Su-su-su-summer, Say What?!

Yes! It is now summer! I have finished my junior year of high school, and I am now enjoying the fabulous sunshine that Utah has to offer! I actually got sunburned while walking to church on Sunday. . . Ha ha.I had a friend named Sarah who was a foreign exchange student from Switzerland. We became the best of friends, and she went back home on Monday. I'm not gonna lie, I cried. A lot. But we're going to set up times to skype each other and we're going to email!! :)So far this summer I have gone hiking, been on a super long bike ride, been to the zoo, and visited the sick and afflicted (namely Jared who got surgery). Thus far, I would say it's been pretty goo so far. I finally got a swimming suit today, and I believe I am going swimming on Saturday.I have also acquired two babysitting jobs. Every Tuesday I babysit for the Welch family, and every Friday I babysit for the Strauss family. This week I've also had two extra babysitting opportunities tossed into my lap. I'm hoping that this continues as babysitting is my main source of income, and I love babysitting and playing with little kids.
Mom is going to Texas tomorrow, so I will be left home alone while my dad is at work. But I won't be doing much playing. I will be cleaning, sleeping, and also studying for the ACT, which I am taking for a second time on Saturday. I'm kind of nervous, but I've taken it before so I'm not too worried about it.
Anyway, that's pretty much all that I have to share for now. I hope your day is merry and bright!
Love-
Rachel :)

Nerd. . .? Yes.

Yes, it has happened. I have officially become a nerd about something, and that would be. . .
CHOIR!!!!
I have been introduced to an AMAZING choral director/ music writer by the name of Eric Whitacre. He is so incredible. He did what's called a virtual choir where people submitted videos of themselves singing his song "Lux Aurumque," and he had them all put together into a choir. It was so cool! He's doing another one to his song "Sleep," which is a beautiful song. And guess what?? I'm going to do it! I'm going to record myself singing, and I'm going to submit it onto the thing, and I am going to be in Eric Whitacre's virtual choir. I'm am so excited! I'm going to put a link to his blog on my blog in case you're interested in checking him out.
Another thing that makes me a choir nerd: This year our school schedule has been changed to include an Intervention/Enrichment period, and almost everyday, I find myself in the choir room singing. It's so much fun, and it's such a stress reliever from school.
My newest ambition is actually to be in the choral program at BYU. I went to their choir showcase last week, and I was blown away by how amazing they are!
Well, my new found nerdiness was all I had to talk about. Love you all!
-Rachel :)

School and Stuff

Hey guys! This week was the first week of school. This year I am taking AP Calculus, AP American Language/ College Writing, Chemistry, US History, Digital Photography, Concert Choir, Seminary, and Floral Design (which I am hoping to change). It's a pretty good mix of fun, and work! :D
I'm glad to be back at school with all of my friends, and to actually be doing something with my life. Last night my friend, Rachel Johnson, had a volleyball tournament over at the school. I went to part of that, and she made some pretty sweet kills by the way. They won a LOT of their games. They played really well! I also went to the football game which we won 49-20. We were up against "The Stansbury Cripples." (Ha ha that's what my friend John called them.)
Oh. My. Goodness. I can't believe I haven't written about this yet. My birthday was on Sunday! On Saturday, I had a party with a bunch of girl friends. We played games, and were really loud, and then we watched The Last Song, which is actually a very good movie, even though it's starring Miley Cyrus. Then on Sunday, we had family over and we had dinner, and cake and ice cream. Later that night (at 10) I got to go tunnel singing up at BYU with Rachel, Lauren, and John. It was sooo much fun! On Tuesday, Tyler Garver came over to my house and asked me on my first date! It was a blast! We doubled with Andrew Holman and Abi Roundy. We went to Sonic and ordered at the drive thru, and Tyler paid in change because he thinks it's hilarious to do that. Ha ha and then we took our food over to the park by Walmart, Neilson's Park, and ate. Then we rode on the spinny swings for a while. After that we went over to Nickel City and played in the arcade. Tyler and I got enough tickets to get 2 potato guns and some tootie frooties. After that we went to Tyler's house and played a game called Settlement, and Abi completely wiped us out on that game. Ha ha It was a great first date! :D
Today I might go to the farmers market, and then I'm going to be busy going to someone's party. . . I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say what that is until later. . . and then I'm going to go to Steven Pelham's farewell party for a while, and then I will probably go to the stake dance. And ya, that's my awesome life right now.
Hope you all have an amazing weekend! Love ya!
-Rachel :)