Finally

Y'all know I've been having kind of a rough time lately. Well, these past few days have been just what I needed :)

Sunday:
Play practice went great! My dad took me and we talked a lot in the car. I love that. I don't really talk to him like I used to, and I miss that.

After play practice, I came home and just sat in the living room with my mom and dad :) Sometimes it's nice just to be around. We watched some TV and I colored XD [Shut up. You're never too old to color.]

After dinner, my dad and I walked down to the lake to feed the fish. The sun was shining just right and you see the little swarms of gnats near the water. A boat motor made a loud sound and all the gnats JUMPED! It was the funniest thing! My dad wondered if you could make them jump with your voice. He said "JUMP" in a low voice and...

They did! It was really weird, and equally hilarious.

We went back to the house and Daddy watered the grass while I kicked the soccer ball and played basketball. When he was done, he played with me. I got six shots in a row, which was good for that night. I was missing like 80% of all the shots I took XD

I picked daisies for my mom.

It was a great day.

Monday:
Memorial Day!
"I'm proud to be an American, Where at least I know I'm free. And I won't forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me."

We can't forget :)

To celebrate Memorial Day, we went down to the lake! My friend Brianna and her little brother Michael came over, and we went down to the beach. Before long, lots of other people had joined us. A few hours into swimming and having fun, a thunderstorm came up! We got a canopy up just in time.

I love thunderstorms. And this one was cool. Not the most amazing one ever, but it had a giant crack of thunder that made me grin.

Some of the kids, including Matt, were actually in the water when lightning struck nearby. Matt said he felt like someone had kicked him in the chest. I wasn't in the water when it happened. I was jealous XD

The whole day was just amazing. Hanging out with friends, doing random things, I even got to DRIVE MY DAD'S CAR. In the neighborhood, but still, with just me and Brianna in the car. Please don't have me arrested.

Tuesday:
I slept late and just kind of chilled around the house. My mom and Lizzy are at a practicum, so it's just me and Daddy at home. We went to this new frozen custard place, which was awesome. Then we went to Wal-Mart to get stuff on a massive list I had just made XD I also got CHEAP CLOTHES! Who doesn't love cheap clothes? I got a skirt and a shirt for a grand total of $9.70. Alriight XD

We ate at Subway.

Play practice went amazing. I'm learning the dances better than I thought.

Daddy and I watched episodes of The Office :) I love that show.

Today:
Another sleeping in day. It felt great.

I laid outside in the sun for a while. It felt soo nice out. I'm not really one of those girls who can just "go out and tan". I get really bored really fast XD But I'm pale. So, I took notebooks, books, and my iPod and managed to stay quite happy for about an hour. Then I got up and played basketball until I satisfied myself with a beautiful three-pointer.

After dinner tonight, a thunderstorm blew up. It was so beautiful. Daddy and I went out on the screened-in porch and watched the bright lightning and listened to the thunder. I love those peals where you can hear where the crack starts, and then follow it as it rips around the sky :)
Daddy had to go to band practice for our church, but I stayed outside and listened to the storm. God is so cool, you know? I think thunderstorms are one of his finest ideas :) It even inspired me to write a little. A beginning of a story that will never go anywhere, but hey, I like it.

So basically, I've been having an amazing past few days. It's finally starting to seem like the best summer ever.

~Kendra

First School Days and Chicken Glaze

Picture Day:

So, there's this puzzle that's all put together--finally. Every piece is in perfect place, each one fits into the next just as it shoud, there aren't any wrinkles or gaps, and everything is just right. Except suddenly there's a giant piece missing...

Hi! Well, lots of news!

Soccer went...well, pretty fine! The coach is very nice, and he doesn't make us run at all, which is good for me in the short run, but not the long run. He's also not a particularly good coach, but I've had WAAAAY worse, so it's all good.

I bought some ADORABLE new tennis shoes yesterday, and I'm planning to run every day. Since I won't be running at soccer practice, I guess I'll have to get into shape somehow else.

