Sum Fun!!!

I plan on posting many posts with pictures about the fun that happens this summer. This is because I'm planning for a lot of fun, and feel like it's worthy and *should* be posted here. I'm going to title them all with a play on words, Sum Fun, short for summer and instead of some. Get it? Well, even if you don't, I like it. Anyways, so here I start my Sum Fun series!
A couple of weeks ago, one of my really good friends, Jesse, held a senior recital where he showed off his killer skills on the guitar and banjo while singing. It was an amazing concert and one I would have paid to go see! Yes, THAT good! I want him to make a CD immediately.

Some pictures from the night:

 The Master at work! :D

 You did great buddy!

(l to r) Me, Jesse, Kathryn, and Rosie (J's sister)

Ellipticals and Soap Operas

Kathryn and I went to the gym today. I always enjoy going to the gym; I feel extremely healthy. I used to always use the treadmill, but lately, I just use the elliptical. Mostly from my dad always reminding me that it's better for my knees and ankles. :) 

While at the gym, though, there's a dilemma. To watch one of the three lame offerings on the TVs or listen to one's iPod. The offerings were a news channel...not a chance, a softball game...only if I'm bored stiff, and a soap opera....*shudder.* However, I did NOT feel like listening to the same old music on my iPod that I always listen to at the gym. Therefore, it was the soap opera. 

Oh my word! Is it possible for acting to be that bad? Is it possible that a writer could be payed for writing those flat and gagging lines? Is it possible that there could be so many different characters that look exactly the same? Oh yes, it is. Sorry, but it's true. This particular soap opera show that we saw was titled The Young and the Restless. (We happened to miss The Bold and the Beautiful.) The titles make me laugh. But, I must share with you the worst quote of the episode. Prepare yourselves...

Jack: "I love you."

Nikki: "What a coincidence, 'cause I feel the same way."

Yeah, maybe I should've chosen the iPod. Oh well. I went to the gym, feel better, and that's really the main point of this whole thing. I'll post more this week!  

Pics from Hawaii!

Okay, I promised them. So, here are some pictures from Hawaii!

 

 So excited for movies on the plane!

A view of the mountains from the air!

 First full meal on a plane- (from left to right) Kathryn's, mine, Mom's

Our outdoor lobby! 

A view from our outdoor lobby--you're seeing the super pool and the ocean after that.

The beach! 

 Gorgeous flowers are everywhere! 

 Dole whip sundaes!

 We stopped at Matsumoto Shave Ice.

 We went to Outback one night! 

 Climbing Diamond Head was fun!

 While climbimg

 We ate at Cheesecake Factory and this is the best meal there. Best potatoes ever! 

 At the Luau!

The Fire guys!

 ABC stores are like mini-Walmarts, carrying everything and on every corner like Starbucks. 

We made it a joke to go in to a ton of them. :D 

Yes, the bathroom signs at the airport have outfits on. 

Our 1st class breakfast! Actually, really yummy!

Aloha!

"I love it! I love it! I love it! I love Hawaii! I LOVE Hawaii! I LOVE HAWAII!!!!!!" -- The Kid

You know, there really is a quote for everything. Whether it be a movie, a TV show, an audio program, an audio book, or just people, there is a quote somewhere for anything! :D

For the past 9 days, Dad, Mom, Kathryn, and I have been on the beautiful island of Oahu! We stayed in Honolulu in a hotel RIGHT on Waikiki beach. Oh, so cool! I can't possibly explain everything we did but I'll hit a few memorable points of the trip. (Notice, I did not specify whether they were low or high points. haha)

*The 3 and a half hour flight to LAX followed by the 6 hour flight to Honolulu

*Our hotel, The Hilton Hawaiian Village-a resort so large we ate there several times, completed all our shopping in its stores, and spent the majority of our time there.

*Experiencing Shave Ice.....yuck! Seriously, so nasty! The pink flavor, as Mom so aptly said, tasted like soap!

*The shortbread cookie chain store = UNLIMITED SAMPLES!!! Now, I am not a super huge fan of shortbread...of these? oh yes! So good!

*Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial

*Driving around the North Shore and getting carsick (well, not quite, but you get the general idea)

*The Luau on the last night

*So many nice relaxing hours by the pool

*WIND! Everywhere! The wind never stopped gusting! It was always blowing so hard, wrecking people's hair and blowing sand into our eyes.

