A Day of Not Choosing

I am officially nineteen now and I don't feel a year older.  I like my birthday, but at the same time it's usually a day where people ask what I want to do and I hate making decisions.  However, my family is incredibly thoughtful and listened to me when I told them I wanted them to choose everything. They surprised me with lunch that included an Olive Garden salad, mini corn dogs, and bagel bites.  I was planning on going to work that afternoon but thanks to their influence, I took a sick day.  We played games and had a lot of fun.  For dinner we got Wienerschnitzel and Farrs and ended the night by watching Thor 2.  I love my family so much and they made it a great day.  And if you can't tell, I love the best kind of food out there.

As for the bags under my eyes that my glasses only magnify, don't judge.
I've just been up late watching the Walking Dead.

No big deal.

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!

OHS Graduation

Yes, I do realize it's been two months, but here are my sisters and I on the day I 

graduated from high school.  After so many years of loving school and wishing it would never 

end, it came to the point of just wanting that time to end.  I think the main reason I made it through my senior year is what awesome friends I have made this last year.  My mom also blogged this occasion here.

Four years ago on Kelsie's graduation day...

...Two months ago on my graduation day.  Crazy how much we've both changed in four years.

On the day of graduation, I got caught up in the excitement of lining up, walking through the 'O', getting handed the diploma, listening to the speeches, moving the tassel to the other side, taking pictures, seeing friends.  This was on May 31, and I sat between two boys on the stand who would be leaving on their missions so soon.  One on June 5, the other on June 12.  It was hard to believe that school was really over and missions, college, and working would take place of the easy, simple, and safe environment of high school.  My friend Matt made this video for graduation to show at the very end and everyone loved it.  My family loves the fact that I'm the last one shown on the video because they think that is some secret message.  Trust me.  There's not.

After pictures were done, Austin and I went to Brick Oven with our families and grandparents. 

Then I went to my house for dessert and Paul showed me the hope chest he had made me. 

And yes I cried when I saw it if you can't tell by the picture.  But it's beautiful and I love it!

Later I went to my friend Max's house for a dessert bar with friends and then there was a senior all-nighter that night.  My high school experience ended so abruptly that I still feel like I'll be going back to Orem in August.  Looking at all the pictures of this day, I miss those times.  I had some really good friends and memories of that place.  But I am excited to start at UVU in the fall.

    

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!

Swimming

I came across this picture of me swimming, and it reminded me of some good memories.  When I was little, I would always go swimming at my grandparents' house.  They used to have an awesome slide that I was never brave enough to go down by myself.  My cousins and I would always play crazy games we made up like the diving game and tube man.  And I must say that I was a pretty cute kid.

My License

I have been freaked out to drive by myself for a very long time. I don't have the best sense of direction and I just get nervous. I have only driven once by myself in the one week that I have had my license. And it was to a delicious place called Bajio. Just 5 minutes away from my house. Down the hill. At night. Not bad.

There is a very good reason as to why this post is not accompanied by a picture. I don't like my picture. Someone actually told me that my picture was cute, but inside I was just thinking, "You are crazy!"

I don't like growing up.