Recent News

So yes I said I was going to post more often but alas the last time I blogged was over a month ago. But in my defense I did write a really long post a couple weeks ago about my love of ducklings, my desire to make real Japanese ramen, and my holiday celebrations but just as I was about to write the finishing touches when my lovely computer decided to restart and not save any of my work. Joyous day.

Anyhow lately my time has been filled with school. Writing papers, reading, crying over math. Just kidding! But seriously I've had no time to read the books I want to read. Granted they are educational and could probably count as school but I have priorities. Besides having no time for "fun" reading school has been very interesting. In my class with my dearest teacher Genevieve Allen we've been learning and writing about current events. It's actually really interesting to learn about and I love it!

That's the recent news but the new years dance was so fun that I think I'll tell you shortly about it. Townsend and I rode up with our seminary teachers and had an awesome car ride up listening to pop French music. New experience! And the dance itself was fantastic! There was a stake visiting from Palmyra, NY with a whole bunch of tall boys. It was so nice. I got asked to dance every single song, unlike most dances I go to. And as it turns out my group of friends can't take pictures. But here's one of all of us together.

And here's one with epic photo bombing being achieved.

It was a really fun dance and afterwards we went and had milkshakes. It was awesome.

Well I suppose that's all for now so I shall blog later!

Finally Free!

Well yesterday I finished my last final for the semester! And I'm more or less certain I'm going to get A's in all of my classes. Thank goodness! :) Now I'm free for three weeks. The things that I'm probably going to be doing is reading, knitting, and being super lazy. My favorite thing. My finals are the reasons I haven't blogged in a while. My grandpa also came into town to see baby Jane. And then of course it's been Christmas time and I've been busy with all that stuff. Life other than that has been great! I've got everyone's Christmas presents. I would tell you what they are but sadly for you some of those people read my blog. Last week we went to the temple grounds to see the lights. It was pretty awesome.

We went last year but it was really cold and we stayed for only a couple minutes. This year though it was a ton warmer and we were able to look at all of the lights. Before we went to the temple we went to ihop, which was delicious! There's been a couple Christmas parties that I've attended since I last blogged and I'm going to one tomorrow! So much fun! Actually they are a lot of fun. I love getting fat on Christmas treats. :) Well I know this isn't a very long blog post but I don't feel like I have a whole lot to write about. I'll write next week. Probably.

Marley

A Day of Giving Thanks

Well seeing as today is especially assigned to giving thanks I think I shall tell all you people what I'm thankful for. Even though I think that you should try to thank people whenever you think about it but anyway. Now there's always the basics like food, sleep, clothes, a house, etc. But I think I need to go a little bit more in depth about what I'm thankful for. So first to say I'm thankful for my family. Again kind of like a normal obvious thing but it's true. I love my family very much and as much as my siblings can be a tad annoying I love them. They're the best. They are always coming up to me and saying how much they love me and usually when I ask them to do something they usually do it. Well the little boys anyway. And people my age or even older talk about how they don't have the best relationship with their parents and all that but I feel like I have an awesome relationship with my parents. I'd say they're my friends and even best friends. I know I'm such a weirdo for not being a stereotypical teenager who hates their parents. So sorry. But it's true.

I'm also thankful for my teachers. Mainly I'm talking about  my previous co-op teachers and my seminary teachers. Genne and Sis. Marriott have been such a huge part in my education and I have learned so much from them and I think that because of them I have learned to love learning. And they have taught me to learn about topics that are considered to most people not fun to learn about. Like about the government and how it works or economics or how to be a statesman. They have also taught me to form my own opinions and to find evidence and background for those said opinions. I'm also thankful for my seminary teacher and his wife Bro. and Sis. Noonan. They he teaches such awesome lessons and Sis. Noonan always brings us a breakfast snack every morning and it's just amazing. I have been so lucky to have such amazing teachers.

I'm also thankful that I get to have such great friends both here in Virginia and in Washington. They're all so supportive and helpful. It's nice. Well onto more stereotypical stuff. Pictures of THANKSGIVING! WOOO!

The kids waiting very patiently for the meal to start.

My plate of food. I'm so healthy. Look at all that color. :)

And lastly this amazing banana cream pie that I made. It tasted quite delicious. In case you were wondering. Well my thanksgiving was pretty great and tomorrow should be pretty great as well. We may start setting up for Christmas. We'll have to see. But yeah I suppose that's all for now!

