We most definitely slept in.  I just love those magical certains that obliterate all forms of light so you can pretend it's still nighttime even in the morning.  Once we finally managed to drift off, we slept like babies.
  Once we finally got up and ready, we ate a quick breakfast chilling out in the sunlight of the balcony and then headed out for shopping.  Shopping centers in rich cities like Scottsdale never fail to amaze and mock me with how tragically adorbable expensive things can be.    But it's still fun to look around, find those cute $3 earrings with the cuffs that make you feel like you're actually cool, and join in with Linds to be that rebel who lies down for a potential nap on the cushions in the mens section of the Nike's athletics store.
  I felt fat by the time I got home.  Does that sum it up?
  But seriously, I had such a blast and I can't wait to party some more with these wonderfully fantastical girlies.

  I can never decide whether I like going to bed/getting up early or staying up late/sleeping in better.  That fresh accomplished feeling... or that partyish/screwit/summertime teen rebel feeling...
  As you can tell, it is 1 AM and this week my melatonin has refused to kick in till quite late.  Thus I guess it's the second. But it's OK.  There's nothing better to do in the middle of the night than blog, sketch, edit photos, play my electric keyboard with earbuds, write short stories for my BF/read the ones he sends me, eat, or watch scary movies {three this week alone} so that Rachel and I have to share her obnoxiously comfy bed for protection.
 But seriously, sleep?  Pshhht, though be proud of me: the sleep I've gotten is good enough that I'm actually remembering my dreams.  A rare thing.  This summer I've had dreams that it was still the last week of school, that I was Katniss Everdeen, that I was pregnant for absolutely no reason at all and was totally chill about it too.  Though I guess that's not as bizarre as Rachel's dream that she was pregnant with elephant twins and only a pregnant woman could activate the dishwasher.
  Life's good. I've had super fun datenights doubling with his parents for dinner and icecream {oh I am too clumsy, but pool stores are good time killers}, datenights with others minigolfing and watching the sunset from Hole in the Rock...  I've had plenty of rehearsals for the show I am in and am loving...  I've hopped the wake and posed a peace sigh wakeboarding... I've decided that I like going places with my mama cause she too likes to go out to eat and shop for cute things, but she is also not afraid to splurge while Daddy's at scout camp with Adam...  I've been home alone with Rachel at night when suddenly there was a pop and we were plunged into total darkess...  I've jumped on the trampoline at midnight and attempted to sleep in a two-man tent with three siblings before they remembered that Arizona is a desert and that a desert can be quite hot...  I've learned not to say Adam's name in Pig Latin... I've not even contemplated school...
  You know, though I've become slightly lonely deprived of friends who scatter for vacation, I do like summer.  A lot.  

  Today Liv, Sophie and I were left to fend for ourselves.  So what else would we do aside from being girls and getting out?  At the library they picked out a few books to bury their noses in, and then we headed off to the outdoor mall.  Probably not the best idea when it's a grand 108° out, but what can I say?  Besides, it was an excuse for the two of them to split a Blizzard.
   Livy was able to find an adorable hot pink swimsuit, and it wasn't just its cuteness that made it a great shopping day for her but the fact that it was half-off.  I loves sales, don't you?
  You also know that we're an animal-loving family when we sit on the bench and admire the birds.  I am kind of jealous of those tiny creatures-- they are pretty, musical, and can glide right through that beautiful blue sky on delicate wings.

 When the only times you've been out of the country were in the womb at Mexico and four years old at Niagara Falls, it takes a long time to process the idea that you will actually have to use your passport.  I leaving for Peru on Saturday {right after Eric's baptism too}, and I don't think it really started to hit me until just a few hours ago as we shopped.  We searched through several stores, purchasing sturdy tennis shoes, lots of comfy but still picture-worthy tees {is it bad that I'm purposely packing lots of blue shirts for the sake of making my eyes pop in a country where everyone's eyes are brown? and also, Rachel, keep in mind that there are other people in the dressing rooms who will definitely hear you when you start to thoughtlessly sing your heart out with the radio}, khaki shorts, and even a pretty dang amazing cowboy hat.  ¡Oh, y yo estaba practicando mi español porque ellos no hablan inglés en peru!  It's pretty weird to have to worry about packing malaria pills, or trying to keep in mind that I can't wear black or white in the rainforest because black attracts mosquitoes {including the ones carrying the malaria} and white scares away the birds.  But whatever.  I'm psyched!
  Unfortunately, I still can't focus completely on packing.  I'm scheduled to take the final exam for my online class tomorrow.  Like I said in an earlier post, I locked myself in my room and got about five weeks worth of material finished in five days.  The deadline for the class isn't until the twenty-eighth, but I don't get back to the twenty-ninth.  See my problem?  I was able to do it, though, so now all I have to do is study all those terms about computers and hope that I'll do well!
  Now I know I was just saying that I need to study, but about an hour ago Dad had me practice my driving.  One of the cars was in the repair shop, so we got to borrow a nice little car that was perfect for me to drive in.  I've only gotten behind the wheel three times before now {two of those times in the parking lot} but all of a sudden I realized that Dad had led me onto the freeway.  The freeway!?  I panicked slightly.  Well, maybe more than slightly.  But just like I was able to quickly adjust to intersections, I realized after a few seconds that it really isn't all that bad!  I felt older {smiley face}.
  Anyway, I really do need to study now. ¡Adiós!