Avery is the friggin bomb

I may or may not have mentioned in the past that I am one of nine kids in my family.

*waits for you to finish being in awe*

As I was saying, there are a lot of us. There is something always going on. And since i'm homeschooled, you'd assume that means I always know what's going on with my family. Always.

Lies.

I *wish* I could keep up with all of them. But hey. I'm busy. I go to an intense online highschool(can anyone say "college level classes"?), and I work a part-time job. On top of that, I have music and dance lessons. So even though I *am* home most of the time, I don't get to spend this time staring at my siblings give each other wedgies.

This post wouldn't even exist if it weren't for my sweet younger sister Avery.

And I think I will start two days ago, on February 27th.

That was my birthday. Now, I was NOT excited for this birthday. For many reasons. But the biggest was just that I felt sorry for myself. I know, pathetic. But most of my close friends live hundreds or thousands of miles away. And those were the friends that wanted to celebrate my birthday. And Helen was kinda adamant on me having a good birthday. When I woke up I had over 40 text messages, and 4 voice mails. The majority of the texts were from Helen. She started counting down from 20 minutes until midnight. I got texts at midnight from mulitple people saying that I was now old. I guarantee that Helen reminded the other three people I got calls from. ;)
Despite Helen's best efforts, my day started off not so great. And yeah, it was an attitude thing. And I allowed myself to become in a better mood as time went on. After lunch with my mamacita, I was feeling pretty good. And THEN Nainoa came over for dinner. Which was, ya know, the best.
But I'm getting away from my point. My point was my family. And how I've ignored them growing and progressing.
So after dinner, I'm sitting on the couch with Nainoa, and Avery comes over and climbs on my lap. Now, I think she's pretty advanced for a 3-year old. So she sits on my lap, and starts having a conversation with him. Like, a freakin conversation. Starts going on about herself. It amazed me. And then she got silly and started laughing out of control and kept trying to lick his hand...hey, she's 3. It's ok, she doesn't know that that's disgusting. ;)
So, needless to say, I was kinda amazed at how much she'd grown up without me knowing.

Ha. I didn't know the half of it.

Yesterday, I'm sitting at the computer, writing my Algebra II Study Guide. And Avery comes over and sits on my lap, and takes one of my headphones so she can listen.  And after a few songs, it starts playing "Only Hope" from A Walk To Remember(If you haven't seen this movie, I shun you). I have the sheet music for it, and I've played it a few times, singing along. Well, it gets to the chorus, and Avery starts singing along. Perfectly. Perfect pitch. Everything. It was freakin spectacular. Now, she has an impeccable memory. She really does. She can memorize primary songs like nobodys business, and she has a few nursery rhymes memorized. But this amazed me. And so I experimented. I played a song, and then repeated it. On the repeat, I started singing along. And I made sure it was one with a repeating chorus. As I'm singing the chorus to "The Only Exception" on the second time listening to it, Avery joins in.
Gosh, this girl amazes me.
She gets up to use the bathroom, and when she comes back, she looks up at me with those irresistible eyes and says, "Aurora, can I spell my name?" and of course I told her she could try. Now keep in mind, she has never had ANY sort of lesson on the alphabet or anything. I mean, yeah, she can sing the alphabet song. But everyone can.
So I give her the keyboard and watch her. And she's humming, and looking at the keyboard, and outta the blue says, "A." and hits A. And then v. Then E. Then R. And then Y. And looks at me for approval. And I wanted to cry. Because this girl is freakin amazing. Not many kids can read or SPELL THEIR NAME when they're THREE.

About an hour later, still working on that study guide, my brother is behind me, spinning around. Now, he's four. And he likes to mess around. I was kinda ignoring him. And then I heard him. It went sorta like this:

Aaron: *spinning around and around* "wheee!" *hits the ground* "OH MY GOSH AURORA THE HOUSE IS MOVING!"

This repeated about five times.

If any of you have ever spun around in a circle, you'll know that when you stop, everything feels like it's spinning. But I don't remember registering this until I was 7 or 8. But he's four. And realizing this. And so he ran around, demonstrating for anyone who would listen.
I was amazed.

