Because I couldn't resist...

For Aunt Kimmy

I have never uploaded a video directly from youtube yet, so hopefully this works!

Because I am a tiny bit obsessed...

Is she not just the most precious thing you have ever seen?

I saw this outfit the other day, and I knew Vi just HAD to have it.

I love all the many faces she gives me. Like why the heck are you taking pictures of me. Cullen gives us this look quite often as well. It cracks me up.

Seriously, how do you resist those cheeks?

Or that smile?

Or that hair? Gotta love her!

The joys of being an aunt

So I am bound and determined to get my Christmas shopping done by Black Friday. I hate how the prices get spiked right before Christmas, so I am trying to avoid that this year. I am pretty impressed with myself thus far! I have started on the Jackson and Cullen, I should be done with Violet (although little girl clothes are just too stinking cute to pass up), my dad is done, so all I have is Kim, my mom, grandparents, and a few friends. Well now that I list it out it doesn't sound as good as it did in my head, but at least I am making some progress.

Anyways, my point in writing is to say that part of Violet's Christmas gift came in the mail today. I would post photos, but it is part of another gift. That will make sense later on. Anyways, I can't wait to see her tomorrow and give it to her. Not that she will appreciate it. In fact, she might be kind of annoyed because it means changing her outfit. But I am such a good aunt, I just do not care. When we are putting together the slide show for her wedding she will thank me for being such a good aunt and making her look so darn adorable. Until then I will deal with her fussing when I torment her with outfit changes.

Oh how I love being an aunt!

Just notice the hair!

So as I mentioned in my last post (a few hours ago), Vi is spending the night with us, so here is another video from our night together!

And please, notice her hair. We gave her a bath because she had spit up all over herself, and then put her down for a nap. Well, she loves her head being rubbed, and this hairdo is the result. Don't you want her hair?

She reminds me of a peacock or a rooster. How stinking precious is she?

So Renee graciously is letting Violet spend the night with us. This is how we started our night out with her. She is just so much fun at this age. She is always smiling and laughing. We could play with her all day. It is her who gets tired of us!

Oh, and sorry about the sideways videoing. I always forget that I can not turn the video (at least I am not technologically savvy enough to figure out how). I hope you enjoy anyways!




And yes this video is mostly to make Kim miss her. It is the only way she understands just how much we miss the boys! They come in a month though, and we could not be more excited!

In honor of Meghan

Honduras really needs to give you back Meg, the Pumpkin Patch just wasn't the same without you.

I know you are hungry reading that. I almost bought some and sent them to you.

Don't you just miss us so much?

You should be sitting next to her!

You could have had Age pull you around with me!

You can't forget the tepee!

I really wanted to ride this, but my hips just were not having it

She about died taking this picture. It was pretty funny.

Oh Meg, we miss you! Please come home. I am counting down the days till Christmas break when we get to see you again! Love you!

Oh baby Violet

This post is mainly for Kim. But in return, I am expecting and extra long post from you. With pictures, lots and lots of pictures!

Notice Violet's bid

She LOVES her hands. The pillows were an attempt to sit her up.

How could you not love that face?

I was trying to help her poop, and poop she did!

But seriously, how do you not love that face?

I am officially in LOVE!!

I found my new favorite thing, EMBOSSING!

Today was a pretty slow day for me, so I got to spend the majority of my day crafting. Although I started off my day with yet another trip to Michael's. That store and I have a love hate relationship. I could spend my life savings (given it really isn't that much) there! My first stop is always the Martha Stewart aisle. But I am sure that is a given. As if I didn't get enough stuff the other day, I needed a few more things for my crafting project today, so we headed back and I got some new toys! I got a boning tool which is for creasing paper to make cards, and some more colors for embossing. Like I said, I am in love. I spent the afternoon playing with said toys as well as with the toys I got this weekend! It ended up being a great day! Pictures will come soon of my crafting experience!

Crafting here I come...

So, today I went to Michael's. For the most part I avoid that store for the sake of my budget. But since my family knows me so well, they got me a gift card there for my birthday! One of the best gifts ever! Anyways, so today I talked Adrienne into going with me while we were out shopping. I had a coupon for 40% off an item plus and extra 15% off the total! SCORE!

If you know anything about me, it is that I am a tad obsessed with Martha Stewart! Pretty much anything Martha Stewart makes me very happy! So, the first place I headed was the Martha Stewart aisle (fyi, I am seeing how many times I can say her name in this post...)!! I knew what I wanted, I have had my eye on it for a while, and with my coupon and gift card it was practically free! I am sure you are all just on the edge of your seats waiting to know what it is. So just hold on, I am getting there. Also, do not be surprised if you get a card because I am practically jumping up and down waiting to use my new toy!

