"My life is complete!"

Three words: Harry Potter Exhibition.
This was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. The Exhibition is traveling around the world and (supposedly) only stops in three cities in the U.S. The staff are also traveling with the exhibit and I think they have been traveling for a year now. We went up to Seattle to see it at the Pacific Science Center. We got to see costumes used in the movies, props, character's wands... It was amazing! We got to pull up mandrakes and throw quaffles into goals. The attention to detail for these movies is really impressive. I actually read the O.W.L. test and a quiz given by Professor Lockheart. The bulletin board in the Gryffindor Common Room has real flyers and ads. I got to sit in Hagrid's chair, and let me tell you, that thing is HUGE! This exhibit was fantastic and easily one of the best Christmas presents I have ever received!

The Days After Christmas

Jessica and I both got very exciting presents from Tanner this year. I got a Momo toy and Jessica got an Appa! (For those of you who are confused, those are creatures from Avatar: the Last Aibender.) Murry keeps trying to get them, so they have to stay out of reach. Dad thinks they are creepy, mostly because of Momo's eyes, but Appa does have six legs...whatever. We like them.

Another exciting present is the fact that we are going to head up to Seattle tomorrow to go see a Harry Potter exhibit! We are all pretty excited. We will see it tomorrow and then head to our cousins who I haven't seen in quite a while. It'll be very fun!

I gave mom tickets to go see Tangled this week. And our family is going to go see the new Narnia movie. And then Numbers Dinner on New Years Eve of course. So, as you can see, this week will be a very exciting one! Some people say the days after Christmas are depressing, I say Keep Celebrating!

Dec 16 2010

TODAY. TODAY. TODAY.
Today is December sixteenth two thousand and ten.
Today is the day I am done with my fall semester of Sophmore year at Brigham Young University.
Today is the day before I go home to Tualatin, Oregon for a slightly-longer-than-two-week break.
Today is the day my parents were married.
Today is a very good day.
Today also marks the half way mark.
I love TODAY.

Tangled

Disney's newest movie, Tangled, swept me off my feet! It was one of the cutest Disney movies ever! The villian wasn't nearly as creepy as the voo-doo guy in Princess and the Frog, and the songs were as fun as Mulan songs. The characters were fun, especially Rapunzel's side kick, Pascal. The story line was creative and not too cheesy. I was able to predict the climax, but I still thought it was well done and cute. I highly recommend this movie to everyone, no matter what age. I can now say I have a favorite Disney Princess - Rapunzel was that amazing! haha, and we have a cute feature in common...two, actually! What a great way to spend a Friday!

thirteen

When I was thirteen, I thought I was mature and capable. Now, some of you may be laughing at this, thinking "13? Please, that is so young!" But think back to when you were 13 - 13 means Middle School, Young Women's, babysitting, mutual on week nights, band concerts, school plays, sports, and a ton more. We all thought of ourselves as quite grown-up at 13; and yes, we had a lot more growing up to do, but we had come a long way already.
If you look around at the world today, 13 is changing. From the world's point of view, 13 means PG-13 movies. That right there is a scary thought. Even at 19, I don't watch all PG-13 movies, and frankly, I don't want to. Today on Facebook (a FB at 13? It used to be a college site!) a 13-year-old girl I know asked people not to swear around her in her Facebook status. Now, I think that is a very mature thing to ask, and publicly posting it as her status takes courage. But then one of her school-friends started commenting and saying that she couldn't "control her swearing" and that swearing showed maturity because it was a "good way to get your anger out." After that comment, this girl's status became a heated conversation. Her friends and relatives (all young) started commenting on how the swearing girl was being immature and how swearing shows a "lack of intelligence." I totally agree with this last sentence. It was neat to see people band together against swearing (even if Facebook isn't the best place for it). Then someone pointed out that swearing girl was only 13 and how sad it was that her language was already corrupted. Even though I think that 13-year-olds should not be treated like little kids, I also feel sad that a 13-year-old has already fallen into the horrible habit of swearing.
Yes, let's treat 13-year-olds as older than kids, but at the same time, it is not the age for losing innocence. Thank you, to the girl I know and all her friends and family for standing up for their standards! And swearing girl, you are why 13-year-olds are still treated like little kids.

Book Review: The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

I was wandering through the Juvenile section of the library here on campus and I came across one of the best trilogies I have ever read. The fist book is called The Looking Glass Wars, followed by Seeing Redd, and the trilogy concludes with Arch Enemy. Beddor's books are loosely based off Alice in Wonderland, but almost all the details are unique. Wonderland is a world separate from earth, but there is no rabbit hole connecting the two, rather there is a puddle to pool connection. Princess Alyss is heir to the throne when her evil and banished Aunt Redd attacks Wondertropolis to take back what is "rightfully hers." The books follow Alyss as she gets lost on earth for 13 years and has to potentially return to Wonderland to bring White Imagination back to conquer Redd and her Black Imagination followers. Alyss has some quirky friends including an albino tutor, a General who can split himself into two, and a Milliner with a deadly top hat who stand by her side through all the craziness in Wonderland. I was amazed with how creative Beddor was with this trilogy. His ideas and writing are extremely impressive. Sometimes he plays with words, which shows his knowledge as a writer. I highly recommended these books to anyone.
My favorite quote from this whole series: "but what, I ask you, is imagination if not the potential for betterment?" (Arch Enemy, 365).

Melia Memories

Today is Melia's birthday! She is one of the best cousins anyone cold have! Ever since I can remember, I've been playing and having fun with Melia (and Desiree of course, but who is the post about?). We've gone on horse rides with Grandpa Nels, dealt with being seated at the kid's table at Thanksgiving, and played Yahtzee behind Grandma's porch swing. We've been spooked by a porcupine, slept in a Teepee, and driven jeeps around our Grandparent's driveway. But I think my favorite memories are going to see Madagascar 2 (just the 3 of us, me, Melia, and Desiree!) and going to Maui with Grandma and Grandpa. Melia and I were snorkeling in Maui and came face to face with an eel! And we saw a crab scuttle across the sand. It was a great trip and I am glad I got to spend it with one of my best friends!