So I started thinking about my siblings.
Stephen has become so much less picky. He's eating more foods with less fuss than a few months ago. He's getting big and half his pants are high waters.
Alisa is memorizing things left and right. She knows at least a dozen poems. And she can recite them all in English accents. Which makes it THAT much more adorable. And the cool part? Her english accent is kinda amazing. Like...amazing.
Madeline is becoming a young woman. I'd never really stopped to see. But she's making these decisions and going through that teenage girl crap that everyone goes through.
Autumn is 15, and so when I stopped to watch her, I can see her interaction with the lovely male specimen. I've also decided that maybe I should give her a flirting lesson one of these days... ;)
Rachel, well, I almost never see her. She works a 9-5 job. So...ya know. Yeah.
And Brianna's belly keeps getting bigger. Every time I see her, it seems like she's become 3 more months pregnant. It's kinda really crazy....


I have been blessed with this amazing family. I need to stop and appreciate them...

I have a friend whose father died recently. And it makes me stop and think, am I appreciating my family? If someone in my family died would I know half of the things that I should know?

A love/hate relationship

I love my hair.

I hate my hair.

Yup. That about sums it up.

Kbye.


Wait...what was that?? You want to know WHY?!

Fine.

I love my hair: It's hair. It looks pertyful.
I hate my hair: It is freakin damaged. Now, yeah. That would be because of heat damage and dye, right? Right. And I have stopped using all heat on my hair, except for like, once a month. MAYBE. Proud of me. Yup. :)
But the hair dye...So, I'm addicted to hair dye. I just am. It's kinda amazing. But I've inflicted a lot of it onto my poor hair in the past few years...

**I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR THE HORRIBLE PICTURES**

This is me like, 3 years ago. Not the best picture of my hair. Oh well. This is my NATURAL hair.

Shortly after that, I decided to get a few harmless highlights...

I won't bore you with more pictures of highlights. From this point, I kept adding more and more blonde. Until it got to be like this:

Notice how the bottom is still normal? Yeah. For about TWO DAYS(no pictures live) I looked like cruella devile, because my blonde was such a bleached blonde, it was atrocious, just like these pictures are. ;)

Then, out of the blue, I decided to be a brunette. Just like that.

Crappy picture? Yes. Oh, that's my bestie, Sadie.

And then I gradually got blonder. Just adding highlights. And then I decide to dye the bottom half slightly darker:

And then I was a brunette again. 

THAT one was sorta a shock, since it was darker than the time before. 

Then it got fun:

Yup. It's red. And then I added red to the bottom. 

See, here's the problem with that: I had to dye it every six weeks at LEAST, otherwise it looked SUPER gross. So it got a lot of damage. So finally, in July of '11, I stopped. I let it grow. And it looked like this:

Don't ask about the owl. Also, it doesn't look BAD, right?? not exactly. But...kidna...

Then in December, I cracked. It just looked so...gross.

Why do I tell you all this?

Cuz I'm dying my hair tonight. And it was on my mind.

So yeah. There. You have a collection of pictures from my different hair eras.

Enjoy...

Valentines day

K. I'm not the biggest fan of Valentines day. I'm just not. I mean, we're celebrating our love for people, right? And that is something I fully support. But I hate how society has commercialized every freakin holiday out there. And really, if you love someone, celebrate that every day. Not just when America wants to suck your money.

Another stupid thing about that day: Everyone either hates it, or loves it. Either way, it's annoying.
Getting on facebook is a nightmare. Example:

NEWS FEED

Bob Green: Happy Valentines day baby! I love you (tagged girlfriend here)

Hannah Smith: Valentines day is so stupid.

Matthew Humble: Forever alone.

Sabrina Twinkie: I'm just waiting for tomorrow, cuz I want cheap chocolate, which is the only reason for V DAY!

Alfredo Sauce: Best day out of the year <33333333333



I mean, ok. Really?? I already have to sift through enough crap on facebook, but now the only thing I see is your love life, or your lack thereof?? It makes me wanna hurl.
In fact, I was so tempted to just put as my status: "Happy Tuesday and commercialism day!"

But I digress.

I like holidays, a lot, when people take it seriously. (Really, there's nothing romantic about posting on your girlfriends wall and saying, "For Valentines day I want a heart reeses peanut butter cup". Get real people.)

