Student Council

Campaigning for Student Council in a nut shell:

- Staying up till all hours of the night.
- Being exhausted
- Waking up at 4 to make sure you're at school by 5:30
- Meeting new people
- Bounding with friends
- Lots of hard work
- Stressful
- Worth it!

I tried out for Student Council this year. I was going for events. It was a long process. Making posters was a little bit of a challenge. Max's mom and sister helped me trace it and I painted it. One of them turned out really good, and the other one....after I painted it I basically ruined it. Nancy like always came to my rescue and helped me. Shawn and Nancy stayed up till 12:30 a.m. helping me make my "handouts." Nancy is so creative. We got bottle caps and inside them there were little papers that said, "PG WANTS Z!" We than turned them into necklaces. It took F-O-R-E-V-E-R! People loved them though.

Working hard

Max wanted to do something unique so he bought 80 gold fish and handed them out. People were running to the student center to get them before they were all gone. It sure got his name out there. Kaydee and I got one and we couldn't think of a name....Pax (Paxton) came to our rescue. The fish was named Rosco. Poor Wittle baby Rosco died between Seminary and the car. Kaydee broke the bad news to me. He may have had a short life, but it was greatly lived. He was surrounded by people who loved him.

We got split into groups to preform skits in front of the school. I loved my group. I got to meet new people and I really bonded with each and everyone of them.

Lauren Miner was basically the mother of our group. She is the cutest girl I know. She makes me want to be a better person. She came up with the idea to do a glow stick dance. I could write an entire blog post on her. I want to put her in my pocket for a rainy day. A little creepy, yes. I love her so much! We did it to the FINAL COUNTDOWN and THE TIME! She did AMAZING! She and Carly choreographed it. It was the coolest thing when it was complete. It took a lot of time and practice, but it was all worth it in the end. We really bonded as a group.

The video isn't high quality, but it really was amazing when we finished it.

After a very long week Friday rolled around and it was time for the election stomp. Before we went to the stomp everyone that ran for student council went to dinner. It was kind of a "goodbye" in a way. It didn't matter about our groups, or who was going to win. It was just a time for us to all be together. Time that was clearly needed.



LOVE LAUREN MINER!

We go to the stomp and as it got closer to 10:30 I started getting major butterflies. Good thing there was music so I could get my wiggles out. A little after 10:30 it was time. Everyone who was running stood together holding hands. They told us who the Sophmore class officers were. They then went onto Jr. Class.....Max was going for Jr Class. Up on the screen there was Max's, Maddie Giles, and Katy Armknecht pictures. I was very happy for Max. When they were about to announce EVENTS I was freaking out. I saw four pictures pop up on the screen. My picture wasn't there. To be honest, I was shocked. All I remember was seeing Mattie's picture. I started crying. I was so happy for Mattie, but a little disappointed that I didn't make it. Why Mattie and I were running for the same thing I don't know. We both thought we had it. All I was worried about than is if Lauren Miner would make it. She deserved it more than anyone I could think of. Don't worry she made it. Then came time for VP and PRESIDENT:




 VICE PRESIDENT- NATE CUTLER

 

NATE CHAMPION CHURCH- STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT

So although I didn't make it I wouldn't change it for the world. I am so happy for everyone that made it. Congrats guys! You will all do GREAT thing. Thanks for letting me get to know you guys! We'll try again next year!

Why?

Why? It's the word that keeps entering my mind. It's one of those words that is in some ways said to much. If your mom asks you to do the dishes the reply is always, "Why?" Lately I've been wondering, "Why me?" That phrase is something that enters everyones mind sometime in life. People wonder "why me" when times get hard and are often time to hard for them to bare. This phrase often makes you feel sorry for yourself. You may not wish it on anyone, but you can't help but ask why? The problem with the word "why" is you never really know the answer. Going back to your mom asking you to do the dishes when you answer, "why me?" The answer is always, "Because I said." If you want to really push it you will then ask, "Well why me and not (insert name here)?" Even then your mom isn't going to have a good answer. The word "why" can keep going forever.

Some days I feel like this:

With everything that has been going on in my life I often ask, Why? Why do I have to put up with this? A couple weeks ago I tried out for Student Council. I thought I had it. I really did. When I looked up at the screen and my name wasn't there and all my friends were I was distraught. Why? My home life sucks. Why can't one good thing happen? Just one. Student Council isn't the only thing I've been wondering about. Here are some of my recent, "Whys?"

