Jordon's Birthday

Jordon's birthday is July 20th. He turned 20 this year. Aww, now we're the same age! 

It also happens to be my sister's birthday. She turned 12.

It has kind of become a tradition that I make Jordon a cheesecake on his birthday. And of course this birthday could be no different. This year, because I live with him, I asked him for details of how I should make it. He decided on a plain cheesecake with oreo crust and chocolate and caramel toppings. 

I used this recipe for the cheesecake. For the crust I used about 26 crushed Oreos (except I used the cheaper nameless brand), and maybe 3 TBS of butter.

I didn't have a spring-form pan to use this year, so I had to use two smaller pans. This way it didn't cook quite as nicely, and it wasn't lovely and thick as it usually is. But I think they turned out pretty enough. And they were delicious! I had to be careful not to practically eat the whole thing myself. 

The last piece is sitting in the fridge calling my name. Of course I can't eat the last slice of HIS birthday cheesecake.

For his birthday gift we ordered him a little Mound Juniper Bonsai. They're expensive little things, but it came looking as cool as we could hope. Now we had better be able to keep it alive!

My gift for Chey was a mini teddy bear that I bought at the shop with my employee discount. :D

I tied curly ribbon around his neck to look festive. Here he is in my purse, waiting for my shift to be over and be taken home.  

I put him in a green bag and stuck on a pretty piece of a homemade card someone gave us for our wedding. And of course I tied a ribbon to the handle. I love pretty gift packaging. However when I gave it to Chey she had it out before I even realized she had been opening. What the heck? You are supposed to ask if you are supposed to open it now or on your birthday. She did not appreciate the pretty bag at all. Still so much to learn, that one. 

But i'm sure she liked the bear. And I crocheted her a cover for her Kindle a while back that I count as part of her birthday present.

Some thoughts that pertain to my life.

Well my birthday was last month, and I am now 19. I haven't thought much about that,except once or twice to say "wow I'll be in my twenties starting next year". Everyone is getting so old! My friends are getting married or going on missions left and right!
So anyways . . . Jordon came over the day before my birthday, because he felt bad that he had to work on my birthday, and gave me the cute puppy above (he's super soft). Along with the Sims3 computer came, and two almond hershey bars. My mom bought me a jar of Nutella all to myself, and made a jello cake.

I am almost done with one of my stupid classes that has been troubling me. I can't wait to get to the next one. So anyways, since my facebook note about unfinished things, I have been pondering about things like learning, studying, reading, etc . . . I'm not very good at doing things that I'm supposed to do, unless something compells me to do it. I'm the queen of procrastination. Today my mentor called me when I wasn't expecting it, and after that I pretty much finished the assignment that I should have finished a long time ago.

Sometimes when I feel in the mood I do things to try and inspire or compel myself to action. One things I like to do is put inspiring pictures and quotes into a collage on my computer background (like the ones below). Sometimes I will change it up depending on what I want to accomplish. Like schoolwork and reading, or developing musical and artistic talents, etc. 

I also like to listen to music while I study. Stuff that's quiet enough to just kind of fade to the background, but perky enough give me some extra lift. I recently got the idea to create a playlist that's about 40 minutes long, and when I am having trouble getting stuff done, to turn it on and tell myself that I can't do anything but my work until it's (the music) done.

Another thing I like to do that motivates me is to clean my room up, and pile on my books in a pretty stack by my bed. Usually they are messily thrown by foot of the bed, with clothes and blankets on top of them. I do have a bookshelf, but I keep the books that I am currently reading or  studying by my bed. 

Oh and I like to keep a water bottle by me. I feel like my brain works better when I'm hydrated. But I don't know if it really does.

So yeah. Those are all of my blog-ready thoughts for the day. :)

My day

Hmmmm well I have been trying to think of somethings to blog about. My mom says I should talk about what happens at school, and my friends, since that is mostly my life. So ok, here it is:

I wake up at about 6:00 (it is horrible) and lay around for 10-20 minutes. Then I get dressed and do my hair (if I feel like it, sometimes I am lucky if I even brush it all the way), brush my teeth, do my make-up etc.... Luckily my mommy makes my lunch for me, so I don't have to. Then we say a little prayer and I go to the bus stop and stand in the cold and wait for the stupid bus to come. Then when the bus does come we have to pile in with a bunch of extremely loud elementary school kids. Luckily they don't stay on long, because their school is in town.
Then we drive for forty minutes to get to my school. Usually I read or listen to my iPod on the bus, or both. Sometimes I just kinda sleep. I admit that I am extremely anti-social on the bus.

When I get to school I walk to my locker and stuff my things in it. Then usually a couple minutes later Jordon show up, and we walk around together until our friends Preston and Jordan come, then we all walk around and talk. There are others sometimes, and sometimes not all of us are together, but usually that's how it is. I am always with Jordon unless he is not there.
Anyway we walk around for about fifteen minutes until the bell rings. We always hate to hear it ring. Then Preston and Jordan go to their classes and Jordon and I walk to my locker so I can get my scriptures and we walk up to seminary!
It's the best class to have first. And since it doesn't seem like school it makes it feel like school hasn't started yet which is nice.
Then I go to English. English is a not very exciting or very hard class. Since it is right before lunch I am pretty much watching the clock the entire time. Although we do read some interesting books, which is sometimes enjoyable.

