Hola! How are yall? I'm writing this while slurping down a Strawberry Limeade from Sonic. OK, so the other day I was trying to put some pics up on here and this bogus thing kept popping up telling me that i was out of space. I was like 'what the crap?' this is a blog, there is no stinkin space limit on PICTURES, i mean really. Then my mom said that you have to subscribe or something/pay to have unlimited posting of pics....great. Does anyone else know anything about this and think its pointless? Anyway...today me and mom went to Charleston Bagel for a Bible study at 7:30 AM. (i'm homeschooled, therefore i don't find it nessecary to awake myself before 8:30 or 9, and waking at 6:40 was just pushing my limits.) Me and mom showed up first at about 7:25 and ordered some fruit-for me-and an Everything Bagel for mom. And once Mrs. Donna and Karis showed up, the others couldn't make it, we sat and talked and talked till 9:30. It was so much fun, we laughed till our sides hurt. Once we decided it was time to head out and go on with our day me and mom went home, stopping first for me to drop off two movies at Harris teeter. Its one of those Redbox movies where you get them from a machine for $1 a night, and today the machine must have been on strike because it refused to take my movies and the women behind me was laughing. It wasn't fun, but i got two free cookies on my way out. Other than that, I cleaned out my closet today, read some of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, washed my bedding, and am now relaxing from my first official week of high school. Horrah!

XOXO

Yes, this will be my 3rd entry today...get over it. But my friend just sent me another chapter of his awesome, awesome fanfic and I wanted to share it with...whoever happens to stumble upon me. This is chapter 16, and it would take quite a long time to explain just whats happening to the mauraders at the moment (James, Sirrius, Tom, Remus, and Peter). Oh, and it's Harry Potter.

P.s. Comment!

Today, yes, today it happened! I am now in possesion (well, for a while anyway-it's a library book) of a Julia Child cook book: THE WAY TO COOK. My mom just stumbled apon it at the library and brought it home. I have had a chance to flip through it, and I'll type up some of her brilliant recipies here for y'all...

'You can never have too much butter!'  

But as i usually do with all cookbooks I have seen the desearts and I recomend going and googel-ing Julia Child's Free form Apple tart. It looks absolutely amazingly delicious. But then again, I am a sucker for a good apple pie...tart..anything really with some yummy warm apples. So, gotta scoot, i have a bathroom that needs to be cleaned apparently. Ta Ta for now!

XOXO

Ratatouille

1 pound fresh shiny firm eggplant

salt as needed

1 pound zucchinnni

1/4-1/3 cup of Olive oil, as needed

Thyme, oregano,or a bottled herb blend

1 pound (3 1/2 cups. sliced) onion

2 or 3 large green bell peppers (2 cups, sliced)

3 large cloves of garlic, pureed

3 cups tomato pulp (fresh tomoatoes peeled, seeded, juiced; or out of season, half fresh tomatoes and half drained and seeded canned plum tomatoes)

--> Preliminaries. Remove the green caps but do not peel eggplant;cut it into lenghtwise slices 3/8 inch thick. salt lightly on each side and spread over papertowels. Scrub the zucchinni, shave off stem and bud ends, but do not peel;cut into lengthwise into 2 inch slices 3/8 inch thick. Salt the zucchinni slices, as for the eggplant. Let both veggies stand 20 min; pat dry in pptowels.

-->Baking the eggplant. Preheat the oven to 400. Arrange the eggplantin the jelly-roll pan, paint lightly with oil, and sprinkle with herbs. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 15-20 min., until just tender, but do not overcook: the slices must hold their shape.

--> The rest of the veggies. Firm the frying pan with 1/16 inch (HUH?) olive oil. Dry the zucchinni slices, and brown lightly on each side;remove to the papertowels, Adding a little more oil if nessicary, saute the onions until tender but not browned. Stir in the peppers and the garlic;fold and toss over moderatly high heat for several minutes, until fairly tender. Set aside 1/2 cup tomatoes. Fold the rest into the onions and peppers; toss, addint salt and herb to taste until the tomatoes have rendered their juice;continue for several min. until the juices have almost boiled off.

-->Finishing: about 30 minutes. Set aside the four of the best looking eggplant for final decor. Arrahnge the rest of the veggies in several layers in the caserole, starting and ending with the onion-pepper-tomato mix. Arrange remaining tomatoe and eggplant decoritivly over the top. Cover and bring to a simmer over moderate heat, either on top of stove of in a 325 oven. When bubbling lightly, tip caserole, and baste with the juices rendered;repeat several times until juices have evaporated.

XOXO...YUMMY

*Yawns* Good morning! It's 8:30 am here, and very rainy. But I can't complain about the rain too much when i can actually go outside and not sweat to death within 10 sec. YEA! So, yesterday was our first (second first) day of school, due to the fact that after our original first day mom decided that with ashleys camp and company coming for a week, we were just too busy. And let me tell you, the original first day was much eaiser.

And my french program got harder, I mean they give you sentences without the spaces and expect you (in only the second lesson) to know where to put the spaces and then figure out what word is what....they never told you what they were in the first place! Argh. Then you get to physcial science. Did you know how much dang math is involved in it? Honestly, I am not the kind of person who gets excited about the thought of math, total opposite actually.  So naturally i was ticked to see that after my math lesson, I had MORE math. blah, blah, blah...that was all i took in and ended up re-reading the chapter basically just to answer the questions.

I enjoyed everything else though. Streams of Civ. is a decent book, except the font is the kind where its bold and looks like it sat out in the rain before they shipped it. Oh well. Ancient history is decent so far, but the whole pulling-the-brain-out-the-nose thing is just wrong...WRONG. Don't you agree? I mean I do know a few people here and there that may have a brain small enough to pull out their nose, but really...i just can't see that working without having to reconstrust their whole stinkin face! I like medival, with all the castles and bright clothes and parties.

And Lit.'s OK so far, Classical roots and Grammar aren't as sucky as i thought. I actually enjoyed the first lesson of roots. It was similar to Wordly Wise which i'm used to from PCA.

