I am going to Seattle!

I figured it had been a while since I last blogged, and what better way to break the silence than to announce that I was going on vacation! The family I nanny for is going on vacation, so I get a paid vacation without having to use any of my vacation time.  I am soo excited!

So my Aunt the other day was over, and almost instantly upon walking in announced that she had something to read about Washington.  Well, I am not the biggest fan of Washington, so I kind of blew it off.  Once we sat down to eat dinner she whipped it out and started reading it.  It is actually really funny.  I have no idea where she got it from, or even who wrote it, but it made me laugh.  Enjoy!

"So now we know how it all happened.

God was missing for six days, eventually, Michael the archangel found him resting on the seventh day. 

He inquired, “where have you been?” 

God smiled deeply and proudly pointed downwards through the clouds, “look, Michael, look what I’ve made!” 

Archangel, Michael looked puzzled, and said, “what is it?” 

It’s a planet, “replied God, and I’ve put life on it.  I’m going to call it Earth and it’s going to be a place to test balance.” 

Balance? “inquired Michael, I’m still confused! 

God explained pointing to different parts of Earth.  “for example, northern Europe will be a place of great opportunity and wealth, while southern Europe is going to be poor.”

Over here I’ve made a continent of white people, and over there is a continent of black people, balance in all things.  “God continued pointing to different countries, “This one will be extremely hot, while this one will be very cold and covered in ice.” 

The archangel, impressed by God’s work, then pointed to a land area and said, “what’s that one?” 

“That’s Washington State, one of the most glorious places on earth, there are beautiful mountains, rivers, and streams, lakes, forests, hills and plains.  The people from Washington State are going to be handsome modest intelligent, and humerous, and they are going to tavel the world.  They will be extremely sociable, hardworking, high achieving, carriers of peace, and producers of software.”

Archangel gasped in wonder and admiration, but then asked, “but, what about balance, God?  You said there would be balance.” 

God smiled, there’s another Washington, wait till you see the idiots I put there!"

I hope you all get a kick out of it as much as I did!

Last week I had a flashback to my younger years.  Somewhere in my junior high years my parents purchased a basketball hoop for the pool.  It provided years of entertainment.  So much entertainment, that when we moved from California back to Washington we brought it with us.  A plastic pool toy!  I have no idea where it went after that, but it brought back many good memories.  

After having this flashback I went to every store imaginable looking for it.  No one sold it.  How sad!  So then I started to look online and I found it.  So exciting.  So this last Saturday we decided to break it out.  We had my Aunt, Uncle, two of my cousins, my sisters Anna and Renee, Jon, Brent, my mom and myself.  It was quite the physical game.  There were many fouls, many faces full of water, and a few scratches. We even scared one woman out of the pool who was trying to swim laps.  I mean seriously, what was she thinking?   Basketball so takes priority over swimming laps.  It didn't take long until we were all too tired to continue.  I am so excited for the rest of summer!  

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.  

Palm Springs

So Palm Springs was great.  My mom got a free hotel room for two nights (even though we only utilized it for one).  Anyways, so Renee and I drove out and picked up my Aunt T early on Saturday in an attempt to get to the hotel early so we could get in a full day of tanning.  Well we got there, but could not check in until my mom got there, so Aunt T, Renee and I went to the first bar we saw and got some not very good raspberry margaritas.  As we were finishing my mom got there and checked us in.  We then decided to attempt to get everything from the car to the hotel room in one trip (mainly out of laziness).  Not a very wise decision.  We all had purpleish hands by the time we got there.  

We then changed into our bathing suits and headed down to the pool to begin the tanning.  We ordered food (and more drinks of course) and let the good times roll.  Aunt T has to be the only person who goes to Palm Springs without a bathing suit.  After a few hours at the pool we headed back up to the room to get ready for dinner.  Eight girls getting ready in one hotel room is a bit of a challenge.  

Dinner was absolutely amazing.  We ate at Renee's favorite steak house.  Great choice.  I am sure Jon will be a little jealous.  But since he comes home SOOO SOON, we can take him there.  He will get pretty much anything he wants when he gets home.  Anyways, that was just a little side note.

