Sean and Staci

Our Little Miracle...

2011-04-28T18:13:00.001-07:00

Baby Orrrrrrtega

November 3rd! (Possibly November 9th if they change my due date)

Perhaps we can have the baby on 11/11/11. I'd be okay with that! :)

Why a miracle? I know that conception itself is a miracle, but for us, it REALLY is a miracle. Almost 4 years ago, Sean and I decided that I would throw out the pill and we would give this whole "baby" thing a try. After the first year of no pregnancy I blamed not getting pregnant on the birth control pill. It totally screwed me up for the whole year. After the second year I thought that there might be something wrong, but I was only 23 and wasn't going to stress out. After the third year I realized that there was probably something wrong and went to the doctor. After several months of testing (and lots of money spent) at the fertility specialist we were told (last December) that the only way we would be able to have children is through in vitro. That was probably the hardest thing for me accept because it it so expensive and not a 100% sure thing. After deciding that it probably would be a long time until we have a baby, I gave up trying...and that's when it all happened.

{We are so blessed and couldn't be happier}

My New Cake Blog!

2011-02-17T19:32:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't been posting much, but this is why! I have been crazy busy baking and decorating cakes. Come check out my cake decorating journey from the beginning until now!

www.staceabasecakes.blogspot.com

The Winner Is....

2010-10-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

Sara from SweetChic Home Decor!

Congratulations! Email me at stashu303@cox.net with your address and I will mail you the Scentsy gift package!

Since only 3 people entered my giveaway, I have a sweet little gift for Raylene and Laura. Email me your address and I will send it to you!

I plan to do a giveaway next month so stay tuned!

October Scentsy Giveaway!!

2010-10-12T19:35:00.001-07:00

Okay, so call me crazy, but I really am in the mood to give away some Scentsy stuff!! When I say "Scentsy stuff", I mean 1 full size warmer, 12 scents, and 2 scent circles!! This is a huge deal worth $85!

Here is what you need to do:

1.Post the following advertisement in your blog:

"October Scentsy Giveaway! Enter and you could win 1 warmer, 12 scents, and 2 scent circles! Visit here to find out how: http://www.staciandsean.blogspot.com/. Hurry quick! The winner will be determined on Monday, October 18th!"

2. Post a memo in my blog letting me know that you made the post.

3. Check my blog on Monday, October 18th to see the winner.

Don't know what Scentsy is? Visit my website at www.scentsy.com/staciortega

Sean Boy's Big Promo!

2010-09-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

So, Sean has been working very hard the past year or so to take that next big step within the company. A management position opened (which doesn't happen frequently) and he decided to apply for it. He nailed the interview and called back for a second interview. Did an awesome job on his presentation in the second interview. Well, he didn't end up getting that job. About 2 weeks later, his director called him in to her office and spoke to him about the direction the company was going and asked him his thoughts. Then asked him if he would help her on a very big project. She turned her computer screen around and it said, "I have a management position open, are you in?" Of course he accepted!

Don't worry because he found out around 10:00am in the morning and decided that he wasn't going to tell me just yet. I wasn't expecting anything because the original position was already filled and didn't know that another position opened up.
We got new phones that same day and were trying to figure them out. (We aren't used to high tech phones.)
He was texting me on his phone from upstairs and this was our text convo:
Sean: I have a secret to tell you.
Me: What is that?
Sean: That I am going to make $X a year.
Me: I don't get it. Why do you say that?
Sean: There is only one way that I could make $X a year. Please use your critical thinking skills!
Me: I know. When you become a manager? Did you get a manager position?
Sean: YES!!!!!!!!!
Me: (Running upstairs screaming and freaking out for a couple of reasons. First, I was so excited that he got a position because I know he has worked so hard and is ready for it. Second, he knew ALL day and didn't tell me until 6:00pm. He is good at hiding it.)

Anyways, that's our good news! We are both very excited and feel very blessed.

Magnet Board and Princess Tiana Cake

2010-08-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

I saw a magnet board tutorial online and decided that I HAD to try it. Not that I really needed a magnet board right by my refrigerator, but oh well!

The pictures aren't the best, but you get the idea. I made the first one for a co-worker for her birthday and since have gotten orders from other people at my work. Not my intention, but I might as well make a little money doing it! :) They are very easy to make and really didn't take that long.

Supplies:

sheet metal (I purchased a large sheet at Lowe's and cut it to the size I needed. Definitely wear gloves and get really really sharp scissors.)
Material of your choice
frame (I found a cheap frame at Walmart and spray painted it the color that I wanted.)

Directions:

Cut the metal to fit the frame. (Be careful! The metal is sharp when cut!)
Cover metal with fabric. Glue gun the sides of the fabric on the back of the metal to keep it in place.
Position in the frame and close the back. (If your frame doesn't have a back to it, just glue it into the frame)
Add any embellishments to the front, if wanted.

...And...there you go! It's really simple. Of course I had to make matching magnets, but I can post those later.

Last Saturday Maris's 4th birthday party. Of course, I didn't take any pictures, but it was a great turn out. We had her party at my house and, of course, the little princess got everything that she wanted. Including, her princess Tiana cake. A few weeks ago, she demanded a Hannah Montana cake that was pink. I was a little worried about making a Hannah Montana cake, but luckily she changed her mind. She wanted a Princess Tiana cake that was purple and blue. To mess around with her a little, I asked her if a purple Barney cake would be okay. She yelled, "NO!!! I...WANT...A...PRINCESS...TIANA...CAKE!" I learned my lesson: Never mess around with a serious 4 year old that knows exactly what she wants. I just told my sister that she better not change her mind because I had already purchased the Tiana cake topper online.

