Happy Birthday Brad

 To celebrate Brad's birthday, we packed up a picnic and headed to Roxbury Memorial Park.  The weather was great and there was lots for Maya and her little friend to do.  Our picnic menu was a potluck, with chardonnay and roasted garlic grilled chicken, German potato salad, Greek salad, coleslaw, ground beef patsies, spinach-garlic rollups, and pineapple upside down cake.  We relaxed in the sun, shared birthday stories, watched the kids play and just celebrated our Dada Brad!

Painting a Birthday Masterpiece

April 24th was Brad's birthday.  Maya worked on a very special present for him.  Color Me Mine was a perfect place to spend a cold, cold evening, working a sunny present for Brad.  Other than pouring the paints into the palate, and painting her hand (to be printed), Maya did all the work by herself.  I finished it off by signing off the back of the plate.  Below is the master at work.

 

Out and About in Beverly Hills

On Saturday, we decided to take Maya outside to enjoy the beautiful day.  For the last two weeks, she had been the best sport, cooped up in her stroller as we zipped through Paris streets and in and out of London site, all in the rain and the cold.  A day outside was just what the doctor ordered.
After some research, Brad found a "surprise" park in Beverly Hills, and after some navigatin and questioning of the locals, we found it.  It was such a beautiful day.  Maya and Brad tried out every bit of play equipment and Maya made some nice friends in the bargain.  Beverly Hill is nothing without a celebrity sighting, so sprinkle in a sighting of Mark Wahlberg as he walked past us with his son, high on his shoulders (this made my day).  After a few hours of running around, we headed home, tired, tanned, and so glad to be living in Los Angeles.

Hanging out in the BH

 Only in BH would one pay for parking with their credit card

Cuddling in front of the lovely Spring flowers

Maya and part of the Hymn of Life: Tulips by Yayoi Kusama

 Closeup of one of three sculptures

Monkeys will always find trees

Jane, enjoying her perch

Daddy and little Monkey

 Roxbury Memorial Park

Any piece of equipment will do, as long as there is a thrill involved

Wheeeeeee...

Maya:   "Dada, Maya want's this at home."

Dada:  "Rita, we have the space, might as well try to make something she likes."

Mama:  "Here we go again...two thrill-seeking peas in a pod."

Pirates

Enjoying anthropomorphic sculptures

Decorated oil derek

Beverly Hills skyline

Springtime at Bubu Villa

Spring has definitely sprung at Bubu Villa and where does little Miss Lemonhead find herself...well, atop the lemon tree, of course.


Sharing all the garden has to offer with Grammy Betty.


Then, it's onto the slide...a little precocious, but still willing to give it a try.


Wheeeeeeee....down we go!

Maya and Mummy's Shopping Day in London

Brad had been under the weather for most of our trip to England.  Maya and I decided to be brave and take on London shopping, by ourselves.  Two trains, and a tube, later, we found ourselves shopping heaven.

It was a typical, gloomy, London morning, but the rain didn't stop us from walking down Knightsbridge to Harrods.