The first segment of our trip was spent at the Mission Inn Hotel in Riverside where I was working at a conference. In between their exploration of the neighborhood my mom and Mallory would come visit me to say hello and play a bit during the agenda breaks. After the first day of fun greetings even the conference attendees started asking when Mallory would be coming by. After each day's work the three of us would meet up with my mom's side of the family that live in the Riverside area. The first evening we got together with my aunt Georgia, cousin Nathan, his wife Nicole, and their daughter Nico. There was no hesitation on Mallory's part after being introduced to Nico's many, many toys; she was in heaven going from one thing to the next. The next evening Georgia took some four generation photos since my grandma had joined us, and then we all proceeded to meet up with my uncle Terry for dinner. Our last evening at the hotel was spent down at the pool where Mallory had a blast pretending like she knew how to swim as I carried her back and forth through the water.
We began the second part of our trip driving from Riverside to the San Fernando Valley where my dad's side of the family lives. It's also the area that I lived near during my community college days. We pulled up to my grandpa's house and it was just as I remembered it; manicured lawn with the colorful rose bushes grazing the windows, garage door wide open with his shiny Cadillac sitting in it, bowls filled with cat food on the steps leading to the front door. Mallory got to meet my grandpa, aunt Lorrie, and cousin Paul. And of course, grandpa wasted no time introducing Mallory to his infamous tickle sessions that leave you laughing so hard you cry. I didn't try saving her either since I figure that I once had to endure them so it was only natural that she experience a session as well. After a yummy lunch in Westlake Village, we all hopped on to my grandpa's boat for a little ride around the lake. Unfortunately the weather wasn't cooperating and we were forced to turn around, arriving at the dock just as the rain started to come down.
After saying our goodbyes to the family, we drove to the Warner Center Marriott where we stayed for the last part of our trip. They had an indoor, heated pool that had Mallory's name written all over it. She would've stayed in there the whole night I think, making quite the scene when it was time to get out and go eat dinner. We spent the next morning enjoying a hearty breakfast, packing up all of our luggage, and running around the kids play area at the mall across the street from the hotel before heading out to catch our flight back home.
I feel very fortunate that we were able to turn my work trip in to a chance to get together with family members that we rarely get to see. It had been on my heart to get Mallory down south to visit my grandparents for some time, and I know that my mom had been wanting to see her family for awhile as well. Answered prayers for the both of us.