Nothing too fancy, but I was pleased with the results considering that I did this in less than one hour of decorating.

Long Time Coming...

2010-08-06T21:44:00.001-07:00

Yes, it has been over 1 year since I last blogged. I kind of "checked out" of the blogging world for a short time...if you consider 1 year a short period of time. Sean banned me from looking at blogs so I tried not to go on too much. (Okay, so he didn't really ban me from looking at blogs, but he didn't like to see the crying and emotional break downs that came after it.) Every time I would look on blogs, I would find out about someone getting pregnant, having a baby, or blogging about their cute babies. Everything is centered around babies. One might ask, why would that make you cry? It only makes me cry if I am feeling sorry for myself, lacking sleep, or when it is that time of the month. That time of the month that a girl who has been trying to get pregnant for MANY years dreads. (When I say many, I don't mean one or two years, I mean over 3. It may not sound like a lot, but for someone impatient like me, it's been a while.) I have always been one to be in control of situations for my life, which is why this has been the hardest thing I have ever endured. So, if you were wondering why I stopped, that's why. And, no, I am not pregnant yet. I just decided that I need to face this trial that Sean and I are going through. Plus, I wanted to put a different spin to my blog. Instead of blogging about life's happenings, I am going to blog about crafts and fun hobbies that I am taking on. However, I will still be blogging about a few different life events, if anything cool happens.

I have been obsessed with crafting and making home decor. I think obsessed is a little of an understatement. Hobby Lobby, Michael's, and I have become besties. I like to say that I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. No joke! I get something in my mind and I have to do it...SOON. I have made picture frames, plaques, letter blocks, etc. Plus, I have definitely improved on my cake decorating ability. The cakes in the last blog were very amateurish. Some girls and I have been getting together every 1-2 weeks to do a new craft. That's how obsessed I am!

Before getting into all of the crafts, here is what we have been up to the last year:

1. We got our Dewey boy. We got him to fill the void and it really only worked for a couple of months. He has literally destroyed the wood panel on our couches and stained our carpet. Potty training a dog is no fun. Here is a picture of him when we got him. He was so little. Now, he is almost triple the size. I don't want to take a current picture because he needs grooming, bad. I love that Dewey is so excited to see Sean and I. No matter what kind of day we have had, Dewey loves to see us and definitely adds happiness to our lives.

2. Grandma moved in. My grandma has been living with my uncle for some time. Their rental house ended up foreclosing and they moved into a house that was smaller...which meant that my grandma would have been sharing a bathroom with 4 children under the age of 17. She wasn't really down with that, and I'm not sure who would have been. Sean and I received the prompting that we needed to invite my grandma to move in with us. It is temporary until she sells a lot up north. I can honestly say that I know 100% that we were blessed with this house so that my grandma could live with us. Everything has been working out perfectly in our lives to align to getting this house. It also gives me comfort to know that we weren't supposed to have kids up to this point. If we did have a baby, we wouldn't have had as much room to invite grandma. It's crazy how Heavenly Father works everything. I know that Sean and I will have a baby, but it's on His timing, not mine.

3. We celebrated our 4th anniversary! We didn't do anything extravagant, but maybe next year for our 5th we will. It's crazy how fast time flies! I am so happy that I am married to my best friend!

4. I got the Cricut Create. Yes, that is a huge event in my life because that little machine does wonders. I love trying to find new things to do with it. I have yet to do vinyl, but one of these days, I will.

5. I made my first wedding cake. My cousin asked me if I would make her wedding cake. I was kind of freaking out because the most I have ever made was birthday cakes and easy stuff. The reception was last night and it turned out really well! Don't look too close. :) Next time, I will for sure do 4 tiers. I didn't know what to expect so I wanted to start small.

6. Sean started playing in a city in-door soccer league. While I haven't made it to every game, it's pretty fun to go and see the games.

7. I got a piano! I have been very deprived the last 4 years without a piano and would go to my in-laws and parents frequently just to play. I love having my own piano!

8. Sean turned 26! I feel like he is so old. He was only 21 (almost 22) when we got married. I think that turning 25 is a big milestone, but he is no longer in his mid-twenties. At least that's what I tell him. He thought he was turning 25 this year! I had to keep reminding him that he is older than he thinks.

That's basically been the events that took place in the last year! I do not plan to go M.I.A. this time, I just don't always have fun things to blog about. I will definitely be blogging about the crafts that I am getting done. Next post will feature the fabric magnet board and some Halloween decor that I am working on!

Don't Be Jealous... :)

2009-06-27T16:49:00.000-07:00

Have you ever walked down the cake decorating aisles at Hobby Lobby or Michael's and been amazed at all the cool stuff? Well, I do that every time I go there! One fantastic time, I found a little ad for cake decorating classes! Four weeks later, I am doing this. Not that this is amazing, but I'm very proud of the fact that I can actually do something on a cake and not just put sprinkles.

Sean decided he wanted a football cake for his birthday so I thought I would practice at my class a few weeks ago.

