The Misses March

Yes! It arrived! I've been working on it for a while, and the February 2011 issue of "The Misses March" premiered Friday night! Alright, so you probably have no idea what I'm talking about unless you're my sister Julianne. I made this young writer's newsletter for her and her daughters, named for the March sisters in Little Women. I'm planning on giving them one issue a month, and their excitement for the first surprise issue is enough to keep me going.

Each issue includes:
Meg: Practical and Factual-Info on real-life things and historical facts
Beth's Best Bites-Fast and easy treats!
Amy's Artwork-A place where artwork that has been submitted can be showed off!
Writing Prompts-A writing concept of the English language; as well as a picture and a few ideas to prompt your pencil.
Book of the Month-Great literature and info on the author!
Masterpiece of the Month-A writing piece turned in by friends, family, or subscribers (Juli's girls) to be displayed and appreciated.
The Average Jo-A bit of a random column, but a place for the "average Jo" herself to express her thoughts.

I'm still debating on whether I'd give this out to other family or friends of friends, especially since there are elements about it that I technically can't use as my own (pictures from the internet and unsighted research), but if you know anyone trustworthy that would be interested, give me a ring!

Whoa, it's been a while...

Finally back, I guess. Here's what's basically been going on.

School.

Ah, school. School is fun, boring, busy, and utterly FRESHMAN! I love it! It's a lot of hard work, but I know it will pay off, and it's great to be in that atmosphere again! Right now I am taking Algebra 2, Honors English, Seminary, Mythology, AP Human Geography/World Civilization, Biology, Spanish 2/3, and Computer Tech. Also, I started Colorguard at the high school. I absolutely love it! My ribs and stomach are sore, and I'm soo excited because I'm getting a good workout! I also can't wait for next semester because I'll have MUSICAL THEATER!!!!!!!!

This post was a bit of a random burst, but that's basically what I've been doing. Love you all lots!

Trying to Catch Up!

There's so much to post about and so little time! I've been really busy lately, and just got home, only to rush to pack for girls camp this Tuesday. I'll try to update soon. But I have a dilemma. They changed something on the blogger dashboard, and now I can't figure out how to change fonts and colors (that's why it looks so weird at the top since I changed the picture) so I'm stuck with the background I have right now. I don't know if any of you guys know the new way?

A Glimpse

So I went to efy this last week, if you haven't figured it out by now. There will DEFINITELY be more coming, but for now I wanted to post this funny video of the guys in my company playing a song for us on my "dad" Archie's ukulele! It was pretty funny! I love you my brothers and cousins!

My First Summer Job!

I'm so excited! I have a summer babysitting job!!!!! It's two boys...I'll ask them what they want their code names to be tomorrow when I go back. But tonight, I went up to get to know them, and they are the sweetest, nicest, funniest boys ever. So sweet! I can't wait to get started with them! Tell you how it goes!

Piano Recital...Piano Recital...Piano Recital...Piano Recital!

So yesterday was my Spring Piano recital. My teacher and I had a two piano duet (I don't know if you remember me talking about it), and we performed it for one of my SSA concerts during the school year. It died. That's all I'll say. So now we were more than ready to perform it, and I actually performed at all her recitals at Piano Gallery! I got praise (while also being put on the spot with my sob story, and give an example to the other students about making and learning from mistakes) from both parents and employees (who were slightly curious about why I had been there for four and a half hours, and also wanted to sell me stuff...), and got a new Lord of the Rings piano book (the third one to finish my collection). Tons and tons of fun!

Pretties!

Last Sunday, I started doing nails with the girls. That's all it took to get Emily and Rachel going on each other...and on Ben and Daniel. They asked Stephen to let them do his nails to, but he OBVIOUSLY said no. Same with Michael. He's a little boy, unlike Ben and Daniel who are daddies, and we don't want to emotionally scar him. But, it was a fun little activity!

Girls's Night Out!

After we took the pictures, all the (adult) girls went for a night out. We went to eat at Applebee's, and got really yummy frozen yogurt at a place called Red Mango. After that, they decided to go to Target to let me be their project. They knew how badly I needed clothes, and how much I hate clothes shopping with my mom. After an hour of trying on everything they had exuberantly found for me, we came home with two full bags of new clothes for me! WHOO!

