SUPRISE!!

Originally Al was supposed to be out of town on my Birthday so I made reservations at a restaurant I've been wanting to try a few days before he was supposed to leave.  That day he took me to my one of my favorite malls, Topanga Canyon to go shopping.  It's a rare occasion when Al will go to the mall with me and not say a thing about time or how many stores we go in.  It was an extra special treat even though I could have done a lot more damage without Alex and Cole.  Our reservations for dinner were at 6:45pm and Al thought they were for 6:15pm (he kept insisting on picking up the babysitter early).  The restaurant is called the Little Door.   When we got there we didn't see the address and walked a few doors up and then when we realized we walked right by it and why it's called Little Door, Duh.  

No one in LA eats dinner at 7pm which is late for us these days...lol   This restaurant is so beautiful inside.  The front part is outdoors which supposedly is where the best seats are, but we didn't figure that out until we left.  

Of course we got seated next to the loudest lady ever.  We order Oysters for an appetizer and she started talking about them to her friend.  

We are normally pretty fast eaters and maybe that's from having 2 little kids.  Al was eating extra fast at dinner which I kind of thought was annoying since we don't get to go out that often.  He was probably so annoyed at me for asking to take pictures of everything when he was really just trying to hurry me along for my surprise party. My scallops were amazing and the blood oranges around them made the flavor that much better.

There is the loud annoying lady photo bombing our picture!! 

I also really wanted creme brulee especially since it was a French restaurant, but Al kept insisting on some dessert place he wanted to take me after dinner.

If you know me than you will know I always like to have a plan.  At dinner I was making plans to go to the Grove and maybe a movie afterwards.  Al said the dessert place was close to the Grove, but after dinner we ended up in Hollywood next to the Kodak theater and I said this isn't close to the Grove? Why are you so set on going to this dessert place?  Al told me the dessert restaurant was in the Roosevelt Hotel.  After we valeted the car, he grabbed my hand to walk in and I said your hand is all clammy?  Al didn't know where the "restaurant" was so we started walking upstairs.  When we got to the second floor I thought this seems weird I wonder if this is a surprise party, but I kept walking with him and when he opened the door everyone yelled Surprise.   Everyone was pretty far away from the door and the bar was pretty dim so it was hard to see who was there.  I walked over and gave my friend Jenny a hug and thats the only person...lol   When I walked through the door everyone said I had my arms crossed and I didn't really react that much, but I was so surprised.  I'm not the type to jump up and down and say OMG OMG.  I guess I need to practice that for my next surprise party.   Al told everyone to dress 1980's since I was born in 1983.  My friend Jenny went shopping for me and had a bag of clothes for Al and I to change into.  

The "dessert restaurant" is called the Spare Room and it's this swanky bar and bowling alley.  Al rented the bowling alley out for 2 hours.   If you look at the windows to the right it overlooks Hollywood Blvd, so awesome.  They even played 80's music for us.

Al and I in our sweet 80's outfits.  Al went to Goodwill and bought a shirt and hat.  He gave the outfit to Jenny and Wyatt to bring to the party, but they didn't like it, so they went to Forever 21 and bought Al some Leopard leggings and this sweet cutoff shirt.   

Al is the only guy slim enough to be able to pull off these leggings.  He rocked them!!  Behind Al is the chalkboard that our own personal scorekeeper keeps score for you on.

Part of the crew.  Al had a costume contest and the prize was a $100 gift card to Apple because in 1983 Steve Jobs had the first computer.  Ashlee in the blue dress and Ryan in the gold pants won.  Everyone looked amazing, but I don't think anything could beat those gold pants.

Jenny and I.  The girl behind our fabulous outfits.

I don't think the waiters were too happy about us not drinking alcohol, but that's what happens when a bunch of Mormons and 3 pregnant girls get together.  Ashlee and Ryan bought everyone a round of Red Bull shots.  CHEERS

Amber and I

Look at that Body

Laura, Sachia, and Amber.  All Pregnant

The Girls and our scorekeeper to the left

Al and I.  Mojitos are my fav.

I always ruin Al's surprises and for once I didn't do it this time.   I was so surprised and was a little out of it during the party. I had so much fun and it's a night that I will never forget.  Thank you for such a great party Al,  I Love You.

The party continued with dessert at some yummy place we found on Yelp.  Such a great group of people.  Here's to 30!!

38 Weeks

I've always wanted to splurge on bath melts and bombs from Lush, but never wanted to pay the $8 for one bomb.  Since Al was out of town and I won't have many peaceful night time baths after the baby is born I bought some stuff.  My bath was amazing and now I want to try every bath bomb there is.  

It also happened to be their anniversary so there was drinks and desserts, best Lush experience ever.