Of course he changed his mind because he wants to challenge me. He said the football cake was too easy for me and now he wants fondunt and all this other crap. Luckily I am taking a fondunt course in July! Call me crazy, because I totally am. Poor Sean has to put up with me...

Welcome Home Elder Whitmer!

2009-05-30T21:05:00.001-07:00

Elder Whitmer returned home on Wednesday from a 2 year mission to the Denver Colorado North mission. We are so happy for him to have made this accomplishment! Here are some pics!This is the first view we got of him coming through the security gates!This is me hugging him.Hugging Grandma!

Do you think he grew?? He is SOOO tall! It's crazy! I swear he wasn't that tall when he left.

Other peeps at the airport:

Chelsea and Steve-O (boyfriend)Stubborn girls! Wadsworth Clan

Aunt Sylvia, Brighton, and Becca (Sorry the pic is slanted)

Sean and I with Aiga and Maris

Dinner at Macayo's(mmmm!) Aubrey and Sierra came home from girl's camp to see Nathan. What a sacrifice! (Yeah...right!)
Maris girl!

Trisha and James

Aunt Shauna, Grandma, and Briana

Charlie and Lauren (Charlie's Fiance)

We totally didn't get pictures of everybody there, but it was fun!

In Less Than 3 Days...

2009-05-24T15:13:00.001-07:00

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

This little cutie batootie will returning home from serving a 2 year mission. Wow! It's gone by fast!

Sad Day in Room 13!

2009-05-24T14:13:00.001-07:00

I will always remember my first day/week of teaching in room 13. There were much tears, anxiety, curiousity, and enjoyment... much like my last day/week of teaching in room 13. Did I shed tears? Very much so. Was I anxious and curious about what will happen next in my life? Um...definitely. There was much enjoyment as well when I realized I had a whole week off to finish unpacking things in our new house.

Sad to say, I was "pink slipped" from the school district. When I received this so called pink slip, they kept telling us they could be calling us back. Considering the fact that Sean and I had just put an offer on a house, I couldn't sit around and wait to hear from the district. On top of that, other districts were letting people go at the same time. Did I want to compete with 500 other teachers who were in search for a teaching job? Hmm...let me think...NO!

Luckily, my really cool husband and I had a backup plan ready to go. For some reason, I had a feeling I was going to get let go. I am going to work with the hubby. Of course not the same position, but the same company and building.

My principal came to talk to me when he heard wind of this new job. I was advised to write a letter of resignation. I felt really good about taking this other job...don't know why, but I did. Long story short...

Wrote the letter,

turned it in,

teachers started to get called back,

found out I would have been one of them,

went through a few seconds of regret,

decided everything happens for a reason,

turned my head and didn't look back

This last week was a LONG week. Besides the fact that we moved from our apartment into a house, I had to pack up my classroom at the same time. You don't realize how much stuff you collect until you have to go through everything!

I was done packing everything and had to go meet with the principal to "check out". Then he asked me, "When you look back to your first year of teaching, what will you think about?" That's when the tears started going. Wow! I did not think I would cry that much. I didn't even cry when I found out I was losing my job. The next day was our staff breakfast/goodbye. I cried and cried.

I took my last few things out of my room, took a good look around, turned off the light, and went on my way.

University of Phoenix, get ready, cause I am coming on board.

One thing I have learned is that things really do happen for a reason. There is a reason why I was able to get another job so quickly and why that opportunity came. While I am still searching for the reasons, I know I'll look back years from know and realize how and why everything worked out.

Hopefully I can come back to teaching. I LOVE it and wouldn't trade it for anything. I will never forget the little stinkers that I got to teach everyday.

What's next on my list?

Going to get my masters. Am I excited? Nope. Will it be worth it? Yep.

Oh, and maybe we'll work on starting a family with little Ortega's...we'll see what the Lord has in store for us.

La Casa de Ortega

2009-05-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

It's official! We are home owners! We are so blessed to be able to own a home in this economy. Here is a picture of our humble abode.

The picture is kind of fuzzy, but we LOVE it! More pictures to come!

Mi casa es su casa. Hee hee!

Why were these little boogers ever created?

2009-05-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

It actually gives me the heeby geebies to look at it! I am 100% terrified of grasshoppers and it really is ridiculous. Between these nasty creatures and cockroaches, I might end up dying of some type of heart failure because I think I freak out and panic when I come in contact with either of the two. For example, Sean and I decided to go play basketball one night at the apartment basketball courts. Well, after playing a game of one-on-one with him (which he totally beat me and I'm suprised he even enjoys playing with me), I decided I would run some laps around the basketball courts in order to do something while he shot around. Bad idea...there are parts of the court that are more lit than other parts. Well, as I'm running and not paying attention to where I'm running, I apparently interrupted a grasshopper party because they all start jumping around me! I was screaming and dancing around because for some reason, they jump TOWARD you, not away from you. Then of course, Sean decided to have a little fun with me and pick up a fat and short stick (that looked very much like a grasshopper) and was coming toward me with it.

Next experience...I was in my classroom and we were switching classes for our intervention groups. Well, the kids were all coming in and all of a sudden there was a grasshopper flying around frantically. It was a BIG one, might I add. The kids thought it was funny cause I was screaming and running around. Luckily, I have some "macho" boys that were able to get a hold of it and take it outside.

Now, are you ready for what happened tonight? Drum roll...my heart is still pounding due to the exessive screaming and panicing that took place.

