Who else HATES April 15th?

I thought I had a dislike for it last year (when I worked in a tax office), but it hasn't gotten much better.  I am currently STILL waiting for a W-2 from one of my jobs last year.  Nothing quite like filing last minute!

Who would have thought...

Well, I am in New York AGAIN!  

I got to fly home last Friday so that I could welcome Jon home from Iraq on Saturday.  It was one of the craziest happiest feelings that I have ever had.  It is hard to explain the feeling, but it is this overwhelming joy.  The welcome home clips they show on the news are so accurate.  Seeing all the families just lined up and ecstatic, it is a great feeling.  So anyways, needless to say, Saturday was a great day.  And it was topped off with a trip to Downtown Disney!  Oh, and we can not forget the beignets.  Talk about a mouthful of amazingness.  

Sunday was also a great day.  Obviously it was Easter, which brought an amazing Easter service.  I also had the privilege of volunteering with the baptisms.  It was so powerful.  Worship was amazing, followed by a great message, where Mike (the pastor) taught baptism by doing one, and then opening it up to anyone and everyone.  I was back stage taking down information from all of the people.  Having them walk up to me crying, or with the biggest smile on their face, so moving and powerful.  

After that we headed home to enjoy an AMAZING Easter dinner.  We had steak, lamb, chicken, like 5 different vegetables, rice pilaf, potatoes, 3 different breads, fruit, and some amazing desserts to top it all off.  We also had like 15 people there (hence the insane amount of food).  It was a great time of hanging out, eating, relaxing, and of course sleeping.  It would not be an Ortiz event if there was no sleeping involved.  

And after Sunday comes Monday, which was quite dreaded.  I really did not want to travel again, but I did, and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  Minus the cold that I swear I get every time I travel, I am doing quite well for being back in the cold weather of New York.  It gets a bit depressing when I look at the weather reports for back home, and then for here, but when I think of it being in the mid 80's next weekend, I get a bit cheered up.  It will be a weekend full of tanning and relaxing.  And it is very much needed.  

Well, I should probably go to bed pretty soon, the morning comes very quickly over here.  

Oh New York...

Well another day has come and gone, and I am all the more ready to go home.  

I swear every person I have talked to from California has found the need to remind me that it has been hot there and that they are getting tan.  Meanwhile I am freezing over here wearing boots and a peacoat.  Don't get me wrong, it was a good reason to break out some cute fall/winter clothes again, but I am a flip-flops and shorts kind of girl!  I love hot weather!  Last weekend I was laying by the pool.  This week I have been planning my outings around the weather report.  No thank you!

Other than the cold weather, New York has been fun.  

I have actually gone out and done things this time.  Today I was really adventurous and took a taxi (with Dylan strapped to my side- you don't have to have a car seat in NY) down to the Museum of Natural History and Art.  Probably the best museum for taking a small child to yet.  Dylan loved it.  And I was especially fond of it because it was the museum in Nanny Diaries.  Call me cheesy, I don't care.  Anyways, the taxi ride there was so much work, with a stroller, diaper bag and child, that on the way home I decided to walk.  It was about 40 blocks.  It was a good walk.  We started out in Central Park.  Which I am partial to, because I love Law and Order.  I was really hoping to see them filming, but no suck luck.  Then I walked up 6th avenue to our hotel which is right next to Time Square.  Our living room is glowing right now with the lights from there.  

Oh, and side note/story.  Dylan is notorious for losing shoes in New York.  Always on the first day.  We didn't even make it out of the airport this time.  So anyways, I had to go to Toys-R-Us today in an attempt to replace the missing shoe.  Mistake number one was attempting to go into the one in Time Square.  It is like a circus.  Literally.  Mistake number two was pushing a stroller in there.  And to top it off, mistake number three, taking a sleeping baby into a circus.  He was no longer sleeping when we left.  Oh well, you live you learn.  

After reading this posting, and my last posting, I am beginning to realize how much my life revolves around my job.  I love my job, but when I post more stories from work than anything else, I begin to find it a bit depressing.  Oh well, it really won't stop me.  I am sure the next post will be the same!

Well... we finally made it!

It has been one long day!  It started off great.  I went to church before the airport, service was fantastic.  We are preparing for Easter next sunday, and we have something called Seek Week all this next week (which I am bummed to be missing), but service today was about working on preparing your heart.  

After that it was straight to the airport.  I had to meet the family I nanny for and begin preparing mentally for a very LONG week!  FYI, traveling with a baby is NOT easy!  That kid has more luggage than his mom and I combined.  5 checked bags later, we are still toting his stroller and 4 carry-ons.  Can we talk about a sore back?  Oh, and not to mention, our flight was delayed.  How I have yet to figure out, considering the airport had 4 terminals.  All of which shared a waiting room.  Anyways, it was a long but good flight.  Dylan is a great traveler. He is just so mobile now that he hates sitting still.  I guess it could be worse.

Once we landed stinking Jet Blue could not get their act together.  They had no idea what baggage claim had what flight.  Our flight attendants said baggage claim 3.  Baggage claim 2 had our information posted above it.  Some of the luggage was on both.  Who would have thought.  Oh well, the car service was nice enough to wait.  On our way out to the curb though, I caught a glance at the line for a taxi.  I thought the 20 people waiting when we were in Europe was bad.  OH NO!  Not even close.  Let's talk about 100+ people.  That is just plain nuts!  

But high note, our hotel is really nice.  It isn't your typical hotel though.  It is like an apartment.  It has a kitchen, living room, bathroom and separate bedroom.  Which is great considering Dylan and I will be spending a lot of time here this week.  And he does not know how to sit still.  At least there are no stairs for him to climb here.  

Well, it is getting late, and Dylan has no concept of sleeping through the night, let alone what time to wake up, so I better hit the hay.  PRAY FOR ME!  

And it is off to New York again...

Yesterday it was confirmed.  I fly out Sunday late morning for New York.  I go with the family I nanny for, it isn't all pleasure, but it isn't all work either.  Off and on for the past month or so I have known I could go any time.  This is only the second time though that I have actually had a ticket.  

I am really hoping to do a lot more sight seeing this time.  Seeing as how Dylan is a few months older, and well it isn't exactly the dead of winter there anymore, I hope this can come true.  I am really excited about seeing the Statue of Liberty.  I just hope it isn't too cold to take the boat over to the island rather than just staying on the mainland.  There are also a few museums on my itinerary.  

Luckily this trip is only about 5 days long.  I will be flying back on Friday night, hopefully in time to make it to Jon's homecoming.