Update

Wow, has it really been 2 years?! It looks like I need to fill you all in on everything!

So, about 2 years ago I was getting ready to move to Santa Cruz with Seth. I had to go on numerous job interviews (even some at a prison, yikes!) because I work for the State and there aren't that many departments in Santa Cruz. I ended up landing a job in San Jose running a test center for the Contractors State License Board, I am still at this job today. One huge dilemma during the move is that we found out I couldn't take my dog with me and he ended up moving in with my parents. It was really hard to do but it seems to have worked out for everyone because my parents just love him.

We ended up living in Santa Cruz for a year and we had the time of our lives there and learned to live together. Now we live in Redwood City, because both of our jobs and friends are on this side of the hill it just made more sense. We love where we live now but still talk about how much we miss our time in Santa Cruz.

My college goal has shifted a bit, I am going from an interest in ultrasound to nursing. I have spent the last two years taking classes to meet the requirements to apply to the programs in the area. This fall I will be able to apply to 3 state colleges and 1 university that I want to attend. I would like to take an accelerated bachelor program and I am hopeful that one of my friends can help me with a nursing assistant job this fall!! In addition to school, I have been volunteering at Stanford hospital for the last 9 months and I had the opportunity to meet some very helpful nurses and patients. Also, I got to take a few fun classes this semester including dance and volleyball... those are the two sports/ activities that I was involved with in high school. As this semester is coming to a close, I realized how much fun they are and I am going to try to stay involved.

Because of our move we were able to have a dog again and even though Gus (my pomeranian) still lives with my parents (because they have become very attached and he is king of that castle) we made a big decision. In February we adopted a year old boxer named Jackson that has become our new baby, but Gus will always be my boy and if my parents end up moving, he will be able to come back home with me! This is Seth's first dog on his own (he had a few growing up). Our lives revolve around Jax and we wouldn't have it any other way.

He even stops by the fire station to see Dad!

I'm not sure if I mentioned it but around the time I stopped blogging, Seth was promoted to fire captain at his department and he has been running his own station for a little over 2 years now! I feel like we have both grown so much together and in our own ways over the last two years.

In fact, the beginning of April was a huge milestone for us. Seth took Jax and I to the beach (standard weekend for us) and he proposed right in front of the Golden Gate bridge!!! I still can't believe he totally surprised me. I thought I would know if anything were going to happen because we have been talking about our future a lot lately. The most amazing part is that he asked his brother and his sister-in-law to camp out on the beach (hiding from me) and they got video and photos of the whole thing! I mentioned that to Seth a long time ago and I can't believe he remembered! Now we will always have both the pictures and video to remember our special day. We haven't started planning yet but we are discussing a possible Santa Cruz wedding!

He took me to this same spot 2 years ago :)

I am sure there is more that I left out but I think I hit the major changes. Hopefully I won't be too consumed with school and will be able to keep up with my blog.

It's the little things..

So I know I haven't blogged in a while but this thought just came to me and I thought.. what better place to share than my blog.

Okay, so the other day I called my mom to see how things were going in her neck of the woods and she informed me that she had the girls over. "The girls" would be referring to my nieces from left to right: Jillian (2), Maddy (6) and Lexi (12)

I asked her to tell the girls I said, "what's up" and I fully expected the oldest to chime in with something similar. I even expected the 6 year old to have a witty come back. But the sniper got me, JillyBean was the first to shout back, "what's up!" which just lit me up inside. She just started using her words not too long ago, not that she didn't know how, she just knew how to get her way without asking. Very smart in my eyes! Anyways, she has been the queen of, "No!" lately. I took it personal at first cause all I wanted was a hug and she sounded so certain in her objection that I thought she didn't like me anymore :( But then I asked her if she wanted to go swimming and the answer was, "No!!". I asked her if she wanted a cookie and the answer was, "No!!!" It took me a minute but I finally realized that she just wanted to say.. come on, say it with me, "No!"

She is a funny little one and I love spending time with her.

I can't wait to see all my girls on Sunday. I'm sure they will all be in the pool splashing around and driving their momma crazy. That reminds me, Happy Mother's Day to the mom's out there that end up reading this. You really do more for us kids than you think, keep setting those good examples and making memories with your families. That all I have for now, hopefully after this semester of school is over I can make this a regular occurrence again.

ABC's of Me

I haven't blogging in a while and saw this one from Amanda and thought it was worthy of posting myself!