Sean and I were walking to our car from a restaurant where we bought gift cards. We get in the car and we were talking about something (I'm sure it was something important, but I can't remember due to the traumatic experience that I had about one second later). I looked down at my leg and saw it! It was big and so ugly! I covered my face and screamed so loud that Sean started freaking out asking me what was wrong. I couldn't respond...I had no words in me. All that came out was a loud scream! (My throat still hurts by the way.) The problem was this: I couldn't take my hands off of my face to point at it because if I made too much movement, it would fly in my face which, at that point, would be uncovered. So, Sean finally saw what I was screaming about and luckily we were at a stop sign. He opened the door and threw it out.

Dear Grasshopper that landed on me,

I hate you. You stink. Next time I see you, I won't be able to do anything because I will be screaming so loud. So, please have some sympathy on me and understand that I might die of a heart attack if you land on me.

Not Love, Not Sincerely,

-Staci

Dear Family and Friends...

2009-04-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

In case you were wondering why Sean and I haven't popped out any babies.

This is why...

Bless their hearts...

Not Quite Sure How to Explain That...

2009-04-15T19:06:00.001-07:00

With AIMS over and nothing to do, I thought "Hey! Let's actually teach some science that we never have time to do!" So, I pull out a science kit on nature. We planted seeds on Day 1 and on Day 2, we were talking about the life cycle of plants. The second I started talking about the life cycle of plants, all of my students started shouting out, "Oh! We did the life cycle of butterflies last year! We had our own butterflies and we let them go!" Let me tell you, they were thrilled out of their minds to discuss the life cycle of plants. (To be honest, I didn't know what the heck I was talking about! Luckily, Mesa puts together these nifty little kits filled with everything you need to say and do!) After all the shouting and excitement was over, I had one little, cute girl (the kind of girl that you just want to squeeze her cheeks!) say, "Mrs. Ortega, my butterflies always stuck together." If any of you have seen such a sight, I am sure you understand what is going on.

Yeah...about that...not quite sure how to explain that to an 8 year old.
Can you tell I enjoy my job? :)

Mother's Day Promotion!

2009-04-11T15:12:00.001-07:00

Place your order by the end of April and receive a free car candle!

Click on flyer for better picture! :)

www.scentsy.com/staciortega

Ahh...the joys of teaching...

2009-04-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

AIMS testing started and if you are a teacher, you know the stress that it brings. Apparently my students can feel the stress in me. On Wednesday morning, one of my cute little girls gave me this...

Would that not make your day? :)

Another joy of my job is listening to the extremely silly or inappropriate things that my students say. You know the phrase "kids say the darndest things"? Well, I can attest to that!

I was in the middle of reading a story to them and I couldn't stop yawning! I said to my students, "Wow, I am so sorry I keep yawning! Mrs. Ortega went to bed way too late last night." Of course their reply was, "What time did you go to bed?" After telling them that I went to bed at midnight, they wanted to know why I went to bed that late. (They like to ask a lot of questions if you couldn't tell.) I told them that I was watching my nieces and that my sister came over and then, of course, I had to watch TV with Mr. Ortega. Out of no where, and I really mean no where, a student yells out, "Were you guys making out?" COME AGAIN?!?!?! Can you believe that! I about wet myself when I heard him say that. This comment didn't come from a student who you would think could even possibly know what that meant. I had to tell the class, "Of course not! We don't talk about that in 3rd grade." (Don't you worry, it gets better!) I tried to continue reading when a little girl yells out, "Mrs. Ortega, you passed up a great opportunity!"

What do you say to that? I'm pretty sure my face turned red in embarassment because I can only imagine what the kids are going to say to their parents when they get home! "Mom, we talked about making out and Mrs. Ortega went to bed late cause she was making out with her husband!" CAN YOU IMAGINE!?? Anyways, that was the end of that. Kids really do say the darndest things, right?

Scentsy Promotion!

2009-03-19T09:21:00.001-07:00

Happy Spring! I am excited to bring you the newest and safest way to burn candle wax...

**Scentsy!**

What's great about Scentsy is that it is flameless and harmless. With a stylish warmer and a 25-watt bulb, your home or office will be smelling great. It is even safe for classrooms!
No Soot + No Flame + No Wick = No Worries!

So, here is the deal! For everyone that would like to throw a party by the end of April will receive a FREE WARMER and a SCENT! (Of course this is on top of all the hostess benefits and rewards!) It's really easy! All you do is plan a party date, invite all your friends and family, and there you go! Or, you can even throw a basket party! This consists of you bringing all the little samples to work or some other social gathering and collecting orders. It's really quite fun!

We just got all the new spring/summer scents and warmers and they are so fun. Let me know if you are interested in taking up this great offer.

Questions? Email: stashu303@cox.net

(If anyone works at a business that would like a Scentsy set up/display, let me know and I can come set one up! It's free and you get to have the wonderful scent throughout!)

Ortega Update!

2009-03-18T17:14:00.000-07:00

I know, I know! I haven't blogged in almost 3 months! Quite frankly, my life is so routine and monotonous, there really isn't anything to blog about. Although I did have my birthday on March 3rd and that was fantastic! Of course, my students were thrilled that teachers have birthdays and decided to bring me flowers, candy, cards, and all sorts of stuff they found at home. It was great! Ha ha! :) I told them the best gift they could give me was to pay attention and do their best that day. But of course, we still had a few students who took a trip to "La La Land". (That's what I call it when they aren't paying attention. I tell them they don't have an invitation to "La La Land" and shouldn't be expecting one anytime soon so they need to pay attention.) Then, unexpectedly in the middle of the day, I receive this...

