Game Night

I just need to take a minute to look at everyone's faces, probably longer.

Obviously Miranda and I are the only two that want to look good for this picture, 

But this just makes me laugh.

a patch of blue sky

  

Growing up, I never had the same group of friends year after year.  At times I felt like a failure and as I look back on past friendships, I'm sad that some ended and why.  I don't remember much from junior high but I do remember there was a girl who I stopped being friends with because I thought I would be cooler if I hung out with different people.  Seriously Abby?  How awful and how often does that happen with kids who just want to fit in and lack the confidence like I did.  One bright spot is Miranda.

To give a bit of background, Miranda moved into my neighborhood during 7th grade.  We became best friends and spent the next two years hanging out all the time.  (Though if you ask us how it started, we don't know and we've tried to figure it out many times).  When high school started, we drifted apart.  I'm sure there are plenty of reasons but one of the main ones was that we were complete opposites and I was not ready or mature enough to appreciate that.

Then we started hanging out again a couple years after graduating high school.  (Again, don't ask, we don't know how this started either). It took me a while to warm up and become myself when we were together.  Not only because it is my nature to get close to people painfully slow, I didn't want to ruin our renewed relationship.  Over time it got easier to be myself and open up to new friends I have made through her.

I cannot even begin to explain my gratitude to her and I don't think she knows how truly amazing of a friend she is to me.  She is thoughtful, friendly, funny, gets me to eat healthier, adventurous so I do things I wouldn't normally, sees the good in others, and I am very happy that Miranda and I are friends again.

Food trucks

Food trucks are becoming more of a common sight now in Utah and I love it.  I've been to the food truck roundup countless times with family and friends and it never gets old.  Sometimes there are new trucks I haven't seen before, and sometimes I just have to get a favorite from Sweeto Burrito.

Plus, there are now always a couple of food trucks right by work so I'll occasionally stop by on my way home and get me some food. 

Since Mikayla, Madi, and I are all home for the summer and we all love food, we went to a food truck round up and it was fun catching up with these girls.  We've always been friends, growing up in the same ward.
And I hope that we can be as close as we are now for a long long time.

I am good at poker.

My supervisor had recently gone to a tea party with his wife and could not stop talking about it.  Especially the food.  So I helped him plan one for some people at work even though only a few of us showed up.

I am still new to the idea of drinking tea so while I had one cup, everyone else had at least three each, if not more.  

And then they taught me how to play a classy game of poker for a couple of hours.  Turns out I am pretty good at poker and almost won.  Unfortunately, I can see how people become addicted to it.

It was a fun way to spend the afternoon with coworkers outside of our work environment.

Forever Honor

In 2012 I went to EFY in Rexburg, Idaho and it was the best week of that summer.  I went with Mikayla and Melanie and I loved each person in my company.  We called ourselves Forever Honor and we became really close during that week.  My counselors, Julianne and Jesse, were amazing and I learned so much from them and from the rest of the company.

Some highlights:
: Strangely enough, I liked how we had escorts because I got to talk to the boys more and learn more about them.
: Eating together was always so much fun.  There was not a single meal where I was not having fun and laughing.
: I really liked that we had a small company, only 15 girls and 12 boys.
: Playing games with the company for family home evening and free time.
: Personal scripture study for an hour outside.
: We won the cheer and banner contest.
: Pizza night.  Eating, dancing, and talking about the boys.
: The Living Christ lesson with the girls and our counselor, Julianne.
: Variety Show.  Megan and James are going to be famous!
: Testimony Meeting with my company.
: During lunch one day, this theater group did a big Lion King dance that was so cool!
: Two dances, one was outside.

Row 1: Nick, Connor, James, Houston, Josh, Nate, Taylor, Morgan

Row 2: Mckenzie, Brielle, Steven, Quinn, Taylor, Megan, Abby

Row 3: Emily, Jennifer, Kelsie, Sydney, Kelli, Rachel, Larkin, Lydia

Row 4: Nathan, Jeremy, Mikayla, Alyssa.

Melanie, Mikayla, and me

My Wonderful Friends

Front: KayAnn, Ali, Chelsea, Lulu.  Back: Olimpia, Janae, Abby, Claire, Rachel.

I have been so blessed to have these friends.  At the beginning of my senior year I was struggling a bit with who my friends were at the time.  I wasn't fitting in with them and I wasn't comfortable.  I became president of FCCLA and starting hanging out more with Ali and Angie who were in the presidency with me. Trust me, that was the biggest blessing in disguise and was basically the only good thing to come out of FCCLA.  Because of them I became close with all of these girls and I am so lucky to know each one.  

