Our 1 year anniversary!

I cant believe its already been a year!!! WOW!!! And its been so GREAT! Everyone says the 1st year is the hardest, if this was hard... I cant wait to see what lies in our future. I cant wait to spend the rest of my life w/ the most wonderful man!

So.. for our anniversary we're going to Jamaica in November, we postponed the trip cause of work reasons. We cannot wait!! We're also going to Vegas in Sept for our friends 30th birthday, but will celebrate 1 night for our anniversay too :D

Anniversary celebration here:

Sat night we just went to laid back dinner at Fadi's, BEST food ever!

Then Monday on our actual anniversary, I took Chadd to see "Tropic Thunder", which he's been dying to see. We went to Studio Grill and had dinner while we watched the movie. It was a really fun night. BUT.. the best part is before we left Chadd gave me my anniversary present!!!!

I got a dozen red roses and the sweetest card with a letter he wrote to me. Inside the card was also a pic of a little pup... YEAH!!! I finally get a baby yorkie pup!!!

So, I introduce to you a new part of our family..... PIPER!!!!

She is the cutest little baby I have ever seen before.. and we just knew when we saw her she would be the one!! She is 12 wks and only weighs 1.3 lb. She will get around 4- 4.5 lbs. We picked her out last night.. I took her to the vet this morning to get her checked out and she is perfect!! I cannot wait to spend my life w/ this little angel baby! We are SO in love w/ her already! Kitty isnt so sure what to think just yet, but she was sniffing at her and I'm just hoping they'll be best friends! Here she is!

I have the best husband in the world!!! :D :D :D

30th Birthday Bash!

I must say I have the most fabulous husband and bestest friends EVER! And yes, I'm bragging.. Chadd, Steff, & Ashley put together the most "RAD" surprise birthday party!!!

We started out going to dinner.. I knew we were going to dinner, but I had no idea I would show up to find about 50 of my closest friends celebrating with me! We went to BJ's and it was SO much fun and the pizza there is to die for!! I was really overwhelmed at the amt of friends I had to share the big 3-0 with! I cannot thank you guys enough for being there w/ me for my bday dinner! People started leaving, saying their goodbyes only to find later that they were leaving to head to my 2nd surprise!

Awwww, check out my birthday cake Chadd got for me!!!

Steffanie and I at dinner!!

We went home first, not sure if Chadd was trying to throw me off or if he was waiting to make sure everyone else got to the 2nd location. I ride w/ Ashley over to the 2nd location, blind folded of course. They lead me into the location.. I take off my blindfold and I am straight out of the 80's.. think flashdance, Magnum PI, and the 80's rodeo. Chadd rented a skating rink for my party and everyone dressed totally 80's!! It was a freakin' blast and most came out w/ war wombs!! ha haa..... Skating + alcohol = bruised knees and LOTS of fun!!

The whole group!!

Chadd and I in our 80's jogging suits (Thanks Nicole!!)

"Rusty"

Send me your pics!! I wanna create a photo book w/ all the pictures from the night!! Thanks again to my wonderful husband and all my friends!! Love you all very much!! I will NEVER EVER forget this birthday!!

Magnet Invitations!

Check it out!! http://www.magnetinvites.blogspot.com/

I have been making magnet invitations for all the showers I've hosted in the past year or so.. I have a really good time making them and I get so many compliments on them... they are really really cute!! So, I decided to start making and selling them! It really is a great idea for an invitation cause that way when people get them, they can put them straight on the fridge and will see it everyday... your date definately wont be missed :o) Anyway, check it out and feel free to forward the blog on to anyone you know.

Here are a few of my favs!

Playin' Around...

As I was uploading all the Hawaii pics on cd's last night, I started palying around w/ a photo program I have.. And yes, the cd's will be going out soon for those who have been patiently waiting on them for over a month now :o) I took these pics w/ a regular digital camera.. I cant wait to get my 30D :o) :o)

34 DAYS!

Ok so I'm a huge nerd when it comes to my birthday!! I get really excited and I swear I count down the days every year.. About 2 months out (ok 6 months) I start telling Chadd what I want, where I want to go for dinner, what I want, what I want.. trust me, he prob already knows what I want for next birthday! I've already given him my anniversary and Christmas list (course they change daily)... I'll share those lists in a later blog, I know you're curious! HA!

