Officially a Master!

Dear Familia,

I cannot believe it's been two years since I first started at HKS. Side note: in October we will have been back from Peace Corps for three years, crazy. Time is moving at warp speed these days. Seriously.

The official graduation picture

I originally didn't want to even go to graduation. I wanted to either spend more time in AZ or head back to DC to prepare for the summer visit from the kids. Even after I decided to go, I really didn't want anyone to travel to Cambridge for the ceremony. Luckily, it worked out to bring a few of the girls back with me when I came from AZ. I am VERY happy that Zane and three of the girls were with me to celebrate. It was super emotional for me to look back and see them cheering me on as I received my diploma.

Walking through JFK Park after the ceremony

A big thank you to all of the family and friends, and especially my husband, that have loved me and helped me throughout the past two years. I know that I was perma-stressed, but I am so thankful for the experience. Now it's time to find a job! Will keep you all posted.

Love,
Jem

PHX to BOS

Dear Familia,

We have officially started our summer trip. First stop: Boston! Kiki, Abbi, Madi and I left to the airport at 3:30 am AZ time. Not fun. We had a layover in Houston before arriving at Logan Airport around 4 pm. This was Abbi and Madi's first flight (Madi flew when she was three, but obviously doesn't remember) and they were a little nervous in the air. But it all worked out and we arrived safely.

From the iPad: At Sky Harbor waiting to board

We had to make a quick pitstop at Harvard Health Services when we arrived because I had a major allergic reaction. We were in and out within 30 minutes prescription in hand and itching relieved. By the time we got to my apartment and had dinner the girls were exhausted. They ended up falling asleep by 8:30 pm and not waking up until after 9 am the next day.

These lovely hives were all over my body!

The girls especially loved riding the train. AZ is not known for their public transportation so the T was a grand adventure for everyone. It was probably good for them to have exposure to a system a little less hectic than DC's before we get there in a couple of weeks.

Alewife Station

Next stop: DC! We are all very excited.

Love,
Jem

GPR

Dear Familia,

I'm lucky enough to have a husband that loves family as much as I do. Since we don't live in the same cities as our families, we do quite a bit of traveling to see our loved ones. While Zane's family has been very smart about combining vacations with trips to visit family, we usually just travel to AZ when it comes time to see my side of the family. Recently, we've been trying to change that. The first Garcia/Pattea/Ramadan or "GPR" trip happened spur of the moment while we were in AZ for the holidays.

They all want to be like their big bro Zane ;)

On December 30th, we took a spontaneous road trip to San Francisco with my six younger siblings. We rented a van and Zane drove the 11 hours to get us into the city. It was great because we got to start the tradition of celebrating our anniversary in a new city every year AND we got to hang out with Dean!

1st Anniversary: San Francisco, CA

WE LOVE BEGOOD!

One of my 30 before 30 goals is to be able to bring my kids to the different cities I live throughout my life. None of them got to come to Guatemala, which I did not like. So this year they are coming to visit DC! Kiki, Abbi, and Madi are going to come to Boston and see me graduate. Then Cassi, Rudy, and Johnny will join us in Virginia for a week at Zane's parents house on the Rappahanock River. Then we'll head to DC for 10 days to check it all out. Very excited. We'll be sure to get some pics and such.

Love,
Jem

PS Sam get on board.

2013: The Year of the Graduate

Dear Familia,

Wow, what a year for us! We had 4 graduates :) So proud of the commitment to education we have in our family.

These two both graduated from high school. Now they are off to conquer both coasts.
Nina in San Fran and Cassi in NYC!

Auntie D graduated with TWO associates degrees after raising 5 amazing children and a bunch of grandchildren.
Such an inspiration :)

Love,
Jem

Graduating from the Campus of Champions

Dear Familia,

A big CONGRATULATIONS to my little sister Cassi for graduating from Mountain View High School. Like her big sister (Class of 2002), she is now a Toro for Life! She graduated at the top of her class and is now off to conquer NYC. Can't wait to see how this girl changes the world.

Sisters

The Elite 8

With our Mama

With the Aunties and Cousins

Love,
Jem

My Golden Birthday

Dear Familia,

This year I turn 29 on the 29th; it's my Golden Birthday. I am incredibly blessed in my life and I want to do something to commemorate my first 3 decades on this planet. In honor of this lucky year I am doing a 30 b4 30 list of things that I want to accomplish while I am 29. I'll make sure and do a post as I accomplish each goal.

