Ryan did great on the flights! We were both very nervous about this part of our trip and it was kind of a test run before our trip in March to Florida. He napped for about 45 minutes on the flight there, then stayed busy looking out the window, talking to his 18 month old "friend" in the row behind us, and just being passed from Mike, to me, to my Mom the whole time. On the flight back, luckily he slept!!
We stayed at the Hollywood Heights hotel and had a corner of 3 rooms all together- my parents, us, and James & Jerry Hamon. The guys hung out the first night after our flights got in and we checked in, while I unpacked, put Ryan to bed and then turned in myself. Unfortunately, due to the nature of it being New Years Eve in Hollywood, it was a rather rough night of sleep for all of us. Around 3am a few fire trucks came roaring down our street (we had a window to the main road from our room) honking their horns loud and with sirens blazing! It was so loud and woke all of us up.... including Ryan. He started screaming because I think it scared him so bad and then he looked around and didn't know where he was. Luckily, he was still snuggling in bed with me when we heard a key card in our lock then loud banging on the door, to a drunk girl who confused our room with hers. Mike "politely" let her know it was not her room. So annoying! I swear if Ryan hadn't already been awake and she had been the one to do it, I would have found out where her room was and knocked on it every hour for the rest of the night... or at least at 7:00am the next morning when we had to get up for the day!
The rest of the nights weren't great, but never as bad as that one. Ryan slept decently, but woke up each night at some point which we are not accustomed to him doing anymore. I think it was due to the fact that he would wake up and look around and either not know his surroundings, or realize that I was right there and want to be held. The restless nights on top of very long days being on the go from wake til bedtime made for a very TIRED momma.... After the trip I think it took me the rest of the week to really "recover" from the trip and feel a little more energy resurface.
The day of the Rose Bowl, Mike dropped off the Hamons and Mom and Dad at the Rose Parade and then shopped at Ralph's and Subway for our tailgating stuff. We drove and parked in Lot 7 and tailgated for a few hours before gametime then went in to the game in time for the fly by. We were in the tunnel during the parachuting of the game ball, so we didn't actually see it. Ryan did great at the game and was constantly smiling and laughing at those around us. The first half he wouldn't go to anyone but me, which was pretty tiring for my arms and shoulders. At halftime Mike walked him around and then he was good going to anyone for the rest of the game. One funny thing was towards the end of the 3rd quarter, my Dad pointed out the blimp that was floating around the game. Ryan then became OBSESSED with that thing. He really wanted it! He would go from person to person as it circled depending on who was closest to it and point and then as it went the other direction would go from person to person to the end of the row to who was closest once again. He literally did this probably close to 100 times! It was sooo funny and amazing his persistence. I told his Grandaddy Roberts that now he knows what he needs to buy him for his birthday. ;) haha!
The game of course ended with a wonderful TCU VICTORY!!! :) 21-19. And we will continue to believe that Ryan is their good luck charm. The game was very exciting and the crowd was very spirited! We are so glad that we got to experience it!
The next morning we went to where the Rose Parade was held and got a chance to walk around the floats and look at them up close. Every float is made up entirely of flowers or other plant-life only. It was incredible the detail and intricacy of each of the floats. I only wish they had been more fragrant. I thought we would be able to smell them better, but really couldn't. We walked around for about an hour then left because it had started raining and we didn't have an umbrella, only ponchos and couldn't be out with the cold and rain with the baby. Later, we went to the Ronald Reagan Library which was pretty fun. (Also still rainy and cold) We got to go on the former Air Force 1 and walk through it. It was pretty neat, but we were kind of disappointed thinking it would be a little fancier. I guess looking back at 70's-80's era plane it was nice... think really OLD TIME-Y looking computers, etc. just wasn't quite as cool. I imagine the one now is pretty high class, but even if it's not it's still like 1st class throughout and not coach as we travel. ;) That evening, we met up with the Falcone's and visited in their room at the Renaissance (where the TCU people stayed) and then went to the Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood for dinner.
Monday, it was still rainy in the morning and we went for a late breakfast at Roscoe's fried chicken and waffles. It was YUMMY!! Ryan enjoyed a 4th of my waffle and lots of fried chicken and even a few licks of whipped cream from the top of my hot chocolate. ;) We then checked out of our hotel and drove to Long Beach to the aquarium as we were looking for indoor activities to kill time since the day was still yucky. Ryan enjoyed parts of the aquarium. Some fish were more eye-catching to him than others. He especially liked the puffins as Mom and I were able to get one to chase our finger due to our bright colored nail polish. Other than that, being pushed in his stroller outside to see the pigeons was likely his favorite activity. He was extremely interested in those birds... and they would've been FREE entertainment. Haha. We did go in a netted bird area and he watched them for awhile, but wasn't too sure about them and I didn't want any landing on him as they said they do bite if you try to pet them and he would have likely hit them or something. After the aquarium, we took the long drive back Highway 1 to LAX, had dinner at On The Border in the airport then took the flight home.
It was a great trip and I wanted to make sure that I documented it before I forgot. Thanks for reading! :) Now for some pictures!
Ryan during the tailgate- LOVED that apple
Yummy apple!
Digging right in!
His attention grabbing laugh...
Group tailgating- Mom and Dad got there late
Beginning of the game- family picture (Ryan needed his bottle)
Getting his milk
Hanging out with Nana and Grandaddy at the game
Score should've ended here, but we still WON 21-19!
At Rose Parade Floats
Air Force One @ Reagan library
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