Well, the time has come, I will reveal my new toy...

Yes, that's right, I am the proud owner of an embossing tool!

I do not think I could be more excited! If I was not babysitting all day tomorrow I would break it out then, but I guess it will have to wait. But soon, very soon I will be experimenting!

Christmas is coming!!

So tonight my sisters and I picked who we would have for Christmas! We do a "secret santa" type thing. I use the word secret loosely. Last year by the time it got to Christmas we all knew who each other had. The simple process of deduction. For example, I knew I had Kim last year. My mom let it slip who Anna had, and before long I figured out who Renee had, therefore I knew who Kim had. So rather than trying to be sneaky again this year we just told each other who we had. And now we can start shopping early. I love that we started this last year. It really is the greatest thing ever! It saves so much money, and you can put more effort into a single gift. Besides, with Violet and the twins, I have other shopping I would rather do!

Also, Kim booked their tickets to come and visit for December. I don't know if I could be more excited! Around here we wait for them to come visit. We relish the time we have with them, and then they leave and we live for them to come back!

But, with them coming for Christmas means that it is tamale making time! One of my favorite times of the year! My mouth is watering just thinking about them! Christmas time is definitely in the air!

Who doesn't love Rascal Flatts?

On Sunday Adrienne and I went to the Rascal Flatts concert. It was originally scheduled for last weekend, but Rascal Flatts got sick so they had to reschedule. Last weekend was in the 80's and sunny. This weekend was rainy and cold. But we decided to embrace it! It was one amazing concert. Although there was a time when I am not sure if I was enjoying the concert more or the people around us. We had tickets for the lawn, so when they opened the seating I told Adrienne to run and go get us a seat. We had great seats. We were the second people back, and we were surrounded by some of the most amazing people ever! There were 2 couples in front of us who we later bonded with. Then there was an older couple who came and sat to the right of us on the wall-ish thing. Then there was a drunk couple to the left of us (stories of them to come). And of course there were the people behind us smoking weed and drinking. Oh, and we are pretty sure the girl was pregnant.

This is what we smuggled our wine into the concert in

We were pretty excited about it.

I was pretty darn excited for the concert!

We do love our wine!

Okay, so some stories of our night. So part way through Sara Evans, the second opening act, this really drunk girl comes sliding down the grass trying to get away from the guy she was with. Somehow ends up on the edge of our blanket after tripping over my feet and landing on the couples in front of us. The guy she was trying to get away from decides to sit down and start arguing with said girl. Did I mention she was VERY drunk? Oh, and had mascara all over her face from crying. I tried to listen in to their conversation, although most of it was jibberish. Something about he left her somewhere, she is drunk, he was very sorry, and they both ended up crying. Although halfway through this cry fest, she decided she wanted to enjoy the concert. So she starts singing along meanwhile his head is in his lap and he has tears running down his face. We were all trying really hard not to laugh out loud at them, we didn't succeed. But we did offer her a tissue. They thankfully left before Rascal Flatts came on. Their arguing was getting a bit distracting.
So story number two. The drunk couple to the left. He was stinking hilarious. She was turning red with embarrassment, so we became friends. At one point he dropped his phone on the face of the guy laying down in front of him. I don't think anyone enjoyed the concert more than he did. Said couple comes into play in later on. So there were these girls who thought they were all that. They kept creeping in on our space. Eventually so much so that they 2 couples in front of us left. So we move up to the railing. Well so do the pushy girls who think they are all that. So we use our new found friends to our advantage. They are pushing us girls out of the way, so we put drunk guy next to them to push them back a little. Um hello, we had been there the entire time. So one of the girls starts yelling at us. Something about him pushing girls. Regardless of the fact that we had been there the entire time. There were a few choice words I am choosing to leave out. Anyways, she calls security. Yes, she was that mature. So security comes up to the poor guy who really just wants to enjoy the concert (and of course his alcohol) and starts harassing him. So we politely told security (there is no sarcasm in that statement- I didn't want to get kicked out) that we had been there the entire time and that it was the girls who were pushing. It pays to be polite and make friends because everyone around us agreed and said pushy girls left. It was quite the night. And quite the spectacle. Somewhere in the midst of this action by the way, my jacket was stolen. Luckily it was one Kim bought in college and not a new one or anything, but I mean seriously. Of the wallets, cameras, cell phones, and what not laying around, you choose to steal and old brown coat with fur on the hood? Seriously? Well, rest in peace jacket, you served the Ortiz family well. Let's just say Anna wasn't very happy when I told her. Oh well, it was a great night. One to go down in the books!

