graduation... and beyond.: Goodbye July!

First off, I am SO SO SO Sorry I haven't blogged in a sold MONTH! That is so unlike me; it's just been super busy here. I'll give you a quick update on July and throw in some detailed stories when I get a chance!

July 4th

Absolute blast! Katie and I took a walk to Sonic (we take lots of walks now) and bought some noise maker fireworks. Then we met my mom and sister at my grandparent's neighbor's pool and swam and set off said noise makers! That night, after dinner with the grandparents, we went to High Park in Derby to watch fireworks instead of buying a million of them. It's been so long since we've been in town for the fourth; we didn't even know what was going on around here lol. The fourth has always been my favorite holiday though, and it was really nice to get to spend it at home this year. (:

Pre-fourth Fireworks :)

Shooting off noise makers!

Sparklers :)

Night of the Fourth :)

July 7th

FINALLY! I turned 18 this month and it was the best thing ever! That day my mom and I got pedicures, we all went to Olive Garden, and that night, my mom, Katie, and her parents and I went to the CASINO! It was fantastic, I was up 50, 60 bucks on the Black Jack table (which I'm really good at) and then they switched dealers and somehow I lost it all! Oh well... It was the best 18th birthday anyone could ask for :)

Road trip to OK!!

Ouside the casino!

This is an illigal pic.. but oh well!! :) i love it!

July 9th

I decided to have my party on a Saturday so hopefully more people could come and it was a complete success!! My friends and family came from all over to see me and it was so touching… I have the best friends and family ever. WE grilled out and had cookie cake and (even though it was still 102 at 10 PM) s’mores. It was so nice to have everyone together again before we all start to go our own ways... Definitely the most memorable birthday party <3

Levi (or anyone for that matter :P) didn't like my flash!

Sarah fell outta her chair! lol Love that girl <3

Just chillin around a fire in 102 degree weather ;)

Brogy and Trent!

The gang :)

Erynn and James got into it.. lol he won.

July 11th-12th

It's finally becoming more real! I am an official KU JAYHAWK! I spent these two days in Lawrence with my mom for my New Student Orientation. It's a long and tiring process... but it was so informative and helpful, and I mapped out (basically) the next four years of my life! (Those of you who know me super well are going, "Well, duh!") I also met some of the people I’ll probably spend the rest of my life with… how cool is that?! (: Move in day is August 19^th!! I can’t wait!

Biology- Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 - 9:50 AM
English- Monday, Wednesday, Friday 11:00 – 11:50 AM
Biology Lab- Tuesday 10:00 AM – 12:50 PM
Chemistry- Tuesday, Thursday 8:00 - 9:15 AM
Calculus I- Tuesday, Thursday 2:30 – 3:45 PM
Honors Program Seminar- Every other Wednesday 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Chemistry Lab- Thursday 11:00 AM – 1:50 PM

My Student to Student group! The three girls around me and the fourth guy in were my "posse" and we all still text and can't wait for move in!

July 15th

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS PART II @ MIDNIGHT! I have to say, this night was something that I had been looking forward to, and dreading for a long time. I have grown up with Harry Potter… It’s engraved and intertwined into my childhood. I basically cried throughout the entire movie… mostly because I was so sad my childhood managed to come to a screeching halt in my mind… also because Harry and I were “graduating” at the same time, and I had just enrolled a few days earlier… It was a big leap of faith to take all at once; accepting my new age and social status as an adult and ending my ten year romance with the wizard with glasses… it was a very emotional night. It was absolutely amazing though. David Yates is a genius and I couldn’t be more proud.

ohh yeaah :)

Those glasses were awesome!

July15th-22^nd

StuCo Camp… (: So much to say… so little time! I will write one or two more blogs on this week because it’s so special to me, I don’t want to leave anything out! So here are some pictures to try to begin to explain why it was (so far) the best week of my life and how I am so irrevocably changed from it. <3

My AMAZING council :)

My second family (:

Best buddy Rod!

Council J.. we rock :)

Brogy and I rode up there and home together! He was a great friend and I'm so glad we got to ride together :)

We hung out in the JC Lounge a LOT!

Rod and roommate Jordy and our fabulous glasses :)

Jake :) this kid is awesome.

ELI!! (:

The running shorts gang. :D

Barret <3

Natalie and Vanessa :)

July 28th-30^th

I have never been the partying type… but this weekend I had a taste of what it could be like. Thursday, Katie, Allyson and I ventured into the world of clubbing! We went to Doc Howards Lounge and had the best time! We danced, had Monsters, and just enjoyed hanging out since I had been gone for so long. (: Friday, the Wichita area JC’s from camp got together and spent the day terrorizing Wichita! We ate at Chipotle, Orange Leaf, and Gobi Grill and I loved getting cultured by these guys. I was not a Mexican or Mongolian food lover… but I am now! We chilled at Wal-Mart for a couple hours, played Just Dance in Rod’s basement, and went to the Drive In and saw three great movies! I picked Barret up at noon and we didn’t get home until 5 AM! It was such a great day; I can’t wait for our big reunion soon! Saturday was Girls Day and the six of us went to Applebee’s for our traditional Back-to-School dinner and decided to go BACK to the club afterwards…. It was such an exciting weekend!