Mi familia

In case you didn't know, I'm the oldest of 6 kiddos. I like it :) Dad: I have never met someone so focused. I would go crazy if I had to stare at a computer full of numbers for as long as he does to provide for our family. I love hearing his mission stories. He is constantly playing music while working, a habit I've acquired. He also makes a great alarm clock when my other 3 fail to do the job :)

Mom: So much like me. Or I am so much like her. Very frequently, we yell the same thing at the exact same time. We have great adventures. Like going to Walmart at 3:00 in the morning or waiting an hour for balloons we never got. We are amused by the same things and have mad love for the same items.

Sam (14): Sam is brilliant. So brilliant that it baffles me that he just barely figured out that, if you shower facing away from the faucet, you don't have to close your eyes the whole time. He is constantly trying to prove that he is responsible, and is very good at making dinner.

Drew (12.5): Probably the least aggressive boy I have ever met. He does things in his own way and on his own time-table. He loves drawing on random bits of paper. He has a sense of humor capable of putting my dad into tears from laughing. His ideal gift would be a Costco-sized box of Oreos to himself.

Ainsley (almost 11): She so badly wants to be grown up. She loves creating. We call her the squirrel because she is always in search of something to turn into an art project. Her ideal gift would be a fresh notebook of lined paper. She is smart in an unconventional way. Common sense has a tendency to go right over her head, making for some memorable laughter.

Finley (almost 7): Finley is my mini me. She loves playing with babies and toddlers because she likes to be in charge. She crumbles if she thinks she has hurt someone. She doesn't understand why all the girls her age can't be friends. She loves to act older than her age.

Owen (almost 4): My bestest little redhead. He is probably the most keen 3-year-old I have ever met. It is obvious he has a lot of older siblings because he has a very mature sense of humor, he picks up on things most kids his age don't. His facial expressions kill me. I never know what to expect from that kid.

car ride constitution

We the people of the Smith household, in order to form a more peaceful car ride, establish that we will leave before the sun rises, insure all the iphones will be fully charged, provide for a smorgasbord of snackage, promote frequent naps, and secure the blessings of tranquility to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Smith Car Ride to Goblin Valley. (This is what hours of government homework does to me. :) )

enjoy the ride.

When I was little, we went swimming pretty much every day the pool was open at about 4:00 until my dad got home from work. 4:00 always felt forever away. I wish 4:00 didn't come so fast now. I'm realizing that I am 18 in less than a month. I am graduating in just over 2. I am fine with both, it is the amount of stuff that has to happen before then that scares the heck out of me. Biology internal assessments, online financial literacy, online government, English internal assessments, a nasty poetry explication, hundreds of pages to read/take notes on for history, statistics reviews, Mr. Braveman, completing a history book from roughly 15,000 pictures, Spirit Bowl, Baccalaureate, Senior Banquet, Prom, Bravestock, Swansong Assembly, training new officers, 16 IB/AP tests, finalized psychological experiment write-ups, 15-minute Spanish presentation, edited 15-page History research paper, photographing all spring sports, 150 creativity/service/action hours, 50 letters to write to the student body, apply for BYU housing, all without getting more than 3 tardies in English. It's a lot to do, but I am confidant it will all work out. I've decided to enjoy these last 2 months. It will be a crazy ride, but I will enjoy it. Then summer will be here. I will perhaps enjoy that ride more.

March is Madness

It's been a while. Here's a recap. State DECA, 1st place. State Basketball, made it to the semis. Toilet vs. banana, banana won. 3000 pictures, edited. Magic Week, tackled. English tests, dominated. Poetry assignment, last poems ever. 1000 balloons, blown up. Cheesecake Factory, epic. 3-day-weekend, glorious. Sterling Scholar, over. Today was grand. I actually woke up to my alarm and got ready with time to spare. Then I saw this when I walked out to my car.

This boy cracks me up. Top Owen quotes of the month: Fin: MOM! Owen is hurting me! Mom: Owen, why are you hurting Finley? Owen: She is annoying me! Mom: That's not a good reason. What will you do if your wife annoys you someday? Owen: If she annoys me, I will not marry her. --- Fin: Mom! Owen hit me! Mom: Why did you hit your sister? Owen: I didn't. I smacked her with a bottle. Mom: Why would you do that? That's very naughty. Owen: Why? It was just a simple bottle.

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You see, we love spending our Saturday mornings at school. We think butcher paper and muffins make a good combination.
We REALLY like spending our Saturdays at school. Everything turned out awesome. I was skeptical, but the balloon drop was truly magical.
The rest of Sophomore Week included Mario Kart Skateboard Racing, Disney Day (what says magic better than cotton candy & a coloring contest?), and a movie night.

you can't eat cats or baseballs

Right after church, Finley, Owen, and I were standing in the kitchen. The conversation was as follows: Me: Fin you can have a snack, but don't eat too much because we're probably eating soon. Fin: *scoff* I can eat anything I want. Owen: *imitation scoff* No you can't. *eye roll* You cannot eat cats. Or baseballs.