Finals Week..

I think I have spent more hours in the library than I have outside the library. My diet consisted of carrots, wheat thins, pizza, water, gummy sharks, popsicles, candy bars, and anything else that we could grab out the door and take to the library. Study hall may have been the source of our brains deteriorating. We lost notebooks while we were writing in them, we ran into things, we fell off the beds, we started writing about sleep, and drooling on our textbooks. We carried headache medicine around with us, and we had a look of pure sadness and depression on our faces all week. We got kicked out of library's for eating popsicles, and we snapped at each other because of our grumpiness. We lacked sleep, nutrition, and showers. We may have killed a few trees in the process.. but it's better than ourselves right? we dreamed of packing suitcases and leaving on a jet plane. the smells and feelings of home taunted us during reviews, and study hours. The thought of home cooked meals, and warm showers made us shake with excitement. We may have shed a little blood, sweat, and tears..we may or may not have calculated the damage that would occur if we jumped off the balcony outside the dorms. We may have laughed until we cried, and we may have hey telled at 4 in the morning because we were so emotionally drained that we couldn't sleep. But we made it. We made it through the papers, the classes, the reviews, the early mornings, the late nights, the cold showers, the lack of sleep, the bad food, and the threats of that grade point average staring us in the face. Yes, Facebook and pinterest threatened to ruin it all, everything we worked for. But the temptation fell under the mighty click of the mouse. Are you sure you want your friend to change your password? Yes. yes I am. Deuces Hawaii, I'll see ya next year. You've treated me well, but sometimes a girl needs a little family and snow around the holidays. You will be missed. As for finals? Cheers to the freakin weekend.

I'm thankful for.... Maui

First of all let me introduce Tiffanee Pro Frampton
<------------------ She's kind of a BIG DEAL






She likes peanut m&m's, Toms, and a cute little missionary named Kyle.
She is basically the only reason I am surviving on this island. She knows what type of candy bar I need when it's that time of the month. She also watches Bones for hours on end when I need a break from the library. Her baking skills are a gift sent from above (I would know). And she can basically make anybody laugh. She's basically the most thoughtful, most generous person i've ever met. She talks like a little kid sometimes, she's not too cool to color, and she helps me make my bed when I get too frustrated. Tiff may or may not be the coolest person you will ever meet, but don't even think about it, i've claimed her. We're going to be neighbors one day, so find your own tiffanee!

A few weeks ago we decided to spend our Thanksgiving alone (because our families are haters and live across an ocean)... together... on Maui! The only thing that could make Thanksgiving okay was a little bit of sunshine from the greatest island on earth. Was our trip planned? Not in the least. Organized? Try again. Did we spend hours talking to asians on the phone trying to find tickets? You betcha. Did we make it? barely. Best memories of College so far? I'd say.


Our trip consisted of riding the sketchiest bus at night. First of all, you would think we were smart enough to get off at the right bus stop... i mean, we did make it to college. Maybe our teachers should have rethought their decision. But we made it, after what seemed like hours. But not before a crazy man in a dress who was drunk off his butt asked us for our "magic plastic cards" and basically sent our souls to hell all in one night came and kept us company... it was probably the scariest bus stop experience i've ever had.. by far. We spent the night in the airport, because our plane left so early in the morning. We were basically starving to death, and everything was closed. Probably the funniest night, [insert tiff's amazing rap songs here].

We finally touched down in Maui, and got to drive! No mom, we didn't crash, but it was a little weird at first. I guess that's what happens when you are so used to driving buses and walking everywhere.

To make a very long story short. Maui was the best Thanksgiving decision we ever made! We spent the days on the beach, and the nights with the family (whom spoiled us to death and treated us like royalty). We finally got some sun, we got to eat guri guri, charley's, and my uncles barbecue. The trip was better than I expected it to be, and I am thankful for family and friends who put into perspective what is really important in life. I am so lucky for them all. Here's to more spontaneous trips, tans, and good food. Thanks for the best weekend ever tiff!


First day on Maui



Driving Blue Champ!



tiff finally got her Hot Chocolate




we introduced her to the infamous Guri Guri



eating with the family before going back to Oahu



My Uncle spoils us with his amazing cooking




Finally getting some sun



How lucky am I that I can plan a trip the night before to go to another island and have the time of my life with my family and friends? I am lucky for the opportunities and experiences i've had since coming to Hawaii and I am lucky to have the family and friends that I do. Basically... Best thanksgiving break ever.

The best 2 years

My two favorite guys have been called to serve and I am so proud of both of them. They are going to change the lives of so many, including mine and including their own. I am so thankful to know them and i'm so lucky to have the opportunity to experience this important time of their lives with them. They are two amazing young men, and i love them :)


Elder Chad Lind Harris
Called to serve in the London, England mission.
Reports to the MTC March 22, 2012

Chad: I am so proud of you and the choice you have made to become a missionary and serve the Lord for the next two years. I see how you've grown and changed and i'm proud of you. Thank you for always being there for me, and loving me through thick and thin. You are going to change the lives of those people living in England. I can't wait to see how you grow and become closer to the Lord. Keep smiling and making people laugh. Thank you for always being there for me even when i'm across an ocean. I am thankful that I have met somebody like you. I am grateful for everything you've done for me. You are going to be an amazing missionary. I love you.







Elder Parker Lund Banks
Called to serve in the St. Louis, Missouri Mission
Reports to the MTC Febuary 1, 2012

Peaker: I am so excited to see you go to the land of the St. Louis Cardinals. I hope and pray that you will be able to get your work done with those baseball games going on :). Good thing Pujols was traded. Thank you for being the most amazing best friend anyone could ever ask for. You are my ginger, and I don't know what I would do without you. Thank you for making me laugh, and making fun of me throughout high school. and thank you for providing me with jokes :). i am so very proud of you and the choice you've made to serve. I can't wait to see the impact you have on St. Louis. These 2 years will go by fast so that we can get married. haha. i love you, you're my best friend and your'e going to be an amazing missionary. I love you my ginger.