OOPS, mom's calling for school, GTG!

XOXO

Have ya'll heard? Between Dec. 12, 2009 and June 30, 2010 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be opening in the Island of Adventures in Orlando FL.  AHHH! Here is the concept art of the park. I absolutely can not wait. Here are some links and photo's for ya'll.

-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hA3jDTP7i0&feature=channel Part I

-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z9cRvUTltE&feature=channel Part II

-http://www.mugglenet.com/app/category/show/76

-http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

Check it out. Then scream. Then comment.

XOXO

You know you're a home schooler if...

Growing up/now
[X] Own/have owned a denim jumper
[x] You were at least 13 when you got your first "trendy" haircut 
[?] Everything in your closet at some time was referred to as modest

[] You do/have tucked things in that shouldn't be tucked in
[] You have been a member of at least 3 co-ops

[] You were a true 16 and never been kissed -I'm not 16 yet 
[] Your mom drives a van of some sort.-Sequia
[x] You have at least one childhood picture where you, your mom, and all your siblings matched
[] You are/were/will be a PSEO Student 
[] At some point in your life you were more comfortable with adults than kids your own age
[] Have studied ways to defend your beliefs, debate, and/or create laws
[] Used uber conservative aBecka curriculum

[] You use big words that most adults could not use in conversation
[] You can use the words sublime, epiphany, and cognizant correctly
[X] You have a favorite word.  HOOPLA and BUBBLE

[] You have an understanding of Latin root words and how to use them
[X] People from the outside world are referred to as "public schoolers"
[] You or one of your siblings knits.
[] You laugh at the decline in literacy in America
[x] You score constantly higher than "public schoolers" on standardized tests.

[] You have no concept of cafeteria food
[x] Family vacations are/ can be referred to as "Field Trips"
[] Traveling on said vacations have included stopping at historical site markers along the way
[] You have never been in a public elementary school, middle school, or high school during regular school hours
[X] You have gone to or been involved in a homeschool convention

[X] You read books on a regular basis-ABSOLUTELY!
[] You have taken part in a political protest
[] You were a Pride and Prejudice fan before the movie
[] You were a Lord of the Rings fan prior to the movie
[X] You were a Chronicles of Narnia fan before the movie
[x] You speak a language other than English -Learning french
[] You dream of dating characters from books instead of celebrities

It has been ASSUMED that you...
[] Have won many spelling bees
[X] Have no social life
[X] Have no friends of the opposite gender
[] Are extremely inept
[] Only listen to classical music
[] Play piano or the violin
[] Do not own a pair of trendy jeans.
[] Have no knowledge of drugs or alcohol
[] Don't date, only court.
[X] Have never been to a "party"
[] Know no other beliefs other than what your family believes

You have been asked more than 10 times in your life:
[X] If you wear pajamas to school
[] If you get perfect grades because your mom grades you
[X] If your mom teaches you or if somebody else's mom does
[X] How do you meet people
[X] Why you aren't in school
[X] If you get days off whenever you want
[] If you're going to be homeschooled through college
[] If you have a big family
[] What your parents are protecting you from
[] To quote something famous
[X] For the answer, because supposedly homeschoolers always have all the answers

You have "rebelled" by:
[] Listening to "worldly music"
[x] Wearing black fingernail polish
[] Wearing tight clothes or letting your midriff show or showing off what color of boxers you are wearing
[X] Watching a PG-13 movie -AND R
[] Breaking dress code
[X] Listening to music with a beat
[X] Dancing. Especially dances that involve contact for longer than 2 seconds. With somebody of the opposite gender.- Private school dance in 6th grade.

ok, so that was way boring...Whats up? Me? Oh I'm reading HP and the chamber of secrets this week, and hoping to get on to Book 3 by Sat. I honestly have an unhealthy obsession, well quite frankly to me it's completly healthy. That and I've only read 5, 6, and 7. I think i may have read one because my copy was at my grandma's and i vaguely remeber buying it when books were still cheap. (like clothes, they get more stinkin expensive as you get older :p) So other than that we had to do a family portrait yesterday since it's rare to have my step-dad, uncle, and their dad all togather with their kids/grandkids. I promise you right now, I will NEVER put my kids through that.

Talk about conformity/pressure! Everyone always wears the same thing and look fake. People who vist my house (and yours too) always gawk at how adorable we look. But truth is, were hating every minute of it and we aren't being US. So the picture, it captures a fake happy version of you. Understand? I can't decide how to phrase my anger here. That and the women that take the pictures stand there throwing stuffed animals in your face and scream if you're under the age of 5. And we had 3 children under 5. 3 times the screaming. AND THE POSES! My aunt and uncle tried to do natural poses, like not looking at the camera but each other...photographer didn't like that. My sisters had to sit on my back....WHY? Cos I guess it looked cool. We didn't get copies of that one though cos i looked mad in all of them.  Score.

And last night we celebrated Clara's 1st birthday with a large ice cream cake (none of which i ate) from Carvel and cupcakes  (one of which i ate) from publix. And you have to agree that Publix has the best desserts. No Joke. So while i ate my cupcake like a human, my sisters and cousins ate like barbarians, leaving most of the cake/cupcake on their faces. Clara came out with a bright yellow beard. And Quinn Jam (Quinn's nickname) had a blue gotee, making him all the more cute!

P.s. When quinn and clara napped, I took a nap too.

So today my mom is going birthday shopping for Olivia, who in my opinion needs not a thing. Spoiled enough already. And then my grandpa leaves this evening. I believe that Aunt Chris and Uncle Ben will be coming over today instead of us heading out to the beach house, but who knows. Its supposed to rain all stinking week. Bluck.

XOXO

P.s. Do you like the new look?