BUT, this year is a special birthday.. I'm turning the big 3-0! I'm not sure whether to be excited or to ask for a gun so I can shoot myself, only kidding! I'm really excited 'cause I have made it very clear to Chadd that I want a 3-0 blow out.. I'm talking a freakin parade coming down the street w/ the highschool band and floats.. ok so not that elaborate. But, yes I do want something big. I'm not that birthday gal that expects everyone to drop their Sat night to party for muuaaahh and can hardly remember the last time anyone planned or went out for my birthay. This one though is different! I'm thinking something fun fun like a river trip, renting a party barge on lake grapevine, "surprise" party, just something fun that everyone will enjoy doing (hint hint). Chadd seems to have something lined up, we shall see :o) *save the weekend of May 30/31*

So back to my gift list.. there is actually only 1 item on the list this year. And this is probably the only reason I am actually excited for my 30th. I have had a passion for photography since I was in photography class in HS. 1st I loved my teacher, 2nd it was a blow off class, but most of all I really really enjoyed taking creative pictures.. this was back in the 35mm days, ha! I have always loved taking cool pics of different things and people but really never thought I could ever have the opportunity to take professional (or semi-pro) photography. As it is just a hobby now, I would LOVE to get into it professionally. Anyone who knows me (especially those w/ me in Hawaii), knows that no matter where I go I'm looking for something creative or a creative way to take pics, lighting, etc. I really just think I have an eye for it... I hope so at least.

Coming up on 30, I was thinking and thinking "I wish I could do something I would just get up every morning and love to do", "I wish I could find a passion for something".. and I thought long and hard about it and kept coming back to photography. I talked to Chadd about it, and he is so wonderful and encouraging and told me if if I have such a passion for it, to go for it!! So, I'm going to! I think I get my passion from my Dad and Sis.. and I'm so excited cause after talking to my sister about it, she got a Canon Rebel XTI for Vday (birthday & Christmas too, ha!). We would really love to take pics as a hobby, but together. We plan to start a website once we start taking photos so we can show everyone our work.. we even have our 1st "client" (I mean guenia pig) for engagement pics, Thanks Katie! :o) I just cant wait to get my camera and cant wait to start taking pics.

I am looking at either the Canon Rebel XTI or the Canon 30D. After talking to a couple WONDERFUL photographers, I have been encouraged to get the 30D. I'm still checking it out, as I do still have some time. Any suggestions are MUCH appreciated! :o)

Check out my FAVORITE photographers:
http://www.kjimages.com/
http://www.peyronetphotography.com/
http://www.chrisowensphotography.com/

So, everyone get your kids and families ready... ITS PICTURE TIME!

Boot Camp!

So, after the house fire and living from house to house, eating out every night (like crap of course), I went back to working out but couldn't get myself out of a rut. And could not possibly get the pounds off that I had packed on. I had always been interested in attending boot camp, but was always a bit leery of actually doing it.. I was scared of the ferocious boot camp trainers, and I mean have you see boot camps on TV?! Well, I finally decided I needed to do something and 1 day just signed up. I admit, I spent the next week 1/2 eating like crap cause well you know, once you start boot camp that means that's the end of any extra curricular eating (yeah right!). Oh and I must mention that our trip to Hawaii and our new pool played a huge part in joining the camp :o)

I was scheduled to start Monday Feb 11th, but 1st had to attend a "consultation" with my soon-to-be death trainer the Saturday before. He is actually super super nice and doesn't yell at us like you see on TV. So, Saturday I walk into Smoothie King, where I think will be my private consultation and would consist of obtaining my weight, body fat percentage, and measurements.. only to find that this "consultation" would be done in front of everyone else there. As if I didn't already dread the findings of my packed on "fire" weight, in my "private consultation". I pretty much left threatening myself "if you EVER eat another cookie"..."all you can eat is chicken and broccoli for the rest of your life!" It really was pretty horrible. I even called BF Jenn & Chadd to see if they would join me for my pity party!

Monday 4:45am came faster than I thought but I was up and ready to go! Even though I had to go to sleep at 8pm every night, I was actually "kinda" getting used to being up early and enjoying my early morning work outs... Its amazing how much more time you have to cook, watch TV, and hang out w/ your husband when you get your work out done before 6:30am. I actually convinced Chadd to try it, and to this day he gets up every day and works out at 6am. Hooray for Chadd!

After starting boot camp, I knew I was hooked! I took a couple weeks off for our vacation in Hawaii, but other than that I have been very loyal to boot camp (not to say I haven't overslept once or twice). I am now coming up on my 4th month, which will start this coming Monday and I have never felt better! Even though I haven't lost all that much weight, I have lost inches, a TON of body fat percentage, and have gained muscle.. most of all I feel like I have gained the confidence back that I've lacked for quite some time! I am looking forward to starting another month, and am SO thrilled because Nicole will be doing the boot camp with me!