SCHOOL UPDATE: Well, it was okay. Definitely overwheming and there's a lot to do each week. I'm not really excited about the main subjects, and logic isn't the kind I like at all. My teacher does a great job, she's just not my favorite teacher for some reason. I really liked having my dad last year; having a guy teacher was awesome, and the boys acted differently (better), too.

So, pretty much, it was a disappointment :'( Still, I thought Challenge I was going to totally suck and it was AMAZING, so, you never know!

We called Ellie at lunch and put her on speaker-phone, so she got to "eat lunch with us" even though she wasn't there. That was awesome.

Several times, I glanced around at Taylor to ask him something with my eyes, but he wasn't there. No further comment on this issue.

In a minute, I'm going to go outside and kick the soccer ball around with my dad before taking a quick shower.

Okay, I gotta tell this story from dinner.

So, we were having a really fun dinner, laughing and joking, and then Daddy started reading the Bible (we're in Revelation, which is my favorite book, and Lizzy *hates* it). Well, all the sudden, I look down at my arm and it's all nasty and greasy. I'm like,

"What the heck? What *is* this??" I'm kind of laughing and freaking out at the same time.

Then my mom is like, "It's in your hair!" And there's all this grease in my hair. Then we all look at the little cup of nasty chicken-juice sitting by my plate, and we're like, *groan*. So, I use like a million napkins, and we're all sort of chuckling. Then, I'm just like,

"Okay, I am just taking a shower after a while."

Mom: "Why don't you just go over to the sink and rinse that piece of hair really quick?"

So, I go over and start sink-washing. And my dad just cracks up. I'm like,

"What is so funny??"

He's just howling and he's like, "It really is funny!"

Me: "It is NOT--okay...yeah, it really is."

More really hard laughing.

Okay, maybe you had to be there.

At any rate, I think my life could totally be turned into a sitcom.

That's all for now! TTYL!

Losing Losers

*swallows hard* Soccer practice is tonight at 8 o'clock. Not only is Ben-from-class on my team, so is Josh-from-class and all Josh-from-class's awesome siblings (at least the high-school-aged ones). Their family is insanely talented in soccer, and Ben isn't a bad goalie himself, so I think we have a really good team even though I don't know who else is on the team. Except me. But I hardly count. I don't do anything stupid, but I'm not really good either, so I'm kind of like a 0. I don't subract from the team's goodness, but I don't add to it either.

I am so nervous. This is gonna be horrible. The coach is gonna make us run suicides or something and I'm gonna finish dead last and then throw up or something. Omg, this is so awful. Why did I even sign up for soccer? I'm so out of shape. This is awful. Oh my gosh. *MOAN*

*clears throat* Well, um, on a lighter note, I just finished watching 17 Again. I really love that movie. Every other line is a LOL, and the moral of the story is great. If you can get past the billions of inuendos, lol ;) Luckily Lizzy doesn't pick up on half of it, or I'd feel really creepy watching it with her. That's why I didn't want her coming with me to see it in the theater. I was so glad my mom hadn't made me take her, too. I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the movie knowing my impressionable little sister was watching in the next seat.

I did the 16 pages of pre-class biology today. I love the science book. It's written by the same guy as last year's was. The way he phrases things is really easy to understand, but it's still complicated stuff so I feel like I've actually learned something when I'm finished.

After school starts tomorrow, I might not be able to post as often. I'm not sure. I'd still like to post every day, and I'll try, but I'm not sure how hard this year is going to be. We'll just have to see.

In honor of school starting tomorrow, let me post a quick class "cast" and an unfair stereotype to them to help you follow me if I start using names.

1. Me - The Bigmouth
2. Ben - The Dare Devil
3. Tori - The Pretty One
4. Josh - The Nice Guy
5. Amanda - The Normal One
6. Kirsten - The Genius
7. Chris - The Clown
8. Jessie - The Good One
9. David - The Youngest
10. Alex -
11. Cassidy -

Yeah, that's our class. Alex (she's a girl) and Cassidy are new this year, so I don't know about them yet.