A - Age: 24
B - Bed size: Full- For now.. My boyfriend has big plans for that bed when we move in together though.. by big I mean dumpster life.
C - Chore you hate: Laundry.. but I think it's only because I don't have a washer or dryer at home.
D - Dog's name: Gustavo.. but I call him GusGus
E - Essential start your day item: Music
F - Favorite color: Purple
G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: Depends on the day.
H - Height: 5'4
I - Instruments you play: I rock out pretty hard on the air guitar :)
J - Jewelry you wear everyday: I wear jewerly sometimes but nothing everyday.. well I do wear my power balance everyday but thats not really jewelry.
K - Kids: No kids yet, but I am hoping for boys when that day comes.
L - Living arrangements: For now I am living in midtown Sacramento with a roommate but in a couple of months Seth (the bf) and I will be moving in together and hopefully be in Santa Cruz :)
M - Mom's name: Mom of course! But I think other people call her Penny.
N- Nicknames: Jenn, Jeffineffer, Anjo, BB, Slater, JellyMac, and on and on.
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: For the birth of my 3rd niece Jillian :)
P - Pet Peeve: Negative Nancy's.. We all know at least one and they are NO fun!
Q - Quote: "Happiness keeps You Sweet, Trials keep You Strong, Sorrows keep You Human, Failures keeps You Humble, Success keeps You Glowing, But Only God keeps You Going."
R - Right handed or left handed: Righty but learned a lot on my left when I broke my right hand a couple years back.
S - Siblings: 3 half brothers, a step brother and step sister.
T - Time you wake up: Depends but for work I usually set the alarm for 6:30 and don't actually get out of bed til 7.
U- Underwear: Mostly Victoria's Secret, but some are from Target too.
V - Vegetable you dislike: cauliflower
W - Ways you run late: Most the time it has to do with my failure to set the alarm right but it's always related to over sleeping. What can I say, I love to sleep!
X - X-rays you've had: Lots on my back and a few random ones.. like arms, legs and of course at the dentist.
Y - Yummy food you make: Working on that aspect of my life.. haha
Z - Zoo favorite: The monkeys!!

A Wave of Inspiration

Last night I had dinner with my parents and of course we laughed all the way through dinner. We ended the night with my dad doing the 'Vince McMann walk' out of the restaurant. I love their sense of humor but I think it's an acquired taste.

After dinner I met up with a good friend of mine. I consider him one of my 'adult friends', meaning that I think we will be great friends from here on out. Unlike my high school friends or people I go out with to party.

Anyways, we had a great time chatting it up over some wine and we started talking about careers. I currently work for the state and cocktail waitress on the side for extra money but both, to me, seem temporary. My friend is a federal cop now and is really excited about where this can take him. I guess it all just hit me and I decided I need to get my butt in gear and get back in school. I feel like taking a semester off was a complete waste of time. I have seen a few careers that I am interested in (Ultrasound Technician being at the top of the list) and now I just need to set short term goals to get there. I have an appointment tomorrow with a guidance counselor to put my plan together and get it in motion. I feel amazing about this so I thought I needed to share. :)

A New kind of Sunday Funday

First off.. Hello, my name is Jennifer and I am a blogger. But I'm new at this so please feel free to drop helpful tips and hints along the way.

When I think of "Sunday Funday" I think of drinking, partying, beer pong and drunk college girls.. and my cousin Scott. But now I am seeing it a little different. Let me explain..

Okay, my mom (Penny) wanted to start a new family tradition (which are very meaningful to my family) so she decided we should all get together on Sunday nights for dinner. Pretty much just me and my brother (Paul), sisters (Misit and Gina) and their kids (Lexi, Maddy and Jillian). Last week was the first one and we had a blast. My brother was consumed with football, his girls were looking for some way to get in his way and everyone else was entertained watching this go on. By the end of the night we had everyone up doing Zumba in the living room including my step-dad (Dave).

Last night was our second go-round of this Sunday night dinner held at my moms house and I found myself enjoying family time more than going out with my friends. My mom noticed right away and commented to me that I was growing up. I love those moments when you realize turning points in your life but even more when someone else notices and points it out to you. I spent the night laughing at little jokes, making smart-ass comments, had stare downs with my sister and watched my mom play with Jillian (the youngest niece). And as the night ended I was sitting there with a niece in each arm (entertaining them with the youtube app. on my phone) I couldn't think of a place I would rather be. This is my new Sunday Funday.