My Birthday and California

California was SUCH a good idea, I'm glad Mark's work decided to send him there for the week of my birthday :) I wouldn't of gotten away any other way. Our hotel room in Ontario had a Mall View, what more could a girl want?


Oh I know what more a girl could want. Her entire birthday cruising Ontario Mills Mall (with all its outlet stores) with no kids (or even husband) telling her how long to stay at any one store or what stores to go into. I even irked the kiosk gals because I had them try extensions in my hair, and the latest sea salt scrubs and a professional curling iron and flat iron. No, I didn't buy any of it, but it was fun to listen to their spill and play around! The best fun? Perfumania. I spent an hour picking out a new perfume (which eventually some day I'll be able to afford). I think I decided on Hugo Boss Deep Red. Or Angel. Or DKNY Midnight something or another. You can see why I didn't buy any now. But to be able to sit and browse stores for 5 hours straight without anyone getting tired or upset was absolutely great!

That night we went out with Aunt Sue and Uncle Jerald (Mark's side) and they took me to Claim Jumper. I have only been to one once 7 years ago, and the food was the absolute best! Here was my birthday cake and me.
Red Devil YUM!

The next day we went to my brother Malcom's house (after visiting Hollywood Blvd. and Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. Awesome Waffles by the way!) As we stopped to get a Mt. Dew Slushie, Lindsey mentioned that Brooke White's house was right around the corner and we should drive by it. I am a big fan of Brooke and love her music, but I didn't want to be the stalker, but Lindsey said it would be fine. So I made Malcom ride with Mark and Lindsey drove me up to Brooke's house.
Isn't it cute? I can see her designer touches. Anyhow, as we're turning around and leaving, their garage door starts opening up. And this house is in a small cul de sac with one way in and out. So as we're trying to leave, Brooke and her husband Dave are driving in right by us. Of course we're caught like the canary, so Lindsey rolls down her window and says Hi. I'm hoping she doesn't put two and two together and think I'm a stalking fan. But Brooke is so down to Earth, I can see why everyone is friends with her. After chatting about movies to watch and going to the beach for 5 minutes or so, we're off to Santa Monica Pier.

I'll let the pictures tell the stories for a minute.

Recognize the Zoltar from the movie "BIG" ?
We ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. for dinner. Everything is based on Forrest Gump, so there are ping pall paddle menus and you flip a license plate that says Run Forrest Run to Stop Forrest Stop to get the waiter/waitress to stop and help you. Well, since Malcom and I have birthdays so close I joke that we should tell them it's our birthday today, that we're twins, and see if we get free dessert or something. Lindsey says "Oh yes, we are so telling them it's your birthday, this is still your birthday weekend." Now none of us have ever been to a Bubba Gump restaurant before so I was wondering what big hat they were going to put on my head or song they were going to sing. So instead, when they came over, they asked me to stand up for just a second. Then they asked me my name and how old I was. I thought it a little weird to be standing their, answering questions about myself, when he says "That's great, I don't want to make a big deal about your birthday but, "HEY EVERYBODY, I NEED TO TELL YOU ALL SOMETHING" (Still yelling) "My friend Lexa here, she and I go way back. She's 31 today, and she told me that the only thing she wanted for her birthday was to be able to dance for all her friends here tonight. So if you'll clap along side me and give her a beat, let's let her dance!" So he starts singing some nonsense song and everyone in the entire restaurant is clapping and watching you, and you're supposed to DANCE! I tried to be a good sport about it, but it was SO very embarrassing. But I gave it the good old college Disco Dancing try. Even though it was embarrassing, the food was outrageously good and pretty affordable too. We got plenty of souvenirs, and headed back to Mark's Aunts house.

The next morning we got ready to head back to Ontario for the Airport, but ate cereal with Aunt Sue first. The funniest thing was when she opened the cupboard and pulled out huge serving bowls to pour the cereal in. "This is what my boys always ate their cereal in" she said. I believe it too! Mark now has it in his head that I need to get a set of serving bowls for his cereal addiction.

I have not had more that a few hours with Mark alone since our oldest was born, it was a great chance to hang out with other adults and act like normal humans instead of just parents!