THE QUINTANAS

Hawaii

2011-03-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

Our little family was in some need of some sun so we packed our bags and headed to the Hawaiian Islands. We spent a few day on Oahu visiting with our friend Katie, Tim and Blakely and then we spent the rest of the week on the Big Island. Hanging out in one the lagoons by Ewa Beach Our view from our balacony

In the lava tubes. Ezra loved to splash in the puddles

Hiking in the rainforest

At the volcano

Rainbow falls near Hilo

Hanging out at the black sand beach near our condo on the Big Island

This is hard to see but it's a picture of sea turtle

Ahh...paradise

Cancun

2011-01-26T20:39:00.000-08:00

Oh beautiful sunshine we've missed you! Gotta love 80 degree weather, beachfront stay to look at crystal blue ocean, and beautiful sunrises...so we heard, we never did get up that early. Joel and I took a little vacation sans Ezra which was nice to not have any responsibility. We missed him of course but we knew he was in the good hands with of our parents for the week. Although when we got back he has had some anxiety everytime one of us has left the house or when we put him to bed. We feel a little bad now that he had some separation anxiety. At least we know he loves us!

Our plan was to sleep in, relax either by the pool or ocean and not have any plans. But that lasted for about half a day. Besides bumming around on beach trying to body surf, we enjoyed driving a speed boat through the lagoon to the ocean so we could snorkel by the reef. And of course how can you say you went to Mexico and not go to the flea markets and bargain for good deals. We also did a day trip out to one of the Mayan temples Chichen Itza which was pretty cool. We also stopped on our way at this ranch that had and underground water hole and you could swim in.Our view from where we stayed. Needless to say, we could have gotten use to seeing that everyday.

Christmas

2010-12-26T10:16:00.000-08:00

Better late than never...
We had a fabulous Christmas especially since I didn't have to work :) We enjoyed having family in town and being able to spend time with them. We started the Christmas season with the annual Fitz Family Christmas dinner followed by a Backer Family party. Ezra really enjoyed everything that involved Christmas, especially all the lights. After I had strung the Christmas tree with lights and plugged them in, Ezra exclaimed "Oh, Wow!" It was so cute cute how awestruck he was with such a simple thing. Our family enjoyed spending Christmas with both sides of the family and going to my grandma's house for dinner. It's funny how different you view things when you have kids and see the world from their tiny perspective. All in all we enjoyed celebrating the birth of our Savior.

Papa and cousins Selah and Eli

Christmas Outfit

Playing with my new cars

My new Slide

New TrainChristmas Morning

Fall

2010-10-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

Ezra love the pumpkin patch this year. This was the first time we took him and he enjoyed all the "bumkins" We also enjoyed a stroll through the corn maze. I think he just enjoyed being outside on this gorgeous fall day and be able to be a boy and play with dirt, bugs and sticks.

This year I tried carving something different beside my typical triangle eyes and nose and toothed mouth. My friend Missy and I relieved our childhood and carved these 2 beauties! Hopefully you can tell what they are. We were pretty proud of ourselves.

What's new?

2010-10-12T21:47:00.000-07:00

Glad you asked!
Ezra... has a vocab about 8 words now but car and cracker are ones we hear all the time.
loves playing with cars and legos and loves being read to and backs his little hiney into your lap when it's storytime.
has started brushing his 8 teeth, which we almost lost one to an injury.
has been doing well eating with a fork which is so great and not nearly as messy!
likes to give group hugs...so sweet
Joel...continues to be consistently busy with our flooring business...yeah!
Emily...decided to be certified in her area of nursing and so is studying to take the exam..uggh!

So with all that stuff going on we are ready for our next vacation and after having fun and a relaxing time on our last one we are going to be making it a priority. Whohoo!

I think I'll go to Boston...

2010-10-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

And we did, Ezra in tow and all. Ezra was such a good sport on the plane and during all our travel adventures. We all had a great time back east. We spent most of our time in downtown Boston sightseeing, going to a Red Sox game which felt like you were going back in time. That park has such an antique feel and we (Ezra and I) enjoyed watching the Sox's beat the Orioles. Joel was not too happy as an Oriole fan. Boston has a good mixture of old and new stuff and we enjoyed it all. We walked the freedom trail which is about a 2 1/2 mile walk around the city that Paul Revere rode to warn that the "British are coming" It had a lot of different historical sites one of which was Paul Revere's house that's pictured as well as Bunker hill, the Boston Massacre, the state house were they read the Declaration of Independce. It was pretty cool seeing all the old sites. Ezra also got to experience his first bar experience as we went to the original Cheer's Bar in downtown Boston. We also enjoyed the oldest park in the nation, Boston common which is right next to Cheers

We took a day trip down to Cape Cod and caught a ferry over to Martha's Vineyard. That felt like it was a vacation from a vacation. We hung out at the beach mainly and just walked around. We made sure we were wearing collared shirts so we would fit in better.Here we are down by the harbor with all the yachts...ours never seem to come and pick us up...bummer

Veggies Anyone?

2010-09-12T14:46:00.000-07:00

I just have to say that I am pretty proud of myself for being able to grow vegetables from seed. We have a very small raised garden and I tried to packed a few too many things in there this year but they produced veggies so it worked out in the end. We planted corn, green beans cucumber and tomatoes. Cucumbers are coming in right now so if you are in the mood for one let us know!

A day at the beach

2010-08-22T22:26:00.000-07:00

We love the beach. If only it was a little closer and a little warmer then it would be perfect. Then we would probably go more often. Well maybe, maybe not. It's kind of big production when you bring your kid and then oh decide to bring your dog as well because hey he would have so much fun and we don't want to leave him out. Well we only did that once this year and it really wasn't that bad except for on the way there. Ezra was babbling/crying for most of the way there except the 30 minute nap he took and Moses was whining constantly and couldn't decide whether to have his head out the window or not. By the time we passed Hillsboro Joel and I were wondering if we're too far to turn around and leave them both at home. I said yes because hey you are practically at the beach already by the time you reach Hillsboro. It's so freaking far! But when we were actually at the beach everything went smoothly and we all enjoyed the beach. We went a couple of times this summer and lucked out on fairly decent weather. Ezra loved playing in the sand, eating the sand, throwing the sand, digging in the sand... etc. which then leads to finding sand in hidden in places on him a couple of days later. Well at least he's having fun. But he also loved playing in the water too and running away from the waves.