Ah. Hello there blog. Are you starting to wonder where I am? Well on Saturday my Aunt and Uncle flew in with baby Clara and Quinn. They rented an adorable beach house on the Isle of palms, just a block away from the beach. So every day so far we've been heading out there between 2:30-3:30 so that we get there around the end of Quinn and Clara's nap. And then my grandpa (my dad and uncle's dad) flew in yesterday. SO we spent an hour or two out on the beach. I sat in a fold up chair at the edge of the water (with every wave there chair like sunk into the sand!) reading Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone. I got The tales of Beedle the Bard Sunday, it had some very messed up tales in it. I mean one guy rips out his heart and then when he meets this girl he puts it back and then rips hers out and they both die. I mean what kind of wizard parents would read that to their kids??? Anyway we have been hanging out with family all this week and today all the guys and Ashley went out on a boat to fish in the wando river. And tomorrow we are going to do family photo's cos this is rare that all of us are in the same state at the same time. SO, busy, busy week. And of course I have school starting on the 31st. WHich i am so happy, my french is so cool. We did start last monday but then we were so very busy with company and ashley had basketball camp that took up half the day. Well, thats all.

XOXO

Yea! Today we started our first day of school, in my case, the first day of HIGH SCHOOL! I haven't really taken notice to the fact that I'm in high school though, the work isn't much harder so far....YET! I actually enjoyed it today. My books are as the following:

• French: Power Glide
• Math: Life is Fred
• Vocab from classical roots
• History: Streams of civilizion/BJU
• Logic
• Lit. BJU
• The Cat of Bubastes
• Physical Science: A Beka

Anything sound familiar to y'all? I have to say the Power Glide french is so cool, I'm going to be fluent by the time i'm in college. Well I'm going to sign off and watch some much needed TV!

XOXO!

So yesterday I went over to Abbie's house on the IOP. I love the island becuase it is such a summer place, but the heat is ridiculus. Abbie and I bike road down to first beach (maybe a mile 1/2 from her house) and shopped around, I got this little bobble head turtle that my grandma has. I could never find one, I was siked. Then we round into the depths of Wild Dunes, of gosh, maybe 3 miles to go to this little cafe where Abbie got a panini and I got an apple. This place was expensive, $1.40 for an apple!! So we ate and cooled down, my now my face was deep red. See i used to live walking distance from stores and all that but now i live sorta in the boonies so i don't get out to much. that and I just perfer inside when its 98 outside. So on our way back to her house from the dunes, some guy rides past me and i swerve, hit the brake, and my purse is jammed into the brakes. Me and Abbie try to pull it out for at least 10 minutes before she rides home to grab a serated knife that we use to cut up (one of my favorite purses from goodwill) my bag. We finally get it free and ride back to her house. I was on her bro's bike so my butt is and was utterly sore. When we got inside the cool house we and changed into our suits and went swimming in their pool and talked like non-stop about fave scary movies, books, tv shows, ect. And of course we were joined by Ashley and Maggie. So we swam and then got changed back, And not to my knowladge that ash and maggie wernt going down to front beach, me and abbie trucked across the beach on foot, wich wasn't too bad. But i swore I'd die when we had to walk back. I had then bought another bottle of water which i gulped down. My mom refused to pick us up at the shops instead of making us walk so when we FINALLY arrived back, I looked like i'd been to hell and back, twice.

On the way home I could barley sit and my skin was sizzling, my head ached, and my stomach was killing me. Mom made me grab a glass of water and I went upstairs to lie down. I ended up going downstairs in such pain that I was crying hysterically, which didn;t make the breathing too much easier.

*GOSH* So I'm basically surprised I'm alive. ha. Needless to say I'm staying INSIDE for a while.

XOXO

So today is this huge curiculum sale (oh who cares if i spelled it wrong) for LCHEA so I got to stay home with my adorable 3 year old sister who enjoys watching the same 2 caillou episodes...over and over and over. So while she's watching that I'm sitting here banging my head against the wall to get the theme song out.

I'm just a kid who's four
Each day I grow some more, I like exploring I'm Caillou. So many things to do Each day is something new I'll share them with you. I'm Caillou.
My world is turning Changing each day With Mommy and Daddy And finding my way! Growing up is not so tough Except when I've had enough But there's lots of fun stuff I'm Caillou.
Caillou, Caillou, I'm Caillou . . .
That's me!
. . . And me!
. . . And me!
. . . And me!

I don't know whats worse, the fact that i know all the words or that I sing along. After Caillou I made evelyn and I some gourmate Raman noodles, baby carrots, and an apple. Yummy. So now were watching Dora(can someone explain to me where Dora's parents are when this kid is running around through oceans and forests with talking animals? Hello therapy.) and blogging.

 I'm getting more and more ready for school to start, I even have this cool old school desk in the corner of my room. I have this insane obsession with school supplies...i just love all the bright folders and notebooks and pens. Geeky me. Oh that and those like dragon/magic/fairy books with all the pockets and popouts. Hehe.

So I guess I shall sign off. Adios!

XOXO

OK. Last night i went with my mom and ashley to see Julie & Julia. It was absolutely hilarious. Amy Adams and Meryl Strep were great with both their parts, Julia Child had me laughing like the entire time with all her optimism and energy. OH! And the lobsters! That was one of the best scences! I'd saw its a must see for us food lovers. And Amy adams fans, this is her best role so far. But other than that I'm just skool shopping and chillin at home.

BON APETITE!

XOXO

Oh. Blogglers, I have missed yall so. I have been sooooo busy this July with my 3 week trip to Indiana. Which was amazing, we went shopping and i got some AH-dorable clothes, and i got to see THE HARRY POTTER EXHIBITION! I saw all the costumes, props like buckbeak/brooms/potion ingredients/sorcers stone/wands/hagrids furniture/the great hall doors/candy froom Honeydukes/felix felics/dementors/the death angle statue from GoF/Sirruis black & Bellatrix's Azkaban uniforms/The fat lady and other paintings that moved...ECT!!! and the rest of the Science and Industry museum was awesome too. I saw some movies, drank tons of lemonade, and we went camping where I drove the golf cart for hours! But now that I'm back home and finally getting in some lazy days, we are preparing to start skool next week-YIKES! My mom has started it off with this torture-er i mean class. 6 hours of note-taking. Yep, note-taking. I was ready to run out of the room screaming bloddy murder but at least i made a new BFF!  So, not to much to write about write now so I'll leave yall with some pics of my summer.

