...For Life

That's right, I'm a blood donor for life. For the third time in fact! And this time was a new personal record for giving blood: 4 minutes! Woohoo! Pays off to drink the 64 oz. of water before the donation. Hip hip for saving three lives today. :)

HOSA

On Friday we had our HOSA competition. There are many events you can participate in, and I chose to do the Medical Spelling and Medical Terminology tests. We were excused from school the entire day, even though each test took only about 20 minutes to take. It was a blast taking a break from school. Lori, Natalia, and I went to Lori's sister's house for most of the day and played with her cute 6-month-old niece. Then we went to Crown Burger for lunch with Lori's grandparents, cousin, and sister. I felt a little out of place at first, but it turned out really fun in the end. If we weren't spending time at Lori's sister's house, we were hanging out at the conference center. We just lounged on the couch and chatted with each other. {Ryann, Crista, Matt, Dan, Lori, and Me at the MT test}

{Lori, Ryann, and Paige lounging on the couch, waiting for the next event}

{Natalia dozed off... not a good idea around us ;)

The competition went well, even though none of us placed high enough to go to nationals. (I don't think any of us really wanted that anyway). We did our best and had a fun time, and that's all that matters. Later that night I went to a Jr. Jazz game with Melissa, and afterwards we watched Nicholas Nickleby. It was a great way to end the week, as well as the end of the term.

Also, today is the first day of spring! Hip hip for that! It's a wonderful, clear day. I'm lovin' it.

I Gave Blood...

...and it felt great!!! Our school did a blood drive on November 18th, and since I'm in HOSA, I was able to help out all day. It was my first time giving blood and I felt a little dizzy for a while, but I will happily donate again in the spring. Who doesn't love saving a life?! Melissa and I got matching bandage colors. Later we even asked a nurse to give us a little pink bow made of the bandage stuff to put on our purple bandage.

HOSA Birthday!

17! One more year and I'll be an adult! Ah! Now that's a scary thought... My birthday was fun this year but a little different. I'm an officer in an organization called HOSA at school, and we had a leadership training in Park City over my birthday. So on November 1st, we celebrated my birthday with family. My grandparents came over and we had my favorite dinner, beef stroganoff, as well as my grandma's really yummy oriental chicken salad. Savanna made a chocolate chocolate cake... delish! I got some great gifts: clothes, Michael Buble's new CD, "Crazy Love," some needed socks, and winter gloves. {Grandpa, me, Grandma}

The following day, November 2nd, I headed off to Park City with my HOSA friends. The conference was actually pretty boring, but the social part was exciting! For one of the meetings, our group split up to go to different classes. They all happened to leave their classes a little early to go to dinner. By the time I got to dinner, they had a spot ready for me with a birthday cake! (provided by the very sweet Ms. Richards). They sang for me and everything. It was so nice of them!

Azusong is an exchange student from Ghana and is a HOSA officer. He's very touchy feely and I don't think he knows what personal space is, but he's very nice and very funny. While I was blowing out my candles, he held my face so I could blow straight at the candles... he's a funny kid. He also tried to kiss me, but I escaped just in time. For the rest of the evening, we went to a few more HOSA things, then played. Dan gave me a huge party hat and a balloon (which I sucked helium from and sang, "Popcorn Popping"... hilarious). Cubby gave me play-dough, huge glow sticks, and scented bubbles. It was very thoughtful of them to remember my birthday. :) To finish off the day, Ana, Cubby, Dan, and I played Mormon Bridge. Overall, it was a fun birthday. {Second day of our conference}

{Jamming out to music with Cubby's speakers on the bus ride home}

The following Friday, we went out to dinner for my birthday. We went to one of my favorite restaurants, Texas Roadhouse. It was pretty exciting to sit on the saddle and yell, "YEE HAW!!" It was a great 17th.

P.S. Happy Birthday to one of my best friends, Kaitlyn, today!! And to Mickey Mouse!