This totally beats a bouquet of roses out of the water! It looks pretty and better yet, you can eat it! Plus, they don't die and you don't have to put them in water. Of course my students start with the "Oooh! Mrs. Ortega!" Some asked me if it is from my boyfriend (silly kids have met Sean and know that I am married)! They always ask me if I have kids too. I'm pretty sure that if I didn't have kids last month, I don't have kids this month. I know it is hard to comprehend that I have been married for almost 3 years and don't have kids. (Most of their parents have tons of kids and aren't married so imagine how hard it is for them to comprehend the fact that I don't have kids.)

Right now our life is pretty much the same! Life is good and we are staying busy. I am almost done with my first year of teaching! It seems like only yesterday I was crying during the first week of school because I was an emotional wreck. (Well, I am still an emotional wreck, but at least I am not crying over teaching. I just cry over different things like Extreme Makeover Home Edition and A Baby Story. ha ha!)

Merry Christmas to Us!

2008-12-27T16:01:00.000-08:00

This year for Christmas, Sean and I decided that we needed a new comforter set. So, with part our Christmas money that we received from the Ortega's (thank you, thank you!), we decided to purchase a comforter. Our primary reason for going to Mervyn's was to look for an ugly Christmas sweater for my work party. While we were unsuccessful with that, we did find our new comforter and we LOVE it! Our old Walmart comforter needed to go... Luckily, our gold and brown pillows still match!

It's hard to tell, but the colors are gold and and light blue-ish color. It definitely looks better in person...too bad we can't have a big party in our room. jk We have always wanted a bedspread that looked rich and elegant (if that makes sense).

Sean also surprised me with this jewelry armoire. It was well overdue and exactly what I needed. All of my jewelry was in a hat box and scattered about. Now, I can actually organize it! Yeah!

Of course, I had to have my Scentsy warmer that matches the room. I can't wait to go to Kirkland's with my gift card and redecorate everything! Woo hoo!

Gingerbread Houses!

2008-12-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

The Ortega's got together for family night to decorate gingerbread houses! We started the tradition last year and feel like we are improving! Last year we couldn't even get the houses to stick together. This year, we realized that a hot glue gun would do the trick. P.S. Frosting is only good for sticking on candy. It does not work when you try to put your house together with it. I promised the fam that I would post each picture so everyone can vote on the one they think is the best. Angelica and Stevie (her dad) created one, Sean and I created another, and Britta & Henry created one. Which do you like bettter?? :)

Enter your vote in the comments/posts! Here is one more picture of them all together so you can really compare. :)

Scentsy Party!

2008-12-09T19:25:00.000-08:00

*You're Invited to a Scentsational Event!*

Need a present for a mom, sister, grandma...or even yourself? Scentsy is the perfect gift that everyone and anyone will love. Scentsy is the newest and safest way to burn candles. Many of you may not know what scentsy is all about. For more information about the products, please visit www.scentsy.com/staciortega. You can view the latest catalog and products available. Come join us for a fun scensational night!

When: Tuesday, December 16th

Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm (Come and Go)

Where: The Hart Residence
2745 E Lynwood Cir
Mesa, AZ 85213

Click here for a map:

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Mesa&state=AZ&address=2745+E+Lynwood+Cir&zipcode=85213

If you have any questions, feel free to call me!

Staci 480-275-0868

Anyone is invited to come! Bring a friend!
I understand this holiday season is extremly busy! If you are unable to make it but would still like to order any products, let me know! There will be some products available to purchase and bring home right away. See you there!

I HATE LIARS!!

2008-10-01T20:04:00.001-07:00

So, I have this little boy in my class...(he's one of those children that you have to pray for everyday in fear that you might do or say something that you shouldn't). Anyways, it was early release today and we had to hurry through math because we were cut short by about 25 min. Anyways, I told the kids that they were going to have homework on the skill that we were learning in math. This one little boy decided to express his feelings towards having homework by saying the "s" word, if you will. I looked at him and said, "Excuse me? What did you say?" (A little side note, it's not the first time kids have used this language. Some of them don't understand that it's bad because they use it at home all the time.) I bent down to talk to him figuring that it would be a little teaching moment and asked him if he said what I think he said. He came back with, "I said sheets." Hmm...now does that really make sense? I tell them they will have homework and he replies with, "sheets." I know that's something I probably would have said if my teacher told me I had homework. In fact, I used to say that all the time. :) Of course I made him change his card to a red light (he was already on yellow due to sitting in time out during music) and told him that he shouldn't have lied to me because now his consequence is greater. Moral of the story...children, don't lie to your teacher...and if you are going to lie, please come up with a way better excuse or story. Telling your teacher that you said, "sheets" instead of the real word makes no sense and he/she will see right through you.

That's all

I've Been Tagged!

2008-09-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

Tatum tagged me!

