My surprise trip to California!

It seems that most everyone knew but me as to where Jeff was taking me on my surprise vacation. But, let me tell you how excited I was to know that we were going to California rather than somewhere on the east coast. Not that the east is bad, but it was just a great change of scenery. I was so pumped. (except for the plane ride of course...but I survived)

Thought that I would share with you about our trip and the places we went. Truly it was a very memorable get away!

We stayed with my brother (Jeff's brother Jared)and sister in law in Long Beach. So Jared picked us up at the airport and we met Nikki (his wife)for lunch. Let me say first off that we really enjoyed getting to hang out with Jared and Nikki! They were so much fun.

We started off with a different kind of eating that was REALLY good! I was very proud of my man by the way because he ate food that I could never get him to try. It was a restaurant called Open Sesame.(Lebanese Cuisine)We started off with the Labne (kefir cheese dip with olive oil)then added chicken Tawook with fried potatoes. YUUMM!!


Here are the unforgetable potatoes


After lunch we headed over to the bay by Jared and Nikki's house and spent some time there.




Here is Jeff and his brother Jared.



You must see this....this is Jared and Nikki's front porch view.


So, this is what we were able to enjoy the entire visit....the beautiful site and the sound of waves crashing at all times. We fell asleep to the sound of waves every night which was fabulous!





Now these houses are across the street...the other view from the front porch.




The 2nd day...we headed to Huntington beach (i think...can't remember for sure)for some surfing. Not this chick....but the two brothers.




We went to this Hamburger diner and had some of the best hamburgers I've had in awhile.
Gave me the worst case of heartburn ever as well!


Now....Jeff had one more surprise up his sleeve on this trip and this was it.....we finished our 2nd day in California at the IMAX theater seeing The Dark Knight. If you haven't gone...you must! It's incredible! I saw it a second time...had to take nana!


We visited this place nearly every time we saw one!


We were high on White Chocolate Mocha's for a week!


ate lots of this.



More beach pics outside Jared and Nikki's.








I appreciate Alabama's gas prices now after seeing the price of gas in Cali.



Say this with me.....Pooookaaayyyy Tie



These were children taking sailing lessons in the bay. See all the little sail boats? So Cute!



We kept hearing about Sweet Jill's and her famous cinnamon rolls....so we had to check it out.
MMMmmmmm.




Yep, it's as good as they say!


Spent a day in Malibu. It's so beautiful.



This is Jared surfing.


Malibu is really cool.....on one side of the street are mountains....




......and the other side is the ocean.


Ate some great seafood while in Malibu


Me and my sister in law, Nikki.




after our day in Malibu we strolled over to the streets of Santa Monica and did some sight seeing and shopping at the different boutiques and shops.


We finished up our 3rd day at the Baja Cantina in Venice. Ok, this place was incredible....ate some of the best Mexican food there that I have had in a LONG time!! We joined Nikki's brother and his girlfriend. FUN Night!


Saw this someone...can't remember....But it was cool...I haven't seen the Good Year Blimp in years!

This was some sailboats that we watched from Jared and Nikki's front porch.




Sunday after Church we went over to another beach (sorry Jared I can't remember the name!)and did some surfing and hanging out.


Nikki and Jared at some smash ball.

Brothers playing football and goofing off.



Me freezing at this point. Had all the chill bumps I could stand for one day. If you think that I am a wimp, check out the girl in the background. She is under a blanket!


We finished up the 4th day with a stroll along the beach behind Jared and Nikki's. It was so gorgeous.


As we walked ...we were checking out all the neat homes along the beach and the bay like this one.

For our final full day in California, Jared and Nikki were back to work and so Jeff and I enjoyed the beach all day at the house. It was a perfect day. Sunny and about 72 degrees!

That evening we went out to eat at one of my favorite places!


Enjoyed more food than we could stuff in our guts. We didn't even have room for the cheesecake. What's up with that? It is the cheesecake factory for crying out loud.


The last day in California did not last long....we were on the plane back to ALA BAMA before we knew it. Unfortunately....due to the weather....we had to circle around Mississippi more times than I cared for....had to make an emergency landing in Pensacola Florida to refuel....then went to Atalanta Georgia where we encountered delay after delay and finally made it back to B'Ham at 1:00am on Wednesday morning. What a fun week away!

Thank you Jared and Nikki for letting us come stay with you guys! and......Thank you baby for such a wonderful surprise vacation to California!