Happy Birthday Month Cupcake Claire and IRM

Yesterday we went to park day because we realllly needed to get out of the house. It was super fun, Maddy and Claire came so Lex and I got to hang out with them! It was cold so we just kept walking around and around the park discussing several random things such as the fact that Blue from Blue's Clues, previously a girl, has now disturbingly become a guy... And Joe is a poor replacement for awesome college bound Steve. The fact that it was so cold, Alaska, my birthday party and considering doing something with the teen group a thing the Abshiers have done with their cousins already. A music video, "Homeschool Musical". They came up with several hilarious homeschool stereotypes and acted them out in the video, all the girls wore funny dresses and the guys high water pants and nerdy T shirts. It was truly hilarious and I think it would be a great thing for us to try. At the park there were a couple guys over in the field pitching and hitting about a million and one softballs they'd brought. "We should make our own park, like, right over there," I said, gesturing towards the field. "It would be like: 'Our park vs. their park,' and ours would be way awesomer!!" We then commenced thinking over what we would have in our park that would be so much cooler, one thing, probably the most rediculous and said the most laughingly and wryly in our situation were seat warmers for the benches and outside heaters. "But," I said, contradicting myself playfully, "I suppose that WOULD sort of defeat the purpose of a park?" Eventually we left, my mom, Lex, Katie and Abbie heading over to Winco where I bought two Snickers bars and what I now fondly refer to as one of my favorite kinds if gum. Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream gum!! Zach and Brenten were horrified at the mere mention, I don't know if I actually gave Zach any, but Brenten's face alone after I mentioned it was enough for me to know my offer would be rejected. Then again, if I didn't give Zach any to try it serves him right for all the times he's refused gum to us less fortunate in braces ;)). Then after Winco my mom wanted to stop by her friend Erin's. "Because," she explained, smiling, "Life is short and you need to seize the chances you get." So we went and she and the younger two girls went in while Lexie and I sat in the car in the driveway and sang Weird Al. Yes, I do realize I am obsessed with Weird Al, but if you think that now wait until you finish the post (if you can ;). They emerged with several boxes of cereal and a bag of clothes. An altogether interesting and unnexpected visit. We stopped by the bank and then finally my mom drove me to the Dahms' so I could babysit. We ate dinner, which was some kind of spaghetti with lots of zucchini in it and some broccoli. Becca made up a game to play with Bryan to get him to eat his broccoli. They had a flashing ladybug that lit up a certain amount of spots every time you pressed the button on it that belonged to a game they own. So Becca pushed it and the number of lights it lit was the number of veggies Bryan ate. Of course when Bryan finished his vegetables he expected to get his fair turn telling Rebecca how many vegetables to eat every time he pressed the button... Afterwards we played Sorry and then with clay and I read Bryan a few Blue's Clues books before it was time for him to get ready for bed. We put him on the couch with Air 1 playing softly and went into a nearby room where we could still watch him, but he was kind of alone and I taught Simon and Becca how to play Nuts. It was confusing but they started to get the hang of it so I think we'll be playing it a bit after this. Once Bryan was safely asleep we put away the cards and entered the living room and turned on the Wii Family Game Night 3. They got ready for bed and I loaded the dish washer and then Simon, Becca and I played Clue on the Wii. It made us play with a computer character, but the computer character had yellow hair, a yellow jumpsuit and waved at everyone oddly and played stupid moves so we had many a laugh at the character, John's, expense. In case anyone cares it was Mrs. White in the Movie Theater with the Candlestick... Then we played Life. It was very interesting. This, too, made us play with a computer character similar to the first, John. This one was named JOHNNY. Who are they kidding? So I ended up married to an african american, living in a blue house with four kids... And my careers (I had three of them over the course of the game) only went downhill... Simon ended up married to this lady who we all agreed looked quite a bit like the murderer from Clue, Mrs. White, he had maybe one kid and was