Most are planning to go on their mission if they aren't already out, a couple are dating, and a couple are engaged. But no matter where we are in life, I know we can get together, get caught up with what is going on, and have fun.  They truly are great girls and I love them so much.

Washington D.C.

In the fall of 2011 I went to Washington D.C. with a group of students from school.  Sixteen kids and two teachers with their wives.  We got to ride the metro everywhere and see so many things.  It was exhausting but we all got along well and had so many fun times together.

Day 1: Red eye flight, we stopped in New York for a few hours before getting to D.C., Air and Space Museum, National Archives, settled into the house we stayed in.

Day 2:  White House tour (we even got to see President Obama leave and get into a helicopter), Bureau of Printing and Engraving, Supreme Court, United States Capitol tour and meeting with Representative Jason Chaffetz, National Portrait Gallery, dinner in China Town which was by far the best night of the trip with everyone.

Day 3: Mt. Vernon and National Treasure Tour, American History Smithsonian, bike tour of most of the monuments.

Day 4: Ford Theater, Holocaust Museum, Natural History Smithsonian, Arlington Cemetery, Iwo Jima Memorial.

Day 5: We had to get up early to pack our bags.  I shared a bed with Melanie who decided to not wake me up on time because I looked peaceful.  To say I was rushed that morning is an understatement.  We went to Colonial Days at Mt. Vernon and flew home.

Back row: Justin, Mike, Melissa, Mckinley, Jorgen, Chantelle, Shaner, Mikayla, Tiffany, Jentrie.

Front row: Dave, Melanie, Alisa, Justin, Abby, Katelyn, Claire, Max.

Austin and I

Growing up with Austin has been so much fun.  

Playing dress up or barbies, making Ramen and putting ice cubes in it to cool it down.

Going to the blue park, playing Rush and Diddy Kong Racing on Nintendo 64.

Designing houses and playing with the people on Sims.  

Getting rides from him to school in ninth grade and almost always being late to Mr. Downs's class.

Pretending to play the prerecorded songs on the piano.

Swimming at Grandma and Grandpa's house playing divers, tube man, and running and jumping into the pool.

Eating twin popsicles (the ones with two sticks) and my dad getting mad at us for leaving the sticks outside.  Blue was always our favorite.

Having sleepovers and making Krusteaz pancakes in the morning shaped like Mickey.

I don't know why I remember this, but in third grade it was my turn to lead everyone in saying the pledge.

I stood up in the front and started with, "Repeat after me."  

When I sat down at my table a couple of kids starting making fun of me for saying "Repeat after me"

but Austin told them to leave me alone and made me feel better for saying that.

In high school, on the first day of my art class, my teacher asked me if I was related to Austin.  

(He was the student body president).  I, of course, said yes and then she replied, "Oh, then you must be popular!"

Why yes I am since he is my cousin.  Haha.  Good one Mrs. Wait. 

Now he's off on his mission in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and loving it.  And his letters sound just like him.

I cannot believe how fast we are growing up.

Senior Trip

Back row: Claire, Lulu, Eve, Katie, KayAnn, Rachel, Abby, Karen, Melanie, Janae
Front row: Olimpia, Ali, Emily, Chelsea, Sarah, Angie

My friends and I decided to go to St. George after we graduated.  My friend Rachel has a condo up there and her family was nice enough to let us stay there.  With this group of friends there is rarely drama but there were some who were worried, me included.  But luckily things went smoothly.  The trip started off with driving in a hot car with AC that didn't work.  Our choices were either no talking while getting some fresh air with the windows down or suffer through the heat hearing each other's stories.  

The first night most of us went swimming and we made the best synchronized swimming routine.  The water was a strange green but we swam anyways.  We went back the next day to find out that after pouring chemicals in the pool they had to empty the pool because they didn't know what was wrong with it.  Guess we shouldn't have gone swimming...Oops.  

We spent most of our time listening to music, playing games, watching movies, or just talking.  It was Eva's birthday during the trip so we took her to Olive Garden for dinner and it was delicious.  Also we spent the afternoon at the St. George temple doing baptisms and looking at the visitor's center.  Cool experience to do with all of my friends in St. George.

Since we were so close to Zions we had to go on some hikes. It was rough starting because we lost part of the group while making the drive up there and we had horrible service so the two separated groups just decided to go on some hikes anyways and hopefully meet up later.  In my group we did Emerald Pools, or something like that, and it was HOT.  We were planning on going on another but we were all exhausted and hot.  So we decided to call it a day and go back. 