While Kristin and I were shopping Al and Kris were babysitting Alex and their dog Chili.  Alex thought it was cool to get in the cage or at least that's what Al told me.

Al was home for 2 days and then he went to work in Minnesota for 5 days.  While he was at the Mall of America I was dealing with one of Alex's many tantrums.  I think he didn't want me to brush his hair for church in this picture.

On Monday we hung out with Kristin one last time before she moved back to Texas.  They were staying at The Standard Hotel on Sunset.  Not really a kid friendly hotel, but it was fun to see it.  Alex loved climbing on all the far out chairs in the lobby.   

We both wanted to see the new Dash store.  We had to wait for a bit until it opened and Alex was already not happy to be there.

I let him out of his stroller and he decided to lay down on the ground.  This is what worries me to have a newborn and Alex. I have no idea how I will hold 2 kids while Alex is kicking and screaming.

Relaxing in the store and eating all their Reeses peanut butter cups.  We had to leave before he o.d. on sugar.

Kristin and I had been dying to eat at Chateau Marmont so we went for lunch.   I wasn't sure I wanted to take Alex, but I didn't really have a choice at the time...lol

We thought it would be busy at lunch, but we were 1 of 3 tables eating on the patio.   It was so quiet we could honestly hear ourselves chew.

We asked our waiter to take a picture of us, but we were informed there are no photographs allowed at the Chateau.   There was no one around and obviously no stars so I took some anyway.

To make our lunch more interesting Alex decided to go to the bathroom. I was so embarrassed and the bathroom is tiny with no changing table, nightmare.   I blocked the door and laid him down on the floor and changed his diaper while some lady was trying to push the door open to get inside and I kept saying hold on please...lol    Next time I will be kid free at the Chateau

Tuesday we went to a kid friendly place, the zoo!!   It finally cooled off enough for us to enjoy our annual pass.  Alex was all about running around the entire time.  Maybe buying a double stroller was a mistake?

Wednesday was my weekly Dr appt.  We only had to wait for 20 minutes, but it was still tricky with no pants on.  Alex was touching everything.  Luckily he couldn't reach the computer and keyboard.  38 weeks, dilated to a 1 and my cervix is still thick.  She said she would induce me on November 6th which is 4 days before my actual due date, yikes.

Alex's favorite food is Italian.  Soooo happy to be eating Spaghetti.

Thursday we went to Disneyland with some friends.  There wasn't a wait to meet Mickey at his house in Toon Town so here we are.  Alex still isn't sure about Mickey in real life, but he loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Sitting like a big kid in Little Mermaid

First time I've ever gotten him to sit on the Carousel by himself.  When I took him off he kicked and screamed.  Luckily most people don't stare at Disneyland since kids are a common thing there.

I put a jacket on Alex since it was getting a little chilly and he screamed for 15 minutes.  Olive and Adeline chimed in later so we took a picture.  

Somehow we made it for the parade and they all sat still.  Alex was mesmerized.  One of my favorite days at Disneyland.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Al and I thought it would be fun to go as a family to see the tree lighting at the Grove. Little did we know all of LA was going too. I have no idea how we found parking, but luckily it wasn't close so we could make a quick escape.

The first spot we were in you couldn't see or hear a thing and I was dying to see Colbie Caillat perform.

We did get to see it snow which people were going nuts about.

Alex asking himself where am I now?

The second spot we found was right by the tree, but you still couldn't hear or see any of the concert so we decided to leave early and miss the tree lighting...lol Good thing because apparently there were riots and lots of other scary things happening. We will go back to see the tree once the hype dies down:)

McDreammmmmy

Al got to film another scene with Grey's Anatomy and guess who he got to meet......McDreamy!! So jealous I couldn't go this time.

Trading Post

Kristin and I had been talking about going to the Melrose Trading Post since she moved here last October. The Melrose Trading Post is an antiques and collectibles market held every weekend in Hollywood. Personally I would say 50% of it was junk.

Cute skinny Krisitn

Me with my sidekick Alex. So glad June gloom was in effect because it gets hot carrying him around in the Bjorn.

The only thing I really enjoyed looking at was the furniture.

This is where I question the word collectibles. Pieces of a dolls body?

My favorite trees in LA which I just learned are Jacarandas.

The most interesting thing I saw was piles of old pictures and there were tons of people rummaging through them. I'm not really sure why you would want random pictures of people you don't know, but apparently there is a use for them in Hollywood.

The best part of the market was this....never ever would I get a massage here.

The 3 of us.

Afterwards we got ice cream at the famous Mashti Malones. They are known for their Rosewater ice cream which we sampled, but quickly declined since it really tasted like a Rose.

You can buy the Rosewater ice cream at Whole Foods along the West Coast...I might give it a try again someday.