Women's Retreat

I have had a very busy past couple of days. It all started last Friday . . . . . . .

Every year, our church hosts a Women's Retreat for all the Coast ladies (duh). The past two times, it has been up the Younglife Oakbridge campus in Ramona. It's situated in a mountainous region which is absolutely beautiful! We were up there for about two days (Friday afternoon, all of Saturday, and Sunday morning). It was a blast!

Trying to do some origami. It actually turned out pretty well! =)

Listening to the sessions which were so good!

Guitar lessons during free time . . .

It was so beautiful up there!

The name retreat is so appropriate, because it truly is one. Apart from the busy city and normal pattern of life, it was easy to concentrate on the sessions and just relax. We had lots of free time which we spent in the rec room, having a dance party with glow sticks, spread out on our bunks, or plucking guitars. It was very fun! =)
This was my second retreat and I loved it just as much as the first! I'm already looking toward the next one. =)

Birthday Time!!

This past weekend had to do with me turning 14!
As it was a school day (and there was no changing that), the day wasn't that different. After being gone the whole weekend, it didn't even feel like my birthday, so I doubt having an off-day to celebrate would have changed that.
We had our special birthday breakfast which consisted of mom's homemade, edible-glory cinnamon rolls and . . . . . just that. Yeah. Then we proceeded with school. Just what I always wanted for my birthday . . . For lunch, we had TacoBell (our traditional birthday lunch, for most of us at least). Then, at dinner, well, that's when the party really started.
My grandma and Aunt Gail came over for a dinner of tacoritos and salad. After the delicious delectables (Thanks, Mom!), we slid into the living room to open gifts and devour another delicious delectable of dump cake.

Chillin' with my bro. =)

Coffee Bean!!

Clothes at Old Navy and a Starbucks!!

This is a letter opener/dagger. It's not sharp, but it's so cool looking.

One of the perks of having a sister who works at Bed, Bath, & Beyond . . .

Lovely dessert!

Even with school, it was a most fun day, and I enjoyed it a lot.

They're Gone!

Last Monday was probably the best day so far of my rather short life. It started at 9:15 am. My mom, Jonathan, and I got in the car. We drove to our orthodontist. Do you know why?  . . . . . . . . It was because we had an appointment. The best ortho appointment ever.
See if you can guess why . . .

Know what it is yet? Other than me having messy hair in the second picture . . . If you are absolutely confused, let me clear away that confusion and just state the obvious.
I got my braces off!!
Now I have two retainers and the shade of a lisp. =)
Once they took them off, everyone gathered around and sang a song made just for the moment when kids get their braces off. And for an introvert girl like me, well, I was completely embarrassed.

At least I got candy and a bottle of Martinelli's!

After getting them off and while waiting for my retainers to be ready to pick up, Mom and I went to In-n-Out's for lunch. (Jonathan had a separate appointment and Dad picked him up.) So, everyone always asks if it feels different to eat without braces. My opinion? I barely noticed I had them on, so it didn't feel that different when they were taken off. After having to live with them for about two years, you kind of get used to having metal and rubber bands stuck all over your teeth.
All in all, the day was pretty awesome! I'm not sure the candy and drink was worth having braces, but they sure tasted good!! =D