Let's see..

college: where quiet hours mean run up and down the hall.


Read the chapter and take notes before class starts means scribble something on a paper with large enough spaces to fill up the page 10 minutes before the class begins.


Where homework time turns into Facebook time and Facebook time overrides sleeping time.


Where there's more hair in the showers and sings. and floors. and trash cans. then actually on the girls heads.


Where space is immediately associated with the planets instead of the room you have for your possessions.


Where nap time becomes a pipe dream.


Where live band is the guy outside your window singing and playing the ukulele at midnight.


Where petting zoo is outside your door.


Where the daily food groups consist of pineapple, juice, pudding, and bagels.


Where stressed is a daily emotion.


Rushing becomes your one and only speed.


Where a stray cat will find water, food, and a nicely made bed, and 25 different names.


Where the people riding the bikes and scooters are automatically "the cool kids". Cars? wait there's cars on this earth?


Where getting sick of a class can be cured so easily a caveman could do it.... "d-r-o-p".


Where walking becomes running and running becomes sprinting


Where friend are made, stories are made, and no matter how early you go to bed, you're still tired in the morning. here's to college ladies and gentleman.. it's gonna be good.

Welcome to college..

College: the desks are tiny, the teachers spit, you never stop walking, and the classes are easily turned from one subject to another. Ladies... if you are just counting down the days until you can go to college and meet mature boys... think again. I think that college has more immature boys than high school did. Boys: Sunglasses on the back of your head is not cool, stop swearing it's not attractive, and go to class. ,because let's be honest here, i'm walking down the isle to someone with a degree in his hand, not the guy with marks from his text book etched into the side of his face. Whoever invented college schedules definitely didn't plan on hawaii rain. I walk 10 feet out of my dorm to perfect weather, i turn around and it's pouring rain. I get into the building and it's completely done. It's like utah weather.... only prettier. It's nice walking around campus because it's small, but it's still far enough away to be a pain. I have completely given up trying to make my room cold. The doors and windows are constantly open and 4 fans are constantly running, and still.. it's hotter than hot. i've also given up on straight hair.. no can do with this humidity. i guess curly will just have to learn how to work, because that's the best i can do! So far i have met people from utah, florida, california, texas, idaho, and pretty much every other state, not to mention the people i've met from fiji, new zealand, australia, england, and tonga. This place is crawling with diversity. I had 17 languages in my first class of the day. I'm still getting used to hawaiian time.. everything starts later, everyone walks slower, and if you're late just walk slower! it will take some getting used to after getting raised by my mom who is early for everything, but it's kind of nice to just relax. shoes are taken off before you enter into some rooms which is weird if you don't like feet.... i hate feet. praying and reading scriptures in biology, and social work, and classes that you normally wouldn't is kind of hard to get used to but other than that it's good! its a good kind of strange. I'm glad that i have a mom who made a medical basket for me in case i get sick, and for a dad who stalked up my water in the fridge because without it i would be dying. i'm glad i have a mom who thinks of every little thing that i could possibly need down to bug spray, and power strips, and a container to carry my laundry detergent in. They may be an ocean away but the things they teach me effect my every day life. i'm loving college so far, only when i don't stop to think about my family being an ocean away. december 16th finals and then i'm outta here to see the familia! welcome to college... here goes nothin.

College?

I never realized how hard it would be to leave my family until i watched the car drive away. the image of my sister crying will be stuck with me forever. Seeing my family cry hurts me clear to the core, and i hate it. I want this to be a happy time, and i want to experience the world and learn and grow but it's so hard knowing that in order to do that i have to leave the people i love the most. I will never ever take for granted the time i get to spend with my family. i have the best siblings, and the best parents in the whole world. i realize how lucky i am to have parents who would fly across an ocean for me, i honestly don't know what i would do without them. On a happier note... I am in hawaii! hot weather, sand, pineapple, and whole lot of happy people!

This does not even show how much luggage we had. I took 6 bags (one softball bag). needless to say, i may have overpacked. but oh well! we also made 20 thousand trips to target on the way to the school.






We should have gotten an award for how good we packed that car in. well i guess i shouldn't say we... dad did a REALLY good job haha it was a struggle, but we did it!




The bed... there's not too many colors that can match with the gorgeous pink cabinet color, so we went neutral! The bat bag in the middle of the room... this might become a problem.







Pictures and necklaces... this is a little taste of home.







This is where i'll be spending most of my time in my little nook!! yay for homework.
Needless to say... college has begun.. ready or not.. here i come!

Necklace Obsession

I have aquired an obsession with interesting necklaces.. from tiny harmonicas that play,bicycles, and pocket watches.. to these two,oh how I love them.They are definitely worn with love.

Oh The Places You'll go

I've learned, that the most amazing days are the days where you let all intuition fly out the window, and just go with whatever the world takes you. Hop in the car, and drive until you find something entertaining to do. Take risks. Stand on top of a mountain and watch the world change before your eyes. Breathe in deep, and realize how lucky you are just to be alive. I've learned.. that there's quite an adventure on the other side of fear, hesitance, and habit. Let it go, just once.. you never know where you may end up.





“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.”-Leo F. Buscaglia

To do...

Buy some balloons.. and spread some cheer.


Fill up at least 1 snowie Shack stamp card.. The Scera only of course.


Make Cookies for someone, and tell them everything good about them, leave them on the doorstep but don't leave your name.