XOXO

Me with the flying ford angelia from harry potter 2

Bass Lake, where we camped with Uncle Peter, Mandy, Kylie, Ash, and Cathy

Below: Chicago

Its offical. My room is finally painted, after putting it off since december. Its that beautiful shade of teal, and it matches my sheets exactly! Although I can't stand being in there becuase of the fumes, I can't wait to finished decoarating. I want to get some of those Your Zone wall stuff from walmart and a pillow from target that matches my comforter. but on another note, I had a pretty good weeked, even though the fireworks weren't too great cos my mom put my dad in charge of it....and we basically had only roman candals and only ashley and my dad do those. thankfully the neighbore bought some of those huge ones and it gave me and chance to use my camera.

Well, todays monday, so that means...TWO DAYS TILL INDIANA! I'm so siked. But again I have to wait for the paint to dry to finish packing, as you can see in the picture my dresser and everything else is pushed togather in the middle of the room.

So, I have to go and do, something other than ramble on.

XOXO

Hey Yall, seriously long time no blog. I'm here at Molly's apartment lobby's computer. We just got done playing a mini round of american idol kareoke, Simon loved me! We-ashley,olivia,me, molly,alex,and mary-all went down to the club pool for a few hours to swim. Molly and I were fighting over this super de-flated intertube and most of the time we were trying to get on it, i was falling right back off. Then have turkey dogs with cupcakes. After we explored the fitness rooom, theres one of those stationary bikes with a screen that molly tried and it has this game where you have to ride around trying to get blue, red, and green dragons. Like, OK??? So now I'm here on the computers with mollly aS she listens to Hider's Better than me as I blog. And well, roll around on the huge wheely chairs set up for the computers. Amd tonight we have fireworks at rivefront park. That and here's some lovely news, a girl was the 5th killed from a suspected SC serial killer. Great. Just great. So I'm gunna head out.

HAPPY 4th of July!!!!!!!1

XOXO

Long time no blog, kinda. So I just got home from the library, checked out the half blood prince for my trip. Plus i was supposed to get some prize for reading 663 pages so far this summer-Inkdeath-and all i got was a free FRY from Micky D's. YUCK!! So mom drove through Micky's for ashley to get her free MEAL (not fair) and for evelyn & Olivia to get lunch. Then we drove through miles of trafic to Target. I got two ADORABLE new v-necks in pink and teal, they are soooooooo comfy. Plus mom and I grabbed two TV dinners, i got this chicken parmesan that was OK...but the chicken part tasted fake, and mom got one of those TGI chicken quesidiila's. I personally am not a quesidilla fan, i find them bland and gooey.  So now I'm home, still feeling crappy. I've had some bad stomach aches for the past week, and headaches.

On another note, I GOT A CAMERA! WOO-HOO! It's the Fujifilm S700, which i got off of craigslist with all the cords, software, strap, and a case, for $100. ONE-HUNDRED! Thats just crazy!!!

Great. I'm just worried I'll still feel like this in Indy. NO!!!!! So i'm going to return to LMN's Hostile Makeover.

XOXO

Good afternoon.

So today for lunch my mom maid those ocasionally good TV dinners, and when i came down there were two: Chicken Fiesta and this creamy pasta. I had known that at some poi9nt in time we had a tuna pasta TV dinner so i asked. Ashley tells me its chicken alfredo. After two bites I think I'm going to puke, but don't say anything quite yet. Then another bite i decide i hate it and i'm throwing it out, ASAP. Then ashley blurts: Hey, Alyssa, thats tuna. ... I could have killed her, and she refused to switch with me and mom, and Olivia already had theirs, a nice yummy pasta primavera.

I had 1/3 of a Cup-O-soup.

But despite my poor lunch, which was inturupted becuase we had to leave for Yearbook meeting # uno. Which we were late to, by ten minutes. I was not to pleased, becuase i don't want to be know as 'The Girl whose Always LATE.' Does that sound nice to you? Plus i had never met any of them, becuase this was my first LCHEA activity since we joined earlier this month. Mrs. Amy discussed all of our duties as Staff members, selling ads, taking pictures, creating pages, and such. I'm most excited to actually create my own page! How cool! There were 11 people, 6 guys and 5 girls, not counting moi. I'm pretty siked to start selling ads, I think i'm gunna try my doctors office when my mom finally gets around to scheduling my appoinment.

Then when the 'staff' was done creating usernames and passwords for the website everyone kinda dispersed into the living room for rockband, excpet me. and two other girls, who did eventually go in there. I kinda wanted to stay in that tiny dinning room, not infront of all those strangers. And I did. Till i figured everyone would be like 'where the heck is that one girl?' Thank goodness my mom showed up like seconds after i entered the kitchen/living area.

So on my way home, i had to sit in back becuase ashley is a brat. Now let me tell you something, I do not sit in back becuase i get semi-car sick. My head started to throb and I sware i was waiting for myself to throw up or start screaming through the pain. And i live like 35 minutes by highway from Mrs. Amy's house. So the second i get out of the car i go to the front seat while ashley has the door open and try to snatch my Harry Potter and the order of the phoenix (yes, i did skip all the others cos i've seen the movies) and she -ashley- slams the door into my back, which is still achy from the waterpark. I scream at her, go straight inside to the kitchen for water, then up to my bed and fall asleep. Now if you've read previous entries you know i'm an insomniac and i was amazed when I awoke just 35 minutes ago having had an 1 and like 25-ish minutes. So now the headaches still here, but not as bad and i'm waiting for dinner to be done. That and i'm watching some stupid thing on Micheal Jackson.

Now, i am aware it's sad that Jackson died, but he was a headcase. Thats all i really want to say about it but it's true. And three cheers for me i finished The Whispering Road by Livi Micheal (which was SO GOOD! 5 stars)  this morning around 8:43. So I finally started chapter one in HP 5. I have to say i'm quite mad at the dang ending becuase sirius is honestly my favorite character, you know, other than Harry and the gang.