Lost Lake

2010-07-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

Wohoo! Our first family camping trip! Is how we felt the first day of our camping trip. Arrrgh! Our first family camping trip...is how we felt the next day. So we took a little camping trip up to Lost Lake, Ezra and dog in tow. It was a nice and peaceful day up there but a little chilly. Ezra and Moses loved being outdoor exploring the woods and Joel and I had fun just being somewhere else besides home. We hiked, Ezra biked and Joel caught like 8 trout that we ate for dinner when we got home. We all had fun during the day but the night was a literal nightmare. Ezra who normally sleeps 12 straight hours at night woke up at least 5 times screaming, crying, playing, jumping, you name it he was probably doing it. It was cold that night which didn't help at all and contributed to his awakenings. We tried having him sleep in the sleeping bag but he just thought it was playtime. And it didn't help that Moses who was suppose to be sleeping outside the tent manage to unzip the tent and snuggle in between us. I guess he was cold too. By 3 AM and literally no sleep I was ready to pack up the tent and take the 2 hr drive home. Instead Joel took Ezra for car ride for about 2 hours to get him to sleep instead...thanks hun. Anyways the next day we were just tired and decided not to try another night and headed back to home sweet home.

Can't stop moving...

2010-06-30T21:38:00.000-07:00

Well he's finally on the move!

And enjoying the beautiful day at Red Sunset Park

The Latest...

2010-06-20T22:12:00.000-07:00

EZRA...

is walking but still prefers to crawl I think mainly because his "big brother" moses is on all 4s and since they are buds they copy each other
is down to one nap a day now usually for 2-3 hours
is very opinionated is throwing tantrums already
is very active and works up a sweat doing everything
is using his bed as a trampoline
is 'talking' more

JOEL and EMILY...

are learning Spanish! and having fun using Rosetta Stone to achieve it
are busy keeping up with Ezra
are getting more involved with our church by joining a couple of lifegroups for the summer
are busy with work (flooring, network marketing and nursing)
are planning camping trips for the summer
are having fun planning our meals for the week ( I know that sounds weird but it's been helpful, especially on work days, not having to think 'what should I make for dinner?')

I'm 1!

2010-04-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Ezra! You have grown into a little boy that is curious about EVERYTHING, laughs and smiles all the time, eats like a garbage disposal, definitely knows what he does and does not want and yet still likes to snuggle in your arms. You have such a sweet disposition and we pray that you allow the Lord to mold you into a gentle warrior for his kingdom. We have enjoyed watching you grow and develop through each phase over the last 12 months and looking forward to the new phases yet to come.

We had a little birthday party yesterday with the family and Ezra had so much fun being the center of attention.

Checking out my new trike

My new car with lots of buttons to push and make noiseJoel and I had just as much fun as EzraEzra got to have both of his great-grandmas at the party. Joel's grandma flew in from Albuquerque for the occasion.The Grandpas...Elias also flew in for the occasion from Oklahoma The grandmas

Ezra did this all evening after the party; alternately between this and ringing the bell on his trike

Spaghetti is my favorite!

2010-04-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

Ezra eats spaghetti like I haven't fed him all day. It's so funny to watch him devour his food. And you can't see below but Moses loves it too because he does miss his mouth from time to time and Moses vacuums it up for me.
I have a picture of me like this about the same age I will have to find it and scan it next to this one.

Traveling anywhere?

2010-03-03T21:54:00.000-08:00

Go through our new website powered by travelocity
www.travelfhtm.com/emilyquintana
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Thanks for the future support!!

Just for Kicks

2010-03-02T13:27:00.000-08:00

We just love our little guy! He has been so much fun, he loves food like his daddy, has been sleeping through the night for 8 months now, and is always happy and very curious. It's crazy that he'll be 1 next month...time really does fly when you are having fun. Lately Ezra has been walking while holding onto something and the new thing is he has either rediscovered his tongue or just enjoys sticking it out all the time.

He has also gotten more chompers...that's 6 now

And we found out that mommy isn't the only one that dresses up her child. Dad has just as much fun.

Just having fun with mom on her day off

Quintana Look-alike Meter

2010-02-04T22:14:00.001-08:00

Ezra actually looks more like Jennifer's baby picture, but at least the Fitz genes are dominating right now

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

Eagle Crest

2010-02-02T21:19:00.000-08:00

We headed to central Oregon for a couple to hang out with Joel's parents at their timeshare and with his brother, wife and 2 girls. It was a fun little getaway. Ezra loved hanging out with his cousins and they wore him out which made him sleep great the whole trip. Yeah! Joel and I were going to head up to Bachelor but the conditions weren't that great so we did a little hike with Ezra near the Deschutes river and took him swimming for the first time. He had so much fun. We also enjoyed hanging out with family and playing games.

A ladies man already

Checking out the window with Lily

Hangin with Maddie
Yes we are in a kiddie pool

Ezra's 9 months!

2010-01-20T21:32:00.000-08:00

Ezra is now 18lbs 11.5oz up into the 25th percentile now...whohoo. At least he didn't drop percentiles like last time. He is such a good eater and takes whatever he is given....hopefully that lasts but I won't hold my breath. He has also grown 4 inches since his last doctor's appointment and is 28inches long(50th percentile). He also had to get one shot and it didn't even phase him which was a shocker. He was more annoyed that the nurse was holding him down. All the other times he's screamed bloody murder so this was a nice suprise. Ezra is crawling everywhere and pulling himself up and falling down every now and then. But he thoroughly enjoys getting places on his own now.

Sun Peaks, BC

2010-01-16T15:27:00.000-08:00

Joel and I took a little vacation for 4 days and left Ezra with our moms. We headed up to Sun Peaks Lodge in Canada for a ski trip. On our way up we stopped in Seattle to see Julie and Nick and to meet their new son Calvin Noah. He's so cute and little!

Joel and I stayed at a ski in/ski out resort and we a great time hanging out just the 2 of us. There a was a little village with shops, restaurants and lodges right on the mountain. We enjoyed 2 days of skiing and we also went on a sleigh ride to say we did something else besides skiing. Here are a few picks of our trip. I totally slacked off on the picture taking which was too bad because it was really pretty up there and our resort was so quaint.

It kind of looks like I'm in front of a backdrop

Happy Anniversary!

2009-12-28T14:20:00.000-08:00

What a fun day! Looking forward to more wonderful years together!

First Christmas

2009-12-27T16:17:00.000-08:00

Ezra enjoyed his first Christmas as much as an 8 month old does. It was a long day for him but he enjoyed being around his cousins and he opened one gift pretty much all on his own.

Ooh! My first Christmas present

Ezra kept crawling after the ball the rest of the night which was great because he's needs some more working mastering it; he's still really wobbly

Yeah Christmas is finally here!

Hanging out with cousin Selah

Learning to share toys with cousin Alexis

Whew! What a long day!

Joel and I also had a great Christmas as we remembered the birth of our Savior.

White Boy Can Jump

2009-12-20T20:26:00.000-08:00

Ezra loves his Jonny Jump-Up. He can entertain himself for a while and it gets rid of some of his energy. This kid is always on the move so I am surprised he hasn't started crawling yet. He has been rocking back and forth on his knees for 2 months now, so I guess it will be anytime and probably when my back is turn. Ezra is still enjoying eating real food and will eat anything we give him. I think that's all in Ezra's world.