Read a book while sitting in a bubble bath, don't worry about your pruning feet.. enjoy your book until the water turns cold.




Workout with a smile on your face, you never know how fun it may turn out to be.




Jump off the high dive




Have at least 1 fire where you don't worry about the smell. And Eat too many marshmallows to count.




Do a movie marathon at the nearest theater




Wash your car.. by hand




Get a flip flop tan line




Give someone flowers.. even if you pick them from the garden




Slip n' Slide




Have a dance party in your favorite underwear.. with your sisters of course.




Stay out past curfew.. just once.




Buy some crazy sunglasses




Visit the vans store at least once a month




Invest in teal, orange, or sea foam nail polish, if you're feeling risky try all three.




Float down the river




Blast country music, feel free to sing along, it's quite necessary




Finish an entire disney coloring book




Do baptisms for the dead




Keep a detailed journal about the summer




Work, work, and work.. between summer fun that is.




Concentrate on NOT becoming an adult, it's overrated.. nothing better than sidewalk chalk




Play in the sprinklers, it's a requirement to put it under the trampoline

Blank Pages.

Well.. this ongoing flirtation I’ve had with the real world has hopped on a train and slammed right into me, and on its way it made a few pit stops, taking out every indecisive, nervous, and scared senior on its way. I remember standing on the black top at recess playing red rover and talking with the girls about how far away graduation was. I remember being the “big kids” in sixth grade, top of the totem pole, only to realize we’ll slide right back down to the bottom when the back side of summer approached. When the first day of senior year came, the first thought I had was that I would never do this again. I would never walk through the halls of Timpanogos on the first day of school. I would never be a senior in high school again. This year has been the greatest year of my high school career. New friends, teams, boys, jobs, and classes pushed me into a new life of the unknown. There is no turning back now, it’s done, it’s over, and I don’t regret a thing. However, I know that if I didn’t dedicate at least a little bit of my time to thank some of the people who have carried me through the last 18 years, I would regret it.

Mom and Dad, If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here. Literally. I can’t thank you enough for all the support you’ve given me throughout the years. Not only with school, and life, but especially with softball. Thank you for being at every game, being the loudest, taking my stats, filming my plays, pitching to me, hitting to me, and driving me to all parts of Utah to find the right bat. I don’t know many people who have had the parental support in their sports as I have. Thank you for teaching me how to respect, love, and enjoy life. Thank you for teaching me everything that I know, and for teaching me that although softball is my life, it isn’t my life, and there’s more in life. Thank you for spoiling me, and for giving me more than a lot of kids dream of, even if I didn’t show the appreciation that you deserve. Thank you for putting up with my bad attitudes, and for being so proud of me. Thank you for everything, thank you for being the perfect parents for ME. I love you, and I’m going to miss you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to experience life, and giving me the opportunity to achieve my dreams.
Angie and Shalana, what can I say? We fight. We yell. We argue. We laugh, we cry, we dance, and we sing. Thank you for being there for me through everything. Thank you for staying up with me at night and talking about the future. Thank you for being at all my games, when I KNOW you have something better to do. Who knew watching your 4 foot nothing sister yelling at the umpires could be so entertaining. Angie.. thank you for teaching me everything I needed to know to make it in high school. Thank you for giving me advice and for telling me what’s right. Thank you for believing in me in everything, and for sticking up for me whenever I was down. Thank you for taking time out of your day to talk to me on the phone, because you’re too far away to drive home. Thank you for cheering me on, and for making me laugh, and for bugging me so bad to the point that I can’ t help but laugh. I love you, and you better move to Hawaii. Shalana.. thank you for being stubborn like me. Thank you for listening to me when I try to help you, even though you want to get mad at me. Thank you for supporting me at all my games, and for carrying my bat bag even though I say I got it. Thank you for enjoying my games, even though you pretend like you’re just there to get a tan. Thank you for making me late to school, and for letting me drive you around, even though it gets annoying, I’m glad we got to have this last year in high school together. You made this year amazing, I loved sharing the high school experience with you, and for seeing you grow in a new world.

Frank Bramall. Thank you for being my coach for all these years. Thank you for believing in me, when no one else did. Thank you for showing me my potential, and not taking no for an answer. Thank you for puling me aside before games and telling me how much you believe in me. Thank you for giving me advice about school, and boys, and family. Thank you for being more than a coach. You taught me about life, and respect, and about the game that I love. Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.

My friends and teammates. Thank you for everything. Thank you for being there for me through the toughest of times. Thank you for being there when I needed you, and for supporting me in everything. I’m going to miss you all so much. Thank you for making me laugh, and staying up late to talk about our lives and what we’re going to do in 5 years. Thank you for being a good influence on me, and for showing me the kind of person I want to be. Thank you for driving me crazy, and for being honest with me when I needed honesty. And for my teammates.. thank you for being there, and having my back through everything. You have literally become my family, and I am so thankful for the hours and hours I’ve spent with you on and off the field, and all the memories we have had. Thank you for pushing me to my limits, and helping me become the athlete I am today. I would not love the sport like I do if it weren’t for you.



Thank you to everyone who has supported and loved me throughout my life. I am so thankful for all the support I have gotten, and for all those who believe in me. I am going to miss everyone so much here in Utah, but I hope to keep the relationships and friendships through everything. And to the youngins.. don’t take anything for granted. Be respectful, and be honest, and be true to yourself. Don’t let anyone take your values, and ideas away from you. Live a happy life, away from drugs, alcohol, and peer pressure. Happiness is a choice, a destination, it’s a mood. It’s not something that you have to wait for, you can be happy if you choose to be happy, it’s YOUR choice, not anyone else’s. Get high on life. Not drugs. And don’t stress out about the future. Do what you love, get good grades, and work hard in high school, and the rest will fall into place. Good luck class of 2011, Do good things, and win we will. Here's to the future, cause we're done with the past.

