Pat's 30th Birthday

Unfortunately, Pat's 30th birthday fell two days after I had my surgery to remove my tumor. I was layed up in bed, totally drugged up, but I tried to make the day special. I had purchased a cold stone cake and Macbook Air a week before which I was pretty excited about surprising Pat with. However, I realized I didn't cover my tracks enough when our Mint.com account sent Pat and update of where our money went that week. It was pretty apparent that I had bought him the computer when Pat saw that $2,000 went towards electronics—DANG IT!

Even though Pat's birthday gift was a bust, Doug and Mariah were able to make it a little more special when drove out to visit us and made Pat a "Better than Sex Cake" from scratch. Such great friends. 

I am so thankful for this man in my life. The past six years of marriage have been total bliss as Pat is able to make me laugh when I am mad or sad, and knows exactly what I need. He is an example to me of how to love and be friends with everyone.

I wish I could have provided a more exciting birthday for him on this 30th, but I hope he knows how much I love him completely and am so lucky to call him mine. 

Living like we're celebs

While I was in Northern California visiting family and doctors, my mom was nice enough to take care of Hunter for a weekend while I flew down to L.A. to spend a few days with my adorable hubby. It was like a second honey moon for us and was such a needed break from real life. 

Pat's work put him up in the Four Season hotel in Hollywood. Me, not a classy person at all, was so enamored by everything, and when I say everything...I mean EVERYTHING (I was snapping pictures of how they put our toiletries on paper in the bathroom!). While I was there I started thinking that this is how real life should be. People should always be opening doors for me everywhere I go. Someone should be cleaning my apartment two times a day. I should always have turn down service. I should always have a Rolls Royce ready to take me anywhere I want to go. We should always go out to swanky restaurants where I do not even understand what I am eating. Sadly, this is not reality for us and this weekends treatment had to come to an end—but I am so glad I was able to experience it, even if it was only for a few days. 

For the first day I was there Pat had to work, so I was left to entertain myself on my own—something I quite enjoy. I am somewhat of a loner, and really enjoy doing things on my own, especially shopping and going to movies, which is exactly what I did. It was particularly nice because this was the first time I had been by myself since the birth of Hunter. 

I did some shopping at "The Grove" and then saw "Lincoln", where I had the whole theater to myself. During the movie it was very apparent that I had a three month old because I couldn't keep my eyes open, something I have never experienced before. 

Once Pat didn't have to work anymore, is when the fun began. We rented a car so we were able to drive all around L.A., which was a treat within itself, coming from NYC where a car is a luxury we do not have. We had so much fun walking on the beaches, shopping, relaxing and just enjoying the Southern California life style. 

We also enjoyed eating lots of good food. Pat had a per diem which allowed us to eat like kings! It was extra special for me since I was able to go off my strict diet which I have been on since I found out Hunter has a dairy and soy allergy. 

This trip really caused me to want to live in Southern California. I just love everything about it. One particularly amazing thing about L.A. are the hiking trails that look over the city. On Sunday, my last day there, we decided to take a morning hike in the hills before church. The whole time I was just in awe of the beauty of this part of the state and was praying that somehow we could someday live there. 

The weekend was a trip of a life time and it was so wonderful to spend some one on one time with my hubby. Even though this trip gave me a taste of a life I will never have, I felt lucky enough to experience it, especially with my soul mate. 

Pat — the Copy Writer

Recently, Pat was able to go the L.A. on a business trip to shoot a few commercials. This was the first time that he was able to travel for a shoot and consquently "live the high life." 

It was a little hard for me to sit on the side lines and just hear about all the fun things he was able to experience while filming. I know his days were long and filled with work; however, there was a lot of fun mixed in as well. 

 

Pat was able to work with Peter Berg who directed the commercial. Pat also was able to shoot on the  Warner Brother Lot which is the contains the of the famous homes from Bewitch, The Middle, and many more I can't remember. The Warner Brother's Lot also has the "Friends" fountain. 

My favorite house on the Warner Brother's house. I want to move in!

Thankfully, while Pat was in L.A. I was able to visit my family in Northern California so I wasn't too depressed when Pat would send me pictures from his trip of him on the beach, getting room service, visiting fancy restaurants,  run ins with famous people, and his room at the Four Season's in Hollywood. 

Pat met at Peter Bergs office one day and took this picture for me. Peter Berg filmed a few episode from "Friday Night Lights", and anyone that has seen Friday Night Lights is a Tim Riggins fan. Am I right? Or am I right!?

He might not make any money doing this, but at least he is having fun. 

Luckily, I with all the fun Pat was having, I knew I was going to joining him for a fun weekend getaway soon enough...