After the steak house, the young ones left and the partying began.  We hit the floor and did some gambling.  I quickly realized it is not my strong point in life and learned to enjoy watching (and instructing) other people.  I met this man (who reminded me of one of my great uncles) who was playing some game that I did not understand, so I sat and talked to him all about it.  I obviously learned a lot considering I can not even tell you the name of the game.  But he was cool.  He put up with all of my weird questions after all.  

The rest of the night began a bit of a blur after that.  I remember some yelling, some singing along to itunes in the room, Renee falling asleep, ordering pizza and asking where the rest of it was, dumping salt into a napkin to take to the room, attempting to steal limes, actually stealing a salt shaker off of a room service cart, oh, and the flowers from the room service cart.  All in all, it was a great night.

Today was a bit stranger of a day.  After waking up and scrounging to clean the hotel room, we once again made the not so wise decision to try to get everything to the car in one shot.  Not a good idea, but a success none the less.   We then headed to the desert house to ransack it and take what we wanted.  It was a bit depressing, but it was kind of cool to find some of the things we did.  Like our old toys, and some family heirlooms (which I quickly realized I am the only one who appreciates them in the family- oh well, more for me).  Oh, back tracking a bit, when we were laying at the pool, my Uncle Jim kept trying to call my aunt, but her phone was in the room so he was having no success.  Eventually told Renee to have her call him.  Only to find out that my cousin Stevie had surprised everyone and had come in town from Arizona with his girlfriend Kat.  An old joke between Stevie and I is that if I don't approve oh her, he is in trouble.  This led to us trying to get home as quickly today as possible.  Which then led to us sitting at the house for like two hours waiting from them to get back.  Oh, and I really liked her.  So I guess he is in the clear.  

After that Renee and I headed home where I have been sitting on my butt ever since.  Now I am hiding in my room while my sisters and their friends watch that ridiculous movie Twilight.  EWW!  Well on that happy note I am heading to bed.  My 5:30 wake up call comes very quickly, especially on Mondays!  Oh, and as always, pictures are to come of our weekend in the desert. 

Jon comes home in 22 days!

They came and went...

The photos are all out of order, but here is a snap shot of when Kim, Brandon and the twins visited.  It was a perfect week, especially since I had the whole week off of work.  We celebrated Grandma Sue's 70th birthday, we went to the beach, the pool, and Disneyland twice!  The boys absolutely loved all of the spoiling.  And now the next time they come back they will really be able to enjoy everything! 

Dad with his girls and the babies... call him Gramps, he loves it

I believe this is Cullen, we took this picture because of how chubby he looks!

I convinced Tisha to tell me if he had a smelly diaper!

The happiest place on earth!

Anna and I are to thank for the super cute Mickey ears!

Yes, we went to the pool in February!

It was a great trip, and I didn't even have to go anywhere!  Now we just need to get them to come back for another trip!  

Finally a few pictures from the wedding I was in last weekend.  

The beautiful bride and the hansom groom on their get away.

Some Seattle Christian friends

We were a little excited about the wine, and our feet were hurting from the 4 1/2" heels, so we killed two birds with one stone...

The bridal room was freezing

The beautiful bride and me

It wasn't supposed to be posed, but it kinda looks like that...

Karin was absolutely stunning, and it was an amazing wedding.  It was so good to see everyone.  It actually kind of made me miss Seattle... and I never thought that would happen.  

Back in Cali...

Well, Sunday night I flew back to reality.  It was a great trip to Washington though.  The first three days were spent with some of my closest friends from high school.  We got to celebrate Chris and Karin getting married and it was a gorgeous wedding.  

Wednesday after I arrived Katie and I got to hang out and just catch up.  It was great.  Oh, and I got to experience the renovated version of South Center.  What a difference.  Then we met up with the bride only to go meet up with the rest of the bridal party to get manicures and pedicures.  Two of my favorite things to do.  Then the girls hit the town for Karin's bachelorette party.  So fun.  Well, minus the dress in the freezing cold weather.  One of the highlights from the day: we were driving, it was about 50 degrees outside and Karin thought it was warm enough to turn on the air conditioner.  Call me crazy, but that is no where near air conditioner weather.  