Honestly, I'd forgotten that it was Valentines day tomorrow. I get to seminary, and my dear friend Abi gives me a little Captain America Valentine. And then it hits me. Duuuuhhh.
So I'm helping my mom make our Valentines day breakfast(Pink pancakes and chocolate truffles. You're jealous), and we're talking about our plans for the day. She informs me that THIS year we're going to make valentines and deliver them to a few people that we care about. I think it's a great idea, and as I'm eating said pancakes, I get this idea. And let me tell you, it's a killer idea.

Now, before I continue, I want to clear somethin' up. I'm not hatin' on Valentines day, even if it may seem so. And I may seem hypocritical(Yeah. I just criticized people on their valentines day activites). But I'm really not. The thing that *I* have a problem with is: a) people whining about it on Facebook. b) The commercialism. c) The bragging on Facebook. d) People only making a big deal out of it so they can get attention.

To continue:
I like doing things for people that make them feel loved. And so, just for the heck of it and sheer pleasure of making someone else happy, I went and did the most epic thing ever.

This:

And here's the thing about me doing this. After I did it, I didn't post on facebook, "Look at what a good friend I am! You're all jealous!" Psh. Come on. Let's be grown ups.
And yes, I'm posting it on here. Why? Not to freaking brag. If you think so, ok then. Go read someone elses blog. I posted it here to prove my point. That I think Valentines day should be FUN.
Society puts so much pressure on people. "Go buy chocolate", "Take your SO to dinner", "Go do something super expensive and super over the top to show everyone you're better than them". It's stupid.
I spent half an hour cutting out hearts, half an hour writing pick up lines on them, and ten minutes decorating her door. It didn't take me long, but I made this girl feel freakin loved.
As my mom is delivering valentines, she dropped me off at Abi's house, and I got to work. And I had fun doing it. I was giggling, thinking about what a surprise she'd get when she got home from school in twenty minutes. And then the whole way home, I was giggling and kept checking the time on my phone. She got home from school late, but as soon as she did, I got a lovely little text from her saying how amazing it was and how much she liked it. And ya know what?
That was the point. The point was for both of us to feel warm and fuzzy. And she wasn't gonna feel guilty for me spending money. And I wasn't gonna feel like it was a waste of money.
Cuz that's what Valentines day has turned into. A money sucking day.

But I digress.

Back to the heart attack-ed door.
Every single heart had a pick-up line. And I normally wouldn't share. But they were the "pee your pants" kinda funny. so I'll share. Again, if you don't wanna, don't read it.

"This isn't a pickup line. It's a pickup rhombus."
"My heart tastes like chicken. Please eat it."
"I'll love you forever. Even if you call the police."
"This Valentines day, I promise to show my love for you by stalking you the old fashioned way. Don't look outside your window."
"Is that cupid in your pocket, or do you have weird shaped pants?"

And let me tell you. This is a SMALL fraction of what was on her door. Want to hear the rest? Ask her. ;)


Valentines day is supposed to be about showing your love. It's supposed to be great. Yes, I ENCOURAGE showing your love.  It's not about the lust, not about the chocolate, not about the money. It's about the freaking love.
And if that's what it's about for you, fabulous. I applaud you for keeping the real meaning behind Valentines day. And if not, well, sucks to be you.


Hate me or not, this is my opinion.

Off da wall

So I've mentioned my uberly cool friend Helen, right? Well, she is doing a challenge on her blog, and so are two of my other friends, Sabrina and Rebekah. So we made a joint blog where we're all posting our challenges. And so after my 31 days are up, I'll probably start another challenge of some sort. :) Anywho. If you care about the challenge, go here. You won't regret it. :) Prooomissee. You should also click "follow" while you're there. ;)

Don't worry. I'll still post here, but I won't be posting my challenge here. I'm going to be posting just random life stuff, my awkward thursdays(I forgot this past week...oops.), and anything else that tickles my fancy.

Happy Sunday, blog-stalkers! :)

Photo Challenge: Day 9

Day 9: Something I made

I hate doing generic stuff for this challenge. So I was racking my brain all day for something unique for this one. I was GOING to take a picture of a hat I once made. BUT THEN I made something. Today. Something so wonderful and magnificent. And it was so genius. And I couldn't resist. So...are you ready for this?

I made Helen's day.
;)

Ok. Yup. This is not expected by any of you, except Helen. Since ya know, I told her. :) Anywho.