To the ladies.. I've learned..

I feel the need to dedicate at least one blog post to the ladies, especially my fellow T-wolves. To the girls who will be the top of the food chain next year, and to those just coming in trying to find a place in this world. I think the biggest thing I have learned in high school is this: the dances, the boys, the dates, the weekends, the parties, and the kissing... IT DOESN'T MATTER. In the end those who have kissed 50, and those who are the dreaded "V.L.", You both walk down the same isle, and step into a new world of the unknown. In the end, we are all the same. Scared, confused, and nervous about the future. The friends you think will have your back will let you down, and those who don't seem as important will come through for you when you need it most. The days you decide to skip will make you wish you hadn't when you have a pile of packets sitting on your desk, and the two minutes you decide to be late everyday will seem all too short when you're sitting in arc. Don't be lazy, and don't give up on yourself. We have built this image that getting good grades, and planning for the future is "nerdy", and no one can possibly be cool if they have higher than a 2.0. THAT'S WRONG. not only will college applications hit you like a ton of bricks, but you'll sit in term 4 of your senior year looking back, wishing you would have tried harder. Because college doesn't care! they don't care about the party you had to go to, or the cool thing to do. All they care about is your willinigness to work and put in the effort.

I've learned that you're better off finding one good friend instead of trying to have the whole student body kiss the ground you walk on. Find REAL friends. Becuse the friendships you think you will have for life will quickly crumble when you start fighting for the top position on the totum pole. Go to class, and do good. It's not about everybody else, it's about showing yourself what you can do. You want to get high? Play the last inning of a championship game, or get thrown in the air by your cheer teammates. You want to be unique? You want to be cool? Put down the pot and go to class. Respect yourself and others will respect you. Smile in the hallway, and treat your teachers with respect. Stop crying about who asked who to the dance, and grab someone who doesn't have a lot of friends and go to a movie, you'd be surprised. I've learned the hard way that it's too late now to wish for time to slow down, real life is here, it's now, and we can't run away. So cherish the good moments. Give your parents a hug and a kiss, and tell them thank you for making you who you are. Put your phone away and hang out with your brother or sister for a weekend. Because all too quickly, you'll be gone, and you won't ever be the same again. Save your tears for something and someone that matters, not because some girl got mad at you because you talked to her boyfriend. IT DOESN'T MATTER! At the end of the day, you are who you are. That's what defines you. Not how much pot you smoke, or how many guys you've kissed, but how you face adversity, how you treat others, and yourself. How you treat your family, and where you're going in life. Live it up, because it goes all too fast.

Dress up for spirit bowl, paint your face for the games, have some pride in your school, go to the football games and cheer louder than the person next to you. You're not too cool, so have fun, live it up, and make new friends. Because at the end of the day, it's not the drama, or the score, or the tests that matter, it's the person who walks down the isle in her cap and gown.. the girl who has made herself, her family, and her school.. proud.

Festival of..

Our day started with a drive to spanish fork. Normally, Spanish has some pretty interesting people. But there is nothing like seeing an army of pink bodies walk miles down the road. You guessed it, we were on our way to the festival of colors. Our first thought, why is nobody smiling? What in the world are we getting ourselves into? We were about to find out. The five dollars I paid to park across from the temple? Best five dollars I have ever spent. The walk up the hill consisted of getting hit by various pedestrians who thought it was cool to hit people with chalk on their way up to the temple. Sure great, that's what I'm here for. But please.. keep it out of my mouth. Ladies with the babies covered in chalk? That should be illegal. The rest of the day consisted of this: Everybody.. put your hands in the air, do you feel that? It's the heartbeat of the world, do you feel the energy? Now.. everybody hug 20 people! Hmm.. the entertainment of the festival of colors. Let's just say, it's different. Girls with buzzed heads and poncho's, boys with hair down to their shoes, girls with dreads, and boys wearing skirts. This is just the beginning. Somehow we got caught in the middle of the crowd. Rules of advice for the day: if you're a crowd surfer, please don't come by us.. because we all duck and cover, and end up watching said crowd surfer fall on the ground in front of us. sorry. I want to make a shout out to tough guy! : If you get angry when people bump into you, and you feel the sudden urge to push them to the ground, maybe the middle of a mosh pit and a crowd of 5,000 teenagers jumping up and down isn't exactly the right place for you. Step one in recovery: recognizing your problem. I've never seen so many people covered in a sea of color simultaneously jumping up and down. By the end of the day most of us were wishing we could go back to the free hugs. We burned witches, threw chalk, and listened to music that probably would have sounded better if we had marijuana running through our systems. we got pushed and shoved, dirty, and covered in mud. We hugged strangers, and felt the heartbeat of the earth. We watched people fight, and were the reason many crowd surfers probably had a headache. We asked ourselves, why are we here? and why haven't we been here before? and by the time we bid farewell to hare Krishna, we realized why those walkers didn't have smiles on their faces. They had just experienced he most emotionally draining, craziest, funnest, most colorful thing ever. That, and they probably had too much chalk in their lungs to function. Festival of colors.. we'll see you next year.

I can breathe again.