10 years ago...
1. My ward was split and I was really sad to leave my BFF's! (Can you tell it has scarred me for life? jk)
2. Started 7th grade at Brimhall Jr highand realized Laura Millett (Udall) had every class with me! It was so fun!
3. I was obsessed with playing my violin. (Call me an orch-dork)
4. Hung out with my cousin Jenna like every day.
5. Had a best friend ditch me to hang out with the "cool" girls who made out with boys. ha ha ha! Wow! This one makes me laugh!

On To-Do List... (Do you really want to hear this?)
1. Make next weeks lesson plans and make all copies
2. Figure out what I am going to do with a few problem children
3. Clean my apartment
4. Go to the store to purchase a few items
5. Go to the bank to deposit a check...who has time to go to the bank? Apparently I don't because the check has been in my wallet for a while!

Snacks I enjoy...
1. Fruit Snacks
2. Popcorn
3. chips and salsa
4. Strawberries
5. red licorice

Things I would do if I were a Millionaire:
1. Stay at home
2. Travel the world
3. Purchase a nice home
4. Pay off student loans and car...maybe buy a new car? :)
5. Save

Places I have lived:
1. Phoenix
2. Tennessee
3. Canada
4. Mesa (85206)
5. Mesa (85204)

My dad played pro baseball before I was one, which is why I lived in Tennessee and Canada. Do I remember them? NO, I wasn't even one yet!

Jobs I Have Had...
1. Bread Store
2. Violin and Keyboard teacher at charter school
3. Customer Service Rep
4. Lab Assistant at Charter school
5. Teller and Member Service Rep
6. Teacher

People I tag... (I totally don't have 5, but oh well)
1. Courtney
2. Laura
3. Sierra
4. Amber A.

Mrs. Ortega, can I go to the bathroom?

2008-09-02T19:11:00.000-07:00

This phrase is a common phrase I hear in the classroom several times within a half hour period! Usually it is accompanied by the pee pee dance and a face that looks uncomfortable. Standard restroom procedures for my classroom are the following: You go at recess and lunch or you go when I take you (before or after specials). I do allow kids to go to the restroom during class as long as I am not teaching and it is independent work time. We get in from recess and I have starting teaching reading and a little boy ask if he could go to the restroom. (This kid asks SEVERAL times during the week. At least once or twice a day.) Of course I said, "No, we just went to recess and I am teaching." The kids are pretty good about telling me if it is an emergency, so I didn't think anything of it and continued. About 20 min. later, I hear him crying. (He sits in the front row and I was at the overhead.) So, while I am teaching, I tap on his desk and motion for him to go. Then he stood up...and lo and behold...there was pee all over his clothes!!! I couldn't believe it! I felt so bad because he didn't say it was an emergency and the little stinker just peed his pants without telling me he had to go really bad. Luckily the reading specialist was in there testing a few kids so I was able to get the kids started and I ran to find him. He had already made his way to the nurse. As I was thinking about the situation, I came to the conclusion that he has peed his pants before. How else would you know to go to the nurse when you pee your pants? I wouldn't know...would you? I would probably hide in the bathroom not knowing what to do! Basically, I am the worst teacher and make kids pee their pants.

That's all.

Okay...Really this time...What was I thinking?!?!?!

2008-08-18T21:04:00.000-07:00

So, let's just say that this last week was ridiculously crazy! I have been an emotional WrEcK! Like, crying over stupid things and not being able to think straight. Day 1 was great and then the rest of the week went downhill. It's not even that my students are bad...because they are not. I was going through some out of body experience and it was so stupid! I guess I jinxed myself last Saturday (before school started). Sean and I were over at Benson and Sarah's house (which is really cute by the way) and Sarah informed me that her friends said they came home crying everyday their first year of teaching. I replied with, "Oh, I'm not worried. That probably won't be me." HA HA HA HA HA! That's a joke! Let's just say I cried on Tuesday after school, Wednesday DURING school (let's just say someone had to take my class for the 2nd half of the day because I couldn't stop), and the 3rd day before school. I had a little girl ask me why my face was all red and I replied, "I just have really bad allergies." I love the naive-ness of little kids. ha ha! I am pleased to say that I haven't cried since last Thursday. People keep asking me if I am pregnant and I can assure everyone that I am NOT!
On a better note, today was a great day! The kids keep asking me my first name and I tell them it is "Mrs.". It's too bad I have all of the staff members' kids/family members in my class so they all know my first name. It's all good though. I know this week will be a great one!

What Was I Thinking??!?!?!?!

2008-08-11T18:38:00.001-07:00

JK....
So, today was my first day of school. I felt like a little kid all over again . I didn't sleep too well, tried to go to bed early, woke up really early, etc. The first day of school went really well. I feel like the day flew by and I accomplished nothing. No joke! I planned a few different activities to do to break the ice and get to know the kids, but...they didn't happen. We did the "blah" things that need to be done so the rest of the year can run smoothly. We practiced routines and procedures (over and over and over again...and will do them over and over and over again tomorrow). The kids probably think I am the devil because I assigned homework on the first night. (It was really easy.) Oh well!!!! I need them to get in the routine of being responsible and doing homework. For the most part, the day went very well. My legs hurt, my body hurts, my brain hurts, and my feet hurt. Maybe because I was standing, walking, and thinking way too long. I think 11 hours is too long to work. Especially when you are on your feet for most of it! and...do I get paid for working 11 hours today...NOOOO! That's the best part of being a teacher. You work countless hours and get paid "time and a half" times zero for all of those hours of overtime. All in all, it was a good day. I am tired and need to sleep for a good day tomorrow!