Now. This is kinda a non-photographable thing. BUT I figured I would do my best.

So I took some pictures. Of things that contributed. Also, I picture of the sky. Cuz ya know, day? Yeah..it makes sense to me.
The second picture, after the picture of day *giggle*, is a picture of Helen sitting next to her brother in Biology. The significance of this is that I said to Helen: "I'm staring at your brother." And she says, "Did you see me??!?" And she goes and sits next to him. And I see her smiling and I think "Holy dang that woman is beautiful. I have the best best friend." And then I sent her a text that made her laugh so hard and she informed me that her day had been made. So I made her go sit next to her brother again so I could take a picture.

Third picture. After Helen walked away from her brother, I told him to tell her that. And then I photographed it. Cuz it was kinda funny.

Last picture. :) Helen and I were both super hyper. Sooo we decided to video chat. And it was tons of fun. And then we spammed her boyfriend with obnoxious texts.

It was amazing. And in addition to making Helen's day, she made mine. It was a good day. Like, a really good one. And she gives great advice.

You all wish she was YOUR best friend.

Song lyric of the day: "If I could fall into the sky do you think time would pass me by? Cuz you know I'd walk a thousand miles if I could just see you tonight."

Photo Challenge: Day 8

Day 8: Sweet.

Ok. Now this is probably NOT what you were going to expect for 'sweet'. I was thinking of taking a picture of nutella, but I started my diet today, and didn't want to be tempted. So then I was gonna take a picture of my little sister, cuz she's sweet. But then I was in class today...and decided to take a picture of this instead.

Now, there's a story behind this, because you won't understand how this is sweet. This picture represents two sweet things: 1) Helen. My best friend, and one of the sweetest girls I know. 2) Revenge. Revenge is sweet.

Revenge on who?
Casey.
See, Casey is class Pres for our Government class. And he's a great friend, but when he's class pres, he gets slightly tyrannical. And I very much enjoy private chatting with my friends during class. So, I'm chatting with my friend Mandy and trying not to laugh on cam, and he informs us that we need to get ahold of ourselves, or else he'll take away our chat and video privileges. And then Helen wants to see how long it would take for him to take away her chat privileges. So..we started being very obnoxious. And VERY inappropriate. And for your enjoyment, I'm posting our whole conversation here. Now, be aware, the whole time, we're texting about how funny we are. Also, we have a lot of inside jokes. So, if something doesn't make sense, ignore it. Now, use discretion. Don't blame me/hate me/hate Helen if you think this is horrible...and Casey, we(I, not Helen ;) ) love you.

Aurora	10:37 AM
Heyyy

Helen	10:37 AM
*dies laughing* Hello

Aurora	10:37 AM
Whassup girly friend?

Helen	10:38 AM
Not much pretty lady. Working on stuff for boyface and attempting to understand the fourth amendment. You?

Aurora	10:39 AM
I'm trying to warm up my dead hands, and I'm staying awake, and avoiding my peppermint patties and nutella, cuz I don't have a cheat day til Sunday.

Helen	10:40 AM
What exactly are the guidelines for this diet? and why exactly are you dieting in the first place? you're like, tiny

Aurora	10:40 AM
I'm going Paleo.

And I'm doing it so you can see my muscles...

10:41 AM

*cough*

10:41 AM

I mean, if you work out, you get muscles, but if you eat healthy, you can SEE the muscles.

10:41 AM

Helen	10:41 AM
Why do we need to see them when we can feel them?

Aurora	10:41 AM
I don't have a boyfriend. So you have to be able to see them.

Helen	10:42 AM
Aww shucks. I suppose that's reason enough

Aurora	10:42 AM
And then I'll be super sexy.

Helen	10:42 AM
Lucky, I am man endowned so the need for eating like a rabbit is not required

Hon you already are

10:42 AM

Aurora	10:43 AM
*deep voice* I'm sexy and I know it.

Helen	10:43 AM
Wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle YEAH!! Or in my case, Jiggle jiggle jiggle jiggle jiggle YEAH

Aurora	10:44 AM
*dying of laughter*

Helen	10:44 AM
*epic, yet slightly jiggly victory dance*

Aurora	10:44 AM
Not. *breath* helping. *breath*

Helen	10:45 AM
NO YOU CAN'T DIE!! I NEED MY DAILY DOSE OF FEMALE SEXY

....rawr ra? Don't leave me! Please!! I'll take it back!!