Tomorrow, My senior year of softball will begin. I am counting down the minutes! Here's to the gym floor burns I have accumulated over the past couple of months. These shall be replaced by raspberries, burns, and dirt covered blood. Gross, I know. I do love fielding off a gym floor, and I love hitting in the cage, and runnng around inside.. not. Here's to the sunshine, fresh air, and freshly raked dirt beneath my cleats. Oh how I have missed you. Hoodies, sweats, and nike shox, replaced with button-ups, underarmour socks, and spikes. Welcome to the life of sports bras, ponytails, and no makeup. Team dinners, rock band and one tree hill tuesdays. Gummy Sharks, handshakes,and ice baths. Our relationship with the trainers start now. Here's to the dirt in your teeth, ears, and anywhere else you can imagine. Here's to the holes in your underarmour, and orange.. EVERYWHERE. Welcome back to stats, chalk, and crazy dugouts. Mom making you undress in the garage so that you don't track orange dirt in the house. Ice water, tanlines, and busy schedules. The entertainment of my parents in the stands will bring a smile to my face.. right after I tell them to be quiet. Bus rides, practices, and sleepovers. Here's to orange shower water, tan faces and hands, sore muscles, and great moments. Here's to the errors, strike outs, and lost games which will only make us stronger. Here's to our opponents who push us to be better, the coaches who spend hours training us, and our family and friends who have been there every step of the way. Here's to he begining of what we hope to be the greatest memories, moments, and games of our high school careers. The memories and relationships that we will hold onto forever begin today. The last time we lace up our cleats and wear the blue and green is not too far away, so let's make the most of it. We started together, as a team, and now look at us. College, families, and careers are soon to come. But let's not quite forget the career that is most important right now. Softball. Through the good and bad, trust in each other, and good things will happen. Tomorrow, we lace up our cleats, and begin to play for the name that is most important for the next 3 months.. the one on the front of our jerseys. Softball.. it's been much to long.

Dirty Dancing

hmm.. where should I begin? No, my title does not include bumping, grinding, jersey shore turnpiking, fist pumping, dougie, or break dancing. While a senior in the year 2011, these words are part of the dance vocabulary, yet, there are probably a total of 3 and a half people that can do these dances justice in this bubble we call o-town.

The question: Walking up and asking a person face to face is completely sufficient, yet completely and utterly frowned upon in this establishment. Ladies and gents, you must spend hours and hours thinking, devising, and scheming a sneaky, destructive, annoying, and unnecessary way to ask that boy or girl you've had your eyes on. and no, it doesn't stop there.. you will then wait for 2 weeks for that guy or girl to answer you 3 days before the dance because they took too long thinking of a clever way to say yes. If you're a girl at Timpanogos High School, I would suggest asking that special someone the day after the last dance or he or she might get snatched. Why must you ask them 3 months in advance? Because girls are insane. Oh and just a little food for thought:Do not, and I mean do not even THINK about asking someone who another girl has even thought about having as her boyfriend. This will just lead to many problems for you later. Girls will be girls.

The group: You must then spend days, tears, arguments, and drama deciding who is going to be in your group. If you ask me, just go alone, who cares about the group, you'll have less gray hair if you just ditch the whole group situation. "I can't go in her group because my date doesn't like hers, I can't go with her she stole my eraser in second grade, We have the same hair color there is no way I can be seen in a picture next to her". It goes on and on and on. Save yourself the time and energy and ditch the group.

Planning: You must then spend multiple days trying to come up with something that everyone in your group agrees with. You must find a day date, a dress, shoes, makeup person, hair person, a car, tickets, dinner, after the dance, who's riding with who, who get's what seat, what kind of lip gloss one will be using, nails, eyebrows,legs, arms, heads, shoulders, knees, and toes. By the time you are completely finished planning, you will commit to yourself never to ask someone to a dance again.

The Dance: when the bass starts pumping let's all put our hands in the air and jump around until our legs are too tired to jump anymore. And then we will just stand there and wait for someone who thinks they know how to break dance to make a circle and make a fool of themselves while they do what they think they call "battling". We'll all clap and cheer because I think he just did what the Jabbawockeez did on season 1 of ABDC, give him a a creepy white mask and he's destined for greatness! There's those who form a train with their entire group and weave in and out of the crowd while holding onto the person's shoulders who is ahead of them while the rest look on in embarrassmant. There's those who stand in the corner and drink water because their mom made them go. There's those who think they can dance.. but can't. Those who know they can't dance.. but try. Those who try way too hard. Those who are afraid of their dates. Those who are measuring the space between them to make sure to have 2 book of mormon widths between them. Those who are too afraid to mess up their hair. Those who let loose and go out of control. Those who makeout so ghetto fabulously during the slow songs. And those who run to the bathroom because they need an excuse to not see their exboyfriend dancing with another girl. Welcome to high school dances ladies and gentleman. This will be followed up with an after party, where? To be decided. Who's going to sit where? Another hour of arguing. Kissing? Let's keep that to your own imagination. And the drive home.. Who will be dropped off first?

It all starts with a question..that question, will only lead to days and days and days of more questions, less answers. And hopefully it'll lead to a lot of good memories, bad dancing, and a whole lot of tired high school students.

Dear teacher I have Senioritis

I will look in the back of the book for all of the odd answers.. so when you give me a whole assignment full of odds, don't expect me to learn anything. If you're not going to grade this paper, then I will probably write about something irrelevant from shakespeare.. Like unicorns.. or my love for Nivea Chapstick. I couldn't tell you where my locker is.. I use my car. So when I say I'm going to my locker.. I'm probably just sick of hearing you talk about graphs, and cosines. And when you say I need to learn how to do this by hand, I don't really. Because when you're not looking I'll just ask my calculator to do it for me. As long as the answer is right, why do you care? I really would love to learn how to sew a gecko filled with rice... but I'd rather learn how to sew a snuggie. Because it's cold in here. No i'm not texting my friend who's sitting across the room, I'm texting my mom. Obviously. I read the book last night, but hey at least I didn't watch the movie right? Before you ask, I'm not sick, I just don't want to get ready anymore. And I will continue to greet this six hour block of my day with the attire I need to survive- A hoodie, boots, and my hair pulled back. Grading papers with blue pen instead of red makes me feel dangerous, and stapling my papers with a mini stapler makes the assignment much more enjoyable. I didn't forget my book, it's in my car, I just don't feel like carrying 10 pounds of dead weight everywhere I go. I don't have to go the bathroom, I have to go the vending machines because those little cheese crackers make this class go just a little bit smoother. And yes teacher, I really would be able to focus more if you would just erase that little marker line that you missed when you tried to erase the problem. I'm not sleeping, I'm just blinking really fast so it looks like my eyes are closed. Senioritis. You've been too good to me.