Then lunch! Yay! Jordon and Preston and Jordan (notice one is spelled with an A, the other is an O) and I go to the seminary to eat. Preston's dad is one of the seminary teachers. And even if he wasn't of course they would still welcome us there. We have some very interesting times durring lunch. There is a mixture of personalities that just creates that effect. Bro. M and Bro. G are awesome and way fun. And they always add the littes spiritual lessons which is cool. Bro. G sort of gives the boys a hard time, he especially tortures Jordan. But then I kind of want to do that myself. He likes to bug me on purpose, and is sure I am going to beat him up some day (sounds tempting). Then there is the fact that Jordon and Jordan don't always get along with each other. It's all fun of course, but sometimes they get a little over-zealous. Preston does sometimes, but usually he and I are the mature ones who just watch and roll our eyes. There is no reasoning with them when they get into their arguments. Sometimes I join in just because it is fun to argue about ridiculus things.
So that's lunch!

Then I go to art. I have talked about art before. It has not changed. It is my most hallenging, and usually most fun class. It is very hard. Mrs. Smoak is a demanding teacher. She expects a lot from us. It is hard to get an A in her class. But also she is a good teacher, and I have improved a ton through her class. And when she is in a good mood she is fun. The other students in that class are really fun too.

Then I have interior design. Which is kind of fun, but so far mostly hard. And since we are mostly always just taking notes or doing busy work that involves gluing and measuring and cutting and lettering....... *breath*..... I get bored and want to go to sleep on my desk. But a big reason to that may be that it is the last period of the day.

I am always relieved when the bell rings. I take my time and go slowly to my locker. I know that the bus takes forever, and I don't like to hurry. Jordon and i walk outside slowly, I give him a hug and he leaves and I have to go wait for the bus again. Can you tell I don't like the bus?

Then the next day I just go to choir. Which is now a pretty fun class. I sit by my friends Emily and Sydney. We are all sopranos. We write notes in a little "chat room" in a notebook. It's fun. And a random fact: My choir teacher is Jordans dad. We are working on some really fun songs. Including one written by Handel calles 'Hallelujah Amen'. Which I am pretty sure is just a piece from 'Messiah'. It hard, but really cool. It's fun to hear it come together as we all learn our parts.

Well if you made it to the end of this; congrats! I hope it at least slightly interested you. I left a ton of stuff out, but you will have to ask me about something to learn more because I did not feel like writing any more of a novel than this already is. =)

Oh yeah, by the way. My b-day was on the 28th of last month, and I am now seventeen! Whoo hoo! Wow I am getting old. Next year I will be eighteen, how crazy!

'''~School~'''

Hmmm, what should I post about.... Well, I am wide awake at 7:35 AM, and there is a reasonable explanation for it (because believe me, I would otherwise still be asleep). We got a day off of school Monday, which was nice. And I spent a lot of time catching up on some homework assignments that I needed to get done. Well, this morning I woke up at 6, then I layed in bed for probably fifteen minutes, then I got up and promptly got ready for school. I was just about to leave for the bus stop, but I decided to ask my mom if she was really sure that today was an even day (the even days are the ones I have a full school day on). She said she thought so but that she would go check. And guess what... . . it is an odd day!!! I knew it! I was SO right! And now you would think I would be happy, but I am not! I was all ready to go to school, and now I am not going! So I don't know what I would do if I quit going to school altogether, because evidently I need it more than I thought I did. I have been wanting to go back to school deep down inside all weekend..... Haha, I am crazy, and I want to go to school! =( =/ =P

But now I guess I can do some things here that I need to get done.

Other than that there is nothing that I feel the need to post about. Oh PS, my birthday is in eight days!!!

So how is school going for you Kai? Hehe..... =)

My Daddy!

Today is my dad's birthday, so this post is in honor of him. I am just going to tell a little bit about my wonderful dad. =D

First of all, one of the things I love about my dad is that he is so considerate to his family. He loves us all so much, and would do anything to help us.

Second, he loves my mother. And can't live without her. (he had to try for two weeks while we were in England and he hated it).

And especially I am proud of him, and for all that he does. He is a scout leader, for a while he was a counselor in the Elders Quorum, and now he is a high priest and second counselor in the bishopric!!!! Wow! It's weird, but also I am used to it now and it seems totally like that is how it should be. I am proud to have a father who is willing to serve others and to serve the Lord.