Also you can kind of see our new floors in this picture.

Civil War

2009-12-08T20:16:00.000-08:00

This year's Civil war was exciting and super cold! Joel and I and our dads were able to go down to the game and watch it live. I was the only Beaver fan and luckily I had 3 men with me so no duck fans would pick on me. Sadly for me the Beaver's lost but at least it was a fun game to watch and exciting until the end.

My Creative Side

2009-11-24T17:14:00.000-08:00

So I haven't sewn in ages but I decided to try my hand at sewing a Christmas stocking for Ezra. My mom did the same for me and my siblings and I hope to do the same for my kids. This was my first attempt at sewing a stocking and it didn't turned out too bad. I made it nice and fat just in case Santa fills it up with lots of toys someday. This year probably just the necessities since Ezra won't know the difference.

I hope Ezra likes it!

Poor Arizona

2009-11-21T17:09:00.000-08:00

To much of my dismay and my dad's since I rooted for the wildcats, my poor football team lost to the Oregon Ducks in 2 OT :( Mom and I were rooting for the Arizona which didn't make dad very happy, but I guessed it worked out for the best for the Beavers and their chances to go to the Rose Bowl. This is me after the game...disappointed

Laurelhurst Park

2009-11-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

I love Oregon in the fall. And we have been taking advantage of nice days to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Ezra loves to be outdoors and like to look at everything so today we had a little family outing to Laurelhurst park that is close to our home. It has a ton of big trees that our changing colors, a pond and an off leash dog park for Moses which he loved and there were plenty of other dogs there to play with to get rid of some of his energy. Here are some pics of our day.

checking out the ducks in the pond

enjoying my stroller ride

the boys

mom and ezra

the pond

our attempt at a family picture

being silly

Home Improvement

2009-11-01T17:48:00.001-08:00

After living in the house for 2 1/2 years, cream colored walls have become very boring. And when Joel and I painted Ezra's room it looked kind of weird to have only one room in the whole house painted. So over the last couple of months we have been busy painting...

Ezra's room

the guest bathroom using a sponge technique

painted the hallways an olivewood color they used to be off white

painted the living room a tan color but gave it a stonewash effect that actually turned out to be really easy
before ... and after

Now that the painting is all done we are going to ripping up the carpet and putting laminate flooring in which won't scratch as easy as hardwood due to our dog being in the house. Joel also put a hole in our wall underneath our stairs to make more room for storage. You can never have enough storage in a house.

We cant' wait until this is all done...It's like the never ending project!

In Ezra's world he is now sitting up independently,

eating foods which he gets really excited about by kicking his legs and pounding on the table in his high chair and he is getting a few teeth in already. So far the teething process has not be that bad. He's occasionally fussy but nothing that a teething ring or a lil' dose of Tylenol can't help. Ezra is almost ready to crawl as well. We think it will be any day now. He'll get up on all fours and rock back and forth really fast. Once he figures it out he'll be a baby on the go.

showing off my new cool monkey hat...thanks grandma

kissing Moses my brother from another mother

met my great grandpa for the first time

Go Ducks!

2009-09-16T16:56:00.001-07:00

Go Ducks? I can't believe I just said that as a Beaver fan but I actually put on Duck attire to attend the Ducks vs Purdue game down at Autzen but I guess it's as the saying goes...When in Rome...or Eugene in this case. Joel and I went to the game with my dad and sister and had a great time tailgating and watching the game. Although when we go down there again for the civil war game I will definately be wearing my Beaver gear.

Summer Fun

2009-09-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

Joel got a fire pit for Father's Day and we finally used it last night. The weather was perfect, with a touch of fall, the crisp air was great to have as we sat by the fire. Also our neighborhood was so quiet and you could see the stars in the sky, it was almost like the camping trip we haven't taken this summer.

Date Night

2009-09-07T14:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks to our dear friend Kendra who babysat Ezra for us, Joel and I were able to have a night out. We try to do this a couple times a month but since I have gone back to work and Joel has had a busy work schedule we haven't been able to do this for over a month. So it was very nice to have time together outside our home. We went to Grand Central Restaurant and Bowling Lounge. Neither one of us had been there before and we had a great time. We would highly recommend it to anyone who likes to bowl. Plus it has a great classier atmosphere than most bowling alleys and great food with more choices than just pizza.

Ezra Update

2009-09-03T16:11:00.000-07:00

Life just keeps getting better with Ezra. He's developing such a personality and it's so fun to watch him explore new things. He is so curious right now which could get him into trouble later when he starts being more mobile. He's double his birth weight (13lbs 4 oz) and has grown 6 inches (24 3/4). We are so thankful for such a fun, happy and healthy baby.

oh i'm so excited

i like to pose for pictures

i can't wait 'til my eyebrows grow in

i love my weird toy and i like seeing how loud i can scream

cousin selah spent the night...i'm not too sure about her but she's fun to watch run around

mom always tries to take pictures of me and her

Seattle

2009-07-31T21:26:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we enjoyed a trip up to Seattle for a Mariner game. On the way up we were able to stop and see some college friends, Amy and Adam, in Enumclaw. We enjoyed catching up with them over some lunch at their house. Then we were off to Bellevue to see our friends Julie and Nick who graciously let us crash at their place for 2 nights with a 4 month year old baby. Since they are expecting their first child in January we thought they wouldn't mind and luckily for us Ezra was on his best behavior. He was pretty happy the whole trip...Yeah! We had a great time going to the Mariner game with them and hanging out down by the wharf. Ezra got to see his first professional baseball game and was able to sport his all star outfit for the event.

Jennifer's Big Day

2009-07-10T15:42:00.000-07:00

I didn't take many pictures but Jennifer looked absolutely beautiful on her special and we are excited to have Owen a part of the family!

Jennifer's Bachelorette Party!

2009-07-05T15:38:00.000-07:00

Last night of freedom for Jennifer. Her bridesmaids and I enjoyed spending the day with Jennifer before she got married. We painted pottery, ate dinner at PF Changs, and then enjoyed some martinis at Vault Martini Bar. We had a great night of laughs.

Cool Dudes

2009-07-01T15:35:00.000-07:00

I thought this was cute...

....Like father, like son

David's Home

2009-06-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

My brother came home from Germany for my sister's wedding and Ezra got to meet his Uncle David for the first time. They had some good bonding time together. David comes home twice a year so we enjoy our precious time with him.

Graduation

2009-06-15T18:14:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to my sister, Jennifer, for graduating from Oregon State University on Saturday with her Bachelor of Arts. I love you!