Give me an airplane..

I walked into my room, and a note was sitting on the edge of my bed. The note had been typed, and my name lined the front with red pen. Not knowing who it was from, I slowly opened the freshly printed page as if the words would somehow change depending on the speed I read it. The first line "What's up ninja!?" was typed neatly underneath my name. I now knew that my older sister had written the note. It was the day she left for college. She was moving 15 minutes away, and to me.. that was a lifetime. We had recently become the best of friends, getting over the "get away from my friends, I will kill you if you tell that story" stage. I read the note without crying every crossing my mind. By the end I could taste the tears on my lips. My older sister, the one I go to for EVERYTHING was leaving me. And to me, a 13 year old girl, that was the worst thing that could ever happen to me. I didn't have my older sister down the hall from me whenever I needed her. She has always been the strongest most amazing person that I know. She has gone through more than I have ever come close to, and she has overcome it with class.

I now, sit here, 17 years old unfolding the old, over-read worn out piece of paper from a sister who now lives hundreds of miles away from me, married, and living the life she used to dream of. If only "figuring out a day that we can all get together once a week" was as easy as it was 4 years ago. She told me I would go somewhere with softball, as long as I played with class, respect, and humility.She said "Win with class.. because the next game you could lose. Treat everyone on your team and on the opposite team with respect. It is just a game, and as long as you are trying your hardest you will go far in everything you choose"I am now, 4 years later, looking forward to playing at BYU-Hawaii, thanks to a sister who saw the right way to get to my the dreams. She passed the torch to me, to take care of the family, and be the older sister.. which, I will admit I haven't filled her shoes with the poise and class she hoped for, but I've tried. And I know she is proud of me.

I am thankful for a sister who isn't afraid to post scriptures that inspire her on facebook, and one who will spend her nights with her little sister, instead of going out and hanging with her friends. I'm thankful for the texts, calls, and facebook messages, asking about my day, my life, and telling me how proud she is of me. I always lived my life according to what she did. She is my older sister, she used to always tell me not to make the mistakes she did. I tried so hard to learn from her mistakes, and be the person she wants me to be. And now.. I'm still chasing after the kind of person she is. And if, when I'm her age, I am half the person, friend, and sister she is, I will be one lucky girl.

I am thankful for everything that she has done for me over the years, and I don't think she gets enough credit. I don't think I've ever really told her how much I love her, and how much I respect her. So Angie, I hope you know how much I love you. I hope you know that you have been the best sister I could ever wish for. Thank you for being my rock, when I had no one else. Thank you for always being on my side, and telling me when I was wrong in a situation. Thank you for telling me how proud of me you are, and for showing up at every game, when you surely had better things to do. Thank you for dancing in the kitchen, sneezing like a baby, having road rage, punching me with your rings, smacking my butt, rocking out to Pink with me, and taking spoon me runs on a rough night. Thank you for always loving me more than your friends (even though you tried hard to deny it). Thank you for inspiring me to do bigger and better things in my life, and teaching me to handle obstacles with class. I miss you more than you will ever know, and I can't wait until my sister is only 15 minutes away from me again. Thank you for knowing exactly what to say, and for loving me through all the things I have put you through over the years. I love you sister. You are who I hope to become. Give me an airplane. I miss my sister.

My walls are breaking..

I Tried to come up with a witty or sarcastic comment to lighten the emotions my body has decided to put me through this week, but then I realized.. Life sucks. And sometimes, I just need to realize that life sucks, and a happy face won't make it go all away. Good things happen to bad people and good people get the shaft. My work shift started with a missed call.. which I now look back and am thankful I didn't take, for the mere reason that I wouldn't have been able to go to work after.

My smiles and laughter were cut short when my mom walked towards me with tears in her eyes. To hear that someone you love with everything inside of you is hurt.. or sick.. is the one thing that isn't fair in this world. I kept my guard up, I refused to cry I refused to let it break me.. that plan worked until I sat in my bathroom with my door locked and my music blaring.. I broke down. It built up until a flood of tears, and why's came pouring out of my unprepared body. Looking at the screen of my phone, I realized that the phone call I thought I was getting was actually on a total other spectrum.

I often ask myself why? Why did I wake up late? Why do I have homework? Why am I taking AP English? Those questions mean nothing.. because the moment you hear that someone you love might be sick and there is nothing you can do about it, everything else seems to fade into the darkness. Nothing compares to why do they have to go through this? Why them? Why now? Why not me? Why can't I help them? What do I do?

I realized today that I fear.. fear. I'm scared of being afraid. I'm scared of the unknown. I hate being incapable of fixing this. I'm angry. And I'm sick. Sick of the people I love hurting. I hate not being there. I hate that someone I love so much, may have to go through something I cannot even begin to comprehend. It's not fair. It's not fair that they have to go through this. The one person who has the answers refuses to give me one.. and maybe that's the answer. Maybe the Lord is trying to tell me that he has it handled.. That he knows that that person is strong.. and the only thing that I need to do is be supportive and be there for that person. Because all they need is a support system to get them through.

