VaCaTiOn!

My host family has been in Colorado for the week! I do miss them but I have had a blast. My friend, Amber C., actually worked and saved so that she could come out and visit me for the WHOLE week. We have had so much fun staying up late, watching movies, eating ice cream and so much more. She deserves this trip! She has never been to the East coast and with two boys at home it was a good time to get away.

We went to lunch today at a greek place. It was so cute! The food was delicious! It was a great time besides the man yelling at me. It was SOOO scary! I had taken some pictures with my camera and then switched to the camera on my phone. This man was staring at me the whole

time and it was making me VERY uncomfortable. He pretty much jumped from his seat, flew over to our table, stood in front of me, leaned in and demanded me to put the camera

away. YIKES! He disrupted the whole restaurant and upset me. He said he did not like m

e pointing the camera at him and apparently taking pictures of him. I yelled back at him that I was not taking pictures of him and that he could look for himself. He ran back to his table without looking. I put my camera away and was very frustrated that he ruined my time. Amber and I concluded that he must be hiding from the law or something. The waitress later asked us why he was yelling at us. We told her and she said that you never know what you are going to run into in NY. We later looked at the pictures, I took but three and NONE of them were even close to pointing at this guy.

Anyway, it has been a great time! She even cut and colored my hair. It is something new but I really like the change. It is a great way to start the new year. We will be going into the city tomorrow. I hope we can get to all the things that Amber would like to see.

MISS YOU ALL BACK HOME!

I don't like airports!

I woke up at 5 am to drop my host family off at the JFK International Airport that is an hour and fifteen minutes away. IT IS SATURDAY! All I wanted to do was sleep when I got home. Honestly that was all I could think about when I was driving there and back. Once I walked through the door I had some cleaning to do but then off to bed. So what do you when you clean? Well for me, I turn on the music REAL loud! 70s music it was! Turning on the music ruined any hope of sleeping at all for the rest of the day. It was fun to run around the house singing as loud as I could along with the music with no one but the dog there to listen. Poor dog...hahaha.

It is almost 3 pm, I am still in my pajamas and listening to the 70s. I do need to get ready to go...guess what? I have to go BACK to JFK International Airport to pick up my friend that will be visiting for a week. I am very excited to have her here! I just don't want to go back to the airport. Have any of you flown in or out of JFK? It is crazy. It seems as though each airline has its own terminal or shares it with four or five other airlines. It is such maze to get to the right one. I wish it was like Eugene or even Portland!

Happy NEW YEARS!

2010

I like the sound of that!

Reflections:

I started my 2009 in Idaho attending BYU for child development. I was also working at Arby's. I had great roommates and great fun. I learned so much about living with others, surviving on my own, seeking help when I needed it, managing my money, how much ice cream and a good movie can help, hahaha. I gained so much! Around the end of May and beginning of June I decided that school was not the place to be, for me, at that time. So I took a break and planned on staying in Idaho and working at Arby's.

Well my heart pulled me somewhere else, NEW YORK. After just a month out of school, working more hours and living in a beautiful townhouse. I opened a profile on a few different nanny websites. Just a day or so later I got a few emails and later a phone call from a family. They had three kids and were located in Long Island, New York. When I started my search for a family I never thought about location. I just wanted to see something new and have fun while doing it. I talked with the family for a few days and we agreed that this was a "match".

I worked on getting things in order to leave. It was about the end of July. I had planned a trip to go home to Oregon at the end of August but I had agreed that I would start work in New York in the middle of August. I had to break the news to family and friends back home. Some were excited for the experience it would give me, others NERVOUS, others not wanting me to go unless I came home first. So I thought to myself, I had the time and the money why not move the trip up. I packed up my car and traveled to Oregon for a visit!! Visiting with family and friends for a week and a half was much needed. I returned back to Idaho, packed up my things and headed for my Grandparents in Utah. The plan was that I would be there for about a week or so before I headed to New York. PLANS CHANGED!

The first family I was talking with broke the news to me that they would not be needing me as soon as they thought they would. They asked me to wait until December. I had to break the news to them that I would have to move on. Funny thing, they are still contacting me even after I told them I already am contracted until September, if not longer.

Anyway, I was worried that I would not find a job in time but I got in contact with the family I work for now. I have been truly blessed! I have seen so much here in New York and have enjoyed so much. As I have mentioned before, my host family has really welcomed me into their home and family.