Family Pics

With ten kids running around, and nine parents/grandparents/great-grandparents hanging about, it's been pretty crazy around here. But it's also been lots of fun, especially since this will probably be the first time that all the ten cousins have been together. It's so fun to be around them, realizing how close they're getting. And of course, it's been pretty fun to be with Stephen and Laura Beth. Last Saturday, we all took the opportunity of our all being here to take family pictures. They aren't ready for us yet, but Dad took a couple of me and Mom.

It's Official!

Okay, well...it's...been official. Dan and Steph have moved in, Grandma visited and Stephen and Laura came from Ohio. They're going to come back soon, but for now, I need to make some updates on what we've been doing!

WHOOO!!!

There you have it, that was my reaction last night when I went to my first multi-stake dance! I had such a good time with friends, and was glad they were there so I could get in with the dancing groove (at first, it was pretty intimidating...). I had a great time!

Study Buddies

I know I know, studying is annoying, but surprisingly in this picture, Tanner isn't groaning, he's just trying to hide from the camera.

Last Saturday, Alien, Dom, Tanner and I studied for our geometry core tests. It maybe wasn't the most pleasant thing we could have done, but it was great to get some down time with my best friends. We all brought things for a brunch as well! It was really good!










After we finished a good couple of hours on studying, we watched Chopped (I know, we are the biggest nerds...watching food programs when we hang out, but I loved it! It's an awesome show!).



I sure love these guys and appreciate their company! More to come soon!

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The wait is finally over!!! Joseph is here! I went on Thursday and Friday (tonight) while they were showing it. Thursday I went with Kira and Geneva, and Friday I went with Mom and Dad, but we sat next to Dom's family and Tanner.



I nearly died of excitement during the performances! I had seen so much of it during rehearsal, but for it to come together like this was awesome! I'm so happy for everyone!






Any Dream Will Do!




Potiphar and Potiphar's Wife!





Pharoah (aka, the Elvis Impersonator)

We didn't get any good pictures of the brothers, but I can proudly say I know 9 out of the 11...though the only ones that are actually friends of mine would be Eric (Dan), Tim (Zebulon), and Bridger (Benjamin).




Some closeups of Dom...





Some closeups of Alien...





Some of them together...

And...




DOM'S BAKER SOLO!!!!!! (Which was even more amazing than his hat!)




After the show, I finally got to figure out the secret ending. Everyone had been keeping it from me because they knew how much I would love it, and OH I DID! It was a sing-along! And all the cast came along the rows of chairs. I kept making excited faces to Alien, Dom, Tim, and anyone else who would look at me while I tried to copy their dance moves.



It would have been so fun if I was in the play this year. I really don't know why I didn't try out last year...but I am so happy for my friends. I am their all-time, obsessive BETTER than Number 1 fan!!!!!! They are all so talented, and worked so hard to pull this together (and of course, had to bear with my rib-attacking hugs). I'm not sure any other play could top Joseph music-wise, and the costumes were really fun! I hope the play next year will be just as good, because I'm going to be IN IT with all these amazing people I have the pleasure of knowing. I'm so glad I could have come to see you guys, and I'm really happy you could have had lots of fun with it! Keep up the good work, and just have fun! I'll catch up with you soon!

Laura <3

Scrapbook

So Alien wasn't here for my actual birthday, and earlier this week, she had the Mad Hatter come to my locker and decorate it for my un-birthday! Then...she gave me presents. A water bottle with my name written all over it, just like the one she made herself, lotion, and best of all...a scrapbook! It covers all of our happy memories from when we first met in fifth grade, to Alien and Vampire, to our first encounters with the guys we used to battle and can now call friends, to being sevvies, to strawberries (inside joke...), to awesome science class, and EVERYTHING! We have all of these things stored in our heads, but it's just so wonderful to have it in a place to be stored safe and sound. And there's plenty more we can add on throughout the years. I love all my friends so much, and I'm grateful for all they do for me. Let's keep the happy memories rolling!!!!!