Thursday was the start of another busy day.  Katie and I ran lots of errands in the afternoon.  Then we had the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner.  By the end of the meal Katie and I both had sore fingers from trying to crack all the crab.  I actually punctured my finger at one point and saw blood.  We then headed to Issaquah (where Katie and he husband live) for the night.  Upon arrival Kasey asked us what we wanted to do, we both looked at him and said "VEG!"  

Friday was another early morning.  Considering I wake up at like 5:45 every day I don't know why anything is ever considered early, but it is.  Katie and I attempted to get ready before heading to the hotel to meet the bridal party.  Let's just say that about an hour and a half later we both had our hair pinned back.  It looks so easy, but do not be fooled.  The twist and pin combination is not easy.  Then back to Seattle we went.   And yet again we headed out into the cold in dresses to take pictures.  I am not sure why people in Seattle think this is okay.  And to top it off, the grooms men were complaining about being cold.  HA!  Oh, and that their feet hurt.  Given, I love love love heels.  But by the end of the night after wearing 4 1/2 inch heels my feet were killing me.  But it was so worth it, they looked so cute!  

After the wedding I hitched a ride to Federal Way where I spent the night at my cousin's house.  I have not slept that soundly in a very long time.  I am actually not sure how I even made it into bed, but let's just say that I hit the bed, realized there was no pillow, said "oh well" and promptly fell asleep.  Saturday I got to hang out with my best friend Shannon.  We just laid low as she had homework and I was still trying to re cooperate from the events of the wedding.  

And to end the weekend on a high note, I got to drive to Bellevue (which I do not highly recommend doing if you can avoid it... I got a bit claustrophobic on the 405 freeway.  How do people drive with only 2 lanes and when all the drivers are barely going 60?)  But in Bellevue were my precious nephews, and of course my sister and her husband.  I could seriously hold those boys for days!  On another high note, they come to Cali tomorrow.  I jokingly tease Kim that once they get here they won't get to hold the boys, but I am kinda serious.  

With them coming to Cali there will be lots of fun events, from Disneyland, to a hockey game, to hopefully being able to go to the beach.  If only we could get back to where it was a month ago where it was in the upper 80's.  Now that is my kind of weather.  

Scott was there as well.  It was really good to see him, it has been forever.  

Cullen is in the tan and Jackson is in the white.  

                                                  We are pretty much the best aunt and uncle ever, hands down!

The best photo of Cullen ever!

                                                                                 

Photos are courtesy of Kim and Brandon and their shnazzy new camera.  All in all, it was a great trip, only to be followed by a great week of being home.  Given I am a little tired, but it all has been worth it.  And now for Kim, Brandon and the twins to arrive!

Here I come

So in about a day and a half I get to leave for Seattle.  I am soo excited.  One of my best friends from high school, Karin, is getting married.  So not only do I get to go to one of my favorite events ever, a wedding, but I get to hang out with some of my best friends. 

 A few of my fears of the week/weekend:  THE WEATHER.  I am seriously trying to figure out how to wear dresses and be dressed up and still be warm.  I guess that might be my only fear, but it is pretty much consuming my thoughts.  I am seriously not sure how it is going to work because it is in like the 60's here during the day and I am freezing ALL the time.  The only advice I have been given is to wear a peacoat.  Well what about my exposed legs?  So that is my current dilemma.  

Also, how to possibly get all the clothes and shoes I need to Washington for this trip.  And then there is the added drama of possibly having to go to New York straight from Seattle.  As for when I will find out, could be that day.  We will just have to wait and see.  

Oh, and Kimmy and the boys come in like 9 days!  What more could I possibly want?  A wedding with some amazing friends, and then all four of us girls get to be reunited.  Prepare yourselves.  

Cookies

So I found this new recipe for some Valentines Day cookies, and I made them about two weeks ago and sent them to Jon in Iraq, and Renee and Anna could not keep their hands off of them.  Renee kept trying to convince me that Jon would want her to have one.  Anna tried to join that bandwagon, it so did not work with me.  So I decided to be a nice sister and make them again, this time for them.  

I also found this recipe for this "healthier version" of rice krispie treats.  It is made with yogurt burst cheerios and white chocolate.  They were pretty tasty.  But by far the jam cutouts had the most positive feedback.