Note: No, the duck is not a picture of my dad. But my dad likes ducks, so I put that there for him. =)

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Chey's B-day/baptism

Ok, I know people have been waiting for me to do this post. And now I'm finally getting to it!
My sister Cheyenne turned 8 on the 20th of this month (July). And so, on the 26th she was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We had some family and friends come for it. Nothing too big or fancy. But it was fun, and of course Chey got extra special treatment. She had to be dunked twice, because the first time her foot came up. Haha! Mom gave the talk on baptism, and I did the one on the Holy Ghost. Here is a picture of Chey before her dunking! Those jumpsuits are not very fun to wear (in my opinion) but she looks good in it! Wait until you turn twelve Chey, then you get to wear one at least once or twice a year!

Chey with her (and my) daddy. Of course Dad baptized and confirmed her. Yay!

One of the only pictures of me, because I had the camera most of the time. Not the best pic. I was, of course, the pianist.

Here is the beautiful cake that Aunt Stacy made for the occasion! She even made the candy tiara on top!

So so cute!

Chey with Ketchup and Fishy (aka Kendra and Felicia).

Chey with our soo cute cousin Emily.

Daddy and Grandma Terry! I like this picture.

An all American meal! MMmmmm

Kids on the tramp. TO be exact, Justin, Brendan, Krystel, Chey, Kota, and Felicia.

Chey opening her gifts. Sorry, I didn't take pictures of them.

None of us need this little bike anymore, so we gave it to Spencer. Now he uses it for his motorcycle. Wonder where he learned that!

Food! Krystel, Fishy, Kendra, Chey, Kami, and Grandma Hale.

Cousin Trevor, and Spencer. Spencer loved seeing himself in the view-screen. He kept saying, "look! Look that's me!"

Around the fire. Grandpa, Justin, Em, Victor, and Uncle Jeff. We roasted marshmallows, talked, and (some of us;hint) got embarrassed by our grandpa who MUST try and insist that poor sixteen year old guys really should join the army. Not to mention names or anything. (Yes, I still love my grandpa.) Enough said.

And I won't even say how aunts can embarras you. (and yes I still love you too Aunt Stacy.)

Nathan wrestling Kota on the trampoline. Don't worry, if anyone got hurt it would probably had been Nathan. Not the best thing to teach Kota. Haha, oh well.

And those are all the pictures! Sorry there was a smudge on the camera lens and we didn't notice until they were uploaded onto the computer. So some people may be slightly smeared.

I see now that I didn't manage to get pictures of everyone. Oops. But I did better than my mom would have! And next time will be even better. But to let everyone know, these where the people who came:

baptism

From our last bishops family (they are our friends now, even though he's not bishop anymore)

Bishop H-aka Ryan

Nathan

Krystel

Kami

Spencer

Family and relatives

All of my family of course

Grandma and Grandpa C

Grandma H

Aunt Stacy and Uncle Jeff and their kids-Trevor Emily and Victor

Bishop H (the current Bishop. They have the same last initial!)

And his wife Ramona

BBQ after Baptism

All of the before mentioned-as well as:

Kendra and Felicia

The twins, Justin and Brendan

So, happy birthday and congratulations Chey! I am proud of you and the choice you made to be baptized. Remember to be careful of how you represent the Savior and His church, and always be a good and sweet example to everyone. As I know you are.

Love you sister Tiffany.

Happy Birthday/baptism Cheyenne!

I know I didn't describe things very well in this post. So feel free to ask questions if you are confused.

Happy Birthday Kaileen!

On the 17th of this month Cody went on a camp-out with the older homeschool boys in our area. Nate is leaving on his mission in not too long =( So it was good for him to do something with all the other guys.


At the same time I went to Kai's house to stay and celebrate her sixteenth birthday! I stayed over for two nights. The first night it was just Kai and I. we watched 'Sleepover' and 'the Prefect Man'. And ate burritos. Kai got to pick all the food she wanted for her birthday, and she chose bagels, burritos, and macaroni and cheese. Hmmm This is me! Yay!

The second day Heather and Kai's friend Angela (is that right?) came over at around 6:00 I think. Or 18:00 as Nate would say. This is Heather trying to escape my camera.

We mostly just talked for a while. Then we soaked our feet and did a cool scrub thing to them. Then Angela had to go home because she needed to get up early in the morning. Then we played 'Killer Bunnies', that's right. It's a violent came where you kill off cute little bunnies. Well, you try to keep your own alive and get all the carrots for yourself. I thought it was a very confusing game. My bunnies did pretty good though. And I got lots of carrots. Kai ended up winning though. I guess it was good luck because of her birthday. Poor Heathers bunnies kept getting killed off. Oh, we also ate a lot of candy while we played it.

Kaileen!

After killing lots of innocent bunnies we watched a movie until 2:00 in the morning. I was sooo tired, and the sugar had given me a headache. Heather fell asleep in like five minutes, and I wasn't far behind her.

Here are our soft feet!

We were really glad Heather got to come. We thought she wouldn't be able to. But she got home from her camp just in time!

I didn't take as many pictures as I usually do. I almost took a picture of the inside of the refrigerator, but Lisa forbade it. Darn! And Cody is the one who went on the camp, so if you want to see what the boys were doing you'll have to talk Cody into finally blogging!

Happy Birthday Kaileen! Hope you had a great SWEET SIXTEEN!