10:47 AM

Actually no I won't. It's too true

10:48 AM

Aurora	10:48 AM
*dying*

Helen	10:48 AM
The conquering hero returns!!!

Aurora	10:48 AM
*jiggle dance*

Helen	10:49 AM
*snorts coffee*

Aurora	10:49 AM
*giggles like a small child with a secret*

Helen	10:49 AM
*giggling like a 9 year old boy who just farted*

Aurora	10:49 AM
*trying not to snort*

Helen	10:50 AM
*sexy face*

Aurora	10:50 AM
*snort*

Helen	10:50 AM
*fist pump*

Aurora	10:51 AM
*descends from sky, blood red cape fluttering*

Helen	10:51 AM
*hears angelic chorus off in distance, feels a strange urge to move towards a bright light off in distance*

Aurora	10:52 AM
*trying so hard not to fall off chair*

Helen	10:52 AM
No Rawr ra we LIKE the chair. It likes your butt. Do not abondon it.

Aurora	10:53 AM
*rubs butt back and forth on chair*

Helen	10:53 AM
*snorts coffee. again*

Aurora	10:53 AM
*refrains from being super inappropriate*

Helen	10:53 AM
*ditto*

Aurora	10:54 AM
My dad has officially been made.

*DAY! I MEANT DAY!

10:54 AM

Helen	10:54 AM
Pahaha mine too

Aurora	10:54 AM
*snorting and laughing*

Helen	10:54 AM
Fare thee well, sexy freak

Aurora	10:54 AM
You too, hot mama.

- Helen left the Main Room. ( 10:54 AM ) -

Now...for the picture. 

So, I basically just took a picture of a PART of our conversation just so I had proof that it really happened. ;)


Song lyric of the day: "I"m sexy and I know it. Check it out. Check it out. Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah. Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, yeah."

Photo Challenge: Day 7

Day 7: My favorite something

This is *one* of my favorite ways to spend the time that I'm supposed to be doing homework. I mean, I have lots of favorites. This girl is also one of my favorites. I love her. :) She makes me happy.

So, yes. In the middle of my homework, I decided to Skype with the lovely Rebekah. :)

Song Lyric of the day: "You can count on me, like 1,2,3, and I'll be there."

Photo Challenge: Day 6

Day 6: Something that makes me smile.

Ok. This picture makes me smile. Because my siblings make me smile.

I'm sitting at the computer, doing Biology(yuck), and my brother runs past in this. And I snorted my water. And was lucky that my camera was sitting right next to me. So I took some pictures super duper fast.

You can't really tell, but in the first picture, his hand is a hook. He was moving super fast tho. So...yeah. That's why it's blurry. He refused to stand still.

This picture still makes me snort and laugh and stuff.

Song lyric of the day: "I like it like that! Hey windows down, chillin with the radio on. I like it like that!"

Photo Challenge: Day 5

Day 5: Something I wore today.

These are the yarn leis that I was given when my family was released from our ward(long story. For another day). They kinda mean a lot to me, so this is the item I've decided to let represent my outfit... :)

Song lyric of the day: "What is this feeling taking over? Thinking no one could open the door. Surprise! It's time to feel what's real."

Photo Challenge: Day 4

Day 4: A mailbox.

I took a picture of my mailbox. And it's lame.

Song lyric of the day: "Forgive my first love, but I'm tired. I need to get away to feel again. Try to understand why, don't get so close to change my mind."

Photo Challenge: Day 3

Ok. This is super late. Yeah...I don't really have a real excuse. I have one, but I don't feel like telling you, actually. So...yeah. You get like, five days in one! Yay for you!

I promise tho! I've been taking the pictures every day. I've just been really bad at posting....

So, I ate hot chocolate and instant oatmeal prior to seminary. And then at Seminary, they gave me a bunch of frozen gogurts, which I kinda really like. So, I took a picture of them. And yes, there is snow outside of the window. 

Also, shortly after coming home, I stuffed my face with pancakes, but I didn't photograph that cuz...yeah...

Song Lyric of the day: "So let me thank you for your time, and try not to waste any more of mine."