My HKS YearBook Photo taken by Cristina Garmendia

Love,
Jem

4th of July

The Kids

 Dear Familia,

I had a wonderful 4th of July in AZ this year. We stayed at the Fort McDowell Radisson for fireworks and pool time on the 3rd and a movie marathon on the 4th. It was great.

Along with being proud to be an American, I am also proud to finally have accomplished one of the many things I either "pin" or "bookmark" to do sometime in the future. Tie Dye 4th of July shirts :) Miranda at one little minute did a fabulous DIY for this project and it turned out amazing...the kids even did most of the work!

If you check out her blog, also check out her "Project Repurpose". I originally found her blog because of this post and I promise that someday I will figure out how to do it! Probably need a sewing machine and any sort of sewing knowledge first though. Haha. Also, Lysh, for baby #2 I will make sure we get you set up for "Project Baby" :)

Love,
Jem

PS Next year, everyone should definitely come visit Zane and I in DC for the 4th. Come on, fireworks in our Nation's capital. What could beat that?

What is 4th of July without a star?

Cruize!

 Dear Familia,

I could not have planned my AZ trip better...I arrived late in the evening of the 26th and Lysh went into the hospital on the 28th. Cruize Nicholas Cordova was born June 28th at 2:02 pm. He was 8 lbs 9 oz and 20 & 3/4 inches long. He is so adorable and I love getting to hold this bundle of goodness in my arms.

Love,
Jem

Love and Loss

The last time I saw Kate

Steven and Courtney's Marriage Celebration

Dear Friends,


This poem was read at the Celebration of Life for my friend Kate in March 2011, again at the memorial hosted by her parents in Wyoming in July, and on countless other occasions. It also happened to be read at the wedding of my friend Steven who celebrated his marriage same day she passed away. On the anniversary of both, I thought I would share...

i carry your heart with me
(i carry it in my heart)
i am never without it
(anywhere i go, you go, my dear;
and whatever is done by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear no fate
(for you are my fate, my sweet)
i want no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing, is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;
which grows higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

-- e.e. cummings

Love,
Jem

Sneak Peak: Winter

Our Pre-Heat Uniform...we wore gloves to do homework!

Dear Familia, 

It's Winter! Ok, technically I think it's still Fall, but the Northeast got hit with a big snowstorm this weekend that definitely screams Winter more than Fall. Anyway, early this week it started getting pretty cold and seemed like time to think about turning on the heat in our house...see poor Amanda in my opening photo. I did a lot of research because we have a gas heater and I definitely don't want to be wasting energy. I did a few things to get ready and luckily our landlord is pretty amazing and he came up and did a few things around the house to get the house ready as well. 

MYSA RONN, Warmth Rate 4

Way back in August, I hit up Ikea to get a legit down comforter. Definitely the best purchase I made because it is super warm and I stay comfortable all night long. I went back and forth between the warmth rate of 4 and 6, and I ended up getting the 4. It was a good choice because I can add lighter blankets to heat it up on super cold nights or take them off if it's too warm.

Before

After

I checked out our gas company's energy saving tips to see what we could do to keep our energy usage (and costs) down. We tried to follow as many of these tips as possible. Our landlord, Tom, came up on Thursday night and tightened windows and checked doors for air leaks. He was also great enough to install a programmable thermostat that be great for those days when we forget to turn the heat down when we leave. Right now our plan is to keep it at around 65 when we are home and then really low around 50 when we are not home. Normally, it's not a good idea to let your air get too low while you are away because it takes a lot of energy to get the temperature back to a livable level. However, Tom installed an energy efficient forced air heating system a couple of years ago so it literally only took 15 minutes to get it comfortable in the house after he came up and we switched it on. Obviously, it was not a moment too soon because it actually started snowing when he came over.

My window about 30 minutes after the snow started falling

That night was actually the start of what is being called "Snowtober." Although it's not unusual for temperatures to dip, the big snowstorm  was definitely a surprise for this time of year. We only got about 2 inches here in Boston, but some spots in New York received 2 feet! Craziness. It was really weird because it was a rain storm (with thunder and lightning and everything) and a snow storm. Yesterday when I got onto the train I was using my umbrella and when I got off the train less than 10 minutes later it was seriously snowing. I am going to have to get my snow jacket and gloves very soon!

Backyard this AM

Backyard Pt. 2

Looking out the Front Window

Right now it's sunny and beautiful outside but still very cold. The snow is not melting very much at all. I thought about going out to make a snowman this morning , but then I decided to stay in my warm bed. Haha. Now it's back to homework.

Love,
Jem