Where oh where to begin?

So, in case you can't tell, I got to go to a Laker game tonight. It was possibly one of the greatest nights of my life! Call me pathetic or over-dramatic, I do not care. My dad gave me 3 tickets for my birthday. Renee and Anna said I technically had a choice who I brought with me. I disagree. They then proceeded to tell me that I never would have heard the end of it had I not brought them. Anyways, here are a few photos from our night.

Can you see how amazing our seats are? We were 8 rows up from the court. We were directly behind the coaches for the Jazz!!
Just one of the hundred or so photos I took of Kobe.
And another...
Can you tell how excited we are? And see how amazing our seats are?
And here is yet another...
Warm ups
So these are our new seats, that top row, section 403 were our old seats. So story time, we had just sat down in our seats when an usher walked up to us and asked us if we wanted better seats? Um hello, does that even require an answer? HECK YES!! So we moved. Down to section 207 row F!! Um you could practically smell the sweat!
We were pretty stinking excited!
Renee and I
Anna and I right after we moved...
The view from our seats!!
Right when we arrived. Can you tell I was a tad picture happy? I think the finally tally for the night was around 115 plus some videos!
Walking in. It was raining but we did not care!
It really was a prefect night! Probably the best birthday present I have ever gotten! Thanks dad!

So last night was the "late nighter" at church. Whenever I tell anyone that they ask "for high school or junior highers"? To which I laugh and say elementary kids. The horrified looks on their faces is pretty funny. Followed by "they do that for their age"?

YES, YES we do.

It really was a great time. We had a Minute To Win It theme. The kids all loved it. It was so entertaining to see them attempt some of these games. They were some of the funniest games I have ever seen kids do. There was one point during the night where I had tears rolling down my cheeks from laughing so hard. I was rolling on the ground as well during this. I really wish that there was a way to explain to you exactly what the kids were doing that was so funny, but there is just no way to do it justice without seeing it.

It is nights like this that make me sure that God has me exactly where He wants me. And that make me love my church all the more.

I do have to admit that today I feel like I was hit by a bus, or to be exact, 124 little running screaming buses. At one point during the night these two little girls approached me. They looked at me and proceeded to tell me "Miss Stacy promised we would have a lot of sugar..." to which I replied "Are you telling me you haven't had enough"? (Not a wise question to ask a third grader!!) Their little voices retaliated with a "NO!!" I had to laugh. I have never seen kids eat so much sugar and snacks in my life. It is quite impressive what those little ones can devour.

But like I said, it was a great night. Now I just need to catch up on some sleep!

It was like a 100 degrees today. I didn't look at a thermostat, but it was dang hot! Last week in Seattle I was wearing boots and sweaters, this week tank tops and flip flops. I love my life! The hot and cold parts of it!

oh how I miss Seattle...

My trip to Seattle was amazing as always. First things first... a trip to Seattle would not be complete without a trip to Emerald City Smoothie. If you know anything about me, it is that I LOVE Emerald City. Can you tell how darn excited I am? P.S. notice my way cute necklace that Katie made for me for my birthday! I know you are all jealous. I also have one in yellow!

P.P.S. Notice that I am wearing a skirt and a light sweater in Seattle! It was amazing!

Katie and Karin after we made Red Velvet Cupcakes. Katie's mom sent her the mix for Sprinkles Cupcakes, so we made them and indulged ourselves. They were very yummy despite the fact that they don't look as good as the professional ones!

Appletini anyone?

Downtown Seattle...I could not ask for better friends!

We really wanted to get some good photos, it has been so long! People must have thought we were crazy...

Karin and I

Katie and I

Notice the boots....I am so excited it is fall!

It really was perfect weather the entire time I was there. And I decided to embrace the rain, so it really didn't bother me! I got to do everything I wanted while I was there. I spent time with my cousins which is always one of my favorite things! That is also where I got introduced to the appletini. Oh, and we can't forget the Puyallup fair. The food there wasn't very good, but the SCONES made up for it. I must have looked like a complete fat kid when I was ordering them. I ordered 3 dozen. Thankfully they were not all for me. A dozen was for my cousin, and a dozen I froze to bring back to California. Hopefully they thaw well! Then I spent the weekend in Seattle and got to spend time with Katie and Karin. We shopped, crafted, walked to Seattle, and just hung out. It was so fun! And then of course, I got to fulfill some of my eating traditions, Emerald City which you already saw, and Burger Express. Next time I will have to go to Vinces. There was just not enough time. All in all, it was a great trip. I already can not wait to go back. But being back in California was much needed. Hopefully the weather stays nice and I can get some sun!