Writing that list almost made me cry. Know why? Because two very, very, VERY important people aren't on it. Ellie B and Taylor (he's a guy) aren't going to be in class this year. Y'all "know" Ellie. She's a follower and one of my best friends. She's been going to my school since 7th grade. We've started school together every year since middle school. She's awesome. She's part of the class.

And she won't be there this year.

Taylor goes back wayyy farther. We've known each other since we were five (wow, a whole decade), and done school together since we were like seven. We've both been going to THIS school since fifth grade, and every year as long as I can really remember, he's been in my class. We aren't amazing friends or anything, we don't even talk to each other that much. But we're exactly alike. EXACTLY ALIKE. I honestly can't imagine school without him there, asking the question I was opening my mouth to ask, finishing my sentence, giving me the word I was looking for when I'm talking, making the same stupid mistakes as me in math, helping me remember what I was going to say even though I hadn't said it, glancing at each other when someone says something stupid.

I don't mean to get all...memory-lane on you guys, but...all the sudden, it feels really wrong to be starting school without him. It'll be like half the class is gone, not to mention half my brain. We don't like each other all that much, we never talk, don't each lunch together, don't even see each other outside of class, but I'm really gonna miss him. Way more than I ever imagined. In some ways, more than Ellie. I'll still call Ellie and talk to her like every day, and we'll get together sometimes, but Taylor...I might never really see him again.

I don't know what to do about that. It's not like I want to hang out with him, it's just that I feel like I shouldn't be starting school without him. He's always been there, and I kind of figured he always would be.

Gosh, I hate this. I hate it when people leave that you never even knew you cared anything about. You know how whenever I get an email or Facebook fill-out and the question is "What are you most afraid of?" I always put "losing people"? Well, this is why.

I HATE this. Why can't everyone just stay where they are forever? What is so great about changing, growing up, being a LOSER and LEAVING? What is the deal?

*sigh*

I guess I'm done posting. Sorry for ranting.

Soccer in 2 hours and forty-nine minutes.

Carpe diem. You never know who's gonna just not show up next year.

Shopping. Yeah, AGAIN.

FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU BETHANY, AN AWESOME FELLOW-BLOGGER, FOR FOLLOWING THE BLOG!!! YAY!!! I AM SO HAPPY! HENCE THE CAPITALS!!!

Anyway...

Challenge Day! Challenge: do 100 crunches.

This is in honor of soccer starting tomorrow. I figured something exercise-related would be good.
I am so nervous about soccer. The coach forgot about me, so the team has already had two practices without my knowledge. I'm in horrible shape, and it the coach makes us run a bunch, I don't know what I'll do. *moan* I'm on a team with a guy from my class named Ben, who was on my team last year. At least I don't have to worry about looking stupid in front of him--he saw it all last year anyway. *sigh*

My poison ivy is doing incredibly well! Yay for the small-town store with homemade soap! The poison ivy soap is amazing. It works crazy-well.

So, today, I went shopping again. Lizzy's and my mom's birthdays are coming up, so my grandma took them shopping. I decided to go with them, and my mom bought me (sort of) some more school clothes. And one random dress. I'm considering posting more pictures...hmm...I'll ask Lizzy.

She said okay. So, here:

*MOAN* Only now I feel like such a vain girl who wants to show off. :( Not true. I just usually hate shopping and all the sudden I'm going all girly and loving it and I want to document it! *moans again* Please don't hate me...

Me in a dress. *gasp* YES, ME, IN A DRESS.

My Michael Jackson shirt XD What can I say? He's the King of Pop.

Pig tails XD And, yeah.

Other than shopping, worrying about soccer, and OH, YEAH, I got the next two Maxiumum Ride books, and so far, Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports is excellent. <3>

That's about it. Pray for soccer, and thanks for the prayers about my poison ivy! That's clearing up nicely. Also, thanks for voting on the Name the Assassin Girl poll. Looks like Kieran is still ahead...

Audition??

NAME DAY!! I'm actually going to do three names: Chandar, Vega, and Levant. Their meanings? Sun, falling star, and moon. Isn't that great? Sun, moon and star! If I decide to use the name Vega for my assassin girl, her brothers will be Chandar and Levant.