This trip was a lot of fun but definitely the perfect amount of time.  By the end of it I was starting to get a little cranky so luckily the trip ended.  But St. George was such a fun trip and was a blast spending more time with these girls!

The One and Only, Mr. Downs

Mr. Downs and I

If I had to say one thing that I missed about school, the first to come to my 

mind would be this man.  I had him for English Honors in 10th grade and AP English in 12th grade.  Luckily, my last year 

of high school was his last year of teaching.  I am fairly confident in saying that he is the best teacher ever.  He truly 

cares about his students and teaches them well.  I always enjoyed going to class to hear 

him tell stories and interact with the students.  Except for those days when our political issues paper 

or explications were due.  But even then I knew that as long as I did those assignments I would get full credit.  

Most days this is how class went: 

Bell rings to start class, talk, maybe tell a story today about his first dance or about his job in the orchard growing up, keep telling the story--students asking him to tell something else--so he'll talk about articles he has written and have been published, his family and how he only got sons because his daughter would've been called Epiphany, twenty minutes left in class now, pass around one of our daily paper assignments and evaluate each other, bell rings to end class, pass out new prompt for a paper due next period.  

He had a little retirement party the night of Spring Fling and most in the group had him so we went to see him before 

going to dinner.   It was fun.  Especially being dressed up like we were going to Gatsby's party.

Spring Fling 2013 group with Mr. Downs

You gotta love Mr. Downs.

Spring Fling 2013 --The Great Gatsby--

I did something that I never thought I would do.  I went on a blind date, and I asked him.  Let me just say that asking Michael to this dance was one of the scariest things I've done in my life.  I had never seen him before and I wasn't sure how the whole date thing would go.  As it turns out, it was a fun experience and I am glad that I asked him.  Funny though that when he answered me he had to give me his number :).

We made our very own flapper headbands!

The day of our day date was kind of rainy, so we started out at my house and then went to the park.  We played games, badminton, ate food, and enjoyed each other's company until one boy asked when the date was going to be over.  Little did we know that he had work; we definitely made fun of him and his poorly phrased question.

Pictures were taken at the Provo Library by my mom, and then we stopped off at Mr. Downs's retirement party since most in the group have had him and will miss him a lot.  We went to Pho Noodle House down in Provo and it was super delicious and fun.  We were at dinner for so long that we got to the dance with fifteen minutes left.  After the dance was over, we came back to my house for some Martinelli's and relaxing under the stars.  

Front row: Chelsea & Elija, Eva & Seth, Ali & Jordan, Claire & Aaron, Parker & Lulu.
Back row: Abby & Michael, Andrew & Melanie, KayAnn & Michael, Max & Olimpia, Oscar & Angie.

Spontaneity

There is only one week left of school until graduation and my friends and I needed to spice up our lives--which includes being spontaneous.  We have hardly any homework and we just want to have fun.  Our regular weekend parties usually include watching a movie, Just Dance, eating treats, and sitting around talking.  Don't get me wrong, we always have fun.  But we need to work on trying new things, and we are doing just that.

A couple weeks ago, Melanie, Seth, Ali, and I drove up to Salt Lake to see our friend Max in his concert.  He plays the cello in the Utah Youth Symphony.  It was so fun going up there by ourselves and we felt like adults.  While waiting for the concert to start, we went to the food court for snacks and walked around Temple Square.  After the amazing concert at Abravanel Hall, we drove back down to Orem and ate dinner at Denny's.  Me and Melanie were so crazy and I am sure, deep down, Seth enjoyed being with three girls!

Photo via Ali

Photo via Ali

Last night was the Senior Showcase where many seniors involved with the drama department each chose some of their favorite scenes and acted them out.  Many included singing and they are very talented.  After that, we went to Ali's house because it was just too early to go home.  After playing ping pong, air hockey, and around the world, someone mentioned going to see a movie at the dollar theater...spur of the moment decision that took a few minutes to plan out :) We went to Warm Bodies at 10 pm.  We packed Rachel, Ali, Melanie, Jake, Seth, Eva, and me into KayAnn's fifteen passenger van and had a great time together!

Prom 2013

I went to Prom this year with my friend Max.  He is such a nice guy and is super easy to talk to.  For the day date we went up the canyon for a picnic and game of croquet.  Max's mom took our pictures at the Duck Pond by BYU and we went to Gloria's Little Italy for dinner.  The pasta was delicious and we tried some of their gelato.  I got pistachio and lemon and it was really good.  After dinner we went to the dance, which was at Sleepy Ridge, and had root beer floats at Seth's house afterwards.  We had an awesome group and all of us are good friends.  Thanks Max!