I look forward to all that I will learn and gain this coming up year. I have set my 2010 resolutions and plan on sticking to them. I hope you all can look back on this last year with a smile on great memories and learn from those memories that bring you tears. Cheers to the New Year and all that we can do!

Thanksgiving week!!

WOW!

This has been quite the week. Below is an outline of what I did.

Monday night:

-Bed at midnight

Tuesday:

-Up at 5 am

-Drove to JFK to pick up Miriam

-Went to visit Ariel in Dix Hills

-Drove to Port Jefferson with Miriam

-Two kids had a half day. So we played while Miriam slept.

-Third child got home from school.

-Packed the kids for New Hampshire

-Rushed with my host-mom, Miriam and

the kids to Dix Hills.

-DROVE to the City! CRAZY!

-Went to see Radio City Hall Christmas Spectacular

-Took Miriam to Times Square with Ariel

-Drove back to Dix Hills and then on to Port Jefferson.

-Fell asleep on the couch off and on.

Wednesday:

-Got a call at 4am from the Police saying that my host-dads office window had been broken

-Went to my host-dads office in my pjs.

-Got back from my host-dads office at 5:30 am.

-Picked up the house

-Took a nap at 7:30 am

-Woke up at 10:30am

-Went to the grocery store to get food for Thanksgiving dinner. CRAZY!!

-Took a nap at 4:30 pm

-Woke up at 6 pm

-Went to dinner with Ariel and Miriam and saw New Moon

-Went to bed at 2 am

Thursday:

-Woke up at 7:30 am

-Organized Thanksgiving dinner

-9 am watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

-Waited for Miriam and Ariel while they slept in..Geesh

-Started Thanksgiving dinner at noon.

-Had a wonderful dinner with Miriam and Ariel!

-Went to bed at 2 am

Friday:

-Woke up at 7:30 am

-Got ready to go to NYC with Miriam, Ariel and Kristi.

-Drove to Dix Hills at 8:15 am to catch the train to NYC.

-Got into the City around 11 am.

-Walked through Central Park

-Went on a carousel

-Got on the Subway to the ferry

-Saw the Bull in the Financial District

-Had dinner in Little Italy

-Went back to Dix Hills around 10 pm.

-Got to Port Jefferson around 1 am.

-Cleaned the house a little because my host family was coming back to New Hampshire the next day.

-Went to bed around 2 am.

Saturday:

-Woke up at 5:30 am

-Got ready to go into the NYC again with Miriam, Ariel and Alex.

-Did some more cleaning.

-Drove to Ronkonkoma to catch the train.

-Caught up with Alex.

-Got on the Subway to catch the ferry for The Statue of Liberty Island

-Avoided the suspicious bag

-Went back to Times Square to wonder around with Alex while Miriam did some shopping.

-Around 6:20 pm I went to catch the train back to Ronkonkoma.

-Sat down on the train and realized that I forgot my car keys in Alex's bag.

-Waited at the Ronkonkoma station for about 45 mins for the keys.

-Drove to Port Jefferson.

As you can see, my week was so crazy but I enjoyed EVERY minute of it. I was so happy that Miriam could come visit me and Ariel. It was great to see the Christmas show! It was such a rush to DRIVE into the city. My host parents don't allow the nanny's to take the car into the city. But we were running late and my host-dad did not want any of us to miss the show. I was nervous about cooking the turkey but it turned out golden. Once I saw the Statue of Liberty I realized that I have been given such a great opportunity to be here. It is great to see so many things in such a small island. I am sad that I am away from family and friends especially during the holidays. But I am thankful for the connections that I have through this blog, facebook, phone and letters. I hope you all enjoy my blog entries and pictures. I miss you all!

It was a beautiful Sunday!

This last Sunday my friend Alex and new friend Martina came up to Port Jefferson from Southampton. We enjoyed beautiful blue skies, white clouds, warm temperatures and a cool breeze. It was nice to just walk around Port and take pictures of us here and there. We laughed so hard that we cried. Alex said she was glad that we were all getting along so that we could enjoy our day. Not that we had not gotten along but that I had just met Martina that day.

Alex really wants me to work on my photography. Saying that I am practically a professional. I am not sure about that. I have taken some really great shots that I am very proud of but not much more than that. I do have the camera of a professional but I don't know.

