The Mentalist

Since tonight is the season premier of the (last season :( of the) Mentalist, I thought it was an appropriate time to write a post about my near brush with Simon Baker.

Okay, that probably makes it sound more exciting than it really was, but it makes for a good memory at very least. So, when I was visiting my sister in LA we were driving around Glendale when we saw the signs that are posted when filming is going on. I should have taken a picture of one, but here’s what they look like, just so you have an idea:

I guess they use them to direct film crews where to go… or something. I’m not entirely sure, but we saw a bunch of yellow signs like that one with “CBI” written on them and we just knew in our hearts they were filming the Mentalist somewhere nearby. Shari did some searching online and confirmed that they were indeed filming in Glendale that day. Well, we decided that we would do some detective work of our own and find where they were filming. We were going to find Patrick Jane by golly.

I guess I should interrupt the story to explain that we’re really not creepers or anything. And I’m not really a star-struck kind of person. But I do really like the Mentalist. It’s pretty much the only show Spencer and I watch right now (We don’t have TV, ironically. Well we have A TV, but we only have bunny ears so I can watch Spencer.). We are kind of in love with the Mentalist and have had many a conversation about who we think Red John is. So we kind of thought it would be fun to see them in action.

So, Shari and I set off on our adventure. We followed the signs to a Hilton and were so bold as to poke around the hotel lobby and even interrogated a security guard (who wouldn’t tell us where they were filming, of course). We also questioned some poor cameraman who was so unfortunate to get stuck in an elevator with us, but he didn’t shed any light on the situation either.

Eventually we decided we’d just drive around a bit and see what we could find. We found the star’s trailers. And then a few blocks away, I spotted a camera crew and their film truck. Well, actually, what I spotted was Red John: 
So we excitedly started asking these guys when they would be filming, and they told us later that night. We geekily got our picture taken with Red John:

And we vowed to return later that night to finally see Patrick Jane in action. But though we did return later, they still hadn’t begun filming and so we never did get to meet Simon Baker. Ah well. You win some you lose some.

We still had fun though. And though it was an anticlimactic ending to our day, I was fairly proud of our detective work. It will be fun to see if the set we were on shows up in any upcoming episodes.

And speaking of film sets. Does anyone remember good ole’ Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman? Well, while we were in LA, we went to Paramount Ranch (the place where that show was filmed). It’s pretty much just been turned into a kind of public park, but the set is still up so we got to take some pictures. We were in swimsuits since we had just come from the beach. Too bad Spencer hadn’t worn his wranglers and spurs. It was a super fun place. I saw a couple taking engagement pictures there and I was thinking about how fun it would be to do a shoot there. Or maybe film a little movie starring Cowboy M Bug. So many fun possibilities.

Resemblance

A while ago Nat sent me a picture of her dad, and I thought it looked a lot like M at the time I received it, but I pulled it up the other day and was amazed. They both make the same little mischievous smile! The same exact one!  I love it ever so much. Open adoption is simply the best. I love that Mason will get to see pictures like this (and ones of his Natty as a baby) and know where he gets his eyes, curls, and little smile.

UPDATE: Pictures of M post-haircut below. 

M’s First Haircut

The time had finally come. I had been dreading dreading dreading getting M’s hair cut, because I knew he would look less baby-ish. And I was ever so in love with his beautiful curls. But, his hair kept falling in his eyes and was driving him crazy. And even though when M’s hair was freshly styled it looked really cute, M is such an active little guy that his hair looked kind of wonky within minutes of getting all ready for the day. Not to mention, he more and more frequently was being mistaken for a little girl. So I took some “before” pictures...

…And very reluctantly made him an appointment to get a trim.

He was very, very well-behaved when the time came to don the cape and sit in the chair like a big boy.

He sat quietly and amused himself by making faces at himself in the mirror.

And he emerged looking much more toddler-ish than ever before. WAAAAHHH! I like his haircut, I really do, but I am still kind of mourning how grown-up it makes him look. He is cute as a button no matter how long or short his hair, but I feel like he aged several months in two minutes! What the heck!

So here’s the before and after, but in the after his hair isn’t really fixed:
Here’s how we’ve been fixing lately:

What a cutie patootie.

Other California Goodness

M was mad because he was desperate to play with the BBQ (which we would not let him do). Still, he looks so cute clutching his little sunglasses!