Bath Time

2009-06-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

Easy as 1, 2, 3

1. Scream bloody murder2. Soakin' in the suds ain't so bad
3. Oh, I do smell good now

Memorial Day Picnic

2009-05-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

I am loving maternity leave because I am always free now; especially on the holidays which I always seem to have to work. So this Memorial Day I was free and was able to catch up with some old Oxford girls at a Picnic. It was nice to be able to see them and catch up on their busy lives.

And we are all so grown up now with babies and husbands...time flies!

Beach Trip

2009-05-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

We went to Cannon Beach over my first mother's day weekend. As you can tell Ezra was estatic to see the ocean, he can barely contain his excitment.

Easter Surprise

2009-04-30T21:38:00.000-07:00

So our little Ezra decided he wanted to join our world 4 weeks early. My water broke, in the middle of night of course at 0330; thought it was some weird pregnancy thing that I was wetting the bed but then it just wouldn't stop. So then it was off to the hospital after an early wake-up call to my mom and the doctor. And after 18 hours, some pitocin, an epidural, a couple hours of pushing, and then finally a C-section, Ezra Elias arrived at 2104 weighing 6lbs 5oz and 18 3/4 inches long. Needless to say we are excited to have him here and even though he was premature, he was healthy and gaining weight appropriately and was able to come home when I left the hospital on Thursday.

Florida and the Carribean

2009-01-27T08:39:00.000-08:00

Joel and I spent 5 days in Orlando, Florida before we headed off on our Carribean cruise. We enjoyed sunny Florida while everyone else was freezing in Portland. We spent New Years Eve at Disney World which made for a long day. We started at 0600 getting up to catch the bus to Magic Kingdom. We wanted to get there before the lines were too long. We hit all our favorite rides and then we took the shuttle to Animal Kingdom. We both had never been there but enjoyed a couple of hours there going on a safari, a ride that got us totally soaked and then a roller coaster that we got to go on twice because the first time we were on it, it broke in the middle of the ride and we had to get off and walk down several flights of stairs inside the ride. Then we ended our day at Epcot Center and celebrated New Years there. We was a fun but long day. We also went to Universal Studios and an Orlando Magic game and paid way too much money for tickets to a sold out Magic/Heat game. But hey you are on vacaction so what does it matter. Saturday we headed to Port Canavaral to catch the Carnival Glory ship for our week long cruise. This was from our balacony, the only way to go on a cruise. The first day of course was a day sailing at Sea as we headed to Naussau, Bahamas. We were only in port for 5 hours so we spent the day on the beach and we rented waverunners and enjoyed the clear blue sea. The next 2 days went at sea but we relaxed on the decks, checked out the waterslide, ate way too much, made some friends and went to some shows. Our next stop was St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. We did a shore excursion here and we took a sailboat ride to an island to do some snorkeling. We had fun and saw fish and other sea creatures and a sunken ship. This is on a catamaran.Afterwards we headed into town and did some shopping. Then next day we came into port at St. Maarten. I think this was our favorite stop. The weather was great and just relaxed the whole day spending time down at the beach and shopping in town. That was our last stop as we headed back towards Florida and then to the airport to go back home to Portland. Also every night in the formal dining area you are assigned to sit at the same table. We were fortunate enough to have a good group of people at our table that were relatively close to our age.

Also our servers were awesome and we enjoyed getting to know them as well.

And this was probably the last time us Oregonians were going to see the sun until late June. We had a fun trip and can't wait for our next adventure

Christmas Cookies

2008-12-16T11:25:00.000-08:00

Each year I make Christmas cookies. It's been a tradition for as long as I can remember. This year my good friend Missy came over and we spent a couple of hours making cookies and trying some new recipes. Not all the recipes went as planned but we had fun and in the end all the cookies turned out delicious.

So these are the pre-oven cookies...

So these are post oven... not exactly as I had pictured them turning out.

But with a little creative frosting techniques the cookies turned out ok.

2008-11-04T14:26:00.001-08:00

I thought it was about time to update my blog since there are few changes going on in my life. I am engaged and will be getting married December 28 :) A very exciting but busy time right now. Joel and I are very excited to start this next phase of our life.

2008-10-12T14:32:00.000-07:00

I wanted to echo Zoe's post about the Oregon State football game and say it was fun seeing old Beaver Alumni. Even though technically I am not an alumni I did invest 2 years at the university and it was fun going back to the campus and tailgating with old friends. And Oregon State won so it was a great day to be a beaver
And thanks Zoe for the football pictures.

Becky's Wedding

2008-08-17T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here's a few pics from her wedding. It was very beautiful and very hot. And it was fun to see old friends from Oregon State that were there.

Chloe Elizabeth

2008-08-06T13:43:00.001-07:00

On July 21, Elizabeth gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Chloe. Congratulations to the Weigl Family!

Our New House

2008-07-21T15:26:00.000-07:00

Ok so maybe it's also known as the Pittock Mansion...wishful thinking. It would be nice and the view is awesome.

Angel's Rest Trailhead

2008-07-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

I just have to say that where we live is amazingly beautiful! Joel, Moses and I went for a hike in the gorge and I never get tired of looking at God's amazing creation. Here are a few pictures from our adventure.

Road Trip

2008-07-04T14:52:00.000-07:00

ABQ-PDX road trip was fun even after 1 speeding ticket, a dysfunctional car that resulted in being stuck in the desert, twice I might add, a tow truck, mechanic shop, and just plain not starting. But we made back to Portland before I had to work without too many more problems. The trip started on July 4th when I flew down to Albuquerque, New Mexico to meet up with Joel, his dad and his extended family. Talk about jumping in feet first but I had a fun time with his family, watching fireworks, and seeing New Mexico for the first time, going to a baseball game, and taking a tram up a mountain. We spent 2 days there and then we were off to our next destination of Arizona. We stopped in Tucson to have lunch with my friend Michaela and old roommate at a great Mexican restaurant where they make fresh salsa at your table the way you like it which is great for people who are spicy food challenged like me. And then we walked around U of A campus since I haven't been back there since I left. And July is not the best time to be walking around Tucson by the way.... so stinkin' hot. I could have made a pool from the sweat dripping from me and swam in it. Then afterwards we stopped at my old work, Xoom Juice, for literally the best smoothies and healthy too and then we headed up to Phoenix to see my friends Jessica and Sean and stay with them in their new house. It is always fun to catch up with old friends and talk about the good ol' college days as well as make new memories. Then we headed to San Diego and enjoyed playing at the beach. Although the water was frigid. Joel braved the icy conditions but I chickened out; but it was nice to relax at the beach after many hours of driving. But it didn't last long because we were off to the San Francisco area to meet up with Johnny and Jamie. We enjoyed having dinner with them and were thankful for their hospitality as we crashed in their living room for the night. Then we were off the next morning for Portland. I only took one picture from this whole trip...lame I know but it was at the top of "mountain" in New Mexico.