a Veterinarian. Becca was married to a "relative of John's," she had three kids, was a doctor and lived in a Victorian House. But we had to end the game early and they went to bed. Sitting alone on the Dahms' couch after picking things up a bit was kind of dull. I pulled out my notebook but mostly just stared at it. I recieved a few texts from Maddi, one saying "Z wants to know when you'll be there." I replied, agitated. "Tell Z to hold his stinking horses and I'll be there soon enough." "K" she replied simply, and I could hear either the annoyance or the amusement in the single consenant. Anyways Mr. and Mrs. Dahm arrived home and Mr. Dahm took me over to the O'Neills' house. When we arrived he said "I'll just stay here until you get in the door and make sure you aren't abducted or anything..." I grinned, hoisting my 'babysitting bag' over my shoulder and thanking him then running to the door. Immediately after ringing the doorbell my hand to my face, What if Jeni's alseep? What if their dad's asleep! It's late! You idiot! I stood for a few minutes on the porch before I saw a sihouette in the window jump up and run to the door. Zach answered the door, grinning, "Welcome to chaos," he greeted. I went back to Em's room where I caught the two, Emily and Leixe, in the act of giving each other rediculous makeovers. "Wow," I said honestly, "Wow..." They kicked Zach out until they'd changed into normal things and then we all sat around talking kidding, Zach in the corner on the laptop and SOME OF US enduring evil toturous tickling. They switched out on the computer, but I never got on. We played Speed, mostly Zach and I, we hung out, laughed and I was tickled a LOT. Zach has, apparently been hanging out with some public schoolers so hardly a word we said could go without at least a surprised, low chuckle. "SHUT UP ZACH!" Emily at one point shouted. Probably more than one point. Zach left at about 1 AM. I read Em everything in my notebook from the Trials of Six at her insistent request and plus it got me out of being tickled. At about 2 AM Em discovered I was also ticklish in my elbow... But that one, unlike many other ticklish places she's found, you have to tickle right or it doesn't work. About 3 AM she got on the top bunk, Lex was passed out on the bed and I was half asleep on the bean bag chair. We turned out the lights and went to bed.

Bored

Today I woke up a little tired, but feeling pretty good nonetheless. It was sunny which truly helped improve my mood. Knowing that it was Saturday didn't instantly kick in. Slowly I realized that due to my hard work this week I would be able to take my Saturday off! No piano practice (Which was actually sadly a relief - it's hard to fill 30 minutes when you have all your work done!) and no treadmill for PE. While I sincerely enjoy both these activities it was quite the relief to take a day off and just slump into an unplanned do nothing day. First my parents took my younger sisters to Chico to stay the night at our little cousin Annajoy's for her birthday. I sat at home and observed my brothers watching "Ponyo". A movie I was altogether unimpressed with, but I think that goes without saying! Later when my parents returned I watched "The Ramen Girl" with my mom and sister. Right afterwards Lexie put on Psych. We watched one episode before my mom began "Hey.. Hey Cupcake." "Yes?" "Will ya make some cupcakes?" "Sure." "Will you make them soon?" "Sure." "Will you make them... NOW?" "Su - no... Let me finish the episode!" So I finished the episode and then went into the kitchen, pulling out the huge cupcake making kit I'd recieved only yesterday. I put on my big headphones (Yes Madison that statement had your name written all over it) and began. I must have looked awfully funny in the kitchen: I had my headphones on, was wearing the bow from the box around my neck and the clothespin on my sleeve, pacing back and forth, stirring. I The house slowly emptied actually, my dad had started a fire in the backyard and everyone was beginning to gravitate in that direction. My mom began sending me texts demanding I join them in the back yard and I kept sending replies "I'm baking them!" "I'm mixing!" "I'm frosting." Finally she very admantly demanded my presence and I sighed, leaving half the cupcakes unfrosted, putting on a jacket and joining them. Outside I appeared by her side in the dark before she realized I was there. It was cold and I huddled in a folding chair, bent in half and clutching my headphones over my ears. The fire was warm though. Eventually my mom told me to go back in and check whatever was cooking in the oven.... Yeah it was pretty boring! Laterz

The Things You Never Thought You'd Be Doing...

