Newport Beach was our first Destination! But on the way of course we had to stop at the Mad Greek for a super yummy bite to eat!
This is one of "Guy Fieri's" Stops from Diners, Drive-ins & Dives on the Food Network!
When we got out of the car it was like being sand blasted, it was so hot! (& I know hot!) For some reason I couldn't get over these silly little palm trees all over the parking lot in blue barrels! Don't ask! I'm weird!
Newport was beautiful as always with the brightly painted homes stacked side by side, flowers in bloom everywhere even with starting into fall & you can't help but love that ocean air followed by the sound of crashing waves.
We enjoyed watching some pretty big waves wash in as a storm was headed our way!
Dinner at the Crab Cooker and then a relaxing stay in the quaint Balbo Hotel.
This is the courtyard below our room at the Balboa Hotel...
Todd ready to head to the beach...notice the feet! The only place Todd will go without shoes is at the beach!
Across the park to the ocean we go!
Here's Todd wishing it wasn't so cold so he could get in! (or to late in the day)
This is Todd's favorite row of houses....they include the ones he stayed in every year as a kid! This lasted well up until he graduated from high school and even into our first couple of years of marriage! Fun times!
Our Hotel from the outside! Love it!
Birds of Paradise that were everywhere!
Speaking of birds....these little guys kept me rather entertained with their cute little job of getting breakfast! I loved watching them Saturday morning run behind the wave as it sucked back out to grab little crabs or bugs out of the sand... those little feet were amazing...and cute!
On Saturday we were off....off to the University of Southern Cal! Todd is a huge Trojan Fan and going to a game was a dream come true!
SC Fans can really party....tailgate party that is! And oh the food! Anything you can imagine! I had my first taste of the "Bacon Dog" which was just that....a hot dog wrapped in bacon. I'll never look at hot dogs the same again!
Our seats in the nose bleed section couldn't have been more perfect! What a view! The band was amazing! The fans were unbelievable....when a touch down was scored they would lift people up in the air to do push ups for the points scored! The final score was like 48 to 7 and I noticed less & less people being lifted towards the end of the game....arms must of been tired!
This is on campus which was just beautiful with lots of trees, old brick buildings & cobblestone streets. Lucky for us we found a parking spot there!
Okay you just have to see this! Wow! What people come up with....lets tailgate!
Augh the cheep seats! Todd is in hog heaven! Nothing like a good view Todd informed me! We started out here, but there was hardly anyone around so we moved over closer to the 50 yard line to the individual plastic seats to be more comfortable & near the crowd!
The stadium or Colosseum as it's called was huge! I learned that it is the only place to have held 2 olympics!
I always think the box at the U of U is amazing when Todd stands up in it for State Football....but this was unbelievable! If you look closely on the sides you can see the covered part where they were having dinner!
This was pretty cool! This screen covers two levels of the stadium...it is hung on the outside & you can't see it but, people are standing behind it, one at the top & more near the middle! There were 4 of these hung around the outside!
Before the game started the band came out and played a half dozen songs then ended up in the letters USC which was totally awesome!
When the band finishes the Trojan comes out riding the horse (who's name I can't remember but Todd told me!) and...
he gets off his horse....stabs the ground with his sword...then the game begins!
(this is a picture I took from the jumbo-tron...my zooms not that good!)
Okay, last picture of the game....this was the part I was talking about when they get a touch down the fans lift people in the the air to count! How Crazy!
To top off the perfect day we went to stay with Todd's Brother Sloan in his adorable apartment, and he buzzed us through the streets of Beverly Hill's to this amazing restaurant called LALA's! I'd drive back today just for dinner, it was that good! We had an excellent visit and then unfortunately had to head home the next morning!
All in all it was a great little trip! Happy 40th Birthday Todd!