Odyssey of the Mind!

Yes, we won first place at Odyssey of the Mind! That means we'll be able to move onto Michigan if we can raise the money (over $9,000!!!!)

Our counterparts won first place for their problem as well by default! We didn't get to spend much time with them, but while we did, we loved it!

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We even had the honor of getting our picture taken with the man who created the program (Oh, and also with this guy named Ted who kept sneaking in on our pictures and changing his hat every five minutes! You might see him if you look at the shark hat!)

I'm so glad all of our hard work paid off! Our costumes were great, our script was great, and it was tons of fun to do! Thanks, team! I'd like to especially thank our coach Chris for being so helpful and generous (and of course letting us ruin your unfinished basement!) I had a great time!

Emily's Baptism

April 10th was a very special day. My niece Emily got baptized! This was such a wonderful thing, and it was a special experience for me, since Emily is the oldest of my nieces and nephews. I'm so grateful for her to have made the right choice, and I can tell she is excited and happy to be a member of the church! I love you!

Spring Break...Is it a dream?

Spring Break...with no traveling...what a wonderful morsel of thought. Is it true? YES! Two whole weekends and a five-day school week off! I've been so busy, and it was an amazing break! I almost had to force myself not to do anything (not a good idea when you have something due on Thursday). I've really needed it, and it was wonderful.
But...what DID I do over this time? First off, on my birthday, my other friend had a birthday party. Great way to start, and it was really fun. I even got a present there from someone who knew it was my actual birthday! Thanks, Jack!



On Thursday, since the two best friends I have (and that I have a habit of only hanging out with, instead of being broader), I hung out with my friend, Dom! It was pretty fun. It involved popcorn, Japanese anime movies, and throwing yoga balls at each other. He's such a fun guy! Speaking of which, I got to hear his Baker solo from the musical today! Holy cow! I didn't know he had such a great voice!!!! I know you're in a choir and all, but...wow...I'm impressed. My own voice...definitely needs work. I had to leave for Odyssey of the Mind later on, which brought me to have my first hangout/latenight with Geneva! That involved listening to Phineas and Ferb songs on her ipod, spying on her parents, smoothies, tree climbing, playing songs we've written (well...sort of...for me, but she's amazing!) on the piano, and using her parent's cellphones as walkie-talkies.



MY NIECE EMILY GOT BAPTIZED! That's a special topic, I'll try to make that a seperate post. More to come on that!

April is National Poetry Month, and therefore, I'm working on a new project...like...my novel and 1/2 (so far) big. A CHILDREN'S POETRY BOOK! I have a bunch of ideas (over 50 I think, you have to have a ton...Shel Silverstein had like...over 160 in one book), and I've started writing them! Alien's been reading them for me, and I'm having a lot of fun with it. I'm hoping to get Aunt Tammy or somebody I can find to do my illustrations, and I'm hoping to get in published before any of my other works. But...the thought of me trying to contact publishers makes me shiver! Hopefully it will go well!



Espanolandia is this Thursday, and Odyssey of the Mind State Competition is THIS SATURDAY! Wish both my/Alien's/Geneva's/Teya's/Sarah's/McKenzie's/Natalie's team and Dom's/Sydney's/Madison/(the other people in her group luck!

Stumbling Blocks, Stepping Stones, Teenage Life, Joseph, and the Busy Bee's New Home (aka, Me and all my Business and the Adventure of my Birthday)

Well, this post title has pretty much said it all. I have been so busy lately and scrounging around in homework, I haven't really known what to do with myself. Things have been hectic for me! But now Spring break is here, and I am taking a well needed break. To keep this organized and hopefully subdue my usual babblings that only interest myself, I will give you numbered updates. That might help (if only a little!)