Well I'm going to go now, make sure y'all tune in to Harper's Island tomorrow night at 9 pm EST. But then again you'll probobly be so lost so maybe go to cbs.com/harpers and start from ep. 1 and THEN tune in.

XOXO

Well, now that I'm awake, lets recap yesterday!

So, on our way back from a Micky D's lunch Molly called to invite me to the waterpark. So of course I said yes, and thankfully we were already on the way home so all i had to do was run in for my bathing suit and I was off to her house. When i got there i was greated by Mary and Alex, her sisters.....OH JOY!and once we were ready to go we all piled into the car and went to sonic for diet coke (molly), grilled cheese (mary,or was it alex?) and then ice cream. Mary dropped the ice cream instantly so Mr. Moore had to pull into our church's parking lot to clean out the backseat. And believe it or not, we did eventually get to the waterpark. Molly and I headed straight for the big slide, Body Flume. She of course went 1st b/c i hadn't been on one in quite some time. Then i went. I decided to sit up the first time so that being flung underwater at the botton wouldn't be too bad. We rode that sevrel times, I sware we both probobly lost 20 lbs. climbing that thing.

Cyclone, aka lazy river, came next. Now this things current is insane, like you go down the few stairs leading into it, a life gaurd hands you a kickboard, and then u are violently whisked into the water. And theres this huge alagator (AH! my dang spelling)squirts water at u as you go by. So we laughed and went around several times before spotting Erin! She was with her neighbor, Maddie. So then we all went around, laughing at me and molly for swimming/floating backwards because of this HOT lifegaurd with aviator shades. So once he got out, so did we. The other hot lifegaurd who runs the cyclone grabbed molly's hand and pulled her out, then reaches out to me, but idk what i was doing becuase i just got out on my own (which i don't recomend) and then he pulled maddie and erin out.

We followed, yes I know 'stalkers!', Aviators to the huge pool and we just swam and splased and laughed at each other. They also have these 4 little slides, not really reserved for little kids so me and erin went on them 1st. I landed on my knees and then face, so I am incresingly sore today. And then ALL of us went on like 3 times before going back to the Body Flume. Molly went first. She was waiting at the stairs. I went second. I didn't even notice no one was in the pool anymore, so i just sat on the stairs, wating for erin and maddie. Then the lifegaurd asked me to get out.  Someone had thrown up.  And the Aviators had to stick his face in the water to clean it. EW!

Next, the snack bar. And yes, that guy was hot too. So we, well i wasn't, were asking about the ice cream and he was like 'which do you want?' and after no reply from anyone he left. Then we went into the little 'splash zone' for kids like 5 and under with all the foutains and that huge yellow mushroom thing till the pool was clean again. Aviators is now gaurding the mini-slides that we liked so much. so were on that thing for forever. He's watching us like, UHHHHH OK?. Then we just go back to the normal swimming when i notice something. He walks away from his 'post' and is constantly doing this: walk, look back, walk, look back, walk, lookback. repeat like 5 times. We have no idea what he's doing so these are our theories: Secret agent, some major OCD, or he's paranoid. I'm still thinking its like paranoia of some kid drowning.

Since the park only has the body flume, cyclone, mini-slides, and the splash zone, we just stick to riding the clycone the rest of the time. Me and erin sit down on our kickboards while molly and maddie disapear. We laugh and talk about all that random teenager crap. Like how good and perfect her nails look and how bad mine look. (teal and sparkles that are peeling) Then alex shows up and says 10 min. to leave. I go around 1x more, and she says 5 min. Now this cyclone or watever, is NOT big at all its just this circle, so i know that that was indeed NOT 5 min. but whatever, we get out anyway and Molly and Maddie come up behind us and say they were with us the whole time, hiding.

Molly, Erin, Maddie, and I exchange 'goodbye' hugs and head out, back to molly's to get dry and changed. Stupidly enough i put my dry top on over my wet bathing suit. So when we get back i pull on my dry clothes, jeans and blue cami. We pile BACK into the car and go pick up Mrs. Moore from work. Mama Fu's is where we are headed, both molly and I agree that they are nasty. But thankfully they closed down a few months ago, which i knew about- I just forgot.  SO we go to TGI Fridays.

Molly and I to a booth and everyone else to another. I am FREEZING my but off because i'm wearing a wet shirt, which has now soaked my cami. I ordered a lemonade, pasta w/carrots and ranch while molly stuck with her diet coke, pasta w/fries. I'm obviously on he healthier side here. :) While we were waiting, on the back of the fridays sugar packs there are silly questions, like 'If you could have any super power, what would it be?' so we did those and listened to clips of songs on her phone till our food was here. I inhaled my pasta so fast it wasn't even funny. And then ate some carrots but the waiter had brought molly two fries 'for the fun of it' and so i dipped a few in ranch (the only way I'll eat them) and finished up one order. Then Mrs. Moore said we could order dessert, so molly got a cup of dirt (the pudding, oreos, and gummy worms) and i got the always yummy FRUIT CUP! When all of it got here i look over to see alex ordered this huge piece of cheesecake. Oh, so jelous.

But that was basically all we did. I went home after words, took my melatonin for sleeping and went up to bed to read at like 8:00. I read a few chapters in The Whispering Road by Livvi Micheal and then watched some of hatching pete before falling asleep around 9:30ish and waking up at 10:35 pm, like what the heck?? I feel back asleep fast though. Till waking up AGAIN at 1 am, not falling asleep again till 5. I mean really, can i just have one solid night of sleep? So I feel like crap and I'm so sore and I have a stomach cramp. I'm so ticked cos i had to miss out on going to the waterpark with my mom and sisters. But i guess the waterpark is not a 2-day in a row place.