 

Marley

School and Life

Well my dearest readers sorry for not posting last week. There really wasn't really anything going on that week and to tell you the truth not much has been going on this week either. Really it's just been school, and cleaning, and making kids happy. School actually has been stressing me out because my assignments keep changing after I've finished it or already half way done with it. So that's something. But I'm finally getting caught up with it. Oh! I just remembered something that did happen this last week. Me and Townsend went with some friends to homecoming. It was actually really fun.

 He wouldn't smile like a human being so I copied him and his weird not smile/smile.

But yeah it was awesome and I had a fun time and I think Townsend did too. He danced almost every single slow song. Good for him asking! And afterwards my dad took us to Wendy's and we got to eat frosties. So yummy! Anyway that's all for now!

Marley

Baby Jane

So Jane was born on Sunday November 2nd at 4:10 P.M. I actually helped deliver her! It was so amazing and our midwife friend Sarah was there the entire time and she guided me and told me everything I needed to do. I also got to cut the cord, which I've had the opportunity to do so before but never took it. People always ask, "Isn't that supposed to be a dad thing?" but my dad's not really into that type of thing and I wasn't really either till this time round. It kind of made me squeamish but I obviously got over it. Anyway it was awesome and very spiritual. This is the fourth birth I've been to of my mothers and I have never cried during but this one I did and in general it was pretty amazing.  Now on to the thing you're all waiting for......pictures!!!

First picture taken of her. We were waiting for the official midwives to get there with all their equipment to make sure the baby was healthy so we just hung out with the sweet baby.

 This was later in the day after I had gotten back from a youth fireside. People had a hard time believing that I would come only a couple hours after my mom had the baby but why not right?

My chick magnet brother Townsend. I think he might like her.

 This was the second day and the day Sarah left back for Washington. I kind of stole this from Sarah but it's one of my favorites.

Mom and Sarah right before we took Sarah to the airport. It was awesome having her here and she gave peace to my mother who had a couple false labors. I got to hangout with her a couple of times and just catch up with her and see how her family was doing seeing that I haven't seen any of them in the past couple years. Her being here made me realize how much I miss my Washington people. Especially in people getting my sense of humor. I was funny again this week! While she was here I also got to Face Time the rest of her family and it was super nice to see all of them again. It's weird how much everyone has grown up. And to think It's only been two years. So weird. Sorry for my strange reminiscing. I can't help it. But anyway everyone is so excited to have Jane here and she's already fattening up. She likes to eat. A lot. Joan-Claire refers to her as "my baby" She's super nice to the baby but has become even more so of a tyrant to everyone else so hopefully she gets out of that phase soon or else I think I might die.  Ephraim will look at her and hold her unlike what he did with Joan-Claire. And everyone else is always begging to be around her which makes my job of keeping them away a little difficult sometimes but other than that it's really amazing to have her here. Sorry I'm really excited. Townsend said I was on some type of high after I delivered the baby. Now to get caught up in school and keep it that way and life will be perfect! :) Well Thanks for reading!

 

Marley

Waiting

Well I've been waiting all week to blog and say that my mom has had the baby but it sadly hasn't happened yet. Since it's almost the new week I thought why not just post and hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to say I have a new baby sister. We've thought for the past couple nights that it would happen but this little baby is being stubborn and doesn't want to come out. Mom has been eating a lot of spicy food and walking all over the place, especially today so hopefully today/night! But in the mean time with all this waiting I finished the baby blanket that I've been working on!

The first blanket I've ever made and I think it turned out all right. I've had the time to finish it because we've been marathoning Downton Abbey. It's always fun to marathon tv shows. And movies too I guess. I've also started a pair of baby bootees yesterday. I finished the first one but it's not the way I want it. I just haven't been able to find a good pattern. Hopefully I'll finish the second one today. But besides us waiting for the baby to come and me knitting a ton not much has been going on. I mean I've been keeping up with my school and I've been going out occasionally with mom and Sarah to travel and "sight see" and that's all super fun. I got to eat cupcakes on Thursday and we got some for everyone in the family. I'm going to be really sad when that weekly trip ends. Oh and I guess yesterday was Halloween and that was fairly eventful. The kids got tons of candy. I went around with the baby (Joan-Claire) and she got a whole bag full after two trips around our ward trunk or treat. She was being weirdly shy (or lazy) and had me carry her the whole time. I figure that's why my arm has been hurting all day. She's not exactly light anymore. Well I suppose that's all for now. I'll blog when my new sister is born and I guess I'll Facebook about it before I do that.