1. First off...I know this is forever ago, but I had an SSA (soprano soprano alto) concert on St. Patrick's Day. It was a special concert they do every year for us called "Girl's Night Out" where girls can do solos and ensembles. I was doing this AWESOME concerto with my teacher that night, and I was so ready, it would be amazing on two pianos...but we didn't get time to rehearse before...and everything was a disaster. I made a big huge mess up at this one part, and we had to restart the section. I mostly held on through the rest, but both my teacher and I had made a bunch of horrible mistakes at the end. I didn't cry until I was in the car with Mom and Dad, and I was given good credit for recovering so much. But I couldn't cope with the humiliation for a while. I knew I was learning a valuable lesson, but I made sure to stay away from the piano for five days, until my next lesson. It was an unsteady reboost when we started to play with each other again, but I was almost longing for it and keeping myself away from it just to show I was still mad at it. We're getting along nicely now. I think the piano feels forgiven.

2. For the school musical this year, we're doing Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I...being silly (and also not liking drama nearly as much then...crazy, right?) and afraid to try out, I'm not in the Musical Theater class (aka, cast for the musical). :( But I am in it next year!!!!!!!! WHOO!!!! :D Anyway...a bunch of my friends are in it, and I've been learning all the songs and dance moves from them. I was going to wait until the play came out to actually see it, but in SSA we watched the version they did before starting the play. Donny Osmond. That movie was...odd. I think they're doing it like the original play, but I LOVE THE MUSIC!!! It's pretty much the only thing I'm listening to right now. I've always loved the bible story, and as I've been studying up on it, it's been even more amazing. Love the real story, love the musical music, love my friends, love seeing all the drama peoples I know acting after seeing them in action in other things (Stokoe has his favorites that get into everything, and they make great chemistry together!), and I can't wait for all this put together! An extra bonus goes to Dom, who gets the Baker's solo! WHOO! Anxiously awaiting that, pal!


4. Odyssey of the Mind is really cool! We're crunching on time a bit, but we are nearing the end! I have a fat suit for my costume made of hula hoops and wires! Awesomest and fattest tomato you will ever see! But I can't really tell anymore. You'll just have to wait until we perform the end of this month for the state.

5. I got my passport for Espanolandia (Spanishland) on Friday at school! In case you don't know what that is, it's a language fest at BYU. Espanolandia is just the one for Spanish classes. I'm only Spanish 1, but a few of us from our teachers are getting smuggled in with the higher classes, the only ones who are supposed to go! :P I'm one of the few "best students" who got chosen. We have to talk in Spanish the whole time, to get stamps, and if we want we can bring real money to exchange for "pesos". If we get caught talking in English or causing trouble, la policia will take us to jail, but it turns out you get a stamp for that, and if you use a bribe, you can get out. Hehehe. To go, we have to recite a poem, or do a skit with a group of people. What do you think I did? DUH! SKIT! Our group consists of people in our class, mostly my friend Sydney's drama buddies. But I got to know them and they are awesome (and Bridger will make the perfect Benjamin in the play). We're doing the Bachelor. Bridger's the Bachelor, Arlee's the host, Sydney's the dumb blonde, Brittany's the bearded lady with 9 names, and I'm the nerd (but I'm not sure it's a character...) We exchanged phone numbers and will be working on it over the break. Can't wait for translation and costumes (yeah, parts of it are still in English...well...most of it actually).

6. It was my birthday this Friday! I got to get attention from my friends, and go to another friend's birthday party. I have a friend who has the same birthday as me that was there, and we had exchanged presents earlier that day. HOLY CANDY! SO MUCH, I AM GOING TO DIE! And another friend gave me a present at the party. Thanks, Jack! We had a family party/dinner on Easter/Conference Sunday. It's pretty exciting, I can't wait to go to stake dances! But I have to wait a month and a half before one comes up. And I will surely be wearing the cute dress I just got. Can't wait to have some fun! And yes Stephen, I know how you used to "boogie woogie!" It's pretty impressive you were known around the STAKE! The was definitely ready to leave the hive for the rose. Get it...beehives to mia maids...the rose...?


7. I've started an emailing writer's circle! Now...just to come up with a name for it...ideas anyone? I'm going for something cool, like the writer's group Tolkien and Lewis were in called the Inklings.

8. April is National Poetry Month, and I've been finding some cool forms! I'm trying to experiment with as many kinds as I can. Inspiration would be nice!

These are just some things occupying my teenage life. Hope you guys are doing well, and I love you all. <3