Sarah's Wedding

2008-05-25T14:27:00.001-07:00

One down, 9 to go... at least that's what my grandma said . My cousin Sarah got married on Saturday and the ceremony turned out great. The wedding took place outdoors in Oregon City and the weather cooperated and it was actually quite warm for a Memorial weekend in Oregon. Here are a few pics from her special day...

Graham, Sarah, Haley, and Nick

Jennifer and I ( aka Grandma's favorites)

Cousins Mandi and Heather (Grandma's 2nd favorite)

Nick getting the party started on the dance floor

My Parents

And look who caught the bouquet! First time ever.

And then Jennifer trying to steal it.

Jennifer and Grandma

My Dad and I

Sauvie Island

2008-05-15T17:52:00.000-07:00

Even though I grew up in Portland, I think today was my first trip to Sauvie Island. I wanted to take advantage of the nice weather and be outdoors near some water in case I needed to cool down. So Moses and I headed over to the island so I could enjoy the sun and he could enjoy the water. I have to say that is was a very picturesque drive over. The sky was so clear that I enjoyed the view of Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Ranier and Mt. Hood the whole ride over along with fields of flowers. Moses had fun running in the water and trying to swim and then loved running up to me as I was laying on the beach and shake all the water off him right next to me. I enjoyed watching kite boarders, reading and basking in the sun to work on my tan. Usually I tan but my fair Oregon skin is not quite use to the sun yet and may have gotten a little bit toasty. I did the best I could to cover myself with sunscreen and I thought I did a good job until I got home today and notice some bright lobster red areas that I just couldn't reach. But hey at least my sunscreen worked in the other places and thank goodness for Aloe Vera with lidocaine. My roasted skin is all cool and numbed up now.

I've Been Tagged!

2008-04-26T17:15:00.000-07:00

4 Things...
4 jobs I've had: 1. RN 2. Barista 3. Grad School assistant to someone ( I am not sure what the title was) 4. Shoe sales person, most boring job ever!
4 movies I've watched more than once: 1. Sound of Music 2. White Christmas 3. Rainbow Brite ( when I was a kid) 4. Wedding Singer
4 places I've lived: 1. Portland, OR 2. Gresham, OR 3. Corvallis, OR 4. Tucson, AZ
4 TV Shows I watch: 1. The Hills 2. The Office 3. Ugly Betty 4. Grey's Anatomy
4 places I've been: In the last month...1. New York City 2. Barcelona, Spain 3. Salzburg, Austria 4. Munich, Germany
4 people who email me regularly (doesn’t include blogging comments): I don't really email that much but I guess the most recent people: 1. Elizabeth 2. David 3. Jessica A. 4 Me ( I had to email myself a bunch a stuff from another computer.
4 of my favorite foods: 1. Mexican 2. Pizza 3. Fish 4. Fruit
4 places I would like to visit: 1. South America 2. Australia 3. Anywhere there is sun and a beach 4. Madagascar
4 things I'm looking forward to in the coming year: 1. Shelley and I want to go to a Yankee's game 2. Summer 3. More trips 4. and the things unknown
4 friends I'm tagging: 1. Anna 2. Becca 3. Stacy 4. Holly

The Big Apple

2008-04-19T21:29:00.000-07:00

Another week and another trip for me...or so it seems lately. Although I think that this will be the last trip...at least for a while. I was able to go to NYC last week with Becca and we had a blast. I had been there a few times in the past but I have never been able to spend an extended period of time there. We went all over the city going to the typical tourist sites for Becca to see and then enjoyed a couple of Broadway shows: Grease and Phantom of the Opera, went to a comedy club and enjoyed sunny days in Central Park and tried to get on the Today Show. Here are some pictures from our adventure.

Times Square

Brooklyn Bridge

Central Park

The Great Lawn at Central Park

A cartwheel..oh why not?

NYC skyline from Staten Island Ferry

And what's New York City without the naked cowboy??

Germany

2008-03-25T19:14:00.000-07:00

Back in Deustchland except now we are in Nuremberg which is close to where David lives. Mom, Jennifer and I spent some shopping, looking at the sites which included a castle, a couple of churches and then took the tram out to The Documentation center. You walked through this building which on the old Nazi Party Rally Grounds and listen/read/watch videos about the Nazi party before, during, and after the war. Since Nuremberg was considered the most German city of all of Germany, and it centrally located, it was the desingated meeting place for Nazis all over the country come together at these rallies. It was definately our history lesson for the day. Then we also headed soutwest to Rothenburg, the biggest walled city. It was this cute little town, with cobblestone roads and Bavarian arcithecture. Although there were cars in the city, only through one entry place, you would think that this place was frozen in time and people should still be getting around by horse and carriage. And here we are at the torture chambers. After Rothenburg we headed back to Munich to get ready for the long flight home to America.

Austria

2008-03-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Well the hills were alive...it snowed! Which we were told was unusual for this time of year. Salzburg was a very beautiful city. And yes, I was one of those people and I totally did the Sound of Music tour. Not only did we see the sites from the movie, sing along with the songs on the bus, and learn fun interesting facts about the movie, we were also able to see more of Austria than just Salzburg by going up into the mountains and to the lakes and a couple of different villages along the way. We also went into the salt mines which was fun. And we got put on these really cool jump suits before we headed to work in the mines. Besides seeing the sites of the city, we happened to be in Salzburg over Easter and Sunday morning we got up early and walked to the nearest Church and enjoyed a very Austrian Easter mass. The church we went to was beautiful and the choir sang with the organs which sounded amazing and then of course listened to the priest speak in German.

Munich

2008-03-21T18:47:00.000-07:00

David and I met up with mom and Jennifer in Munich after our Barcelona trip and stayed there one night before driving to Salzburg, Austria to see if the hills really are alive with the Sound of Music. But what is Munich without going to the Hofbrauhaus? We enjoyed German culture, people, food and of course beer our first night in Germany. And this time when I was there the place was smoke free! I could actually breathe and enjoy my weiner schnitzel and spatzle. We also enjoyed the city the next day before we drove on the autobahn to Austria where speeding is not an option but a requirement.

España

2008-03-20T14:43:00.000-07:00

Spain...I think my new favorite place to visit. I just love the culture, colors, food, language, people, etc. here and I wish I had more time to explore the rest of the country. I spent 5 days here, most of it just to relax but I did succomb to some tourist sites...but worth it. I stayed in Barcelona and enjoyed an authenic flamenco show, walked la Rambla which is in downtown Barcelona and is one of the main strips in the city which leads to the Mediterrean sea, and of course enjoyed paellas and sangrias, spent some time at Park Guell listening to solo musicians playing in the park, went to visit the olympic site, walked around Parc de la Cituadella people watching, and also enjoyed relaxing in the sun along the sea, and of course ate magnum icecream bars every chance I got...ahh the reason I come to Europe. I just love the pace over here, so relaxing, where time isn´t an issue and where I can enjoy sipping on some cafe con leche at every cafe along the way...ahh the life... so carefree and simple....until next time...adios España! Next stop...Germany...Guten Tag!