Heavenly Father knows us inside and out. He knows the end. When all we can see is the beginning. We will face trials and challenges in our lives that we are not yet capable of understanding.. He knows all. He knows the strength and the potential of everyone.. And for that we must put our lives in His hands. Because those hands are the only hands who can save us and pull us through everything that we don't think we can make it through. He has given the doctors the ability to heal, fathers the ability to bless by the priesthood, and family and friends to love, strengthen, and hope.

And although we cannot answer the question why?.. we can answer the question how?.. and that is through faith, hope, and trust in a Heavenly Father who doesn't make mistakes. Everything will work out how it is supposed to, even if we cannot comprehend. I cannot comprehend why.. Why this has happened.. and why that person has to go through this..But for now, I will be the strength they need.. I will not ask why. I will trust in the lord and do the things I need to do to understand. I will be strong because that is what they need..

And right now? I cry.. I cry, and I hurt, for the good people who get the shaft. Heavenly Father knows our strengths and that which we can overcome.. He knows what we cannot understand. I pray for comfort.. and I pray for strength.. And I pray for those who need the same. So for now... all I can say is, sometimes you might just need a good cry.. To be knocked down, to your lowest.. to realize the kind of strength you have inside of you. So let it out, put on a big t-shirt, and blast the music that makes your heart beat fast. Let your mascara run, your hair tangle, and your eyes go puffy. Shake, and scream, and ask why?.. and when it's all said and done.. stand up, wipe those tears from your eyes, lift your head up, and be the strength you hope to give to those who need it most.

I love...

Green Turning Arrows
Tapioca Pudding
Coloring
Princess and the frog, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles.... Ect.
Softball
Dirt
White Teeth
Sliding
A full tank of gas
Getting bruises and scars
Reese's
UPS Tracking
Car Seat covers
Tutu's
Brushes
Mascara
Zebra Straightner
Necklaces
Dr. Seuss
Inspirational Quotes
Sports Movies
Coaches Speeches
Ice Baths
Diving
Open Gym
Roller Blades
Warm Weather
Sleeping with the fan on
Spandex
Doctors
Finding money in my pockets
Handshakes
Mismatched Socks
T-Shirts
Showers
Smooth Legs
Music
Driving with the heat on, windows down
One Tree Hill and Pretty Little Liars
Cheese
Oprah
The Yankees
The way a room looks after being vaccuumed
Puddle Jumping
Babies
Baby Clothes
Giant Pens
Sales
Vans
A fully charged phone
The Sun
Hoodies
Coconut Syrup
Being done with the ACT
Smooth Pens
Laughing
Double Bubble
Nivea Chapstick
My Glove
Kneaders
Money
Swimming
Mini Staplers
Hair Elastics
Underarmour sports bras
Click Tampons
Play-Doh
Laser Tag
Oranges
Nail Polish
Winning
A walk to remember
Movie Quotes
Soft Tissues
Foggy Fruit Snacks, not clear ones.
Dill Pickle Sunflower Seeds
Lint Rollers
Accents
Static Guard
Boots
Polka Dotted underwear
The smell of crayons
Excedrin Migraine
Icy Hot
Underarmour hoodies
Cherries
paper after it's been written on with pen on both sides
Monkey's
Bowling
the smell of fire
New Ink in the printer
Mechanical Pencils
Retainers
Sticky Notes
Bendy Straws
Kool Aid
Gift Cards
Ipod Speakers
Ice Water
Eclipse Gum
Writing in my journal
Water Picks
Black and White Pictures
Phase 10
Getting my hair trimmed
The smell of rain
Popping my back, neck, and fingers
The bell ringing to end class
Calculators
My Stealth
Feather Comforters
Having an App for everything
Running the bases
Hearing the Airplanes in the summer
Leaves
My Batting Cage
Couches
Singing in the car
Carpool Lane
School
Having a dry car in the morning
Balloons
Hugs
Sarcasm

Leather, aluminum, and a whole lotta dirt.

Who knew you could fall in love with a sport. Softball has always been the one thing that has gotten me through everything. Bad day? Go out and throw. Rough test? Go hit. The stuff between the white lines helps the stuff between my ears go away. I can't figure out the answers to my math test but I can figure out if a girl is going to slap, or if she's going to bunt. Others get high off substances. The smell of the dirt after the sprinklers go on, and the smell of my glove when it comes out of my batbag. The feeling I get when I lace up my cleats, not knowing the outcome of the next 7 innings. The feeling I get when the only thing that stands between me and that base, is the bat in my hands. and the pitch coming toward me. I love the feeling I get when my cleat hits the edge of the base, and I can't hear anything but the wind through my helmet and the blood coursing through my veins. The sound of my parents screaming my name, and the feelings I get when the team comes together for a common goal. That's my high.

Failing and making mistakes. That's the name of the game. You fall 9 times, get back up 10. I have learned respect, and pride, and humility which has helped me both on and off the dirt. Softball as not just been a game for me, It has taught myself how to build relationships with people, it's taught me how to work for something that I don't believe I can do. It has pushed me to push myself to limits that my mind tells me I cannot reach. I have learned to respect my opponents and those who make the calls that I cannot control.

I am thankful for my coaches and my teammates who have made me laugh, pushed me to be better, and trusted in me when I haven't trusted in myself. Thank you to my family who has spent hours and hours driving and sitting, and yelling, and cheering. Thank you to my opponents for teaching me what kind of athlete I can be. Thank you to the umpires who have tested my patience. Thank you to softball.. for being there when no one else was, for testing me, for making me who I am. For creating the friendships that will last a lifetime and memories which will help define me forever. Without you, I could not stand here as the person I am today. I am so grateful for the time and money my family and my teammates have invested in me. Without you, I would be nothing. Softball. It's my life.