Major Update!

2008-07-29T18:51:00.000-07:00

So, my life has been pretty hectic these past couple of weeks so I haven't had time to update my blog. Hopefully I don't end up like one of those people who don't update their blogs for months, but this next year will be CrAzY!!! It will be my first year of teaching and I am way excited! At the same time, I am way scared because I feel overwhelmed with tons of stuff to do and no time to do it. I will be teaching 3rd grade. I kind of don't want to reveal too much info about where I will be because I don't want any scary dudes reading this and stocking me or my students...so we'll leave it at that!

rEcAp-- Earlier this month, Sean and I went to Flagstaff with his family and stayed at a condo/resort place. It was really nice and sooooo relaxing. Here are a few pictures from the trip.

I am seriously not much of a picture taker! When I do take pictures, there are rarely any that I can stand to look at! So, I have to close my eyes and pick a few.

Next, Sean celebrated his 24th birthday last week! We didn't take any pictures because (once again) I am so bad with taking pictures. Maybe once we have kids I will get better. It's just no fun taking pictures of myself. It's crazy that he is already 24! It seems like just yesterday I met him right before my sophomore year and he was 17 going into his junior year. Time is flying!

Last but not least, I got the keys to my classroom last Wednesday and I have been going crazy setting up bulletin boards, arranging desks, laminating stuff, ...did I mention going crazy? It's amazing how many things you have to do in order to get ready for school! I just started my new teacher training today and I have an overload of information in my brain. Oh and also, my whole 3rd grade team consists of brand new teachers! So, if anyone has helpful hints, I would love to hear them! :)

That is pretty much the update I have. Hopefully I will be able to post pictures of my classroom when it is all done and completed! It's almost there. The school is giving me a P.O. for $200 to spend at Lakeshore so I can't wait to get the last little bit!

2 Wonderful Years!

2008-07-08T15:09:00.000-07:00

Sean and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary on July 7. I can't believe it has been two years already! Since I planned Valentine's Day, Sean's task was to plan our anniversary...and he did a wonderful job. He took the day off of work in order to spend the whole day with me. We went to breakfast and to a movie. We went home and I was getting a really bad migraine...of all days! So, I took some medicine. (I may have taken a little too much. Is 4 Ibuprofen and 2 Excedrin within a 3 hour period too much? Yeah, I think so.) I rested with a cold, wet rag on my head for about 1/2 hour and started to get ready to go to dinner. Sean wouldn't tell me where we were going for dinner. All I knew was that I needed to get all dressed up. My headache was starting to slowly go away by the time I was done getting ready and then...my stomach started hurting really bad. (This is why I think I took too much medicine.) I was having really sharp pains in my stomach and it was no good. I felt bad because Sean went through all this trouble to plan our anniversary and I wasn't feeling well. Sean ended up taking me to...drum roll...The Melting Pot. I was so excited because I had never been there before. The only problem was, nothing sounded good because my stomach hurt. I was able to eat some and I didn't hold back when it came to eating the chocolate fondue. Mmm! All in all, we had a lot of fun! We are so happy to be married!

Here are some pictures:

This is us at The Melting Pot. I love that you get

your own little private booth. So fun!

For our anniversary, we decided to get new cell phones. My old cell phone was held together with tape so I think it was about time I got a new one. I have never been big into buying the newest model with the tricks and what not. For example, my first phone was a cheap Cricket phone. I got that phone at about the time when flip phones were in. (Mine was not a flip phone.) Then, when camera phones were big, I finally upgraded to a flip phone. Two years after that, I finally got a camera phone. Now, I can actually say that my phone is not outdated! Yeah!

Here are some more pictures that Sean's mom took for us:

I've Been Tagged!

2008-06-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

A*age-22
B*birthday-March 3rd
C*candy or cake-I would say cake!
D*dessert you love-Strawberry Shortcake (Anything strawberry)
E*easiest person to talk to-Sean
F*favorite song-since it changes all the time... Not gonna lie, I love the David Cook song "Always Be My Baby" It's so good!
G*gold or silver-silver
H*habit- hmmm...is shopping a habit? Cause I do it all the time!
I*instruments you play-Violin and piano
J*Job title-Well, currently it's a Lazy Bum. On July 29th I will be a teacher! :)
K*kids-none yet...hopefully soon!
L*love or lust-LOVE
M*Married, single or taken-Married and loving it!
N*next to you- My cell phone and a water bottle
O*one wish- That I won't go crazy my first year of teaching and won't get sick
P*person you called last- My mom
Q*Quotes- Hmmm... not sure
R*reasons to smile- When Sean gets home from work!
S*steak or pork- Steak
T*turns you on- Is this appropriate!? ha ha!
U*unique talent- Well, it's weird, but I can fold my ears in. Totally not normal but there is hardly any cartilage in my ears.
V*vegetable-Corn or green beans
W*woke up at what time- 9:00 (That's what happens when you are getting a sinus infection and took some good medicine the night before!)
X* x-rays you've gotten- Well, I have had an X-ray on my hip area because the doctor was checking for all sorts of things. It was followed by an ultrasound on the same area. Probably not necessary but I can say I've had one!
Y*your favorite color- My favorite color changes with my mood. I love purple, pink, blue, yellow, red...pretty much all colors.
Z*zodiac sign-Pisces

I tag Sierra and anyone else who enjoys filling these things out!