XOXO

Good Morning. Are we all well rested? I know I'm not, due to that dang insomnia. So i think i fell asleep around 9:30ish, since i went up to bed at like 8:50, and as always I awoke just 3 1/2 hours later at 1:00 AM, i had a nightmare where someone's head like exploded and people were being murdered  .I had tried so despratly to fall back asleep, which did not happen to quickly b/c at 2:30 Evelyn woke up, screaming becuase she had a bad dream. Needless to say the whole screaming and crying kept me awake till around 4:30 AM. I slet lightly, trying to forget that dang murder scene I had been dropped into earlier. I woke up AGAIN at my usual time: 8:50, wierd if i had slept the whole night I would have basically had a lovely 12 hrs. of sleep.

SO it's taking several reminders to my mother to set up an appointment with my Dr. (she needs to for 2 reasons: a. she forgot my follow-up to a previous apointment & b. the insomnia) But I'm hoping that soon, like before my trip to Indy in like 20 days, i will be sleeping a tad bit better.

SO here's my agenda for today: Cleaning baseboards-EWW, laundry, straigtening up my closet-AHHH!, going to Lowes w/sisters and mom(really? what is she thinking?), and anything else she thinks of making me do.

Where is the fun in this? I mean it's the stinking summer, us teenagers should be shopping and hanging out with friends at the movies or pool. So w/e. I guess I'll be doing plenty of that in 20 days, even  though ashley's coming.....yucky! I'll be hitting Chicago for lunch and a trip to the new modern wing of the art institue museum. *cheers* Last time i was there, everyone came and evelyn lost her patients after like...what? 20 minutes? I had to like run through the museum. OHH! And the new Harry Potter movie, The Half Blood Prince, comes out while I'm up there!!!! So once I'm with my grandparents, all those darn chores will hopefully come to a hault for a short time.

Well, I guess I'll write more l8r-ish.

XOXO

I am so bored. Since starting this whole thing, i have the urge to blog, ALL THE TIME. The house is fairly quiet, which is rare, due to all of us being full of Shane's rib shack and going our sepret ways to play barbies, surf the web, buy curiculum, watch sports, and what not. I'm kinda just waiting 'patiently' for my mom to be done with the curiculum...which i have a feeling will not be for a good while, so that we can finally order my new camera for my trip to indy in July and photography classes when skool starts back up. I know I should probobly like go read or get outside or maybe write part IV of 'Her Brothers story' but its 7:10 pm, Im tierd, and i want to sit and do nothing....ISN'T THAT THE POINT OF THE SUMMER? So for now I'll finish up this entry, leave you a pic of my soon-2-b camera and part I-III of HER BROTHER'S STORY.

Part I

It was Natalie’s 15^th birthday when JD came home. No one had expected him to come back here, not after what she had been told he’d done. Her dad says that JD is violent, that he had tried to beat her and her step-mom. It had all been because her father had married his mother 11 years ago. That’s why he sent him away when he was 17. Natalie was only 5, so she doesn’t remember him.

JD just walked right through the front door, holding a box wrapped in purple paper. Everyone was seated in the kitchen, singing ‘happy birthday’ when her Dad stood up, almost knocking over his chair.

“What are you doing here?” Her Dad said. There was no mistaking the anger in his voice.

JD examined the people at the table with Natalie. It was just her mom, her two sisters, Trace and Ava, Grandpa Carter, and Nana. Natalie barely recalled his face with the two scars above his eyebrow, his bright blue eyes, and all those tattoos.  Everything about him was intimidating. His face, his jet black hair, even his clothes with all the chains and freaky designs. 

“Nice to see you too, Dad.”  JD smiled bitterly at his step-dad and then put the wrapped box in front of Natalie.

Natalie just stared at him, not sure of what to say or do. Her Mom rose and went to her Dad’s side. At first she didn’t know what was happening, let alone who was standing there. She couldn’t remember anything about him. Just stories. And the box he held was so perfectly wrapped with an envelope taped to the top.

“So, little sis, you’re still beautiful as ever,” He rubbed her head as he pulled out the chair beside her, sat down saying, “Well, aren’t you going to open your gift?”

She felt like her tongue had swelled and she couldn’t talk. Natalie slowly tore apart the paper, anxious to see what was inside. She pulled out a gorgeous silver carousel. It sparkled in the sunlight coming in from the kitchen window. She wound it up and listened to the song as the silver horses danced around the carousel. The song sounded like the lullaby her Mom sang to her when she was a baby.  Her Dad quickly ripped the carousel from Natalie’s hands and threw it in the trash can.

“Daddy!” Was all Natalie managed to utter.

“What do you think you’re doing?” He pulled JD out of the chair and held him by his shirt. “Trying to buy my daughter? I wan-” But JD cut him off quickly.

“Let’s not forget, Dad,” He yanked his step-father’s hands from his shirt, “she’s my baby sister.” And with that JD took the carousel out of the trash can and went outside.

For just a moment Dad stood there, as everyone murmured among themselves, confused and enraged. The tension in the room was so thick Natalie felt she could cut it with a knife.

“Damn it! Damn it all!” Her Dad yelled and stormed off into his home office.

After that Natalie got up from the table and went out front to find her brother. The yard was empty, just as it had been earlier this morning. But now there was the black 1969 Camaro in the driveway.

 She sat down in the grass and looked up at the evening sky. The breeze on her skin felt cool and calming as she recapped the afternoon. The icy glares on her father’s face stuck in her mind like glue. Why did JD suddenly come back?  She rubbed her arm, just above her elbow. She had had that scar since she could remember; JD’s first gift to her.

After what seemed like several hours, her mom came outside. She adjusted her dress before joining Natalie on the ground. Neither of them said a word. They didn’t need to; whatever they needed or wanted to say was written on their faces. Natalie rested her head on her mom’s shoulder. As she ran her fingers through Natalie’s hair “So, Nat, what do you think? About being 15, I mean.”  Her Mom smiled her perfect smile, something Natalie did not have.

“What do I think? Well, it’s not really what I expected. I mean, meeting my brother after he’s been out my life for eleven years. But other than that it’s fine, just fine.” Natalie knew what she said wasn’t what her mom wanted to hear, but she said it anyway.