I remembered the big thing I wanted tot tell y'all! Remember when I said I was thinking about becoming an actress? And how I might want to do some plays at the community theater coming up? Well, I got a little card in the mail about the play Mulan! The auditions are on the 28th, and I think I'm going to go. I have to sing sixteen bars of a song, and then a short dance combo is going to be taught. My mom says I can sing, and I've been doing dance all my life, so I guess I'm going. I don't think I'm an *amazing* singer, my range isn't very good, but I can sure carry a tune.

I'm super excited. What should I sing? Yikes! Mulan!

I also have poison ivy :'( All over my left ankle. And now my face is itching and there is a bump under my nose. I'M ITCHING EVERYWHERE! AHHH!! *moan* I've had poison ivy before, all over my face. It is NOT FUN, let me tell you. My dad is pretty allergic, and sometimes when he gets poison ivy in one place, he'll break out in all the places he's ever had it. What if that happens to me? What if I get it all over again? WHAT IF IT'S STILL THERE FOR THE AUDITIONS??

Sorry. I freak out about this stuff. (In case you A: haven't figured that out yet or B: don't know me personally.)

So, I found out when soccer practice starts. This Saturday at 10am. *MOAN* I am so out of shape it isn't even FUNNY. I'm going to die. DIE, I TELL YOU. HOW CAN I GET IN SHAPE IN TWO DAYS??

Sorry, sorry. I'm in the freaking out mood today apparently.

Under my nose is REALLY itching...

Harrpy Potter is getting a little better. I don't hate him anymore, and I really, really love Draco Malfoy, just like I thought I would. Evil little cuss >:D

The W Chronicles is going alright, too. I wrote a little of the first series, Woods.

Kieran and Vega tied for the names for my assassin girl (series Wars). I'm setting up another polls just between those two names. Sorry if it seems like this is going on and on.

Picture Day won for the favorite with 6 votes, followed closely by Name Day (yay!) with 5. Quote Day came in next with 3 votes, then God Day at 2 and Challenge Day with 1. Looks like Word Day and Carpe Noctem Day are OUT! Fine by me! But, I do need two days to replace them. I have some ideas, but I'd really like to hear yours. Leave a comment if you would, or email me at livinglovinglaughinglearning@gmail.com as usual. There may be an award for best idea...

So, if you would, vote once more on the poll for the assassin girl's name. Vega (VAY-ga) or Kieran (kee-ERH-in)? And if you have any ideas for what to do in place of Word Day and Carpe Noctem Day, let me know!

Muchas gracias!
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P.S. I also wouldn't mind an occasional prayer about the audition? And the poison ivy...Lol :)

VICTORY!!!!!!!!

WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WE WON THE BASKET BALL GAME BETWEEN US AND OUR NEW TOP RIVALRY, MY FRIEND'S SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE WERE LOSING BY 23 POINTS AND WE BROUGHT IT BACK!! THEY EVEN CHEATED AND WE STILL WON! HALELUJAH!

Lol, I'm a little excited can you tell? Haha, I've never really pulled for a team before. I mean, I pull for Wake Forest, of course, because my parents do, but I've never REALLY wanted my team to win. Well, tonight, I DID. And we won. God is good, man!! I was praying the whole time!! Glory to him, y'all! Our team usually isn't exactly AMAZING, and we were losing BAD. But we won anyway. God is GOOD! :)

Basketball Game

Hi! Today was interesting. I finished school work earlier than usual, which left me the usual problem: a whole half-day to fill. Lol! So, I mostly just messed around on the internet and wrote like a paragraph of my book :) And I talked to a guy named Jordan and read some of his book.

Tonight (actually in like an hour and fifteen minutes) I'm going to a basket ball game for my school. Guess what?? Remember my friend that quit going to school with me? We're playing her school! How ironic is that? Lol! She's going to be there, so we'll all get to see her! Yay!

Well, that's about all I have to say for now. TTYL! :)