Awkward and Awesome Thursdays

Wow. I am basically posting way too much...I promise it'll stop...eventually...

Have any of you ever read "The Daybook"? It's a blog. No? Neither have I. ;) But, Layne reads it, and apparently the author does something called "Awkward and Awesome Thursdays" and she suggested I do it, since I have many awkward moments.

So here goes:

Awkward Thursday:
A creepy guy wouldn't stop staring at me at the orthodontist office. He kinda was looking down my mouth as they refitted a wire to my teeth...
At said Orthodontist office, I waited for about 40 minutes for the doctor to come inspect my teeth after the wire was put in. I probably looked like the most bored, most socially awkward girl ever.
While waiting for the doctor, I pulled out my iPod. And started playing fruit ninja. And I became so wrapped up in my game, that I didn't even notice that he was standing behind me til I hit a bomb and he said, "Wow. You're really good."
I was rushing out of my house and turned around the corner, almost ran into my sister, and screamed bloody murder, dropped to the ground, and curled up in a ball....


Awesome Thursday:
I got to Skype with Matty for a while. Which made me happy. Awesome? Yes.
I made a bunch of dough.(money, not cookie ;) )
Only 10 more months of braces. Woot woot!
Someone told me I was beautiful today. And today was a sweats and no makeup day.



So, yup.

Photo Challenge: Day 2

Day 2: Something I adore.

So, this is a picture of two things I adore, really. One more than the other, obviously. My brother, Stephen. I adore him. He's basically adorable. 

I also adore Five Guys, which is where this picture was taken. Woot woot!

Right after I got my braces on, like 2 months ago, he asked me if I could take him to Five Guys. But I couldn't chew very well, I told him we'd wait. When I got back from my trip, I gave him a hug and told him that I'd missed him and I loved him(he's super bashful about telling anyone that he loves them. Isn't that adorable?? Yes.) and he looked at me and said, "We should spend time together." Of course, I was thrilled. I asked him what he wanted to do, and he said, "Can you chew yet?" It was basically hilarious and as I was laughing I told him yes, and we'd go to Five Guys sometime before the end of the month(Yes, I know it's the second day of the month). 

I found out this morning that I had an appointment to get my lovely braces tightened. So as soon as I was done there, I rushed home to grab him and we ate, before my teeth start to ache.

"There's a party on the rooftop, top of the world. Tonight, tonight. And we're dancing on the edge of the hollywood sign."

Photo Challenge: Day 1

I'm finally starting the challenge. Also, I'm going to put a little song lyric onto every picture. Just cuz.

Day 1: Me.

I don't particularly like this picture of me. Like, at all. But hey. Today is a busy day and I don't have the patience to take another picture of me. So deal with it. Also, excuse the absolute mess of my room. I just got back LAST NIGHT and I haven't unpacked or cleaned. 

"Drop everything now, meet me in the pouring rain. Kiss me on the sidewalk, take away the pain. Cause I see sparks fly whenever you smile."

The love of my life

I swear on my life, I have found the love of my life.
Now, I know...I'm only 17(ish. 26 days left, I might as well be 17). Anywho. I was telling you about the love of my life. And many of you may be surprised at what I'm about to tell you, because there are multiple boys that I've talked about that you probably expect it to be.

I love toilets.

Yup. I finally said it in plain English.
And for good measure I'll say it in a few other languages:

Amo servizi igienici.
J'aime les toilettes.
Ich liebe Toiletten.


Now stop laughing/fuming/crying/eating to listen to my reasons for being so terribly in love.

Have you ever been stuck in a car hours on end and had an INCREDIBLY full bladder? It happens to me all the time. On top of that, I drink a lot of water and I'm beginning to suspect that I have a tiny bladder. So my trips to the bathroom are very frequent, and I almost always have to pee. Although I prefer toilets I know(in my house, friends houses, etc.), I have been known to have somewhat affectionate feelings the nasty toilets in gas station restrooms, because desperate times call for desperate measures.

You can't blame me for loving toilets so much. You really can't. You all know that, on occasion, you have felt like this, at least a tad.



Also, on a slightly less weird note, I'm finally home from Vegas/DC/Virginia. Which means that I'm going to start that photo challenge. In fact, I start it today. So expect pictures today.