Richard & Maddie, Max & Abby, Ali & Jake, Olimpia & Parker, Seth & Melanie.

Preference 2013

We played our own version of Battle of the Sexes for the day date and it was a blast.  The boys had to dress a doll, paint our nails, and braid our hair.  The girls had to hammer a nail into wood, shoot baskets, and tie a tie.  Parker and I won first place and then we had lunch.  My mom took our pictures and I think they turned out very cute.  We had dinner at Applebees and we went to the dance. Afterwards, we came back to my house and had ice cream.  It was so much fun and definitely one of my favorites!

Janae & Ethan, Olimpia & Andrew, Abby & Parker, Ali & Jacob, Caitlyn & Alan, KayAnn & Arturo,
Melanie & Jake, Karen & Eric

Sadies 2012

I asked by forking his lawn and he answered with a satellite dish.  For our day date we just played games and had tournaments with foosball and ping pong.  I am proud to say that Lars and I beat everyone at foosball!  My mom took our pictures and they turned out wonderfully.  Then we went over to Ali's house for dinner with a variety of soups in bread bowls.  It was a super fun dance and it was a great group!  

Janae & Oscar, Melanie & Parker, Lars & Abby, Michael & Ali, Angie & Max, KayAnn & Jake

Homecoming 2012

Our day date was breakfast in our pajamas and I loved having it in the morning.  All the boys made the food and we just sat around the table and talked.  

For dinner the boys, again, cooked for us.  They grilled steak and made potatoes with cupcakes for dessert and it was so stinkin good. We ate under someone's backyard porch where little white lights were hung and music played in the background.  We talked and laughed for a few hours before we went to the dance.  My group was so much fun at the dance and everyone was comfortable around each other.  After we went to Wendy's to get water and then we went home.  It was such a fun dance and now me and Nate are much better friends :)  

Nate & Abby, Scott & Melanie, Jake & Ali, Beth & Chris, Camilee & Taylor, Cozette & Kennen 

Prom 2012

One day, Seth came up to me after school and asked me if I wanted to go to prom with him.  My dad always says that boys should ask in person and it was actually really nice.  It may have been a little awkward, but I liked it a lot.  For the day date we went couching. I had never heard of it before but you take an old couch to different places and get a picture of everyone sitting on it. We even made it to our favorite teacher's house, Mr. Downs.  We also went to the library, to the baseball fields, Orem High, and the park.  I got ready and Annette did my hair for me.  Jake's brother took our pictures and then for dinner we went to the Bombay House.  Melanie's grandma was super nice and offered to make all of our beautiful flowers for us.  I loved everyone in our group and Seth was a perfect gentleman!

Couching at the house of Mr. Downs!

Seth and I.  My arm is sunburned and splotchy.  Nice right?  I guess that's what happens when you're trying to tan your arms and fall asleep instead.

Seth & Abby, Claire & Max, Angie & Jake, Richard & Olimpia, Parker & Melanie

Spring Fling 2012

I asked Cameron to Spring Fling and it was so fun!  We started the date off with spray painting our shirts.  The theme was Lion King or something so we all had different animals.  Cameron and I chose the rhino and our shirts are definitely the prettiest I've ever seen! We played games, had a pizza dinner, and went to the dance.  We came back and I think we had dessert and watched a movie afterwards.  Very fun dance!  Although, I did have a near death experience driving to the dance.  We were stopped at the red light and did a Chinese fire drill.  We all got out and ran around the van and hopped back in.  I guess I didn't close the door all the way because as we turned the corner, my door opened and I almost fell!  So scary and good thing I had my seat belt on!

Tyler & Allyse, Braxton & Madi, Katelyn & Tanner, Cameron & Abby,
Zack & Mikayla, Jake & Kristee, Tessa & Avery 

Sweethearts 2012

My friend Michael, who is in my ward, asked me to Sweethearts!  He asked with starbursts and I answered with a candy bar poster. We had a huge group but it was fun.  We went power tumbling for the day date and dinner was at the Old Spaghetti Factory.  It was a lot of fun going to the dance with Michael and getting to know each other better.  Did you know that he only read the first page of Hunger Games because it was written in first person?  Luckily I convinced him to finish it!  Haha jk :)

Preference 2012

In 2012 I asked Chance to Preference. We went "starburst bowling" for our day date but ended up just eating all of the starbursts.  For dinner we went to the Pizza Factory and then we went to the dance.  I think we may have gone to my house after but I'm not sure...it's been while.  Overall, it was a lot of fun!

Wilson & Katelyn, Reinhard & Jessica, Mikayla & Jack, Chance & Abby, Alexa & Jordan