I'm BACK! My very first 2011 post!! Everyone complained at my long absence, so here I am. But I didn't mind. It was a sweet complaining, it meant they actually cared whether I blog or not so I was actually quite pleased! Anyways today our ES came over for awhile but mainly to meet with the younger kids. I practiced piano because I've been keeping up with my practices like a fiend this week. All my songs are down and a little more than I was assigned because I've been doing the 30 minute practices every day, I have actually had nothing better to do... Anyways after I finished I put on my tennis shoes and we left. Sam didn't get to go, he hadn't been behaving so as we all got in the car he sat in front of the gate like a protestor. My mom and I shooed him off as I opened the gate and we pulled out Samless. We went through McDonald's so my mom could get an iced tea and then went on to the Fillmores'. As soon as we pulled up the younger girls were out of the car, I looked back and they were gone - I glanced at the stairs and was just in time to catch them running up them. Lex and I followed, we stood inside talking to Brenten for awhile. It was a very random and hilarious conversation and my mom was up soon. Then Brenten remembered he'd forgotten the present he'd gotten me for my birthday at my party and ran back to his room to get it. "It" was quite a bit! There was a cupcake making kit, the irony failed to strike me until we were in the car going home and my mom mentioned it. "OH!" I said, grinning, Of course! Why didn't I get it before?! CUPCAKE! (My most common nickname, a short form of "Cupcake the Sniper") He got me two movies, Forrest Gump and Ace Ventura. And he gave me two crystal candle holders he'd gotten at a family gift exchange. It was very awesome and had me cracking up the whole time - I loved it! Then Donalyn asked our mom if it was alright if Lex and I rode the motor bikes. So we went down and Brenten searched through a drawerful of gloves until he found some matching ones for the three of us and some helmets as well. He explained all the gears and everything and then Donalyn joined us and kindly RE explained a few times until we were up and going. We went first to the end of the driveway and back. Upon attempting to turn when we got back I accidentally ran into a random piece of machinery, my face smacking into the side, but not much other than my right cheek was able to hit thanks to the helmet. I staggered back, laughing, I probably looked like I'd just been smacked senseless and maybe I had! I really hadn't been much of an impact at all, just surprising that I'd actually done it in the first place! I stood up fully, holding my phone out ot my mom, "Can you take this? It won't quit vibrating!" She did, and then Mrs. Fillmore suggested we go around Field 5. So we started, it was so fun! A grin was stuck on my face as we sped along the pavement and then the paths. We sped up and slowed down as Lex and I got the hang of working the gas. It was very exhilerating and impossible not to love. I know it's super cliche, but there is nothing like the wind blowing on your face! Then there was trouble... We were riding around this corner, Brenten made it alright of course, but as I tried to slow I wasn't doing a very good job of turning and so I flew over the edge of a drainage ditch. I was described, I have heard, as having flown 9 feet in the air. At first my instinct was to clutch tightly to the bike handles, but as it became clear I was undeniably going over I knew I had to let go and flew off, landing in a patch of berry bushes. I do not actually remember being in the air at all, the only things I was aware of was me and the bike and deciding whether I should let go in those few seconds. I somehow managed to land on my back, flying into the berry patch so swiftly I didn't ruin the parts over me, and they encased me like a child's cradle. Again, the impact didn't set in at all at first - only the shock. And then I felt myself being pricked EVERYWHERE. "Ow," I reacted bluntly. I began pushing aside the tangled bushes, trying to disentangle myself. As I stood I saw my sister, she'd also gone over the bank but she had rolled less dramatically, with lower speed and had only rolled down the side, her front wheel in the water, the rest she held out. Then I looked up to see Brenten standing at the top of the bank next to the larger bike he'd been riding, unlike us not in the drainage ditch. His face was kind of confused and very surprised. Lastly I looked down for the bike I'd been riding. It was nowhere to be seen but both Lexie and Brenten looked worn already. They later described to me having seen huge clusters of bubbles come up from the water. Anyways immediately Brenten climbed over, taking off his jacket, shoes and socks and waded in to find the bike. "Augh it's cold! Oh snap, crawdad! Well... This is what I get for wearing white pants..." He exclaimed, wading further in and looking to find the bike. Finally he got it and began dragging it to the edge. Lexie and I worked on getting