A Grand Day Out

 Over Spring Break, I had a few ideas that didn't come to fruition. One was a trip to the pony rides and Travel Town at Griffith Park; we haven't seen the ponies since Violet's third birthday party, and we haven't been to Travel Town since Cora was 2.

With Stace off to the Long Beach Grand Prix on Sunday, I thought I'd take advantage of a day off school with the girls and take them to Griffith Park.

Juliana, Maya and Natalia met us for the pony rides, and the girls had a great time together.

 Violet rode on the medium-paced smaller ponies, which trotted for one lap and then walked for a second lap.

 Cora and Maya were tall enough for the "big ponies," which also trotted one lap and walked a second time around.

 Natalia wasn't feeling her best, so Juliana took her girls back home after our pony-riding fun. My girls and I then drove around the hill, past the L.A. Zoo and Gene Autry museum, to Travel Town.

Here, numerous old trains are on display, and we rode on a small train around the perimeter.

A building displays some very old cars, like this circus train wagon.

We had a great time looking around; it was one of those lovely days out together that only could have been improved if Stace had been with us. But, we knew he was also having a grand time.

On our way back home, we stopped for an early dinner at IKEA, where we hadn't shopped in a few years. Upon entering the cafe, Cora and I both were flashing back to the many meals we shared there when meeting my friend Melanie, back before Cora was in school. She and I both felt nostalgic, and a little sad, that so much time goes by so quickly.

After dinner, the girls entered the free IKEA supervised play area, and I did a little quick solo shopping. Then we headed home, where we met up with Stace and exchanged our stories from our day.