California here we come...

Do you remember that episode of "I Love Lucy" where Ricky & Lucy, Fred & Ethel drive cross-country in a convertible? Ricky gets a job in Hollywood and of course, they all go with him. They've have all kinds of adventures along the way. I loved that series. Am I showing my age?

Anyway, we're off to California - Pasadena to be exact - on Wednesday. Another schlep through the airport with the twins but at least we'll have a direct flight to LAX. We're getting pretty good at this travel-with-toddlers thing. Once there, we'll rent a car and settle into the Ronald McDonald House in Pasadena. We've stayed there twice before. Evan spent a month there with Zelda while she was still in the NICU and having her first eye surgeries. Then last summer, the 4 of us spent 2 weeks out there so that both twins could have exams and surgeries. Our eye doctor of choice is Dr Khaled Tawansy (of course recommended by the Oracle) who has experience dealing with toxo kids as well as ROP - that's retinopathy of prematurity, for all of you non-preemie parents out there. Zelda will hopefully have outpatient surgery as well as exams to be fitted for some new little spectacles. Creed will be examined as well - possibly under sedation - and will be fitted for some stylin' new glasses. I'll go into the surgeries later and spare you the details for now. Just please, wish us luck - or more specifically the eyes of our tiny toddlers.

Pasadena promises to be sunny and temperate. It's a lovely town filled with mid-century sprawling homes with lush gardens of the most gorgeous flowers and greenery. Each time we go, I try and imagine us living there. If only...
When not in hospitals and appointments we'll spend our days visiting museums, galleries, the beach and eating Thai food at our favorite Pasadena restaurant. We'll have mojitos at the Hotel Figueroa and eat steak at the Original Pantry. There's a Dan Flavin expo at the LA County Museum and a gallery in Santa Monica is interested in Evan's work. The RMcHouse has a lovely lawn and Zelda has a new bathing suit. My plan is by the time we return home, the twins will be proficient in drinking from cups on their own. Not sippy cups, mind you! Creed is well on his way, hence the bathing suit attire for la petite Z.

So off we go, I'll try and update from there.