostly am talking about my sister Gina and I.  We get our friends together at our house, or go to someone else's and everyone brings some sort of candy to chip in.  This year, we were lucky enough to have left over candy galore from my mom!  She had a bunch of the young women from church over to make houses a couple days before our event.  Only problem was, she said the graham crackers she bought broke really easily and that we should purchase some more.  Of course, we waited too long and didn't.


So we decided to make gingerbread ourselves!

(Jeni and I in the process of mixing the gingerbread dough!  Aka, proof!)

(Tupperware cookie cutters worked out well for Jeni, Gina and I)

Our friend Jeni came over and we got to baking!  Man, did it smell UH-mazing!  It made the whole house smell like Christmas!  We found some baby square tupperware and used those to cut out squares to help build the houses.  It wasn't till later that we realized the rounded corners did not help in the physics of the construction...  But, we all had a blast anyway!  I had no idea how creative our friends can get when there's a building dilemma like that!  Oh the creativity!!

(Jeni's "Christmas Wish," which was a bachelorette's party...)

(Suzette's lion... RAWR!)

(Josh's Aztec Temple of sorts)

(Rick's nativity with baby Cinnamon Jesus)

(Emily's Tropical Hut)