- Why doesn't he love me enough to give me what I need?
- Why do I have to take on so much?
- Why can't I do anything to make him proud?
- Why do things have to be this way?
- Why don't people step up?
- Why do people sit back and let this happen?
- Why does everyone feel like they have to impress everyone all the time?
- Why am I always anxious?
- WHY ME?

The thing is I don't know the answer to these questions. I doubt I ever really will. I guess there is really only one thing I can do, KEEP GOING! Take one step, one hour, one day at a time. I CAN do this!

Ellie's 10th Birthday

It was ten years ago today that my long awaited little sister came into the world. I was an only child for 6 years. I wanted a little sister so bad. Two years early we lost Lily. It was time for me to have a little sister. When my mom got pregnant I was so excited. I was ready to be a big sister. I remember one night while eating spaghetti I said to my mom, "Take very small bites so the baby doesn't choke."

April 7th 2001 Ellie Micheal Mann was born 4 lbs. 11 oz.

She was so little. She was my personal baby doll. I was a second mother to Ellie from the get go. I was always mommy's little helper. I often thought that I knew how to take of her better than my parents. We are six years apart. Kind of a big gap. Ellie is completely opposite of me, she likes the outdoors, she's a total tom boy, she is PRO at every sport she tries, she's quiet/shy, she doesn't care what others think of her, she hates shopping, she will do anything to play with her friends, and she is the best little sister anyone could ask for.

Ellie has had many nicknames over the years:
- Lulu
- ElBel
- Midget
- Baby

She often asks my mom why she didn't spell her name LE! Why not make it simple? She loves playing with the neighborhood kids. Ellie is one of those kids that goes with the flow. Here are some pictures from over the years:

And now on her 10th birthday:

I don't know what I would do without this girl. She makes my life better. Ellie, I hope you had a GREAT 10th Birthday. LOVE YOU!

Third Term

Third term is the term that everyone hates, the term that grades seem to go down and no one knows why, and the term that seems to last FOREVER! I hate third term! I don't know what it is that makes it so bad, but it's just awful.

I feel like my motivation level has dropped. I don't see the point in finishing my math homework or studying for a test. I don't know where all my motivation went. I compare this year to last year and so much as changed. Tomorrow is the last day of the term and even though my grades aren't too hot, I'm not freaking out about it. Sure, I am crying, but it's not like it was last year.

High School isn't turning out like it's supposed to. I was supposed to be getting a 4.0. That hasn't happened. I look at some of my friends and wonder why they can do it and I can't. It makes me feel dumb, it makes me feel like I'm doing something wrong, and it makes me feel like my life is spinning out of control. Sure, it would be nice to just blame it on my home situation, but I don't know if that's all of it. I mean I was going through the same thing last year. What makes this year so much harder? Why can't I handle it this year? Where has my motivation gone?

My lack of motivation and a case of the third term blues has killed my grades. I realize that my grade situation is my fault. I don't blame it on any of my teachers. It was ME who decided not to study for that test, it was ME who thought that taking a little break would be good, and it was ME who killed my grades this term. I would love to blame it on so many other things, but the reality is this situation is my fault.

This is once again one of my venting post. I know that anyone my age will read this and agree with me that third term is the worst of the four terms. Third term ends tomorrow. Hopefully fourth term is better.

First Date

A very exciting time for girls is when they get asked out on their very first date. This last Saturday I went on my first date. It was kind of a big deal. I got asked on Friday (the day after my birthday) and I was very excited. Getting ready for this date took a lot of time/effort.

1.  Had to go to the mall for a new outfit.
2. Shower
3. Blow dry hair
4. Curl hair
5. Put on make-up
6. Get dressed

It may not be a long list but it definitely took a while to get all those things done. After it was all done I looked like this:

Just checking out the back

*Thank you Julie for doing my hair and Robyn for going to the mall with me and picking out an outfit. I wouldn't have been able to do it without you two.*

I was all dolled up by 7:00. I was very excited, I had major butterflies, and I was watching out the window. Time passed and he still wasn't at my house. I began to panic. I was pacing around my house. I couldn't sit there and just hang out. I thought he was just going to bail. He than texted me and told me that the other couple we were going with was running late. I still had butterflies, but I was much more calm.