“That’s not funny Natalie. JD is not welcome here and you should do yourself a favor and stay away from him.” And with that her mom got up and left.

Gone for eleven years and they all want me to stay away.

 Natalie finally got up and decided to see if things had cooled down inside. Everyone was now in the living room watching the news and talking. Well, almost everyone. Her father was still in his office, muttering to himself about how JD could have gotten out of, well, wherever he had been. Dad always retreated to his office after fights between Mom and him or a bad day of business, both of which he’d been having a lot of lately. Natalie sat down with Nana on the white Ethan Allen sectional and rested her feet on the coffee table.

“You know darling, you still haven’t opened all your gifts.” Nana got up, headed for the foyer and came back with a gift bag that was over flowing with tissue paper.

“Open it! Come on Nat!” Trace said, bouncing up and down.

She had always enjoyed Nana’s gifts; everyone did. This time it was a leather bound journal, pens and pencils.

“This is great.” She said as she examined the ebony and charcoal pencils.

 Natalie smiled and placed it all back in the bag. Nana always knew what they wanted.  She had just been telling Nana that she had filled up her last sketchbook.

“What do you say Natalie?” Mom asked.

“Thanks Nana, I love it, as always!” She gave her a hug and sat back on the couch.

“Hey Nat, can we have cake and ice cream now? Please?” Trace yelled from the kitchen.

Natalie patted her stomach and thought about if there was enough room in there for cake and ice cream.

“Yea Trace but I call the biggest piece!” She jumped up and raced into the kitchen with everyone at her heels.

Her mom cut the cake in even, or at least fairly even, pieces while Trace and Ava scooped two scoops of ice cream onto blue paper plates. Natalie set two plates on the table and then took one for herself and sat down. She licked the chocolate icing away with her fingers and engaged in the usual family conversation. She stirred her melting ice cream as she listened to crazy stories of pranks her grandpa used to pull, like throwing snowballs or dirt balls at cars and then being chased down by some enraged driver.

Once everyone had dispersed from the table and said their goodbyes it was nearly nine and Natalie decided to head up to bed but first stopped by her dad’s office.

“Dad?” She peered through the glass in the French doors and the knocked. He got up and greeted her in the hallway.

“Hey Nat,” He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, “Look kiddo, I’m sorry for yelling like I did earlier. It’s just that I had no idea that he would even bother coming back here.”

Natalie tried to smile at her dad’s apology but sighed instead.

“It’s OK dad. I know you were surprised, we all were.”

He squeezed her tight and put his arm around her, he was humming a few bars from "I Giorni", Natalie knew she had to ask. Right as her dad turned to go back into his office, she finally said it.

“Why do you hate him so much?”

“Who?” He said, pretending not to have any idea who she was asking about.

“You know who, Dad.” Natalie was surprised by how impatient and rude she had just sounded.

There was complete silence for so long Natalie wished she could have taken the words back and disappeared into thin air.

“Natalie, I have my reasons. Don’t ask me again.” His voice still calm and sleepy.

He ran his hand over my scar as if to tell me that I was asking just to hear him say it. Because he hurt you Nat, he hurt you and your mother. He could have killed you. That’s why.

“Now go and get some sleep, please.” Her Dad said. “Oh, and happy birthday.” She smiled and then ran up the stairs to her room.

Natalie’s favorite part of her room was the huge navy lazy boy in the corner, buried under all her favorite books. She pulled out her purple yoga pants and a tank top and got ready for bed. After brushing her teeth, she returned to her room and turned on the TV. Just as she climbed into bed there was a knock at her door.

“Come on in.” She said expecting it to be her mom coming up to say good night.

But instead of her mom it was JD who walked into the room.  He was holding the silver carousel as he sat down on the edge of her bed.

“You know, you used to love horses when you were little.” He wound it up and placed it on her nightstand. He drew in a deep breath and the let it out.

“I assume that you aren’t going to like me very much. Mark must still be telling you all those stories; he’s been working on those since the day he sent me away to that…that…never mind.” JD laughed nervously. “You should really consider asking him what really happened.” 

There was a long awkward pause before Natalie spoke up.

“What do you mean?” Her voice cracked as she gulped down her fear.

“I’ll tell you some other time kiddo. Sleep tight.” He stood up and kissed her forehead.

“JD, are you leaving tonight?” She asked.

“Yea.”

Natalie turned off the lights and fell asleep to the sound of the lullaby coming from her carousel.

Part II

JD stared at the clock on the radio of his 1969 Camaro. Eleven fifty-five. Five more minutes He thought as he listened to an old Bon Jovi cd. He knew that he had to do it; it was for her own good, her own safety. Yet it felt wrong. She needed to know the truth behind that so-called father of hers, Mark Carter. But mostly JD needed her to trust him again, like she used to when he would throw her up in the air and she’d yell back to him, “You’ll catch me JD!” Eleven fifty-eight.

He shut off the car and headed for the house. It looked so scary at night, hidden under a blanket of black. He had to go slowly up the few stairs that lead to the porch because the stairs creaked, very loudly. He tried to open the front door but it was locked. Damn it. JD pulled the welcome mat up and moved aside the plants till he found the spare key. 

Once he was in, he had to wait a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness before heading to the back of the house and up the stairs. It wasn’t hard to go back to Natalie’s room in the dark, for it was the first one on the left.

She stirred in her sleep and whispered something that sounded like a plea for help. JD felt a pang in his chest as he watched her stuck in a nightmare, feeling compelled to wake her, but didn’t. He slung his backpack onto the ground and pulled open her dresser, grabbing as much of her clothing that would fit before zipping it back up. He carefully picked her up, making sure to support her head, and carried her out into the hallway.

Natalie moaned and started to open her eyes. No. Go back to sleep, go back to sleep. He stopped midway down the stairs and held his breath.

“JD? Is that you?” She mumbled.

“Shh, you’re dreaming, go back to sleep.”

He let out a sigh of relief when she shut her eyes once again. She was of course much heavier than she was eleven years ago. JD stopped outside Mark’s office and considered leaving a ‘friendly’ note but figured he would figure out it was he who had taken Natalie the moment he opens her bedroom door.