I haven't been able to make all the "consultations" (which are done Sat before camp, and Sat after camp ends) so I don't have my full results. I try and at least keep track of my weight though and so far have lost around 8 pounds. I know I've lost inches and more body fat percentage because my clothes are fitting looser and I can actually see muscle :o) I'll put updates on as I get them too!

*Adventure Boot Camp is in my fav links on the side bar if you are interested in knowing more about the boot camp!

Introducing..

Baby Kamren Michael!!

Our best friends Mike and Jeanie had baby Kamren on 04/15 @ 1:35pm. He was 6lb / 20 in.. he's an itty bitty little thing! We are so excited for you guys and cant wait to meet him this weekend!!! So many blessings for a lifetime of health and happiness for your new family!! See ya'll Friday! We love ya'll!

Aloha!

Kona, Hawaii 03.26.08 - 04.03.08

We were so fortunate to be able to travel to HAWAII to attend our friends, Eric & Tracy's, wedding. We flew into Honolulu and then took a charter plane to the Big Island. Tracy's parents rented an awesome house, just a couple blocks from the beach, for all us friends to stay in. The beaches there are absolutely AMAZING, as you can see in the above pic!

The beach house, 4 bed/4 bath with a pool and hot tub!!!

We had an absolute BLAST with everyone and were so lucky to have met Tracy's family, who live in Captains Hook, HI. They own a coffee and avocado farm in the mountains.. which was very neat to see, an experience like no other! Her cousin, Brer, was so gracious to show us around and take us to the "local" spots! We would have never done such awesome things w/out his help of showing us around; kayaking/swimming with dolpins, snorkeling in Captains Cove, hiking across Lava to a private white sand beach, Waepai Valley w/ the black sand beach.. gosh we did so many awesome things!!

We will never ever forget this trip or the Benton's!! :o)

After a very long 8 hour flight, we finally made it to the beautiful Kona Airport on The Big Island! The airport is behind us in this picture.. it was the neatest airport and was all outdoors! (please excuse the way I look, being in a plane all day doesnt make for a good hairdo)

Thurs night Chadd and I had a dinner date at the Fishhopper in Kona. It was real yummy and we had a great time together!

The girls Friday night at Aunt Lori's house for dinner... FUN TIMES!

The guys had the BEST time on the mopeds they rented for the week!

Chadd and I before the ceremony.. yes Chadd married them and in that outfit! ha ha.. Tracy picked it out so it was all planned that way!! He did a great job and I think it made the ceremony more special for Tracy & Eric!

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Eric Gooch!

Such a happy couple and didnt the bride just look absolutely beautiful!? Love you guys!

This was taken at Waikiki beach, in Honolulu... It was one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen before! We flew back to Honolulu from The Big Island and got stuck there for a couple days, because of Aloha airlines going bankrupt while we were there. The 1st night we stayed in a hotel that looked like it came from Division St. in Arlington (it was GROSS). The 2nd day, we were told there was no way we were getting off the island so we decided to go sightseeing.. we rented a convertible and off we went! We were able to see Pearl Harbor and stay in the most AMAZING resort (thank you Jenn M.)! We were both really happy we got to see another island and have a whole extra day and night in Honolulu!

There are so many more pics.. I think around 900 of them! I'll upload them, someday, so everyone can shuffle through them. We had quite the adventure and other than our honeymoon, was the most amazing vacation of my life! I can't wait to go back someday!

Mr. and Mrs. Ortiz :o)

I had the privelege and the honor of being a bridesmaid in my best friend, Jennifer's wedding! I wish them both nothing but happy days and a wonderful life together! They are perfect for eachother and make such a great couple! :o) Love you guys!

Fire, Fire!!!!

We had a wonderful day yesterday, spending Tim for Dad's birthday at a local pizza place.. was SO great to get the family together, hang out with everyone, and watch the kids at play.

Later last night, I'm in the bed watching TV while Chadd is doing some school work in the living room. It's storming outside, pretty bad thunder and lightening. All the sudden I feel a shock through my leg and I jump up and run to the living room to see if Chadd felt the same thing, and he did. About that time, we see smoke coming out of the electrical outlet. Lightening had struck our chimney and the house was catching fire. I call the fire dept and by the time they get to the house, the living room wall is in flames.

It was a crazy night, but everyone was SO supportive and we thank everyone for being there for us. Kjerst, Mom, Steve, Ginger, and Khaled all came for emotional support. We most of all thank God we were at home and that we made it out ok, with Bella too :o) It could have been much worse and I feel so awful for anyone who has gone through this, or have lost more than we have.