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HAPPY NEW YEAR'S [EVE]!

Ruby, Me, Tayo, Zoe, Carly, and Ashlyn

Awkward family photos...typical us.

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I will never procrastinate again...this was my life all today.

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Hiking through the snow and throwing ourselves back down the mountain (really!)

Carly, Taylor, Me, and Ruby

Zach, Jake, Jake, and Weston

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Today Carly, Ruby, Zoe, Taylor, Tessa, Jake, Jake, Weston, Zach, Zach's family, and I all went up to Zach's cabin to spend the weekend.  We all had fun driving the snowmobile and ATV and pulling sleds and the toboggan behind them!  When we got back from playing in the snow we were freezing and so excited to warm up in the nice warm cabin.  But, not 10 minutes after we got back, the power went out...and stayed out for the next three or four hours!  Luckily we already had a fire going, so we all wrapped up in blankets, sat around the fire, and had so much fun all talking and playing games until the power went back on--the true cabin experience!

Taylor, Zoe, Weston, Jake, Carly, Tessa, and Ruby

Being pulled in the toboggan!

Surrounding the fire after the power went out.

Five of us squished on a couch meant for much less to try and keep warm, haha.

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Tayo came in town!! :D  And Ruby and I made treats to take to the cabin tomorrow.

I wish this picture wasn't blurry cuz I love it so much!  Mickey and Tayo seeing each other again.

Shopping for treat ingredients.

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Singing Les Miserables all day and finally seeing it tonight--we LOVED it!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We opened presents in the morning (highlights were my speakers and new Nikon camera!!) and had our annual Christmas breakfast.  It had just snowed the night before so Dad, Marty, and I went up skiing and enjoyed a KILLER day with 16 new inches of powder!  In the evening everyone was either resting (poor Mom started feeling sick) or at friends' houses showing off new presents, so I called Carly.  I met her at her grandpa's house and hung out with her and her family (I'm pretty much the sister they never had...haha, jk..kinda.) and then slept over at her house!  Carly, her sister Olivia, and I had fun making popcorn with Liv's new popcorn maker, playing basketball with her little brothers, and just hanging out.

SUCH A FUN CHRISTMAS!

Annual about-to-go-downstairs picture in our Christmas Eve pajamas.

Nicholas practicing his bubble blowing and me practicing with my new camera.

Carly and I are so sad Christmas is over!!

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Family Christmas Eve Party!

Nativity with all the cousins.

Everyone took their turns singing karaoke!

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From classic Christmas movies, to karaoke, to finding the hidden ornament, to elf and Santa hats...we are ready for Christmas!

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Quote of the day:

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" -Mary Oliver

More awkward family photos...

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The best part about winter break is skiing every day.

...and, of course, seeing Santa.

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Today was the last day of school before Christmas Break!  We taught Carly how to ski, went to see the lights, exchanged pajamas, and took awkward family photos.  It was a good way to spend the day before the world is supposed to end.

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Beautiful ski day! Bekah, Zach, and I all didn't have to go to our 4th periods today because its almost the break, so we decided to ski! Although it was freezing cold (10 degrees...), it felt like no one else was on the mountain, we found powder, I successfully biffed a jump, and it was the first sunny ski day I've had this year! We had so much fun!

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I mustache you a question...

but I'm shaving it for later.

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ACCEPTED!

Today I received an acceptance letter to Fordham University (in New York City)!!!  After opening it with my family, I called Carly to tell her the news and the first thing she said was "All that hard work paid off," and yes it did!  My goal was to go out of state and now I've accomplished that.  I can breath a little easier until the rest of the letters come in April.

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Violin Christmas recital.  See the one boy in the back?  That's my brother.  He's a stud.

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Today was busy...but all fun!  I skied in the morning (10 inches of new powder!!) then came home and got ready for Winter Formal!  We ate Chinese to dinner, went to the dance, went laser tagging (it got pretty intense haha), then ate breakfast at a 24 hour waffle and omelet restaurant!

My beautiful friends! (Tessa, Zoe, Mickey, Carly, and Ashlyn.  Oh and Jake photo bombing in the background.)

Me and Ashlyn (our dates were sitting across from us) andCarly and her date, Zach.

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Basketball season has begun!

#1 fans right here.

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Happy birthday Isaac Newton (in a couple of days) and Taylor Swift!  Physics club celebrated with bagels, cake, and cool physics demos.

The giant magnifying glass.

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Marty made a self portrait.  See the comparison?  Nope, neither do I.

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First presents wrapped and under the tree!

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"Hey, it almost fits me! Is this too small for you?" -Nicholas

It's a little backwards when they start making board games based on apps. . .