Once they were outside, he laid her in the backseat of his car and covered her with a flannel blanket he had found in the living room. Oh that will be the least of their concerns. He shut the door, careful not to wake her again, and got into the drivers seat. The car shook as the engine started. As he backed down the driveway and into the long winding road, he thought about his mother. Does she really believe Mark? Or is he making her stay quiet? He recalled the agony on her face when he had shown up in that kitchen only a few hours ago. JD drove on, straight into the darkness.

Part III

When Natalie finally woke up she was not in her comfy bed, but in the back of JD’s car. What? What is this? Where am I? She moaned through the pain in her forehead. JD heard her groaning and turned to face her.

“Good morning.” JD said and then turned to face the road again.

Where is he taking me?  Natalie wiped the sleep from her eyes and tried to think straight. Where are we? The sun blared in through the windshield into the silence of the car.

“Did you sleep alright back there? Um, I got you something to eat.” He passed her a doughnut wrapped in a Dunkin Doughnuts napkin and a cup of water.

She unfolded the napkin and took a bit of the powdered doughnut, getting powdered sugar down her tank top. It tasted bland, flavorless like the water that had washed it down.

“Where,” she stopped, to afraid to hear the answer, “where are we going?”

‘”Away.” Was all he said?

Natalie laid back and closed her eyes to fight back the tears. Why, why is he doing this?  Is he going to hurt me? What’s going to happen?  She could only think about staying alive and unharmed. But JD doesn’t look like he wants to hurt me.

It had been eight forty-three when she woke up and it was six fifteen when the pulled into the parking lot of a Hampton Inn.

“Alright, I figured you would much rather stay in a hotel than the back of my car tonight, and I could really use the sleep after this drive.”

“Yes, I would.” Natalie grabbed her backpack and moved toward the door the moment he unlocked it. JD got out and opened Natalie’s door for her. He grabbed her arm none too gently and then headed inside.

The lobby was very neutral and classical. A fire place with two arm chairs and a small table stood in the middle of the lobby. Right behind it was the breakfast/computer area and entrance to the huge L shaped pool.

“Well hi there! How can I help you?” Said the perky red head behind the counter.  

“Uh, hey. I need a room for two tonight.” He said as he pulled out a black faded wallet.

“Okidokie, that’s $90.” She took the hundred dollar bill from him and handed him his change. “Have a nice night sir!”

“You too.” He pulled Natalie over to the elevator and threw a few hallways before they reached room 314.

“OK, you’ll sleep here tonight.” He said, indicating the bed closest to the window. “Do you need anything?”

“I’m hungry and I want to go home, now.”

JD sighed, obviously annoyed, and went into the kitchenette. He pulled a bundle of rope, scissors, and a box of granola bars out of his backpack.

“I’ve got some granola bars for you. I’m gunna go lay down.” He cut the rope into two long, even pieces and went over to her.

“I don’t want to tie you up-” Natalie cut him off.

“Then don’t!” She backed up from him.

“Nice try Nat, but I can’t take the chance of you trying something stupid.”

Natalie squirmed and groaned as he tightened the rope around her wrists and ankles. He stuffed the remaining rope and scissors back into his bag and handed her the granola bars.

Her stomach rumbled as she tore one open and shoved it into her mouth. It wasn’t her ideal dinner. I should be at home! I should be eating dinner with my family! My family. Have they realized where I am?  Suddenly her thoughts were not of herself but of the mother and father.

Natalie looked around the cold, smelly suite. She had never liked sleeping in hotels, something about them always freaked her out. And being held hostage in one didn’t make the situation any better. But I won’t sleep here. I won’t let him take me any where else. For all I know he’s planning on going to Canada!

She felt even more afraid in the silence now that JD was asleep, but she was going to run, so it didn’t matter. She knew her idea was crazy. I have to get the scissors. She got up from the bed and hoped to the couch. Cutting was going to be much harder with her hands tied, but after several tries she finally got her hands and feet free. Where am I going to go? I don’t even know where I am!

But Natalie didn’t care. She just needed to find a police station. As she put the scissors back she saw JD’s cell phone. With her backpack and JD’s cell Natalie opened the door slowly and ran down the faded, endless hallway.

XOXO

It's me again! Ok so i just finished one of those amazing frozen pasta and pepper skillets. Those things have to be my favorite food ever. I also kinda, sorta, finished off Evelyn's ramen noodles. I was really hungry afetr our swim. And after dinner I got on my facebook to find that ashley (12) has been hacking into my account to talk nasty to her 'friends' and then my mom went on to check HER facebook and cell records- no not prision records- and lets just say when ashley gets back from the waterpark....after I'M done with her..it's my parents turn. But yea. So evelyn is finally getting a hang of the blowing bubbles and kicking and jumping off the wall at the pool *Claps* Its so cute! Y'all should see her suit. Its got this adorable little whale on it!

So other than listening to the Wonder Pets *wonder pets, wonder pets, were on our way to help the ______ and save the day* and blowing bubbles with evelyn and shoferring (oh, did i spell that right?) Olivia to friends houses, returning and sending endless text messages. I am doing nothing as always. Hopefully we'll have a decent re-run of The Mentalist. OH! And getting the remaining water out of my ears.

Blog Ya Later!

 XOXO

Hey there y'all....*gets baby sister off her lap b/c she's being smothered* OK! Well it's another hot, hot day here in sunny Charleston (omg i sound like a weatherman, er, weatherwoman) so My mom and I are gunna take evelyn down to the pool after lunch, and who knows when that'll be. It's usally between 11:30 and 1, and when we ask...'Let me finish a few more things' is usually the answer from mi madre, but i'm not even hungry. So evelyn and olivia got some stuff in the mail from this kids swap my mom did so heres some pics of our day. *Adding pool pics later*A lovely frog evelyn caught & named 'TOAD' &&& Evelyn and her new magnifying glass...I <3 this!

XOXO

Alyssa