USS Iowa

Today I was finally able to go to the USS Iowa. I have been wanting to go for years. A few months ago I told my brother that I really want to go and he said he wanted to take me and today we finally went. It was even more incredible than I imagined. The battleship was giant and so were the guns and missiles on it. After exploring the ship we went to lunch. The place was in the harbor and we could see the water from inside... it was a beautiful day. Well where we went has seafood. So today I tried oysters for the very first time. They are not as bad as my mom has been telling me for years. I kind of liked them, although the big ones I didn't like that much. Now I can say that I have tried oysters (3 to be exact) and been on the USS Iowa. Here are some pictures from today...

Taking Control

After the last few years of doctors, medicines, tests, sickness, and hospitals I am deciding to stop letting this illness control me. It took my energy, happiness, friends, and hobbies. I am not going to let it take anything else. I am going to beat this illness. This illness is going to lose... I really like to win! (Thank you Grandma for my competitive spirit). The doctors want me to exercise so that is exactly what I am going to do. I am stopping the continuous resting by going on walks. This started last Monday. I went on a walk for 11 minutes and got a .7 miles. Tuesday I walked for 15 minutes and reached a mile. Wednesday I decided to walk faster, I did a mile in 13 minutes. Thursday I did the mile in 12 minutes and 50 seconds. Friday I went on my adventure with my sister which consisted of a lot of walking. Saturday I wanted to walk longer... so I did... for 25 minutes and reached 1.7 miles. Today I went to the USS Iowa with my brother, it was so much fun and was quite a bit of walking with stairs. Each day I have been taking a picture while I do my walking adventure. Here are the ones I have taken so far...

Getty Villa

On Friday my sister came over to my house. I thought we were just going to hang out at my house. Nope. She had other ideas. I got ready for the day and she then gave me the options of go to a movie or to the Getty Villa (I had no idea what this was). I chose the Getty Villa! I love exploring new places, especially when it is with my awesome sister. We get there... or at least thought we did... and find out we were at the Getty Museum hahaha. So we get back in the car and head to the villa. On the way there I told her that I have never been to Malibu and I want to. She said that she hasn't either and wants to also. Finally we get to the villa. When we get there we find out that it is in Malibu! Already it is an exciting day but it got even better. We got a tour of the gardens and then explored on our own. This place is magnificent. We loved it. There is a cafe there so we decide to try it, we both got a lemon chicken greek wrap and it was delicious. When we were done with this adventure we were stuck in two and half hours of California traffic. Traffic is not fun unless you have a ukulele... which my sister did :) I got to play it in the car and had a blast. I must say that I got the hang of it pretty fast. Here are some pictures of Friday's fun filled day.

Raquel playing with shadows

 Me playing with shadows

 Us in front of one of the many fountains