Wipeout!!

Today we had a student senate planned event from like 3-5:30. Twas so much fun! Two or three weeks ago we all signed up for this event without knowing exactly what we were doing. We were sent an email telling us what team we were on. My team was amazing- I had a good mix of people that I kind of know and people who I didn't, but want to get to know better. We played tug of war (with a pile of flour and water in the 'pit'), that hula hoop game where you hold hands and try to send it on down the line of people, walked a plank with all 6 members tied at the waist, had like a 6 billion legged race, played volleyball with water balloons and towels. Anyways, our team ended up being in the top two! Which was somewhat of a surprise. The ending game was an all or nothing between the top two games. They had a pool full of pink lemonade, and the two teams lined up single file on either side. The person in front dipped a sponge and then passed over the head, the next person under the legs, and so forth and so on until the last person squeezed it into a bucket and ran to the front of the line. By the time we were done we were covered in lemonade, but regardless, we went to in-n-out covered in the sticky mess. Twas a really fun time.

Labor Day

We had a Labor Day bbq, and afterwards about 4 hours of volleyball!!! It was crazy. But fun:) My wrists are so bruised now, though. They are so sensitive that this morning in the shower, it hurt when the water sprayed on them. I guess I should learn when to stop playing. Or toughen up (I like the 2nd option better:).

Birthday:)

I must say, I've never seen a group of people work so hard to try to make a day so special. Monday night, a bunch of girls were watching a movie in the lounge room. The movie ended around 12:20, but being in a daze, I thought nothing of it. They did- they burst out singing Happy Birthday. I don't even know how they planned that, since I was sitting in the room with them the whole time! Unless they assumed I would watch the movie, and decided way earlier in the day. I woke up that morning to take a shower. I didn't have contacts in yet, but I saw these blurry shapes at the end of the hall with balloons and streamers. I could totally hear them saying- "here she comes, oh no, quick go in this way" :) lol. my roommates decorated my bed, and then scared me when I came back into the room after my shower, when they yelled surprise, and I was expecting people to be sleeping still (I couldn't tell who it was that was at the end of the hall). I foolishly thought that would get everything out of their system. No. Apparently, everybody told EVERYBODY else (even a visitor who had graduated last year and who I had met 5 minutes ago, came running back into my room to give me a hug!). I also received an embarrassingly loud and awkward round of happy birthday singing in the cafeteria during lunch by everyone in there. Bethany then came by for a visit (APU is only like 25 minutes away:):). Dinner was normal, except for the fact that these pieces of paper that have all the announcements for the day and are on the tables said Happy Birthday, August. I also got laughed at uncontrollably for the fact that I like mannequins (it was a good laugh, though). We were having a Bible Study at 10, but the leader asked if everybody could come in a little early. I went in and sat in a chair. I should have figured something was up when a couple people were holding cameras..... nope. They turned off the lights, and brought in a cake covered in things that partly define me. Like paints, a brush, and two little masks (which are now sitting on my desk). It was decorated amazingly!! I am so amazed at these ladies who went so far out of their way for me. All day, I was receiving cards and gifts outside my door. They certainly succeeded in making me see how blessed I am to be here among them.

Dorm!

Here is my bed and you can kind of see my desk in the corner. I took this picture the first day, so that I knew I'd have a picture with my bed made:)

Here is kind of our room layout(I am standing at the back, facing the door). You can see the foot of my bed, and Evelyn sleeps above me! She seems really nice, she is from Canada, and is best friends with another of my roommates, Candace. The bed along the wall is Lorelinda's- she has a desk set up underneath, which is pretty awesome. Krista is on the last bottom bunk, and Candace is above her! We all seem to get along pretty well- no one plays outrageously loud music or goes to bed at 2am (yet:). Though someones alarm clock did go off for like 12 minutes this morning. I'll try to post actual pictures of people at some point. I hate going up to people and actually asking them for a picture, though. So that is that, and now you can picture me in my room.

Goodbyes

At the end of this week, I am saying goodbye. And all this week, I am hanging with friends and family :) Monday: Bethany and I went to Signal Hill to talk- this random guy came up to us and told us how lucky we were to be sitting there in the most gorgeous spot in the world (in his opinion (and he's been to over 60 countries)). When we started to freeze, we went to It's A Grind for a hot choc. Tuesday: I got off work unexpectedly early, so I went to Baja Fresh. bought two tacos, and drove into a random neighborhood to enjoy them while sitting in my car listening to the radio- it was so much fun:D Then I went to Danielle's house to try to finish the painting we started ages ago. We have a little left to go. Wed: the Hippos are headed to Olive Garden (and who knows what after!). I'm excited. I haven't seen two of them in forever. Thursday I spend ALL day packing (I've not started yet) and then that night my grandma is throwing me a party. She is so cute. She is going to have an icecream cake (I love ice cream) and bubble water/perrier (which she is very enthusiastic about (I also like it, though)). She's cute, and I love her. Friday morning I wake up early to make the long drive out to school (hopefully with my mother- she might have jury duty) and say hello to my new world.

I haven't posted in awhile....
I've found out that I only have three roommates:) As I was expecting up to five, three sounds very appealing! Two are from Canada- best friends, they said. The other is from Arizona, I believe. I have less than a week to go. I leave Friday the 21st, stay at PCC over the weekend, then go up to Big Bear for a couple of days. It'll be an interesting experience.

We bought a rat! I haven't held one in such a long time- her name is Clementine.

Today was my last official day working at Julie's. From now on, I won't necessarily have a regular schedule- just whenever I can get home:) She gave me a really cute lamp for my desk. I'm quite excited about it.

Hopefully I'll get to see people this week. Planning on seeing Bethany on Monday. Hopefully dinner with the Hippos on Tuesday or Wednesday:D

Shopping, shopping, shopping!!

I feel like I just bought out a whole Target store!! I started the day with a text message from my mom basically telling me to get up, we're going shopping=] We started at South Coast, looking at pottery barn, z-gallery, crate&barrel, and macys. Fortunately, I found a bedspread (at macys of all places, where I've never been able to find anything). It's kind of a gypsie style. We had a half hour to kill before going to pick Jim up, so we stopped at a purse store. Tons of beautiful bags- I actually ended up buying one :/ so did my mom. This afternoon, we went to Target. I bought everything from school supplies, to sheets, to shampoo for college!! It's nice to have most of the items I need crossed off my list!

Luke

<3

Luke is so preciously cute! I'll post a couple of photos later- Right now I'm waiting for an opportunity to steal him away from his adoring parents and grandma!

Hippopota-picnic!

We went to El Dorado Park for a picnic! And ended up taking an endless amount of pictures:) Twas quite a fun day, I had missed Amy's hippos :P

MARY HAD HER BABY!!!

A WHOLE MONTH EARLY! A little boy, everything seems fine (for both) at the moment. He has to wait 48hrs before they can bring him home, but man! They are in the process of a move, so they haven't finished unpacking and probably don't have everything organized yet. I am so excited:D It was weird though. Sometime this past week, I had the thought, what if she just gave birth to it now, and didn't have to wait a whole nother month!! How crazy is that?! Anyways, CONGRATS TO MARY & BEN! His name is Luke :)

2nd job

I started bbsitting a little boy today. I love it. The parents are so sweet, and the one child is really fun as well! They are close to a park, a little bit of water, and we can take a short drive to 2nd street or the beach. Today we walked down to the water to look at the fish and birds, but mainly stayed around the house playing games, reading, and coloring:) fun stuff.