*Jet skiing!

*Lots and lots of pineapple!

*The best taxi-driver ever! He put us all in the 5th grade while he drove us around, asking quiz questions, and yelling at us (especially Dad) for getting the wrong answer. He called us by Kid #1 through #4. HAHA!

*The freaky "pig-man" statue in the Asian area of the hotel.

*The ice cream shop, Lappert's, in the hotel. --yeah, lots of stops there!

*The ABC store or stores. This was a chain (one of which was in our hotel) that was EVERYWHERE! It was kind of like how McDonalds and Starbucks are on every corner? ABC stores were all around, and we thought it was this big joke to go into them multiple times. Dad didn't think it was very funny. :D

*And my personal favorite moment of the trip! SURFING! I went surfing, totally surfed and just loved it! I couldn't believe how totally exhilarating it was!

My pictures are not loaded onto my computer yet. But, as soon as they are, I will post some. Promise!  

Graduation

I wrote about finishing school but that was just for the note taking, test taking, and actual school part of high school. Graduation is the culmination of everything! My ceremony was on the 19th! It was absolutely amazing! My family and so many friends showed up and cheered for me as I walked across the stage to receive my diploma. It all went very smoothly! We had some killer speeches that really impacted me, too! I mean, each one was better than the previous, and it was just so good. :D
Afterward, a small reception was held of cookies and cake. The cake was actually really good (decent icing). I'm kind of spoiled in the icing department from being able to make my own buttercream. After the reception, us and another family (The McClungs) went to dinner. There, Kathryn presented me with the best gift I have ever received in my life. It was a photo book that she had compiled of pictures spanning the last two years of choir. And throughout the pages, tons of my friends wrote messages to me! When I saw all of the loving words, I completely broke down in tears. It meant so much to me!
Very happy the stressful part of graduating is over but enjoyed it a lot! Very excited for this summer and looking towards God's plans for my college years!

A few pictures from the day follow.

 Pre-tty snazy! :D

 Kathryn and I

 My friend Stephen and I

 My friend Angelique and I

The wonderful book of memories! 

Shamed

Reading other blogs where MUCH busier people than myself post all the time brings me shame. I continually endeavor to post posts, but it almost never happens. Why is that? What can I do to post more? Anyway, 2 huge things happened since my last post, but I will not write about them here. They each get separate areas to explain themselves, or have me explain them. Anyway, so bye! I'm off to write the other posts.

Finished!!!

Finished! I'm finished! I'm finished with high school! I'm finished with high school forever!!!!!!!

Did you like how I strung it out there? Yes, today I had my two finals for my dual credit classes, English 2 and History 2. I thought both finals went extremely well!!! :D

As I stepped out of the classroom door of my last final, the realization that I was done with high school hit me. I did three things in succession.

1st, I had to quote. I mean, come on! I had to. However, this quote was not from a movie, but instead was from a youtube video. I raised my arms in the air because that's how you have to say the quote (and the only person in the hallway at that point was sitting with his back to me). Then, I said rather quietly, "I AM the Master and Commander!" :D

2nd, another quote, but this one is much more recognizable from the TV show West Wing. "Victory is mine! Victory is mine! Great day in the morning, people! Victory is mine!" -- "Good morning, Josh." -- "I drink from the keg of glory Donna. Bring me the finest muffins and bagels in the land."

3rd, this song popped into my head. I don't know who performs the song but I recently heard it as the background music to my choir's "end of the year video." Anyway, the song sprung into my mind and the chorus which happens to be the only part I know has continued to run non-stop for about an hour. :D "Tonight!!!!! We are young! So, let's set the world on FIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRE!!!"

Yep, so that's pretty much it. I've passed a gigantic milestone in my life, and I couldn't be happier right now. I want to thank my parents for homeschooling me from the beginning and never failing to teach me and encourage me to get a good education. I want to thank all my dual credit teachers, even the one who's name has been swept clean from all areas like Moses, for their hard work in preparing me for my full-time college life. I want to thank Mr. Fleming, my choir conductor, for having a creating a program that so greatly impacted my high school life. Also, I must thank my Savior, Jesus Christ. His enabling, His gifts of mind, and His never-ending love have put me where I am today. Thank you to everyone!!! I love you all!