Pictures and Work

So for my summer...well a little while ago I took Brenna and we went out for a day on the town. That started a brilliant idea. We decided to make a photo journal. We started that day. Day 42. We have taken a picture everyday to mark what we did that day. We are now on day 28. 28 days until I move out for the first time and take on the world.




Brenna was so funny, the other day I walked in after work and my family was eating dinner as usual, I sat down to eat with them and looked at Brenna. She was crying. I was surprised to find this normally bubbly and energetic girl in tears at the dinner table. I knew Porter wasn't the cause this time because he was gone, perplexed I turned to her. "Brenna what's wrong?"

She was somewhere between laughing and crying as she said. "You can't leave me like this! I just looked at mom and dad and realized that this is how the next 6 years of my life are going to be. You can't leave me alone! These people aren't even funny!"

I had to laugh, you've got to admit she kind of has a point. I'm going to miss her. But we'll see what happens.

Oh and my other news for now is that I got a job at the Bookstore! I'm so excited to be able to work on campus but at the same time will miss my job with the credit union. :S

The Hunger Games Trilogy

Just a quick post on this series. First of all if you haven't read these you probably shoud, they are amazing. If you know me then you probably know that I love to read. I read constantly and I never only read it once...unless it's really bad. But this series is one I've re-read 8 times already and I only just discovered them in December of 2010.

I finally figured out why I love them so much. To me these books are good for anyone because of the many different messages they convey. The most meaningful theme for me that I've found so far is the theme of identity.

These teenagers are put through trials and hardships and somehow are expected to come out on top and know who they are. In several parts in the book it is stated that they "don't want to lose" themselves.

How often do the youth find this problem today. They go out and are thrown into difficulty and trial and are expected to find themselves, and turn into someone that they can be proud of. In essence, they are supposed to go through these things and not lose themselves.

I think this is so huge for everyone though not just teens. I know that I want to be able to go out into my life and not lose myself by conforming to the expectations of society. That's why I love these books, because they mean something to me, I think that's what makes them a success.

Summer!

Wow! Summer is finally here. Graduation is over (thank heavens) and I am ready to move on. I am so excited for what's coming up. But first I'll catch you up on my life. 

Saturday June 4th was my Great Grandma Lavene's 90th birthday party. She is a way funny lady, she's lost a lot of her memory though. I was talking to her at her party and she said, "I know I should know these people but I don't remember them."


Here are a couple of pictures:

Mom with Grandma

Kaitlyn with Great Aunt Vicki and Grandma

 My cousin Emily put the whole day together, the below pictures are of stuff that were on the table representing all the decades Grandma's lived through.

It was a really fun day and was very well put together. 


After this I went to DC!! It was so amazing! Except for the ridiculous heat! We broke records that had been standing since 1874. I was also shocked by the humidity! It was so much fun and so good to spend a week with just me and Mom. I'll post a couple of the pictures here:

Our first stop! 5am breakfast! :)

Airport

We stayed in New Carrollton, Md.

 A personal favorite of the Washington Monument from the WWII Memorial.

Monument at sunset

After walking all day long our feet were killing us! I didn't get any blisters...but poor mom did.

Mom in Union station. It was beautiful! And had a fantastic food court!

The ruby slippers!!!

My dear friends the Muppets. In the Smithsonian Museum of American History. (I was in Heaven there!)

Lincoln hat that he was wearing at the time of the Assassination.

Steel support columns from the 70th floor of the South Tower in the exhibit for 9/11

The Lincoln memorial was absolutely stunning! There's no way any picture could do it justice! We went here about 4 times.

Part of the Vietnam Wall...a very humbling walk to make.

A flag that was placed lovingly at the monument

Need I say more?

The Derringer revolver that killed the president!

Supreme court building

The spiral stair case in the Supreme court building.

It was really hot and my feet hurt...so I walked in the Art at the Italian Art Museum :)

My FAVORITE exhibit in the Natural History Museum!! Forensic Anthropology! :)

My friend the Elephant that helped me not get too lost in the huge Natural History museum.

Mount Vernon! Mom's Favorite stop! The gorgeous home of  George and Martha Washington

A picture of us, the Portico behind us was the back of the house and had a great view of the Potomac!

The old tomb, where George was buried with family before the new one was completed as specified in his will.

Christ Church, where the Washington's went to church in Old Alexandria. Later Robert E. Lee went here with his family.

Iwo Jima Memorial. Stunning! Rocks at the bottom are from the actual Mount Suribachi. 

Arlington National Cemetary. 

I found some family in Arlington...and the one below...

Related by marriage...They were right next to each other

Korea Memorial. The statues in the garden part were so life like.

Etched on the wall as a reminder to all those who visit.

I don't know if the video will work....but it's the changing of the guard. PS There is no sound on the video.

Yeah, so that was my trip for the most part. I'll fill more in later. :)

Laid up?

So, yesterday I got my wisdom teeth out. All four of them! I am proud to say that I conquered my fear of the IV! My amazing sister got hers out Monday. She still not quite on top of her game. I feel so bad for her! I am doing really pretty well. Yesterday after I got them out my mom took me to Jamba and got me a smoothie. It was good while it lasted, I ended up throwing it all back up, which was not so pleasant! But ever since that I have felt great!

 A few weeks ago after Brenna's soccer game we all went to Angie's then came home and got to work cleaning. My little cousin Kycen decided that he wanted to come and do yard work with us rather than go clean his own room.

 He really wanted to mow the lawn :) So he took over my job

Kycen came and helped me finish my room after he got bored outside

 Brenna was being tough and unloading some soil for our raspberry bushes to go in.

I just have to say, the best part of getting your teeth ripped out from your mouth is the fact that afterwards you get as many otter-pops as you can eat :)