Day at The Grove in LA

Getting ready to go

Sam & Logan on the way!

So we head to L.A. to celebrate Mom and Dad's 45th wedding anniversary!  The weather might have been wet but that would not stop the Banchik/ Kraft family fun! We first checked into the hotel and then we all hit Pomodoro for dinner.  The food was great and now I am regretting not eating all my chicken parm... I don't know what I was thinking.   All the kids except for Axel stayed with their cousins that night and Logan and I had a 200 text conversation fyi.. Logan does not sleep out!  All the texting was to keep him calm so he would fall asleep, and he finally did.  The next morning I took Nana & Gaga to Samantha's Basketball game (yes Sam's team won and she made 4 pts.) Logan let me know that he would be staying with Mommy and Daddy tonight!  Oh well at least we got 1 night somewhat alone.

Axel starting the day the monkey way

As always when we are in L.A. we do not have a plan so on our way to Griffith Park we decided to go to The Grove!  TheGrove is an outdoor mall near Beverly Hills and in the Shadow of the Hollywood sign.  We were welcomed by an amazing central pond and fountain that the kids loved.

Just after making their wishes, they hoped they would come true.

Brooklyn hangs with her cousin. She gets a real "girly" weekend unlike home with all the boys.

We really enjoyed the pond but now it was time to explore and find some more things to do.

Brooklyn is MACs new spokeswoman for their new line called Wonder Woman.

Logan, Cai, Brooklyn, Samantha, and Mackensie took a stroll in the trolly along with Nana and Gaga around the Grove. Logan says sitting on the top was the best part.

Gaga and Cai walk alongside the tracks after yet another ride on the trolly!

Cai is very happy. Could it be his shining personality or the cinnamon and sugar pretzels with lemonade?

Hunger began to set in for me and I knew that there was a farmers market attached to the Grove so it was time for me to go on a food mission.  Not long after, the call went out! The farmers market was a great food find, so I sent for the troops.  With all the choices I went for a Pastrami on Rye!!! 

Axel had pizza 

Smart phones and candy for Sam & Logan

Lollipop for Brooklyn

Fun and Laughs

It was time to head back but we had some time by the fountain again!

Not quite the Bellagio but beautiful

Me and my Kidz I love them all!!!!

 Time to get ready for Dinner..... GREEK

Logan's First Day Skiing

Gaga signed Logan up for snow kids at Mt. Charleston for ski lessons and he took him today.  I went into the office and got some work done.  The Internet in the office has been going out and after the 4th or 5th time I was ready to go home and work.  I kept wondering how Logan was doing but I could not call because there is no cell phone service on the Mountain!  I really wanted to see Logan so I got in the car and headed up to the mountain.  I found Gaga at the lodge on the deck, he was surprised to see me.  I finally found Logan getting off the lift.

I was happy to find out that he was able to get off the lift without falling.

He did not see me and I did not want to yell for him.

I thought that I would make him fall!

Gaga got his attention and I was happy to see Logan not fall!

I think he was happy to see me!

But he had to get back to his lessons!

I found Logan coming up on the lift!



It looked like he enjoyed the lift.

 I like the human cannonball helmet!

Hopefully he does not become a cannonball!

 He was a snow plowing king!

Off he goes again!

Have fun Logan!

                                                                                      Logan was tired and hungry after Skiing!

But...

He had enough energy to have a snowball fight
                 with
                     Gaga

It was awesome being able to go to see Logan!
             Great Job Logan!

                 Thanks Dad for taking Logan!

Sleigh Riding on Christmas

 Mom is in NY with Nana, Brooklyn and Axel are with Miriam!

90" of snow fell on Mt. Charleston

I wanted to hike in Redrock... what was I thinking!

Cai & Logan agreed "Let's find Snow"

There was no snow until we hit 6000 feet but when we hit 8000 feet it was a winter wonderland!

As we got closer to where we wanted to be the traffic got worse! We wanted to go to the Ski slopes to get more information about Ski school for Logan, but the snow looked too good and we had a sled!



The boys were ready to ride but I could not park so Gaga to the rescue!

Gaga took the boys and I drove back and forth!

The slopes were buzzing!

I finally parked and found Gaga and the boys!

@

The porta potties..... they were scary!

Cai and Logan were ready for some more fun so we haeded back to the slopes.



A snowman was on Cai's mind but Logan

convinced him to hit the hill!

Getting to the top was a little hard for Cai

He kept sinking in the deep snow!

Logan helped Cai to the top and off they went! 

Fun Fun Fun!  We all had Fun!

                           

Even though they crashed a few times they loved it and I loved

Watching them!

Logan could have stayed all day!!!

But!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Cai's hands got cold so it was

time to go

 Logan was not too happy about that but he smiled for the camera anyway!

That is what it is like to have the best kids in the world

And for you viewing pleasure here is some scenic views

from

Mt. Charleston

It was a great time and I would like this to be a

Kraft E Family

Traddition!

Only we need the rest of the family!

I miss you Babs!

Try to enjoy the NY Blizzard!

Here is our outtake!