Cameron's 23rd Birthday Celebration in La Quinta

Cameron's birthday was this weekend, and as we do every year, we went up to La Quinta to her desert house to celebrate. This year we arrived on Friday afternoon, and it was 115 degrees. When we arrived the first thing we did was turn on the air conditioning, then left, went to the store, then spent hours near the pool trying to cool off. Unfortunately, when we expected the house to be cool that evening, the air conditions was still spewing hot air. So while the technician came out to service the unit, we decided to go out and find a bar where there might be some cold air.

the group on Friday night ready to cool down

After quite a but of driivng around (we were trying to get the cold air going) we finally stopped at a bar named McCormick's. There was a live band playing music and we had a blast dancing in the midst of all the fans. We also took the opportunity to start taking pictures.

Christine and I dancing like we did in middle school :-P

discussing the other dancers on the dance floor (there were plenty of 'characters')

We got home as late as possible so that we were drained, seeing as the house was practically warmer than it was outside. (yes, hard to imagine). The next morning, sure enough, we woke up to a somewhat 'cooled down' house. Obviously this just got us even more excited about spending the day at the pool in the water.

Cameron and Christine attempting to create waves in the pool

We spent the entire afternoon relaxing and then finally, our minds and creativity got the best of us. Who knew that we would turn in to stunt devils??





Saturday night, after spending the entire day by the pool, we went out for a formal dinner for Cameron's birthday.

Jillian and I at the table

the group

Quickly, at the beginning of the meal I took the waiter to the side and told him that it was Cameron's birthday. At the end of the meal, server's came round and put the sombrero on Cameron's head and sang to her!

And we all got to share her brithday flan :-)

4th of July Celebration

Independence day 2007 is one of my most memorable celebrations taht I've held. This year, I too advantage of having everyone who was in town, over to my house to stay by the pool all day and have a BBQ at night. Cameron had stayed over the previous night, and on the morning of the fourth she helped me prepare for all the festivities. We prepared guacamole, dips, chips, crackers, taquitos....etc...and drank SANGRIA all day long.

first shot of the day poolside tanning before the party

can't really get much better than this

*the hostesses*
Cameron Tiffany and I

Colbi, the neighbor's cousin who is visiting

Shane our neighbor

best roommate ever

Cameron and I

notice-we're showing the date with our fingers

my girls Tiffany and Cameron

apparently Tiffany didn't want to get too wet...

but that quickly changed after she fell in the water countless number of times before actually getting on to the dragon.

After spending countless hours in the sun poolside, we all washed off and took a quick siesta before the second half of the festivities began out on my patio...

changed and ready to start the grilling

enjoying the company

the neighbors

group shotwith the best neighbors girls could have

*Julie and Jim*

the flower made it form behind my ear to the front of my dress ??

Don

Jake

After we finished grilling, part of the group went off to try to see if we could see fireworks, but with no avail. So rather, when everyone was back at the house, we started cleaning up while eating Jello shots. The boys were nice, they went ahead and did all the dishes and most of the cleanup along with the trash! Country boys...as we were all cleaning up, silliness ensued...

Jake pretending to be Tiffany

we needed to sort some things out

After most of the cleaning was done, we all went back out to the patio and talked and of course "celebrated" some more with a few after meal drinks...

My Life in a Weekend

On Friday night, Cameron, Christy and I went on a gals night out. We hit the town in Newport by the Pier where the crowds go. Instead of going to a couple bars we stayed solely at Sharkeez's and had a blast. Three vodka red bulls later and we were ready to take photos...

we were bored waiting to get in

*Club CC*

Cammy and Sandy on the dancefloor

making friends in line

On a very different tune, Saturday was a family day. Dad and I drove up to meet with mom in LA who had been babysitting for a couple days. We took Isabella out for walks, played, fed her, all that entails in a baby's life. The latest establishment is that she can sit up herself, and if you barely pull her up she stands.... :-)
They really do grow up too fast.

I think she's be a daddy's girl

uhoh....what happened?

she's lunging for the food...

she has expensive taste....she's already going for ostrich...

but for now green beans are on the menu.

And on an even more different tune, Sunday was a day of relaxation (minus the car washing and the furniture moving). Mom and I went to the Trabuco Canyon Shrine, where I was able to meditate and put my world into perspective. In just half an hour, you are able to let go of all things materialistic, and look inside your core to refresh and replenish your energy for the week ahead. Afterwards, we went to see Ratatouille, which I recommend to all. It is such a cute movie, and to be honest it really made me want to move back to Paris to work in a restaurant....
After examining my weekend, I can truthfully say that in just two and a half days, I was able to sum up my entire life and everything that it consists of....friends, family, and spirit.