St. Patrick´s Day

2008-03-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

For all you fellow Irishmen...Happy St. Patrick´s Day! As it has become tradition for me, starting back in college, the search for green beer on St. Patrick´s day has continued even while I am in Barcelona. And yet while I am here, green beer has been found! Although, here in Spain, they don´t designate one day to celebrate St. Patrick, but they give a whole weekend to him... hmmm I wonder why? :) David and I ventured into downtown Barcelona and found a good ol´ Irish bar where English is primarily spoken (and we didn´t have to try and get by with our broken Spanish), and enjoyed some green beer with fellow Irishmen and Americans. Happy St. Paddy´s day and the luck of the Irish to you all!

Baby Weigl

2008-03-10T16:09:00.000-07:00

My best friend Elizabeth is having a girl and I am so excited for her and her husband Nate. These are their sonograms pics. It's so amazing that technology allows you to see such early stages of life. And even more amazing is that God knew, since the beginning of time, the exact time when this child was coming and he can tell you the number of hairs on her head....amazing.

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wondeful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. " Psalm 139:13-16

I am so excited for you Nate and Elizabeth and I am excitedly anticpating her arrival. And yes you can name her after me :)

O-house..What! What!

2008-03-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

Here's some pictures of Oxford House Reunion. I lived here at Oregon State my freshmen and sophomore years. It was fun catching up with the girls and laughing at old pictures and re-telling stories of the good ol' days when life was simple yet crazy.

Only in P-town...

2008-03-01T19:28:00.000-08:00

Do you notice anything out of the ordinary in this picture??

Here's a closer look...

I guess only in Portland can a bed of flowers actually be used as a bed.

Park City

2008-02-28T21:01:00.000-08:00

I just got back from skiing in Park City, Utah...so fun. It was sunny and warm and the snow was amazing. Tanya's parents were kind enough to let us stay at their bed and breakfast which was only about 15 minutes away from the slopes. The best part about the whole trip was the hike we took, with our ski equipment to the top of the mountain- elevation: 9990 ft, so we could ski in the back country. And here is the warning they give us as we are exiting the ski boundary of the resort....I am so hardcore.

Here's some pics of us hiking up the mountain. So tiring but totally worth it and the view was amazing.

And here's what my next adventure will be!

Go Fly A Kite!

2008-02-18T19:27:00.000-08:00

So sometimes you just have to take advantage of sunny, February days in Portland and head downtown to go fly a kite on the waterfromt. For only $1, you can have the experience of a lifetime and ultimately become a master of kite flying....and you can also re-live your childhood experience which is what we did with our Mickey Mouse Clubhouse kites. Unfortunately we never mastered kite flying but we did have fun enjoying the sun and the waterfront.

Rip City

2008-02-06T22:44:00.000-08:00

Becca and I enjoyed going to the Blazer game against the Bulls and finally have a roommate night. We enjoyed seats that were up only a few rows back compliments of her boss.
Here is us at the beginning of the game....

And here's us getting crazy towards the end...

We both got a good laugh out the hideous picture. I look like I have taken some drugs and Becca looks disgusted by something.

Michigan

2008-02-05T16:27:00.001-08:00

So here are a few pictures of my trip to Michigan.

This is a picture of frozen Lake Michigan. I had no idea that such a large body of water would be frozen. We walked out onto the lake past 2 frozen waves but then I a was too chicken to go out any farther. I really didn't feel like falling through the ice into the frigid water.

And here is our awesome snowman. He's huge, I know.

Moses

2008-01-20T11:39:00.000-08:00

This could be the reason why Moses is the way he is. This was within the first hour of bringing him home... poor little puppy.

Winter Wonderland

2008-01-14T16:46:00.000-08:00

Well this is what I have been up to the last couple of months. I bought a ski pass and I feel obligated to go often but luckily I have friends to go up with me. Shelley and I went up recently to Timberline and had fun falling and trying to stick jumps on our
snowboards. It's a nice way to relax on our days off and be able to be up in the snow and get to catch amazing views of the Cascade Range. And it always seems so peaceful up on the mountain because I usually go during the middle of the week when there are not as many people up there so I get to have the slopes to myself and no waiting in lines. It doesn't get much better than that. I have also been spliting time between skiing and snowboarding. I have skied since I was a kid and have a need for speed and jumps. Over the last 5 years I have really gotten into snowboarding and enjoyed having a new challenge to try and accomplish. I have found out that I still have a need for speed and jumps while snowboarding but now I actually end up falling unlike skiing I usually stick 'em. Even after many bumps and bruises, I still continue with my speed and jumps. I gotta learn somehow...right?

Welcome to The Light!

2008-01-09T20:44:00.000-08:00

After 2 1/2 years of the dreaded night shift, I am moving to day shift in the ICU....hallelujah! Maybe now I can have a normal life and not be so tired all the time.

2007 Civil War: The Final Plays

2007-12-03T16:59:00.001-08:00

Need I say more? Go Beavers!!

Reunited And It Feels So Good!

2007-11-25T22:07:00.000-08:00

Becca and I drove up for Katie's wedding... well more like she drove and I slept. And we had a great time seeing old Oregon State friends and catching up with our old Oxford friends.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

2007-11-12T14:10:00.000-08:00

I work long hours at the hospital. After a 12 hour shift, it's nice to have a comfortable place to sleep. But here I am for some reason sleeping on the couch and when I wake up and go upstairs to my room, I find my dog sleeping on my bed. Not sure how he got the comfortable place to sleep but there is something definately wrong with this. I can't believed I got booted from my own bed and by a dog!

Baltimore

2007-11-05T20:50:00.000-08:00

I just got back from visiting my dear friend Elizabeth who use to be my college roommate down at U of A. We had fun just hanging out in downtown Baltimore and we also went to Havre de Grace which is on the Cheasapeake Bay and around Fell's Point that is a quaint little town that is near the harbor and still has cobblestone roads. We also enjoyed the hustle and bustle of New York City and were able to catch a broadway show. Her
husband Nate also accompanied us and it was also fun to spend sometime with him as well. I really didn't take any pictures this time but here are a few.

Trick or Treat!

2007-10-30T21:08:00.000-07:00

Almost every Halloween I partake in the traditon of pumpkin carving. I usually carve the face on the pumpkin because I really can't do anything else that would turn out remotely close to what it is suppose to look like. My pumpkins usually look like this....
But that is what Becca actually carved. Smart move on her part to keep it original.