Angelica's Dance Recital

2008-06-21T16:09:00.000-07:00

So, our amazingly talented niece had her last dance concert last Saturday at Red Mountain High School. She has been dancing since she was really young (as long as I can remember and I've known her since she was 3)! She did an excellent job and we are so proud of her! Here are a few pictures that we took after the concert. I didn't want to take any pictures during the show considering that I'm not sure it was allowed.

This is Angelica right after the dance recital. It was too cute! Through out the whole recital she kept looking down at all of us and smiling. She is so good at dancing. Her and Sean have dance off battles...which are quite humorous, I might add. (Ps. Sean dances, for anyone who doesn't know. He took Campbell's when he was younger and the natural rhythm and coordination has stuck with him. In fact, anyone who went to Mesa High during 2002-2003 school year, remembers the infamous dance performed by him and some buddies at the Euporea concert. It was great! I'm pretty sure that I fell in love with him all over again when I saw it!)

This is Sean, Angelica, and I. No, we are not that short and she is not as tall as us. We were kneeling! Of course, she is pretty tall for her age, but not that tall! :)

Would you say they look alike? ha ha! We laugh because Sean looks like he was adopted when seen with his dad. Yes, this is how we get the Ortega last name. I promise there is Mexican in Sean! :)

Here is Angelica, her grandma (Sean's mom), and tata (Sean's dad). I am really sad because I didn't get pictures of the proud parents! So, here are the proud grandparents!

Tournament in Payson

2008-06-04T13:04:00.001-07:00

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Anyone that knows my dad knows that he is a huge baseball/softball fanatic. (Along with hunting and anything involving outdoors...eww!) Since he got 4 girls and 1 boy (who I might add is not a sports player...nor is he a hunter) , he made it a point to make his little girls sports players. My mom tried to throw her forte at us (which is music) and I'm pretty sure that my little sisters ran with my dad's wish. They are great little ball players! They play on a year round club team and are so fun to watch. Back in March, Aubrey, the oldest of the twins, broke her leg and has to take a break from the madness until she heals completely. It is sad for her to not be able to go and do the thing she loves, but we know that she will be stronger and will work harder to get back on the ball in a few months.

This last weekend, their team, The Sun Divas, (not to be mistaken with the Sun Devils who just won the World Series) had a tournament in Payson. Since I just didn't get enough of Payson area with girls camp, Sean and I decided to go and watch their games.

This is Aubrey who broke her leg. See the sad look on her face! jk She just wasn't ready for the picture. Sean and I had a great time and the weather was awesome!

Here is the all-star pitcher at work! She did very well and only one girl got a hit off of her. My dad and her pitching coach works on her with her risers, curves, change-ups, etc. and she is becoming a really good pitcher. Way to go Sierra! All in all, their team won both games. We were a little nervous on the second game due to some in field errors, but we came out with a win. Sierra hit home run (which was her first)!

After the games, we stopped by Camp Geronimo to see my uncle and his family. They work there every summer and live in a little cabin up there. It brought back memories for Sean as we went to the trading post and other places he remembers while being up there. I am proud of my little sisters for their hard work and dedication! They are great athletes!

Here are some more pictures:

Thank goodness for our official chair holder. :) I love you babe!

NAU Alumni

2008-05-30T11:04:00.000-07:00

GRADUATION!

I finally did it! I graduated from college. I decided that I wanted to go to NAU to walk in the graduation because it wouldn't be the same if I didn't. So, we went on a short day trip to Flagstaff to enjoy the great weather and ceremony.

Sean and I woke up early in the morning and headed off for Flagstaff. The trip went really well and we had a lot of fun! This is Sean and I right after the graduation ceremony.

I was really happy that my parents, grandma, and Sean's family were able to come. It wouldn't have been the same without them!

Mexico!

2007-11-15T10:15:00.000-08:00

Viva Mexico!

So, every year my family takes a trip down to Puerto Penasco, MX. I absolutely love going to Mexico because it's a Whitmer family tradition! My dad is a huge outdoors camping man so of course we stay at an RV park and camp. Good thing Sean and I got a tent and air mattress for our wedding because it's been a lifesaver. Thanks to Judy Cotter! :) I will admit I am not much of a photographer and don't take many pictures. This is partly because I never had a camara until I decided to get Sean one for his birthday. So, we don't have many pictures from the trip, but it was still a lot of fun! One of the best things to do down there is SHOP! We go to the dirt mall (not so much dirt anymore becuase they decided to pave the road dang it) and shop for useless items that we forget about once we get home. Except I did buy this amazing dress to wear for bed, cleaning, cooking, etc. I figure if I am going to have the last name of Ortega, I better act, dress, cook like it! Well, maybe not cook because Mexicans are amazing cooks. Trust me, I love Ortega family parties.

This is Sean and I at the dirt mall trying on the nifty $5 sunglasses that break very easily. Which is why I buy one pair, they break during the year, then I buy another pair the next year. It's a great plan! :)

This is my little sisters (Aubrey and Sierra) and their friends at the dirt mall. Man they are getting old!

Nacho!!!!!

So, we love the movie Nacho Libre and had to purchase this lovely Nacho mask. Yes, Sean looks a little goofy, but I think it's hilarious!

I don't really have many more pictures that actually turned out because I don't really take many pictures. I promise I'll get better at it! :)