California Knows How to Party....

"Holy Ackward" - Seth ( Adam Brody on the OC)

Being in Orange County California has brought back some serious memories of our college obsession with the O.C ( the tv show). When I lived in the Faircloth dorm, second floor, we would all gather in our room and watch way too many episodes in a row. We are currently staying in a house that would rival that of Adam Brody's and loving the pool and warm californian weather.

( I mean really...how cute can you get....)

Orange County looks like I thought it would look, sunny, gorgeous, wealthy with all of the stucco houses built into the hills. A sweet family Rachael used to nanny for is letting us stay in there home for the weekend. I keep imagining Adam Brody, who by the way would love Jesus and play guitar, and I with our two lovely, curly haired children running around in the sand...Ohhhh if only.

The drive from Phoenix was warm and deserty. Southern California didn't look like what we had pictured, we didn't start seeing palm trees until we had been in California for a few hours. We tried to go to Joshua Tree National Park but it was cloudy and when we reached the park it was to late in the day to hike where we wanted to hike. So we bypassed the park and headed toward Los Angeles instead. Rachael and I had a yummy dinner, relaxed and rented "Adam." It was such a good movie but had some heart wrenching parts. We watched way too many episodes of the nanny, if thats possible, then passed out for the night.

Today we have been pretty lazy. I watched two movies, researched the route and places we wanted to see on the remained of our trip. Rachael slept in and we ate lunch late. The Mecks had left these awesome big, white resort bathrobes and each of us stayed in those and our pj's most of the day ( we also had an impromptu dance party around the house - I am sure the neighbors thought we were crazy) We had planned to go to Laguna beach but by the time we got moving it was late afternoon so we went for a long walk around the neighborhood and let me tell you it is gorgeous. It feels to good to be warm and not have to bundle into a jacket. After walking I came back to read and use the excersize bike while Rachael died her hair a shade darker. Then I hit up the amazing jacuzzi tub while she started dinner. Tonight we dediced we would actually cook and sit down at the table rather than grazing. We had mushroom rice, chicken and green beans with a bit of champagne to drink ( I love champagne at any time).

We are heading to bed now, planning on getting up very early to clean up and pack and hit hwy 1 for the long drive northward to Carmel along the coast. I am super excited about this drive - I love the beach and something in me feels as if it will remind me of scenes from old movies such as " to catch a theif". On the way we will stop at the Santa Monica Pier and weekend market, possibly Hearst castle, view the Chanel Islands in the distance and drive along the cliff route of Big Sur. Praise the Lord we were able to get in touch with a sweet, distance cousin named Phyliss who lives in Carmel so we will have somewhere to stay. We promised jackson we would be home by the 22nd to be at his basketball game so our schedule is a bit more constricted. After Carmel we will go through Monterey ( to see the butterflies) and into San Francisco. I think while we are there we will take the Ferry, see fishermans wharf, rent bikes for the day and cross the golden gate bridge to saulsalita and ride the trolly. After that we are going to drive through Napa valley for a wine tour and then onto Redwood National Park. Good night all. We are exhausted. Our last night in Pheonix the neighbors dogs kept everyone up all night barking. I felt fine yesterday but today it has caught up with me. I was ready for bed at 8pm. Rach is already asleep.

Ciao Me amores