This year I attempted to be creavtive. And this is what turned out....
Even Moses looks disgusted by it.

And I thought well maybe it would look better in the dark.... or maybe not. It kind looks like a flying Christmas tree. I thought I would just blend the 2 holidays together since all the Christmas stuff comes out after the 4th of July anyways.

And if you haven't guessed by now what I carved, it's suppose to be a witch on a broom.

Yeah Portland!

2007-10-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

So I like to do photography on my spare days and here are some snapshots of our beautiful city.

This was in NW Portland and it was so fun walking around the old neighborhoods with all the colors and the leaves on the ground and the smell of fall in the air. Reminded me of simpler times when life wasn't so busy.

Carmel Apples

2007-10-19T12:20:00.000-07:00

I think fall is one of my favorite times of the year because
the leaves are changing and it's not too cold yet, baseball is still going on and football has started and it also means that the holidays are coming up. And for some reason there are more delicious treats to eat with the holidays coming up like carmel apples. Which is another reason I love the fall. My mom made this and I think it's the biggest carmel apple I have ever seen in my life! Here's a little comparison of a 'normal' size apple and the mutant apple. And here I am trying to eat it!

2007-10-17T22:16:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh!! So scary!

A Ballad for Becca

2007-09-24T21:21:00.000-07:00

Becca my dear you are so cool,

We go all the way back to elementary school

Your ode to me was so nice,

Now I am going to let people know about your spice.

You are a good roommate, that is true,

Always picking me up when I feel blue.

When you are on the road, other drivers watch out,

Road rage she has and she starts to shout.

Funny you are, but hilarious i am,

Cracking each other up, we are such hams.

Shopping you love, gallivanting around the pearl,

I think its so funny that you pass out when you hurl

You love kids and are a nanny by day,

But you stand your ground so the kiddos don't always get their way.

Your DVD collection is quite large,

You could rent them out for only a small charge.

You love to travel and been many places,

Well rounded and cultured you've seen many faces.

A cook you are not, unless it's keilbasa

I am glad you decided to live in mi casa.

If you weren't my roommate what would i do

probably work more at the hospital scooping up pooh.

I am oh so thankful to have you around,

so tonight let's party it up with some good ol' crown.

To Cook or Not To Cook....That Is The Question

2007-09-21T18:29:00.000-07:00

I like to cook...well only some days, like when I have time and I have all the ingredients that the recipes calls for. Well today was one of those days that I wanted to cook. The only problem is that sometimes I can be kind of klutzy in the kitchen, like grating my skin off when I am actually try to grate cheese, or burning myself, or spilling something all over the counter. Cooking started off great until at lunch I sliced my thumb while trying to cut an apple with an apple cutter. Aren't those things suppose to let you cut an apple safely?
Then I was trying to make enchiladas for dinner and as I was boiling the chicken, the boiling water splashed in my face. I am pretty sure that I will have a blister on my face tomorrow. But the fun doesn't stop there... oh no, there's more. I swear that all moms and chefs have no feeling in their fingers anymore from all the days and years of cooking because after the chicken was done I needed to shred it for the enchiladas and burnt every fingertip I had trying to shred that dumb bird. Seriously, how do you all do it? And I was down one phalange due to the stupid apple cutter incident earlier in the day.

My 8 Facts

2007-09-04T00:49:00.000-07:00

#1 I am not an ambiturner when it comes to parking my car. I just can't turn left. I now know how Derek Zoolander felt when he couldn't turn left but then he was finally able to and pulled off magnum. Hopefully my magnum will come someday and I will be able to turn left into a parking spot. It would open up so many parking possibilites.

#2 I am not a big fan of cake. I will eat it if I have to because I don't think it tastes bad, but I would rather indulge in some other kind of sweet. And I don't see what all the hype is about when they finally cut into the cake at weddings and parties. Basically it's just moist bread with some thick sugary coating on top of it. At my parties I have always opted for icecream cake. Now that's the way to go.

#3 I am a sports fan. I think I am one of the few girls that can actually sit down and watch a whole sporting event on TV and not be totally bored. Weird I know. And I think it would be cool to go see the Olympics, World Series, or Superbowl someday. Even the World Cup would be cool and I am not that big of fan of soccer but I hear the World Cup is crazy.

#4 I usually sleep on the right side of the bed. I don't know why because I try to even it out but I always wake up on the right side.

#5 I can't handle bodily fluids. Why am I a nurse you ask? You got me. I think my stomach gets weaker and weaker with each encounter of bodily fluids. I use to feel bad running out of patients room when they were puking (after I handed them a bucket, I am not that bad), or when their ostomy exploded, you know things like that; but now I realize that I am just doing them a favor in case I puke on them. Plus I running to get them medicine to make them feel better faster.

#6 I love to travel...although not by myself unless I am going to meet up with someone somewhere. I don't get the people who enjoy traveling by themselves. There is no one to share any great moments with and plus all the pictures are of yourself and how many pictures of yourself do you really need?

#7 I have been bitten by an ostrich before...and it was at a petting zoo of all places!

#8 I love the beach! I would be perfectly happy with my life if my sole purpose was to enjoy God's beauty by going down to the beach everyday and have a great day swimming, surfing, playing beach volleyball, watching sunsets, and basically just looking out into the vast ocean.

Ok now Pam, Jim, Dwight, Angela, Michael, Phyllis, Kevin, and Oscar it's your turn!
...and that's what she said

Aloha!

2007-08-30T18:34:00.000-07:00

Well, I just had the toughest week of my life. Going to the beach everyday, watching Hawaiian sunsets every night, pretending I am an amazing surfer can be really rough on a person. It's a good that I am back now working hard and making every dollar count! But in all seriousness, Hawai'i was really fun and refreshing, minus the sunburn I got the first day from surfing the whole day. I was able to enjoy the whole island of Oahu by surfing, snorkeling, hiking, swimming under waterfalls, luaus, shopping, visiting Dole Plantation, Pearl Harbor and eating lots of pineapple, coconuts and sipping on Mai Tais. My family and I also were able to support my sister and her volleyball team as they played in a tournament at the University of Hawaii. Aloha and Hang Loose!

Providence Bridge Pedal

2007-08-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

On Sunday my mom, dad and I participated in the Bridge Pedal. It was a lot of fun being able to ride across the bridges and freeways of Portland and enjoy the beautiful view of the city. Our ride started down by the waterfront and continued to wind its way through Portland over 8 bridges: Hawthorne, Ross Island, Marquam, Burnside, Broadway, Fremont, St. Johns, and Steel and plus we rode down to Portland, from my area, so our ride consisted of about 32 miles! Yeah for us. Afterwards we got to enjoy our free admission into the Bite of Oregon and chow down after our long ride and listen to some music by the water. It was definitely a fun day and I can't wait for next year when we bike 10 bridges! (This picture is on the top deck of the Fremont Bridge. They closed it down to traffic so we got to enjoy the view and listen to some live music and taste free food and drink samples).