My host family is great! This week I have been working more hours because the youngest is sick. Poor guy! But he is so sweet. The other day I taught him how to blow his nose, he said " I am glad you came.""Came where, Stephen?", I responded. "Came here, so that you could teach me how to blow my nose". " Thanks Buddy. I am glad I came here to!" He is so sweet! I don't know if I mentioned it before but people have brought it to my attention that I am like a daughter in this house. It makes me feel so good.

Miriam will be coming to visit for Thanksgiving and I am so excited. Miriam, Ariel and I will be attending the Christmas Spectacular with my host family. I AM SO EXCITED! I can not wait for the holiday season....wait it is already here!

I hope everyone is well!

THE BEST DAY(so far) IN THE CITY! + ONE OF THE BEST WEEKENDS IN MY LIFE!!

Lets see.....how did it all start???

Ariel drove down from Dix Hills to Port Jefferson on Friday night. She did it all by herself....until she called me for help...lol. I spent the evening carving pumpkins with the family. Ariel and I woke up EARLY the next morning to start into the city. Waking up early on the weekend was not my favorite part but it was needed. We took the train into the city where we met our new friend, Stacy. Ariel pointed out some funny signs on the train and I pointed out the guy that blew her a kiss....lol. I have gone into the city about five or so times since I have been here. But this was the first time I took my big camera with me. It was heavy and annoying but I am SOOO glad I did. I got great shots that you will need to tune into Facebook to see. Anyway, we met up with Stacy at Madison Square Garden and started our day.

We:

-Walked through St. Patrick Cathedral

-Walked through Times Square

-Walked through Central Park

-Ate a FOOT long HOT DOG in Central Park

-Bought a black dress at H & M

-Took the Subway to Little Italy

-Ate pizza in Little Italy

-Walked through Chinatown

-Had some guy WHISPER in MY ear "Hey Beautiful" and then he followed us. We ran and lost him.

-Walked on the Brooklyn Bridge in the pouring wind and hard wind.

It was an absolutely wonderful day and the greatest company.

Then Sunday night I headed to the Southampton, my friend Alex is a nanny there. We got chinese food and talked late into the night. Monday morning we got up and walked through Southampton. We took some fun shots with my phone camera. I bought the CUTEST jacket, got great postcards and saw pretty buildings. I really love the Hamptons!

Then on my way home I called my GMA. She shared the great news that they sold my car. How would that be great news? Well, I will be rolling in the money...not really....lol.

My host family is absolutely wonderful and I LOVE them! I really do feel like I am apart of the family. I am so grateful that I found them.

As you can see(read), things are going great for me here. Please look to my Facebook for pictures. Thank you!!!

Well.....

I hope you all enjoyed the pictures from my last post. How is everyone doing back home? Wherever you might call home...lol. I have mentioned this before and was talking to someone yesterday about "home". They laughed and said "Audrey, where is your home?" HEY! I belong to someone...somewhere....I hope, lol. 

Anyway, the leaves on the trees are changing colors. BEAUTIFUL! We have gotten quite a  lot of rain over the past weekend. I was out driving with Ariel J. and the freeway had RIVERS running through them. It was so funny and scary at the same time. Yes, I did say Ariel J. She is here now! She actually is the nanny for the cousins of my kids. This should be a jammed packed two months for her before she goes to Idaho for school. Yesterday was my first Sunday at church since I have been here. I know that sounds bad but I worked about four Sundays since I have been here, sick another and then conference. I have to say it was quite interesting!! First Ariel and I could not find it, even with GPS. It kept saying "You have reached your destination on your left". It was a house! We finally found it. We had driven past it quite a few times but it was a different building before it belonged to the church. So we didn't recognize it. It was stake conference so the chapel and gym were full and you know how warm it gets being that full. The choir was.....good. There was actually one guy in the congregation that on the last song he belted each word out. Even the missionaries were giggling. Then in the middle of the meeting an older woman came into the chapel from the foyer. She got to the end of her pew and knelt down and did the sign of the cross on her chest. It was quite a Sunday. Later there was a munch and mingle for Young Single Adults at the President's house. Ariel and I met some nice people. Then I took Ariel to the beach so that she could actually step foot on the East Coast. It made for a nice Sunday.

I hope everyone is doing fine! Miss you all!