Au revoir!

 

Marley

Answers from a Homeschooler

As many of you know I'm homeschooled and I have been since first grade. That's ten years! Now I thought that since it's been that many years maybe more I could put to rest the weird things people think of homeschoolers.

1. We don't know how to be social
I would just like to say that this may be true of some homeschoolers but many others and myself are actually quite social. And just to point out I know and know of many socially awkward public schoolers. When people ask if we're social I think they mean by how many friends we have and usually friends that are our own age. And also how we interact with other human beings. But to tell you the truth I feel like I interact with other people a lot better than most teenagers. I can talk to adults quite freely and have full on conversations with them while others find them awkward. Actually I'm friends with a lot of adults of varying ages. I feel like adults listen to me when I'm talking and want to know how I'm doing and then I listen in return while my teenage friends most of them kind of just talk about themselves and wont listen to me or have me repeat myself a bazillion times because they aren't listening. And this isn't a real conversation. I like having real conversations and they're for some reason easier to carry on with adults. This is all by my observation so I may be wrong but that's my opinion. And as for going out and doing stuff I go to dances once or twice a month and then I go out to lunches/dinners with people all the time. And I babysit a lot which can count as being social in some way.

2. How do we get into college?
Same way as everyone else. We have a transcript or portfolio, we take the SAT or ACT, and then we wait to be accepted. It's really not that hard. And actually colleges are looking for homeschoolers because they can think for themselves and retain what they learn instead of learning how to take just tests.

3. Homeschoolers are so weird
Now this may be true in some way but I think it's because we're not afraid to be who we really are. Going to school you are constantly worried about what others think and how you can be "cool" but when your at home all the time and don't have those worries we're free to be ourselves. When we are out and about with other people we're confident enough in ourselves to act like ourselves and not care what others think. And actually when I first meet people they never think I'm homeschooled. Actually I've gone a whole several months without someone knowing or realizing that I was homeschooled and were quite surprised by it because I acted so normal. Being cool is being confident and being confident is knowing who you are and not changing all the time to "fit in". For some reason people associate us with being extreme weirdos. I've even had one of my friends say how some person was so weird but it made sense because that person was homeschooled. This actually drives me crazy and I sometimes am afraid to tell people that I'm homeschooled because they'll immediately put me under the category of weird. This happens at dances or really any social event where I'm meeting new people. Very few are actually genuinely interested and what to know more about me after I tell them. Just because we learn differently then you doesn't mean you have to be so judgmental.

These are pretty much the main three questions people ask me about being homeschooled and there are many others that are small but don't really matter because they're kind of obvious. Really though it annoys me so much when people immediately think I'm weird or become disinterested after I tell them I'm homeschooled. Also that people don't think I'm social. Maybe you don't think or wonder any of these things and it's me just being crazy. If so I'm sorry. Also these are all from observation which I feel like is a fairly reliable source but since it is just my observation I could totally be wrong. My mom blogs a lot better than me and her last blog post was all about homeschooling and the wonders of it. Read it here: http://bronwyn-juddfamily.blogspot.com/2014/01/no-denim-jumper-required.html

Besides that amazing rant, life has been going great. Our friend Sarah Simmons came yesterday and we're hoping the baby will come any day now if we're lucky. I'm all caught up in school and I'm mostly enjoying it. Besides biology. I hate it. I have an A in it right now but I still hate it. Also sorry this post is late and not on time as promised but our internet lately has been having a lot of problems. Well I guess that's all for now. Thanks for reading this without there being any interesting pictures. Just plain words. Bleh.

Marley

Not So New Years Resolution

So I know it's not really anywhere near New Years but I've decided that I'm going to blog once a week. Now to be more specific I'm going to post every week on either Tuesday or Friday. Depending on how busy I am with school, my mom having a baby, or me just being lazy. According to my very amazing teacher Genne I'm not very good at keeping you people informed. I guess I have only blogged four times this year. Shame on me. But anyway in way of news this year I started being the assistant of the class Key of Liberty (this is what Genne was most shocked/excited to learn about). You may remember me talking about that back in 2010/2011 when I took the class. (past posts about it: http://upsidedownandrightsideup.blogspot.com/2011/01/guess-what.html, http://upsidedownandrightsideup.blogspot.com/2011/05/constitution-bowl.html,http://upsidedownandrightsideup.blogspot.com/2010/09/yesterday.html) Turns out I wasn't the best at writing back then. Anyway I've taught two lectures so far and also led two of the book discussion. I really like being in the teacher position. I feel like it's easier than being the student but I also get to learn. I am also in charge of "grading" and making comments on the papers. This is actually one of my favorite jobs. I'm honored the privilege of seeing what these "youngters" have to say on the certain topics and it's always interesting to see other peoples way of thinking and how they connect things in their brains. That probably sounded weird but it still is super interesting. That's pretty much it for the BIG news. Today I went with my Madre to Old Towne. While she was at her doctors appointment I went and got a cupcake with the bambina. (she won't be the bambina for much longer)

