Hello 18.

I've technically been an adult in the wizarding world for a year, but now I'm official in the muggle world too. I had a very "big bang" 18th birthday. I ditched all two classes of school today (gotta love home release) and went to lunch with my mom and dad at The Cheesecake Factory. It was lovely. We got to sit outside. The new City Creek mall really is amazing. I thought the menu said "Big Bang Chicken," but it actually said "Bang Bang Chicken." Just being at the Cheesecake Factory made it a Big Bang Theory day because Penny is a waitress there. Then I got a tiara.

We headed up to Park City to shop before going to Pizza Factory (kind of a factory day I guess) for dinner with everyone.

Best of all, this girl rented season 4 of The Big Bang Theory. Happy Birthday to me.

Oh and I have this friend. Her name is Hannah. She rocks. She made me a Pinterest cake. Could there be anything more appropriate? The fondant recipe was even the same one we found on Pinterest during our AP Research days together.

somewhere under the rainbow

I was assigned to give a talk about General Conference today. I read all of the talks again, looking for my favorite. I probably shouldn't, but I have a favorite apostle. His name is Dieter F. Uchtdorf. I found that reading all the talks in his accent made each talk seem special, even the ones that didn't seem to apply to me before. President Uchtdorf's talk from the priesthood session really stuck out to me. He was speaking specifically about the priesthood, but his words apply to so much more. He talked about how knowing the reasons behind the priesthood makes living worthily easier. I think having a 'why' makes anything easier. When you have a reason, it is easier to overcome obstacles. Next he talked about an overabundance of good things to do. Just because something is good, it does not necessarily warrant our time. I have found this to be so true, especially this year. Something may be good, but there is often something better to do with my time. Next he spoke about the power of doing. Whenever I am confused about what I should be doing, the answer always comes after I start doing something. Once started, I either feel an assurance that I am doing the right thing, or I feel prompted to change what I'm doing. Choosing a college has proven to be a situation where I have needed to act before receiving an answer. I knew without a doubt that I wanted to go to BYU. I love the atmosphere and they offer a program that combines graphic design with advertising. I was offered a double-full-ride to UVU. Suddenly I wasn't so sure BYU was worth it. I considered finishing my generals at UVU and transferring, but that doesn't make sense because I only have one general credit to complete. I have prayed a lot throughout the decision process, but I still wasn't sure. I know I am supposed to go to BYU. I have no idea how I'm going to pay for it, but it will all work out. My decision was confirmed when I went to Provo today. There was the biggest rainbow I have ever seen directly above the BYU campus and I had the strongest feeling that I need to go there. I still don't know how the financial logistics will work out, but I'm confident it will all work out.

what an exciting day

Today started off normally enough. Then at the very end of English, we were told to go into lockdown. I figured it wasn't a drill since it was so close to the end of class. Instantly everyone's phones were out. Some witnesses in the library quickly spread word that a bomb had gone off on the spiral staircase. I was skeptical. We didn't hear a bomb. But sure enough, pretty soon we could see Bountiful City Public Safety, the Bomb Squad, the Bountiful Police, and every news station out the window. Turns out 2 students saw a Youtube video about how to make a bomb from household ingredients and decided to try it out so they could "hear the loud boom." Another one went off within minutes near the junior high down  the street so they were put under lockdown also. They didn't tell their students it wasn't a drill because enough has happened at that school already. A teacher and student have both died in the last month. 2 more bombs were found in a gutter. None of them caused a significantly large explosion or damage, but anyone standing nearby would have received severe acid burns from hydrochloric acid. It's amazing no one was hurt. Bomb-sniffing dogs swept the school for more bombs before we could leave our classrooms. Guess who got to spend 3 hours in English! It wasn't too bad. Mrs. Drake gave us Oreos. The news exaggerated the events greatly. They made it sound like Columbine. It could have been very bad, but the results were considerably minor.

Mi familia

In case you didn't know, I'm the oldest of 6 kiddos. I like it :) Dad: I have never met someone so focused. I would go crazy if I had to stare at a computer full of numbers for as long as he does to provide for our family. I love hearing his mission stories. He is constantly playing music while working, a habit I've acquired. He also makes a great alarm clock when my other 3 fail to do the job :)

Mom: So much like me. Or I am so much like her. Very frequently, we yell the same thing at the exact same time. We have great adventures. Like going to Walmart at 3:00 in the morning or waiting an hour for balloons we never got. We are amused by the same things and have mad love for the same items.

Sam (14): Sam is brilliant. So brilliant that it baffles me that he just barely figured out that, if you shower facing away from the faucet, you don't have to close your eyes the whole time. He is constantly trying to prove that he is responsible, and is very good at making dinner.

Drew (12.5): Probably the least aggressive boy I have ever met. He does things in his own way and on his own time-table. He loves drawing on random bits of paper. He has a sense of humor capable of putting my dad into tears from laughing. His ideal gift would be a Costco-sized box of Oreos to himself.

Ainsley (almost 11): She so badly wants to be grown up. She loves creating. We call her the squirrel because she is always in search of something to turn into an art project. Her ideal gift would be a fresh notebook of lined paper. She is smart in an unconventional way. Common sense has a tendency to go right over her head, making for some memorable laughter.

Finley (almost 7): Finley is my mini me. She loves playing with babies and toddlers because she likes to be in charge. She crumbles if she thinks she has hurt someone. She doesn't understand why all the girls her age can't be friends. She loves to act older than her age.

Owen (almost 4): My bestest little redhead. He is probably the most keen 3-year-old I have ever met. It is obvious he has a lot of older siblings because he has a very mature sense of humor, he picks up on things most kids his age don't. His facial expressions kill me. I never know what to expect from that kid.

car ride constitution

We the people of the Smith household, in order to form a more peaceful car ride, establish that we will leave before the sun rises, insure all the iphones will be fully charged, provide for a smorgasbord of snackage, promote frequent naps, and secure the blessings of tranquility to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Smith Car Ride to Goblin Valley. (This is what hours of government homework does to me. :) )

enjoy the ride.

When I was little, we went swimming pretty much every day the pool was open at about 4:00 until my dad got home from work. 4:00 always felt forever away. I wish 4:00 didn't come so fast now. I'm realizing that I am 18 in less than a month. I am graduating in just over 2. I am fine with both, it is the amount of stuff that has to happen before then that scares the heck out of me. Biology internal assessments, online financial literacy, online government, English internal assessments, a nasty poetry explication, hundreds of pages to read/take notes on for history, statistics reviews, Mr. Braveman, completing a history book from roughly 15,000 pictures, Spirit Bowl, Baccalaureate, Senior Banquet, Prom, Bravestock, Swansong Assembly, training new officers, 16 IB/AP tests, finalized psychological experiment write-ups, 15-minute Spanish presentation, edited 15-page History research paper, photographing all spring sports, 150 creativity/service/action hours, 50 letters to write to the student body, apply for BYU housing, all without getting more than 3 tardies in English. It's a lot to do, but I am confidant it will all work out. I've decided to enjoy these last 2 months. It will be a crazy ride, but I will enjoy it. Then summer will be here. I will perhaps enjoy that ride more.