Where shall we go?

For a long time now, Oscar and I have known that we needed to start looking into others state to live in. It wasn’t until this past week when Oscar received an email that had been selected to take the ATSAT that the thought that we will probably not live in Miami any more really started to dawn on us. So here is how this all works, in the air traffic control field.  Oscar has been going to school majoring in Aviation Administration.  At the end of his second to last semester he is allowed to take the ATSAT, 8 hour long test he will be taking on the 26^th. Then depending on his score the process moves onto a physical exam, interview, background check, 3 months in Oklahoma for training (This could take up to a year before happening)… but before all this Oscar has to fill out a form in which he writes down the 2 top states he would like to live in. A job offer will be extended to a city in one of these two states chosen.   The obvious #1 is Florida. Even if we don’t end up in the Miami area (and odds are we won’t) at least we would be in the same state as our family and friends. However, the chances of getting a city in Florida are greatly reduced since it’s a very popular state amongst Air Traffic Controllers.  So what other state shall we choose, keeping in mind we don’t get to choose the city? I can honestly say I have never been faced with such a difficult question. We have to really consider the possibilities and understand that this could be the place where we spend at least 5 years. We have considered a few locations, but have yet to make up our mind. There are many things to consider; the climate and how family oriented a place is, are our top two priorities.   I’m uncertain of what the future has in store for our family, but I look forward to all the adventures that are to come.

Suggestions on any states?

Sun-N-Fun

This past Friday Oscar and I drove to Orlando to go to the Sun-N-Fun Air show. Saturday Morning, along with Jonathan and Kimberly Hoffmann, we drove about an hour to Lakeland Linder Airport where the air show was taking place. I had been to an air show in Miami, but this one was much larger. The air show was a lot of fun, and as with any outing the food was great.

The company was great too; it’s always enjoyable when we can spend time with Jonathan and Kim.  They are always so caring and great friends!

Oscar had so much fun, no matter how many times he sees an airplane he is always excited. I love it when we can do something together that he is so passionate about.  It’s great to see him in awe.

I love the air show not only for how spectacular the pilots can maneuver the aircrafts but for how patriotic the event is and makes me feel.  The loud sound the airplane leaves behind as it passes by, the sound that is so strong you can actually feel it in your body, that sound and feeling translates to the effort and sacrifice our troops give overseas. I’m so thankful and blessed that I live in this great nation, even with all the things that could be better, I still love this country.

Sun-N-Fun air show was a great experience; I can’t wait to go to another air show again. 

Hello Again

It’s been months since my last post, disappointed? Yes! Surprised? No. I always have a hard time sticking to what I start, and I was easily discouraged once I saw so much time was passing by and I was not writing any post. Since the main purpose of starting this blog was to keep an account our life, I decided to sum up some of the main events since my last post in one. Although many events were worthy of their own post, I will sum them all up in one, and start fresh and consistent with my post from now on (cross my fingers).

Anniversary

August 7 marked Oscar and my second wedding anniversary. I was a little under the weather so we stayed home and celebrated together.

NY trip

Oscar and I went to NY for Labor Day/ My Birthday; there we met with the Hoffmann’s and the Huicis. We toured the city, ate, and saw many of the great things NYC has to offer. It was a great trip, but at the end of the day I was glad to go back home to Miami.

Halloween

Oscar had to work on Halloween so we didn’t really do much. We did however get a costume for Millie. She was the cutest Turtle/dog I have ever seen. Judge for yourself.

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving we headed over to my in laws house. We spent a great day with them, ate delicious food, and we also got to see Oscars' sister Amy that was visiting from Washington.

Brothers’ Graduation

During December it was my Big Bros' Graduation. We celebrated after the ceremony with a small family and friends gathering. I’m very happy and proud of my brother for his achievement and look forward to what is in store for him.

Christmas

Christmas 2011 was an exciting one; we had all the family together. My mom came from Colombia and we were able to spend Christmas with her. We all got together at my sisters place and had good time with each other company. I almost forgot, and eating a lot of yummy food!

New Years

New years we spent some time with Oscar’s family. We went over their house had a nice dinner, some fireworks, and counted down to 2012.

Oscar's Flying Lesson

Oscar has always been into aviation and one of the things he would really like to do is be a pilot. He got the opportunity to take a lesson, and I was lucky to be in the back seat as he learned, some might not think that's so lucky. the instructor walked Oscar through a take off, I must admit it was a bit scary but so worth it. It was so much fun to be on the plane and the view was absolutely beautiful. 

The past months since my previous post have been a good, and I’m looking forward to what the future holds.

XOXO,

  Val

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Oscar and I purchased our first SLR camera, Nikon D3000.  Over the past few months we have attempted to learn how to use it properly, with little success. Our goal is to become masters of photography, okay I might be exaggerating.

We ordered a few cool gadgets for the camera that hopefully can help us, and make photography more fun, I don’t know how much more fun since I already love to take pictures of everything.

we've attempted to learn how to combine shutter speed along with aperture to achieve the picture we want. I'm always looking for opportunities to take pictures. I Love how a picture can freeze time, and anything that happened at that moment is captured in one frame.

Items Bought:  

Fish Eye Lens (did not like it as much as I thought I would)

Filter Kit - UV filter, CPL Filter, FL-D Filter

Close-Up Macro Lens Kit ( These are great for close-ups)

                     ^xo, Val

Summer Bloom

When Oscar and I first moved into our apartment, I decided to go ahead and plant some flowers. I love plants for the home, growing up my mom would always have flowers inside the house, and I loved how much it beautified the home. So, I bough a few plant pots some soil, and seeds. It all started out well, my plants grew, the flowers bloomed… but then I always end up killing them. The plants lasted about a month and then they just withered away and died, I tried this with 3 plants. After reading Daylins’ post Convolvuluses a few weeks ago I was really  motivated to plant some flowers again. About 3 weeks ago I bought some new seeds, and planted them. I’m happy to say that I already have flowers, I’m still waiting for the third plant to grow (this one was planted a week and a half after the others)

I hope that this time around I’m able to keep my plants alive for a long time. I can’t wait to have a house and fill my backyard with flowers. I love having them around!

Miami Heat

Basketball season is over, with the Mavericks winning the championship, and defeating my team, the Miami Heat. It was a great season, full of exciting and stressful moments. Needless to say the Heat was at the center of the media frenzy, unfortunately most of it was negative. The Heat going to the playoffs, and then the finals brought all our friends together, nearly every playoff game we watched with friends, which made it even better. Oscar and I also went to a few games; it was so much fun to be in the American Airlines Arena filled with energetic fans, and take part of what was a very crazy season. We hope that next season we will be able to attend more games.
A few pictures from the games we went to:

Family Times

Recently my 4 year old niece had a dance recital, so my family attended to see our little ballerina. I have to admit I was very surprised to see how much choreography the girls could remember, although there was someone on the side they could look for if they needed help.

I look forward to going to her next recitals! She’s such a precious little girl.

Here’s a pic of Lina  with my Sis & I

This is what I made for her, to pin on her dress!

There’s always an excuse to craft, I really liked it. I'll be doing more of these for different occasions. 

I can’t believe the first baby of the house Jeremy (my nephew) is so big, he just finished 4^th grade, at the end of the summer he will start his last year of elementary school. I could still remember when he was a baby. Okay, saying that makes me feel like I’m old. You know, reminiscing about when family member where babies, and saying how fast time is going by. 

Its been a very eventful month; recitals,  graduations and what not. we'll see what the summer has in store for us.

^xo, Val