We went to Lavender Moon. They have some of the best frosting I've ever tasted. My favorite is this chocolate cake with super creamy peanut butter frosting and then like chocolate mousse or something like that on top. So good! I think it's called devil's food peanut butter mousse. Pretty self explanatory that title. But anyway if you ever go there you must try it! As it turns out the baby is a very clean cupcake eater. She ate it with her hands and only got a tiny bit of frosting on her mouth and that was it. I was quite impressed. I'm a messier eater than her. Sad. Well that's my life. Adios!

General Conference Knitting

So this weekend was General conference. I quite enjoyed it personally. I could definitely see some themes going on and tell that the spirit was doing it's work. Anyway during these past two days I have been knitting away at some baby hats. If for some strange reason you have not been told or heard my mom is expecting another baby. It's to be a girl and we're going to name her Ina Jane but call her Jane. Ina is after my great grandma whom I have never had the pleasure of  meeting. My mother has been begging me to knit some hats for the upcoming child so I thought I would do it during conference.

I made a total of three. The white with pink stripes was the one I made first. The pattern was a tad bigger than it said it was so it's for the next size. The pink hat with the cool scallop pattern on the bottom I made second. I've never done this type of design before because it is kind of a form of faire isle, which scares me quite thoroughly, but it turned out great and is actually my favorite hat. Then lastly I made the pink with the white stripes and it is the right size. The green one I made two years ago for when Joan-Claire was born and I just wanted to show it off. :) I've also been working on a blanket for the baby but I'm getting bored of it so I kind of put it off and didn't work on it at all this weekend. Tonight I'm going to start a pair of booties that my mother has also been begging for. I'm trying a new pattern so we'll see how they turn out.

On another note it was recently Ephraim's birthday. He turned the mighty number of seven. He requested homemade doughnuts as his birthday treat. They were super delicious.

Here he is. He sure is a crazy boy. This weekend my grandpa Done is coming into town which is quite exciting. Jairus' birthday is also this weekend and he has requested us to make cinnamon rolls. I'm even more excited for those than doughnuts. And then of course later this month my mom is expected to have the baby and our old friend Sarah is coming out for it. I'm really excited. I haven't seen her in over a year and a half! I also recently started seminary again! It so far is super amazing! Our teacher is so amazing and so energetic and fun! I really am enjoying it so far this year. So that's pretty much what's happened recently and what's upcoming. Hope you are all doing well!

Marley

Over and Out!

Well school for me is finally out! I am so happy to be done with all that stressful school work. At least for a week. I'm taking summer classes but they're luckily not as many and not as hard. Hopefully. Probably just math and an English class. But still that's nothing compared to my usual school work load. Anyway besides that it's finally starting to get warm and I can break out the shorts! Yay! My summer plans include my friend Paige coming to visit me for a week. By the time she comes it will have been a year and a half since I last saw her! It's really crazy and kind of sad but on the bright side I'm going to have so much fun with her! Also my Grandma and my Aunt are going to come visit for a couple weeks which should be really fun. I also have girls camp, I'm going to the Palmyra Pageant, and EFY! Anyway on a different note we've had our old pal Felicity move in with us for a month which has been very exciting and has added to Ephraim's strange self challenge of hugging everyone at least once every hour. Well ok I wouldn't call it a challenge he's given himself but it's something he's been doing a lot lately and it makes me feel very loved. In fact I think he's my favorite brother. Sorry Townsend and Jairus. :)
I also have been spending a lot of time with this little child. She likes to come up to me and say, "I need you! I need you!" It's very cute but sometimes really annoying especially when I'm trying to clean or do school work.

 I also ran my half marathon with my mother. It definitely wasn't very fast but at least I finished it. It was a lot of fun. Although I did feel like I was going to collapse when I got home. It seriously hurt to walk. It was awful.

Well that's what has been going on lately and I guess I shall blog again later. Hopefully.