We spent A LOT of the time swimming in my parents pool. I was surprised that for how much M loves the water, he didn’t seem thrilled with the pool. I think it was because since he obviously couldn’t reach the bottom, he just had to bob along. He likes to be in control, that kiddo of mine.

Still, we got in and out of the pool about twenty times a day and had a grand old time.

Good Luck Sister White!

Today my baby sister reported to the MTC. I seriously can’t believe it. I miss her already. But I know she’s going to be a great missionary.

These kiddos could not ask for a better aunt. Aunt Chelsey spends hours tickling, spinning, and playing with her niece and nephew and they absolutely adore her.

So do I.

We love you Chels!

Sea World

While we were in California, M got to take his first trip to Sea World. We actually went twice, thanks to free media passes again. M really liked all the aquariums and especially seemed to like watching the whales swim around.

Playing in the polar bear cave:

We only watched one show, Pets Rule, because I knew M wouldn’t be able to sit still through multiple performances. In fact, we didn’t even make it all the way through Pets Rule because M got restless. But he loved the first half of it. At the beginning a bunch of cats and dogs are running all over the stage doing tricks at the same time and M was beaming so big and applauding while yelling, “Lizzy Lizzy!” He loved it. He also made friends with a baby girl about his age sitting behind us. He held her hand off and on throughout the first fifteen minutes of the show.

Another highlight of the day was petting the sting rays. M thought it was the coolest thing to get to pet them. Heck, he was thrilled just to splash around in the sting ray tank and would have slid right in there if we would have let him. The rays are so cool though because they come right up to you and enjoy being pet (unlike the dolphins who always swim juuuuuuuust out of reach when you try to pet them).

I have a confession to make. I never ever thought I would be this kind of parent… but I got a leash for M Bug and he used it for part of the day. I used to see parents with their kid on a leash, ahem excuse me HARNESS, and I would think that either the parents were probably kind of lazy or the kid was probably kind of out of control. I thought harnesses leashes were rather ridiculous. What a prime example of how humbling parenthood can be. Fast forward to now, and I finally get it.

You see, M Bug is a spirited little fellow and fiercely independent and when I let him get out of the stroller, he just runs away. He refuses to hold my hand and he is not good at staying close. It’s not that he’s trying to be naughty, he just loves to explore more than anything, and does not understand the concept that it is unsafe to wander off. He is usually fine in the stroller, but I feel bad strapping him in there ALLLLL day long. That wouldn’t be fun for him at all, and it was supposed to be a fun day. Hence, the leash. M bug could walk along happy as a clam, and we could let him be without having to redirect him/chase him down and tackle him every two seconds. Win-win.

We didn’t see the Shamu show, but we did go to the Shamu underwater viewing. There was only one whale in the tank, and you can kind of see him in the background of both pictures (ten points if you can find him):


I have another confession to make (who knew that a post about Sea World of all things could be so revealing, right?)… I am completely and totally terrified of Orca’s. My family teases me about it, but they are my worst nightmare. Literally. I know that is so random, but all of my worst recurring bad dreams star Shamu and have for years and years now.

I don’t really know why. Maybe it’s because one time we were at the Shamu show and we saw Shamu attack a trainer. But though it was really scary to witness the attack as a helpless spectator, it doesn’t seem like a strong enough incident to be THAT scarring. Hmmm I just don’t know. Shamu…shudder… moving right along.

We ended the day at the little play portion of the park where we let M ride a few rides and then get soaking wet in the splash pad.


It was a real fun day with Aunt Chelsey!

Second Trip to Sea World:


I didn’t take as many pictures the second trip since we had been so recently, but we did do a few fun things we didn’t get to do the first time (like trade of watching M so we could ride a bunch of rides). Also, on our second trip, the polar bear kept coming right up to the glass. M got so excited when he would walk right up to him. It’s always neat when you get to see the animals REALLY up close.

We pet the rays again. Of course. And rode Mantis (the new roller coaster) about a dozen times each since there wasn’t any line at all. It was a nice day to go to the park, it was totally empty!

We got a little bit wet on Atlantis and totally soaked on Shipwreck Rapids. By the end of the day M Bug had had about all the fun he could handle! He was pooped! He slept a good chunk of the way home.

I have so many pictures of my sisters and I standing by this same starfish when we were little. In some of them Chelsey is about the same age M is now. I’ll have to see if I can scrounge one up to make a scrapbook page. I love taking M all the places I loved going when I was a little girl.