Author: Abe Darais

Aunt Geri, Goldilocks, Visiting Ben and Aunt V’s grave, La Brea Tarpits, Beach Cafe

Today, Lily planned an outing for us to go to the La Brea tar pits. I had never heard of them, and the experience magical (one of kids and my favorite things from this trip). The La Brea tar pits are the only active urban tarpit excavation area in the world (they are in the middle of LA!). The tar pits are not actually tar. They are asphalt, a component of crude oil that was forced to the surface from cracks in the earth’s crust from deeper-lying oil reserves. About 10,000 years ago, these tarpits were the cause of death to thousands of animals. Scientists theorize that a mammoth or sloth would get stuck in the tar, and then predators could resist the temptation and would go to eat the mammoth or sloth and then get stuck themselves. So they have found a lot of predators (see the gallery of 400 dire wolf heads below). There aren’t any dinosaurs that were found because these fossils (well preserved in the asphalt) are more like 10,000-12,000 years old, but there are mammoths, mastodons, teratorns, huge sloths (some 20 feet tall), dire wolves, saber tooth tigers (twice the size of lions) and more. The museum came about when the oil tycoon who owned the fields in the 1800s donated the land to the government for scientific exploration and education when he discovered the fossils. What an amazing thing to do. It was fascinating! Also, we started our visit by watching an incredible video about the ice age and about global climate change generally. We learned that the last ice age ended around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago and that during the ice age, the planet was 16 degrees cooler Fahrenheit (on average). The earth has historically gone through ice ages and then come out of ice ages on a cycle. Human activity has now become part of the pattern of change.

  • I could barely lift the handle because the asphalt was so sticky.
  • 400 dire wolf skulls

After visiting the tar pits, we picked up aunt Geri and ate at Goldilocks, a Philippine restaurant, with her. It was so wonderful to visit with her and catch up on her life.

Afterwards we all visited the grave sites of Ben Llamzon, Lily’s dad, and his sister, Aunt V. We FaceTimed with Georgia so she could be part of the experience and we also talked about Ben and Aunt V. and their lives.

We then drove to Malibu and ate dinner at the Beach Cafe at Paradise Cove. Lily and I had a hard time deciding if we should splurge or not on the full seafood spread. Kids were chanting “lobster, lobster” and we took the plunge. It felt right given the moment, and our desire to create experiences together and the food was delicious and memorable. The cafe is very famous and has signed pictures on the wall of all sorts of celebrities.

We stayed the night at a home on stilts on a beach in Malibu. What a day!

Lydia’s 6th Grade Graduation

Today was Lydia’s 6th grade graduation. I was feeling very crunched at work and did not go, but I am so glad that Lily got photos and a video. I am so proud of Lydia and who she is becoming. Just today a mother of one of her friends effused to Lily about how good of a friend Lydia is for her daughter. She has grown up right in every way and we couldn’t be more proud. It is also really fun to see Lydia’s classmates. Her friends at school have been very important to her and have been a huge part of her life this year. There are such wonderful people in her class and her teacher, Mrs. Mason is truly fantastic. Here’s to new adventures for Lydia!

Arches with Anooj

Today we took Anooj to Arches National Park. We left our house by 9:30. The kids were enchanted with Anooj and his gentle and joking personality (he told Ammon that his name was also Ammon). Lily and I had a great time talking to Anooj on the way to Arches. We arrived around 1:50, which was just in time for our reservation. On the way down and in the park we were blown away by the mega bloom of orange flowers. We’ve never noticed the orange flowers before, and that is because there has never been so many of them when we visited. I’m sure the bloom was due to all the moisture Utah got over the winter and into the spring.

First we went to Park Avenue for a quick viewpoint. Then we went to the Windows and Double Arch. The kids had such a blast climbing all around the rocks, especially at Double Arch. Here is video of Ammon giving me a tour of their cave house (which has a slide):

While we were at Double Arch, a lady I met effused at Ammon and Clarissa’s imaginative play. She gushed and told me that watching them be so excited and imaginative with nature was a highlight of her entire trip to Arches. That sweet comment was a very nice counterpoint to man who only 3 minutes earlier yelled at Ammon and Clarissa to be quiet (which they didn’t hear because they were loudly absorbed in their play).

After Double Arch, we saw some viewpoints, including the lower viewpoint for Delicate Arch (so that Anooj could see the Arch that is on Utah’s license plates).

Then we went to Pasta Jays, and it was so delicious as always (and they were extra fast and friendly this time!). Then we got ice cream and drove home. We hope this day left an impression in Anooj’s heart for the natural beauty and warmth that we have found so inspirational in Southern Utah. He was the most gracious guest and a true joy to have with us for the day. The kids were also very well-behaved for our guest and we were so grateful for that. They were also very well behaved for pictures yesterday, and we are feeling especially grateful for all of them lately! We got in around midnight after dropping Anooj off in Salt Lake. What a great day!

Cycling Saturday, Picnic and Family Photos

Today we all went biking on the Provo River trail near Utah Lake. Clarissa continues to progress with biking!

We then had a Subway picnic at a pavilion at Utah Lake. Lily had her bird app and it was very fun to see the App tell us what birds were chirping, and we got a really good look at a beautiful Grackle. Lydia and Mary were very unhappy with the big situation, but otherwise it was a good time.

I then planted a tree while Lily did some last minute shopping with Lydia and Mary for our family photos, and then I worked on the computer, and everyone got ready for family photos (with lots of help from Lily, thank you babe!)

We had family photos at Little Dell Reservoir. Suzanne organized everything, and it was such a beautiful location. All of the kids cooperated (even Ozzy) and we all had such a good time being together in the beautiful weather. The photographer was great too! We continued the party at Spitz where we ate together. Lily and I felt very happy at the end of the day with how enjoyable everything was.

These four pictures are some fun pictures from the day that Jere captured and sent our way.

Lydia and Mary Fun Run, I come home, and Anooj visits

Today Lydia and Mary had a fun run in the gorgeous weather we have been having:

Also, I flew home today and was home around 3:15. I was so exhausted that I completely passed out in bed until it was time to meet my good friend Anooj. When I traveled to India last fall, he used time from a vacation day he had already scheduled to take me around India and it was near his child’s birthday. I just remember him saying it would not be right for me to be in Mumbai and not see some of the sites. I’m so grateful for the chance to reciprocate to such a wonderful man and show him around Utah. Tonight we went to the Utah Symphony to see Messiaen’s Turangalîla. It was delightful. Afterwards, we walked around and I showed him some of the LDS sites and then we got ice cream. It was so fun to catch up with him!