When my date came to the door I raced my dad to the door trying to get it first. I won that battle. I opened the door and introduced my date to my dad. Let's just say that it was interesting. My dad then asked the question, "When will you have her home?" My date replied, "When does she need to be home?" My dads answer was, "Between 11:00 and 11:30." I said goodbye and got out of there as fast as possible.

On this date we went bowling and ate pizza. At first I was not doing too hot at the whole bowling thing. Not good at all. I went five rounds without knocking down a single pin. I was so embarrassed. My date was getting strikes and I was getting nothing. By the second game I doing much better so I wasn't too embarrassed. After I got over the whole trying to impress him thing it was actually fun.

As we were on our way home my date told the kid driving to put the car in neutral, push on the gas, and then hurry and put it into drive. I'm looking at my date thinking, "Are you kidding me right now?" Let's just say the car broke down. We heard this big thump sound and we knew something was wrong. We all got out, because we seriously thought the car was going to blow up. We looked under the car and there sitting on the road was the transmission. The kid who was driving was freaking out. He kept saying that his dad was going to kill him. I had to call my dad to come get me. AWESOME!

It was definitely a very interesting first date. I will have some funny stories for my kids one day. The night was up and down, but in the end I had fun. I think I could get used to this whole dating thing!

16!! Part II

The last time I posted I was going to be turning 16. I am now 16. Very exciting! Picture explain more than words so here they are:

Just the D.M.V. at 7 a.m.

Kristin and I have the same birthday! No big or anything.



Just being pampered



We enjoyed talking to Jason aka Son! He was clearly flirting with Kristin!
This was also the child that told Kristin that if she wanted a boyfriend she could have one!
Apparently it's that easy.



The end result. Kristin basically pooped her pants when the lady told her I had already paid.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTIN!



The beautiful flowers my boyfriend gave me (Kristin)





BEST present of my life. Zac Efron on a horse. THANKS KAYDEE!



Max and I putting Zac on my ceiling! PERFECT place!



Just admiring Zac

Thanks to everyone who made my 16th birthday AMAZING!

THE BIG 1 6 !!!

Tomorrow would be the day that I have been counting down to for months. Here it is one day away. I am very excited. LICENSE! Watch out roads here I come. I passed my driving test last night and tomorrow morning at 7:15 I can be found at the DMV. I got my hair done today and got a new shirt just for my license picture. I realize that you will barley see my shirt on my license picture, but it was a good excuse for a new shirt.

Although I am very excited about turning 16 I hate the obligation of doing something HUGE for your 16th birthday. I realize that it's a very big deal. Getting your license is personally the best thing about a 16th birthday. The thing about turning 16 is you are expected to throw some big old party. If you are like me you don't do parties. I hate throwing parties. I feel like if people aren't having fun it's my fault. I just don't do parties so when people ask me what I'm doing for my 16th birthday I just tell them that I am getting my license and hanging out.

I decided that I didn't want to go to school. I mean it's my 16th birthday! No need for school. I don't have much planned for tomorrow, but I am getting my license for sure and going to get pedicures with Kristin. It's funny that Kristin and I have the same birthday. People say we are so much alike plus we are really close, so why not have our birthday on the same day? It makes perfect sense to me. It makes me very happy that we have the same birthday. It's one of those things that is surprising to learn, but once you know it it makes perfect sense.

Time has flown by. I am almost 16!!! 16!! Holy cow! Last year when I turned 15 I thought that it was going to take FOREVER till I turned 16. It hasn't, the year has flown by. I feel like my life will begin tomorrow. I am currently dead, but tomorrow I will be alive. The freedom of driving is very exciting. Not having to wait for your parents to take you somewhere or the worry of how you are going to get places.

My mom and I are going to kind of co-parent the van (PATTY) Kaydee and I named the van Patty. It just fits. I'm not going to get Patty this weekend, but my dad said that I can borrow his car. Very exciting. I obviously have plans to party it up this weekend.

In a couple of hours the big 1 6 will be here. I will be the big 1 6!! In case you haven't caught on by now I am very excited. I rounded it to a couple hours, but really I know the exact amount of time. Pathetic? I don't think so. So although I won't be having a grand old party I will be having a GREAT 16th birthday!!

*Pictures to come soon*