Puddles Are Deceiving!

2007-08-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

I just spent the last couple of days camping at Fort Stevens with Jennifer and Dad. As a kid, we use to go here all the time because it was right on the beach and there were tons of biking trails and they had old forts from WWII that made great places for hide and seek. During this camping trip we did a lot of biking. On our last day we took the bike trails and rode from our campground and went north to the south jetty where the Pacific Ocean meets the Columbia River then on the way back we decided to ride our bikes on the beach since the tide was low. I have never done this before and it was really fun riding right next to the water. Well as we were riding we kept going through little puddles along the shore that were left over from when the tide was hide and chasing after the many seagulls that thought they had a found a nice quiet place to relax on the beach. As we were getting closer to the end of our beach ride, I noticed that we were riding kind of a sand barge because the ocean was to the side of us and there were quite a few puddles to the other side. So I decided to blaze a trail right on through these puddles as I had done before. I started to go through the puddle and then the next thing I know my front tire is submerged into the water and takes me and the rest of the bike into the puddle. I fell pretty much head first into the water with my bike. Now this puddle is only 4ft x 4ft and as I stood up, I came to find out that this puddle was waist deep! I was completely soaked after my surprise swim and had to ride the rest of the way back to the campground in my soggy tennis shoes and jeans.

So 13 again...

2007-07-31T01:07:00.000-07:00

So last Friday I was hanging out with my friend when he received a call from his friend that has forever changed my life from that day forward. His friend had tickets to a concert the next day and he didn't want to go and my friend didn't want to either so he asked me if I would like them. I was like sure...free tickets I don't even care what concert is. And long behold it was the AMERICAN IDOL Tour!! Wahoo! I called my friend Becca and asked if she wanted to go with me and not to my surprise she was just as estactic as I was...ok maybe she was a little bit more because her not so secret crush Blake Lewis would be there beat-boxing on stage. Now I too was a fan of Blake Lewis but just not to the same extent as Becca and I never knew I was such a big fan of Chris Richardson either until they had appeared on the stage and was spitting distance from me that I transformed into this 13 year-old junior high girl....you know the kind that has posters all over her room of boys that she thinks are "so hot!" I was screaming and yelling and taking way too many pictures of "my boys" that I would be embarrass to admit. And sadly, I was even cheering on for Sanjaya. Anyways, the night was fabulous as Becca and I belted out every word to all the songs. Although I did refrain myself from singing along with Lakisha Jones as she performed Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," which was amazing...that girl can sing!! All in all it was fun reliving my junior high days and I guess I will always remain a teeny-bopper but at least I have fellow teeny-bopper Becca to enjoy these special moments with.

Oh Sh**

2007-07-19T13:27:00.001-07:00

So the other day I was reflecting on my career as a nurse and thinking that I get paid to do the weirdest things sometimes. Like this one night at work, I had a patient that love to get attention in anyway that he could. This man happened to be in his 50's but acted like he was 5. Well as I walking down the hallway, I heard this man screaming and banging his arm against the side rail. So I walked in to see if he needed help and as I stepped into his room I was overpowered by the smell of poo. And I thought "well that's really gross," but yet continued to venture on into his room. Thinking that he crapped his pants and that's why he was screaming at the top of his lungs, since that is what we all do when it happens to us...ummm yeah right. So I am checking his bed and I don't find any "buried treasures" which I find really weird because the stench of poo is almost making me passed out, it was that bad. I decided to walk over to the other side of the bed for some reason...oh maybe I thought the air was better on that side or something...anyways to my surprise I find this nice little dark brown thing on floor that actually resembled a slice of a brownie minus the little powder sugared specks on it. And I was thinking to myself, well I am pretty sure that brownies weren't served for dessert tonight. So I cautiously approached "the brownie" afraid that it was going to jump out at me since that happens all the time. As I got closer to this chocolate delicacy, I realized this isn't a brownie!! This is his poo and what the heck is it doing on the floor!!! I started freaking out and tried to control my gag reflex at the same time while I looked back at the man. He, of course, started laughing like he had just played the dirtiest trick in the book on me. Well, it was pretty dirty since it did involve poop, I'll give him credit for that. After I was done freaking out and lecturing him how a grown shouldn't be playing with his poo in the first place, I noticed that this man had partaken in this "chocolate delicacy" before I had walked into his room. Poo was stuck between his teeth and under his fingernails! And I thought just touching poo and throwing it on the floor was bad enough. I just couldn't take it anymore! I called a CODE BROWN and waited for back up as I stepped out into the hall for a breath of fresh air.

Cyclist Wannabe

2007-07-03T14:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my dad, David and I ventured out onto the streets of Portland with our alternative means of transportation...our bikes...for a leisurely bike ride. My brother and dad rode to my house, in SE Portland, and from there we headed toward the Willamette River. It was such a beautiful day out, about 80 degrees with a light breeze. We snaked our way towards downtown Portland through old neighborhoods with cute little bungalows and huge maple trees that made an umbrella over the road. We made it down to the east side of the waterfront and enjoyed the Portland skyline for a moment (as seen in this picture) before we carried on and crossed the Hawthorne Bridge to the west side of the city and made a loop back over the Burnside Bridge and carried on back to my neck of the woods. By this time, we were getting tired and hot and the way back home was pretty much all uphill so we ended up getting off the bike route and blazed our own trail back to my house the quickest way possible. Now my brother and dad are more bike savvy than I when it comes to the rules of the road. I just figure that people should be watching out for us cyclists, and yes I included myself in that group. Well we were finally in the last lag of our leisurely bike ride and were cruising down a hill toward Burnside. I was just happy that I didn't have to peddle uphill anymore and I could enjoy my ride down this hill with the wind blowing in my face and cooling me down. Well I came barreling down this hill right into the mainstream of traffic on Burnside as a bus came racing up the road. I heard my dad scream "EMILY!!!" as I turned onto Burnside and watched the bus swerve out my way. As I was thinking "that was close, I could of died," the bus stopped in the middle of traffic and gave me a look that could of killed me since he wasn't able to do it with madman driving skills. The bus driver seriously gave me the death look for like a minute. I felt like he was slowly killing me with his glare, or maybe at least my ego. As the bus driver sped off, I sheepishly got back on my bike and rode back to my house in silence thinking that maybe I shouldn't be a part of this cycling thing after all.

2007-06-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well I decided to start a blog since a lot of my friends don't live near me anymore :( so sad! But I thought this would be a great way to keep in touch and to keep them updated about what's going on in my life as well as be able to see what's going on in their lives.