Happy Birthday Casey!

Happy Birthday Girl! I hope your day is relaxing and you feel special and loved. Luv, Mom Warta

Celebrating New Friendships

It was almost one year ago to the day that I walked in the room where I was going to have a group interview with Southwest Airlines. I don't know if I've ever been so nervous! About 13 of us found seats around a large conference table..............everyone looking equally nervous. In a matter of minutes I had struck up a conversation with the sweet lady next to me, Sharon Stout was her name. Little did we know then, that we would be the only two that would complete the training and go on to fulfill both of our lifelong dreams, a flight attendant!! We not only hugged each other with joy when we realized that we had made it, we soon learned to cling to each other throughout the intense training. After training I was sent to Baltimore, Maryland and Sharon was sent to Chicago Illinois. Once again much to our surprise a month later our paths would cross..........this would be when we both realized that we would be based in Oakland Calif. together! We have enjoyed sharing a hotel room along with fellow classmate, Vickie Ross on weekends as we are on Ready Reserve Standby. Last weekend Sharon and I were assigned a trip together to Albuquerque, New Mexico..........it was on January 17th, almost a year to the date that we meet! We were so excited as we realized that between the two of us, we now were responsible for 2/3 of the plane! We had no idea what God had in store for us on that first day. What an amazing journey it has been.

This picture was taken by the 3rd flight attendant on our flight to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Sites Along The Way

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

Crown Plaza Union Station, Hotel

The old Union Station Railroad was turned into a hotel.

This is one of the rail cars used for a hotel room. The cars are inside of the structure of the Hotel. Hard to explain, but a must site to see!!

The room to the right is one of our hotel rooms, you feel the era around you.


SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

I stayed at the Red Lion Inn Hotel, it had very nice accommodations

A government building in Salt Lake City

ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

This is the Grand Hotel, rumor has it that it is haunted. The heat is fed through pipes, so it was a rather squeaky nights sleep...............ummm, haunted? Ha! I do find myself passing this trip up though, I'd rather go to Albuquerque when we're staying at the Hilton!

The view from my room. They had a snow storm a few days before our arrival. I tried to go for a walk..............made it to the end of the block, way too cold!!! It was 15 degree's with ice everywhere!!

The shadows on the mountains were beautiful before the sunset.

Another beautiful shot

I could watch the airplanes land from my room.

TUSCON, ARIZONA

This is the Radisson, much like a resort. Nice and warm, in the middle of Dec.

The hotel is like a studio apartment.

I love to have long overnights here, the bed is a adjustable sleep bed!


FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

Hilton Hotel

I arrived here two weeks after my stay in Buffalo, New York. It was the first time my bones felt warm!!

I had a corner room, it was in the 70's and I slept with the windows open, fantastic! I had trouble getting a good picture of the bed, the black on the back of the bed was actually lights......for some reason it wouldn't show up that way. Glad it wasn't in Albuquerque, New Mexico, could have said it was the ghosts!

It was gorgeous!

Even the bathroom had a Tiffany look! We always have treats waiting for us!

This is the view from my room. The hotels are on the shoreline of the beaches.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Holiday Inn On The Bay

My hotel was on the waterfront, the weather was in the 80's in January! Once again slept with the windows open and a breeze blowing through!

This is the view standing on my balcony! You can see the Southwest planes in the background taking off & landing.

Another plane landing.

Beautiful flowers.

I took these pictures while I was walking along the waterfront and talking to Sarah and then to Denise Warta.

This is the India Ship, it is one of the oldest ships around. It was literally right in front of my balcony.

You wonder how they get out........

I love the glow of the sunset, absolutely beautiful!!

A Working Trip to Oklahoma, Allows Time To Visit Friends

I am finally understanding my scheduling better and I'm able to pick-up some trips where I have enough ground time to visit with friends and family. After a wonderful dinner and visit with my longtime friends, Sharon & Max, Norman & Karen and their daughter Becky and her husband, they took me back to my hotel so I could resume my trip the next morning!

Sharon & I have been friends since High School............

along with Karen

looking a little older..............

This was the University where Max works as a computer tech.

Cody Attends FCHS Winter Banquet

Cody attended the FCHS Winter Banquet this year with a long time family friend, Katherine Tollenaar. I was away on a trip so Ashlie saved the day for me and played "mom", thank-you Ashlie! Not that Cody needed another mom or anything, it just made me not feel so guilty! Ashlie made sure that we had lots of pictures. Here are a few.........

Dad took this one as they headed out the door, Ashlie drove Cody to the house that they were all meeting at.

Time for the corsage..........

and the boutonniere.

A pose on the way out the door

Friends started arriving


They made a cute couple.

Everyone poses for one last picture...........

before heading off in the limo.

Cody with a friend since Kindergarten, Megan Maher

Cody's Visit's Matt, Jaime, Mya & Emily

Cody proved to be quite the traveler! On December 26th @ 4:00 am in the morning Loren took him to the Sacramento Airport to go on his first solo trip across the United States. He is able to fly free as a dependant of a Southwest employee...............but it can be tricky because you have to fly standby and the plane loads are very full during the holidays. Through the help of Katelynne at home on the computer telling him which flight had the most availability, he arrived in Buffalo, New York @ 9:45 pm! It sounds like he made alot of friends along the way!! Cody we're proud of you, great job!

Mya, Uncle Cody & Emily enjoy the snow!

A snowball fight!


When Cody first arrived it was raining and it had washed all of the snow away, much to his surprise when he woke up one morning the snow had returned! Here is a picture of the backyard when he first got there.........


here is what it looked like when it snowed!

Decembers Happenings

December was a busy month......

here is a quick look at the highlights!

On Monday Dec. 1st, Katelynne and mom headed home from the east coast. We had 2 hrs. sleep in a 24hr. time period. One of our layovers was in Chicago where the plane was delayed due to DE-icing. The feeling of Christmas was everywhere! We were both glad to be going home!

Chicago Midway Airport is known among the flight attendants and pilots for their popcorn and Pot Belly sub sandwiches. Mom had fun introducing these places to Katelynne on their trip home.

Of course we had to celebrate Katelynne's 19th birthday!!!

Cody was my hero......he had the Christmas tree up, waiting to be decorated when we arrived home! Most of the house decorations were also up and he and Dad hung the outdoor Christmas lights......it was a great homecoming!

Cody had a part in the FCS production of Charles Dickens......he did a great job

Charles Dickens, Cody's first high school production.

Of course us girls had to go shopping together....

then there was all of the baking..........

we had fun having Ashlie over while Matt had to study for school.

Ashlie makes the perfect sugar cookies!

gotta make those Gingerbread cookies,

sorry Matt W. we know how they were always your favorite, wish you were home!

Auntie Kate and Hailey, enjoying a moment together

trying to get a family picture...........

it took this...........

to get this!

watching u-tube, it really was funny!

Christmas vacation comes to an end as Katelynne has a get-to-gather with friends before heading back to college!