hers up the bank. Brenten got the one I'd crashed up out of the water on the opposite side and then came over to our side of the ditch. The three of us got Lexie's bike up on the bank, and believe me it wasn't the simplest - the bank was a little... steep. Brenten then went back to the other side and began tugging at the bike, slowly getting it up before it slipped back down in the mud. "Need some help, Brenten?" "Nah, I got it," He said, continuing to pull on the thing. I laughed, "Again: need some help?" He smiled this time, "Alright maybe one of you... Or two... Or three..." We joined him, hoisting it up the side it as a progression of one of us lifting and then another holding it in that spot, then the other pulled it up a little more and one bracing it there. Then it was at the top of the bank, we high fived in celebration. "Next time," I said, "I wear my SECOND favorite pair of jeans. Madison would be horrified... But oh well!" We tried Lexie's bike and discovered that since only the front wheel had gone in it still ran fine. Lexie rode that one and then I rode on the back of Brenten's larger one, clasping my arms around his middle to stay on. I have to admit I wasn't really scared as I probably should have been to get on a motor bike again. Oh well, I supposed Maddi and Zach will be displeased with my reckless indifference but.. Whatever. We found a group of men outside the house, Brenten's grandpa, uncle and a few others. We went back to get the other bike, I rode on the Gator with Brenten's grandpa and Brenten rode behind us on the larger motor bike. He pointed out several interesting things, even the beaver dam Brenten had originally been trying to show Lexie and I when we'd fallen off the edge of the ditch. We pulled it up on the back of the Gator and went back. Once there we went up to the house, all of us muddy and Brenten soaked from the waist down. Lexie and I explained what had happened while Brenten changed, much to both our mothers' amusement. I was glad they were only amused and not upset as I'd half expected. I pulled out the Would You Rather cards, but we didn't play, only read a few before we were asked if we would help fix the motor bike. All three of us went down and helped - well mainly Brenten helped and Lex and I stood by watching and getting them paper towels or holding a container to catch water and oil. It was all very interesting and neat, we spent the rest of the time doing this. Lexie had the sharp eyes which was useful. It was dark when they began pulling the small motor bike back and forth in the shop with the larger bike, trying to start it. After many tries they got it going again! The moms asked if I wanted to try riding it again. "I'd love to try it again! But I thought we were leaving?" "Well we're not leaving right this second," my mom said, rolling her eyes. I got on and it slipped out of my hands as I tried to switch it into first. I kick started and tried again to put it into first, it spun around, my right hand still firmly gripping and I stumbled around after it. That's when Donalyn came to my assistance, I sat and got it kick started and then into first gear. "Brenten!" She said, holding out a flashlight, "Run beside her with the light!" So we went down to the end of the driveway, I trying to go as slowly as I could so he wouldn't have to run, and he trying to adjust his speed as I was constantly, running and walking, run, walk, run, walk. The light bounced as he ran (and walked) alongside, talking the whole way. We were maybe two thirds of the way down the drive when the parents and Lexie showed up in the mule, bright lights brilliantly illuminating the asphalt and loud jovial laughing ringing through the night. My mom took a picture with her iPhone of us going down the drive, I riding, he walking. It is one of the funniest things ever! Donalyn made my mom promise to send it to her. At the end Lexie took over the bike and Brenten and I got in the back of the mule, sitting with our backs to our moms. They were still laughing loudly, we just smiled and laughed with them and occasionally remarked about how fun it had been. When we got back the moms sent Brenten to go look for the girls while we went upstairs. The girls were already upstairs though so we just talked and laughed until he burst in the door saying "They're here aren't they?!" Directly in front of him sat the threesome at the kitchen table. Then we collected our things and started down the stairs to our car. We loaded it but it was slow progress actually leaving as everyone talked, we were reluctant to leave. "We should do this more often!" was heard chorused from several people. "Can you see us doing this in ten years?" Asked Donalyn. I certainly hope we are! We were then challenged to plan some events, which I fully plan to meet. If one thing's sure it's that this day was unlike anything I'd expected, there was no way I could have anticipated it! It was so wonderfully unplanned by us, and yet so wonderfully perfectly planned by God. Oh the things you never thought you'd be doing!