It is actually a real thing....

Well, the swine flu exists. That I know for sure. On Saturday morning I awoke tired and feeling pretty funny. I had to ignore it though. You see, I had the ACT on Saturday morning, and this time it was a big deal. I am beginning to apply to colleges, and I need to up my ACT score ASAP so that I can get scholarships and acceptance letters when the time comes. So I ran on pure adrenaline. I went to the high school, and surprisingly felt quite a bit better. And then I tested like heck. Four strait hours of it!! Lets just say I was pretty tired when I got home. But sadly, tired is not all I felt. Having eaten a little breakfast that morning, I should have been quite hungry when I got home. But I was not. I had no appetite, and I knew that my body was decreasing. My mom told me to take a nap, so I did. I woke up two hours later.... (that is a really long nap for me). I had a fever and my body ached like it has never ached before, especially my head and neck. Yep, definitely swine flu symptoms.
So I have spent the last four days in my basement, living off of saltine crackers, juice, crushed ice, and some sprite. I have not watched this many movies in a long time. The school has banned me from attending until the beginning of next week because of the huge scare that swine flu has brought everyone. And frankly, I don't blame them. I don't want to give this to anyone, and would hope that others would stay home as well so that other students do not get infected.
I look forward to seeing you all next week when I am no longer infected :)
Happy Halloween!!

Autumn

This morning I was driving and I noticed the mountains. Have you seen them yet?? They are a gorgeous array of red, orange, and brown trees. I couldn't stop staring. They are beautiful!! I have been so busy with homework that I have not even noticed them. I am so glad that I finally did. Have you ever smelled Fall? I think it smells different to every person, but I am almost one hundred percent positive that it is one of the most heavenly smells on earth. To me it is sweet spicy candles, crisp morning air, home-baked goods, and the smell of the heater when it first comes on. I love it. Holiday buzz is just beginning to start, and there is a hint of Thanksgiving and Christmas in the air. But first comes Halloween. With pumpkins and costumes and lots of sugar to be sure. It is time to pull on a warm jacket or two every morning, and when you walk outside your breath turns into a cold fog. It is a time of celebration, laughter, and family parties. This poem describes my feelings perfectly...

The winds will blow their own freshness into you,
and the storms their energy,
while cares will drop away from you
like the leaves of Autumn.

Fall poem by John Muir

Oh yes, life does not get any sweeter than this. Autumn is my favorite time of the year, as you can plainly see. What's yours?

Free

Do you want some exciting news???
Okay I will tell you.


Ammon
is
Lyme FREE.

tests said zero.
none.
It has been a good day.

I am alive, believe it or not...

Ok, time to come back. I decided I have been the worst blogger EVER. But in my defense I really have been busy. And to answer my mom's lovely comment, no I did NOT die after Hoyt left. I am quite alive and doing well. School started a long time ago :) In fact, first term ends on October 23rd of this month. Wow, only 3 more terms of being in High School. It gets weirder and more exciting to me every day. Should I quickly sum up the last two months for all of you?? Not much has happened, but I will anyway... Firstly, I am seventeen!! And guess what I got for my birthday?? Beautiful dishes from Gardiner Village. I love that place. Is anyone up for a visit?


The picture doesn't show them as well as I would like, but they really are awesome. I love collecting things for my future home!!
Happy Birthday to my Mom!!!!! She wouldn't like me to tell you this, but you will see it in the pictures anyway. She has finally come to the big 4-0!! I love you mom!! Thanks for always being there for me. We threw her a small surprise birthday party, and it turned out quite nicely.


Happy Birthday to Quinci!!! This post is going to include a lot of birthday news, so sorry if you get bored. Here is a cute video with Quinci blowing out her candles. She is such a sweetheart, I really love her.

I also went to Homecoming with my friend Jeff. This pic is the night he asked me, and we had to put together a puzzle to find his name.


And this is the actual night of the dance:

It was really fun!! Thank you to my mother (for my dress), grandmother (for my dress), Ammon (for my jewelry), and Lindsey (for my hair)! It turned out great!
We also went mini golfing recently for Ammon's birthday. Oh it was so so fun. Even though I got second to last place :) Happy 20th Birthday Bro!! Sorry for the blurry pics by the way....



Tanner also had a birthday!! His fourteenth! I really almost cried when I realized it. My little sidekick is growing up. *Sniff*



Whew!! Made it through all of the big stuff.
I have also begun volunteering at the hospital, for those of you who don't know. It is kind of slow right now to tell the truth, but I am enjoying it. The point is to get to know how the ball rolls at the hospital, and this will definitely accomplish that goal. I can't even begin to describe how excited I am to start Nursing school. If all goes well I can have my Bachelor's in Nursing by the time I am 21!!! It is so exciting for me. And nervewracking at the same time. Every time I think about it I get little butterflies in my stomach.
What else? Is it completely stupid to give you guys an update on how Hoyt is doing? Probably, but I will do it anyway :) He is great!! He leaves for Japan on October 13th, just 9 days away!! He is loving the MTC, even though the language is extremely difficult. Missionaries are kind of funny. Not in a rude way at all, but his letters consist of spiritual thoughts and scriptures. It is cute. He is so into it, which is exactly how is should be. I look forward to writing and receiving letters every week. He is a freaking Hot missionary, that is all I have to say.
Well, that is all the news I have for now, but I hearby promise to post more often :)