Coast Life...

I recently got a job at costa vida. I have had my share of sweet pork salads, and never really thought I'd want to work there. But when a door opens... you gotta take it! It's been fun, I work with my friends and don't have to work everyday. I will admit, I never really thought about what happens behind closed doors at a restaurant. I have recently discovered that the utensils don't magically restock themselves, and the floors aren't like the ones on Smart House where everything gets absorbed by a vaccuum. Thanks to my manager making me close by myself I have found a new appreciation for clean tables, chairs, floors, and bathrooms when I go into a restaraunt. And so have my back muscles.

Words of advice for the day: paying with 3 different credit cards, having 2 different points cards, and a 1 dollar gift certificate makes a pretty annoyed cashier.. yet I will smile and be patient and hope for you to return the favor in the tip jar. I never thought I'd see a 300 pound biker with a long gray beard adorned in leather, bandanas and chains hand me a credit card with bright pink fingernails... don't forget the time when a family of 6 payed a 40 dollar check in ones..oh the things you'll see at costa vida.

And for the record..you know, in case any of you Costa Vida enthusiasts are wondering-The computer doesn't lie.. I know you thought there were 5 dollars on your card, but what goes on between your ears and what the computer says are usually two completely different things. The forks are in the fork jar, the lids are in the lid rack, and the bathrooms are the doors next the the sign labeled 'bathrooms'. No you can't order right now.. you are not the President, Justin Bieber, or Oprah so you may go wait at the end of the line like the rest of the world. And if you could tell your buddy to get off his cell phone while he's ordering we all might be able to get out of here a little faster. Please think logically when ordering your flan to stay or to go... two spatulas and a broken flan later might just be the recipe for a flan in the face. Let's just say once flan finds a plate, it doesn't exactly want to be moved around. We close at 9. Not 9:01 not 9 and 30 seconds. 9. So please, all you sneaky little people who think they can come in and order a meal for every child in china at 8:59... Yes you're clever. But your cleverness does not in fact outwit the level of irritation you cause us. And now....Here's to the customers who know exactly what they want, and where their money is. And to the regulars who pay with exact change? You make my night. A special thanks to those who get their food to their mouths.. instead of the tables. Not to mention those who smile and say thank you. Costa Vida.. Thank you for the entertainment, free food, and money. Our relationship is coming along quite nicely.

Pudding Cups and Sticky Clay

My LITTLE sister will be the first to tell me, you, and anyone else who will listen that I am a child. My purpose today is to clarify.. That yes, I am in fact a child. She did indeed have to walk through the halls while her older sister (a senior in high school) ate a tapioca pudding cup for breakfast..and oh how delicious it was. The disgusted look and the "you're a child" I got hit with were highly uncalled for, yet I will do what my mom tells me and turn the other cheek while scraping the bottom of the cup for the last bit of tapioca. I will continue to eat pudding until someone takes it away from me. I will color in my princess coloring book in class and yes teacher, coloring ariel does indeed help me concentrate on commas, parentheticals and whatever else you've been talking about. When I throw sticky clay at your project in ceramics I will laugh. Because it's funny. I will laugh when someone snorts, and I will compare my scrapes and bruises to yours. My favorite after school shows are Arthur and Dragontales. Dora band aids will always make things feel better than regular ones, and nemo is my buddy. Sidewalk chalk is the only medium I am willing to work with, and Kool Aid is not only a bargain, it's delicious. I am Kayla. And I am a child.

I caught it..

I've caught it. I've caught the blog flu that is going around. For months I've been religiously stalking many blogs. I should have known I would eventually be convinced I needed to start my own. So.. here I am. Day one of this little adventure. I guess I should introduce myself.

<-------------This is me...Kayla Kehaunani. Also known as, Gretel, Ninja, Tipper, Nani, Kays, Louie, Baby Nubby, Small Fry.. I could go on and on. I am a senior at good old Timpanogos High School. Home of the Timberwolves.. and many other things. My days of walking through the halls are numbered, let's make it a good one class of 2011. After high school you ask? Well, my family and I have spent hours and hours applying for colleges, talking to coaches, and setting up a softball profile. (thanks to a dad with an electronic stat program and a camera, and a mom devoted to helping me reach my dreams). The stress and the practice, and the hard work have all paid off. I have recently committed to Brigham Young University Hawaii to become a member of the seasider softball team and could not be more excited. And no, my excitement does not mean that I am prepared and ready to leave this place. I have always known I would leave this bubble we call home, I just didn't know how young I would feel when the time came. My mom makes fun of me for asking her for certain things these days.. but I just tell her i'm taking advantage of the time I have with her before I have to live on my own. I have vowed to myself to live this last semester as best as I can, because although many of us would like to believe different, our lives will go separate ways and many of us will never see each other again. I have 2 sisters, one married and living in Washington (which I am very bitter about) and another finding her place in the high school scene.My parents have been my biggest support system, especially lately. And I am so lucky to have them by my side every time I need them. I have recently started my final season as a Timpanogos Softball Player. It is weird being the senior.. I remember being a freshman on the team and looking up to the Seniors. If anything, I hope I can leave an impact on at least one of my teammates because I know how much I learned from those girls when I was a freshman.

I manage the boys basketball team with a few other softball girls, and it has been a blast. AP English might just be the death of me, and the 3 credits of art I've taken this year have reminded me why I never signed up for them in the first place. Overall I'm busy, stressed, and hanging onto my teenage years as long as I can. I laugh, cry, dance, scream and procrastinate. Typical Senior. And yes.. I feel some senioritis coming on. My life in words.. this should be interesting.