Highlights from my 18th year

As of today, I am 19. Its pretty crazy for me to think about- maybe that I've made it 19 years or maybe that it just doesn't feel as if I am that old.

Either way I am glad to see 19 come but at the same time 18 really was a great year. It had its not so good times as well but with the good comes the bad. In no particular order here are some (aka the ones I could think of right now) highlights of my 18th year: -The end of Senior year. This included senior prom, which was such a great time.

-Getting Invisaligns to straighten my teeth. I had the actual invisaligns from a little bit before my 18th birthday until about October. Now I wear a "retainer" constantly but will get to gradually wean off of it here soon.
-Graduation!! Seniors 2009 baby!! I graduated high school finishing 8th in my class. I got a couple good scholarships from the college and a couple outside ones as well.

-My graduation party! It was so much fun. I would go back to high school just to do it again! Ok, maybe not but it was pretty fun!

-Getting my Nikon DSLR camera. Its my baby ;) I love having it and eventually I plan to get off the P setting and unto the Manual one.

-Having my photography grow. Somewhat because of my Nikon but somewhat because of my talent as well. Having people ask me to take portraits for them and doing a number of photo shoots. My photography has really advanced lately and for that I am excited and hope it continues to grow.

-Regaining Whittney back as my closest friend. There was a short period of absence with our friendship, we kind of drifted apart, but towards the beginning of my 18th year we started to come back together and now I think we are closer than ever. And for that, I am grateful. She really is the greatest friend, scratch that, sister a girl could have.

-I started college and have found that it isn't really what I expected. It has its good and its bad, some days I like it and some days I don't. I have been doing pretty well and have passed all my courses with A's or B's. We will see with spring semester but I hope that holds true.

-I made the Deans list for fall semester. Barely. but it still counts =]

-I got to be in the live audience at one of Jack Hanna's specials. It was exciting. Living where I do that is probably the only opportunity I will ever have for something like this and the closest I will ever get to a celebrity. I got his autograph to ;)

- I did my first field through school. I was in a second grade classroom. I got very good feedback so despite my nervousness and all things like that I obviously did well enough to be commended on my efforts. I really hope I am making the right choice with teaching.

I know there is so much more that has happened this last year that is noteworthy but I can't think of anything else at the moment and I am running short on time. College has kept me on a short leash so far this semester, I haven't had the time for much other than homework.

Oh, I forgot to include the fact that I got this blog and I enjoy everything about it- so thank you all who read it- you have helped make my 18th year all the better!!!

Love,

Christmas Part Three: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Christmas Eve day started out pretty normal, we all just kinda hung around- baked, cleaned and just enjoyed the spirit of Christmas.

Christmas activities started by Jodi coming over. I gave her the rest of her gifts which I hope she loved! I didn't get any pictures of her opening them that night nor one of us together (although she promised me one at a later date, because she said she didn't like her hair that night lol) but I can show you what one the gifts looked like, it was a picture frame with three openings and the pictures in it were these:

How cool is that!! I am pretty certain she loved it, or at least I hope she did! I was so proud of myself for pulling it off without her knowledge ;)

After that, Jodi curled my hair for church then we said our goodbyes. My family and I then went to church and enjoyed a really cool candle lit service. It was really pretty, except for when the hot wax went through the wax catcher and burnt my hand, that wasn't so cool, lol.

After church we returned home and exchanged gifts from each other. We do that every Christmas eve and its so hard to wait until after church because we are just ready to open something!

My brother and I picked some cool things out for Dana, but she really loved the bracelet we got her!

I tricked my brother: he wrote no clothes on his Christmas list so I taped the gift card to the box lid and put clothes in the box. He was appalled- Are you kidding me??? He said.

But then he got a good laugh when he finally found the gift card, after putting the lid back on, mind you ;)

Then it was time to go to bed so "Santa" could come....

Our tree Christmas morning.

Us in front of the tree Christmas morning, even the dog got in on it.

Dana got very excited about her new chair!!!

Denae loves to open gifts, even more so when they are treats for her!

Tony got what he wanted!

My mom opening one of her gifts!

haha, look at her face. Got to love an excited kid on Christmas!

My dad very excited about his new...jeans? lol.

My mom got a beautiful ring from my dad, and I zoomed up on it with my new camera lens!!! ;)

This Christmas was certainly filled to the brim with wonderful activities, happiness and love..and the gifts were a plus to. I really had a great holiday and I hope you did as well!

Love,

I am thankful

for so many things not just on thanksgiving but everyday. Since its Thanksgiving though, I want to share with you some things I am thankful for:
My family of course. I am so lucky to have such a great family. I know I can count on them for anything because they are always there. I am also lucky to have such a loving family as well. I am also thankful for all my extended family but I don't have permission to put all their pictures up on here so I will have to settle for just saying it.

My dog. I love my dog, shes such a good and faithful dog and things wouldn't be the same without her around!

The girls. They have helped me grow as a person so much. They love me unconditionally as I love them unconditionally right back. They are just a light in my life, always shining and helping me in ways they don't even realize.

My amazing best friends. I couldn't ask for better best friends, they are like sisters to me. They are always there for me when I need them, when its convenient and even when its not. They make me a better person in so many ways. I know I am never alone and can always count on them. These girls are also very important to me and also part of my closest friends group they just were not in the other picture. They also mean the world to me and help me in many ways.

My neighbors. I am so glad that I have such awesome neighbors, we used to have some pretty crazy ones (and still do, but at least we have one set of cool ones to make up for it) its so cool to have such amazing people living next to you. Landon and Gavin are so cute and so fun to be around and by being around them I learn so much. Brian and Randi are awesome role models and they are always so helpful and great to talk to.

I have so much and so many more people to be thankful for but if i kept going this could go on forever, plus I can only share the pictures of people who have given permission for me to do so.

I am so blessed and ever so thankful for all the blessings in my life even if I don't show it all the time. I have it good and to everyone who has helped make it that way, all my gratitude goes out to you.

And to all my readers- thank you for reading and being some awesome blog friends, blogging wouldn't be as fun without you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Love,

In a very short amount of time,

another celebration has come upon us. This event is also marked down as important in my book because without it, well, I wouldn't be here! This time the attention is turned towards my dad because now, its his birthday! This picture of my dad is a couple years old but its my favorite of him that I could find, it shows his silly personality and I just adore it!

Dear Dad,

First of all, Thank you for being a great dad. You have always been there for me whatever I may need. Your a great person to look to for support and guidance. Although your approach to helping me out may not be what I expected sometimes, you always seem to manage to get me through whatever life throws at me. Your hard work and dedication in any task that you take on has taught me to work hard -no matter how impossible it seems- I can do it. Your an inspiration: your talent with woodworking amazes me and I hope that I can perfect my talent as well as you've perfected yours.Thank you so much for everything you do and continue to do for me, for all the sacrifices and hard work you put into making sure Tony, Dana, and I are provided for. Your the best Dad anyone could ever ask for.

I wish you the best on your birthday and hope this year brings with it everything you could ever imagine.

Happy Birthday Dad, I love you!

Love,