Winter break! YAYYYYYYY!!!!

Well things have been quite busy lately so to make sure I Get it all out of my head I will go as chronilogically as possible.

Let's start with finals:

Hfkhusfhksuehfukjesihdijo.

Yes, that bad. Really it was simply the fact that I have never had to take these many finals. Ever. By the last day I was completely drained. I didn't even study in reality. I just typed up my biology notes from the whole year (they are pretty now <3) while watching Jackie Chan Adventures and attempting to catch up on Naruto Shippuden (only 100 more eps to go :P). Still I did well overall. Creepily people were telling me I did well on Chemistry before I even looked at my grade. I was relieved when I found out they were just posted outside the door. :). But I'm really starting to hate this "know-it-all" thing. The days where I just zoned out in class and when no one knew I was smart unless I spoke to them directly seem oh so sweet now. Honestly I would shut up in embarrassment like I want to but I know I am learning more when I speak up so I just gotta suck it up and withstand the bad blood.

Sadness: Ting has gone back to China. :( she completely missed Christmas but I hope my present at least made her smile a bit. :D

Happy thought: I took pics of me and Apollo!!!!!! He is so cute! (Although the camera did add ten pounds ;) ). If you want them, you know my email ^^.

We had originally planned to leave for Chicago right after Finals (so about 11 on Tuesday) but Monday night mom was freaking out about a "blizzard" and I wasn't gonna bother packing if we weren't even going to go. Next day= perfect day. We were so not losing a whole day for nothing! Commence operation SPEED PACK. Even so we didn't leave until about 2 (we had to actually go back at one point because we ie I left my aunts maple syrup gift). ...which means we didn't get to Chicago until 12 am. Yuck. We were lucky though because there had been this huge fog while we were driving and it was super creepy/dangerous.

But we made it! And I'm glad we didn't waste a day because we did A LOT in that one day. First we went to this "fancy" restaurant for lunch. While everything looked good it didnt taste the best to me. Then we actually did this "finding my roots" sort of thing. We drove through my old neighborhood, saw the place I grew up in. Saw the apartment we had when I was born. Saw the hospital I was born in (UIC hospital, only Chicago born person in my family! What up!) I saw where my dad grew up, his high school. We saw Unversity of Illinois in Chicago (UIC) where my parents went and I actually really liked it! It's not the best school but the area is PERFECT. It ACTUALLY FEELS like a city. My mom had us stop at a coffee shop she used to love and it will be my official hang out spot if I go to UIC. Artwork all over the walls. Murals on the cieling. Very Latino. Very cool. Then we grabbed some tacos and a tres leeches cupcake from some places nearby and headed home. :)

The next day we went to check out the University of Chicago (with my complaining little bro in tow). Surprisingly, wasn't too trilled by what I saw. It's like the opposite of UIC. Great school but super boring area. All you got is the science and engineering museum. Fun. So glad I didn't apply there. Then we went to downtown Chicago, Michigan avenue and all that jazz. Sadly I ie we lost the camera. We werent there that long anyway. Just saw the bean and checked out an art store which didn't have the color pens that I wanted. Then we got some pizza that my bro loved but the rest of us werent too happy with.

Friday was bro time! Finally got to see my older bro. Sadly he was not bald like we had braced ourselves for (he shaved off his hair for Halloween but it's grown quite a bit already). We mostly hung out as (as always) we were constantly arguing about what to do or waiting for someone beofore we could go. My aunt just HAD to watch the muppets and if I was going to be forced through that punishiment I wanted to at least go shopping beforehand. But thanks to my family not being on the same page and people getting lost, I didn't get to actually shop at all. We did watch her muppets though. She loved it despite her not knowing any of the actors or references. My bro liked it because he likes musicals. The only part I laughed at was when I saw Sheldon because it was so unexpected. Dad was indifferent. Mom was dying.

Saturday ie Christmas eve was pretty much chilling time. People didn't start to come until 6 or 7 and that's when all the gossiping and debates kicked in. It wasnt much, but I liked seeing everyone. My little bro has officially taken over the role of "head adult botherer". I used to have to keep asking "when are we going to open presents?" now my little bro is going to carry on the tradition. I'm happy but also really sad. I got majorly depressed after opening presents not because I wasn't thankful but because I realized I was no longer one of the kids and I would not have any more of those present filled Christmases of my childhood.

Christmas day wasn't much fun. My family was cooking some fish that smelled up the house so my mom and I camped out upstairs. We actually ended up driving around just to get away. The two food places open on Xmas? McDonalds and some Chinese place. So I had Chinese food for Xmas dinner :). The triplets came in about 7 and they are HUGE. They need to stop growing. Finally they are maturing and are not as annoying to be around. I even invited the oldest to come sleep with me at my little bros house (cept now she got me and my mom sick). I also got to play with my cousins kis, who had been asleep the night before. The girl was so cute! At first she was just staring at me then she said: You're pretty. <3

Monday we chilled for a long time. We played many rounds of Headbanz where you have a card on your head and you try to guess what you are. Then we took the middle triplet with us to see Loayola. Wasn't too impressed by it either. On the brightside: we ate at this mediteranian restaurant and it was sooooo yummy! I got my fancy little plate of filet mignion X). I always wanted some fancy plating. Very happy making. I spent the rest of the day reading Son of Neptune which I stole from the girls. ^^

The next day was also chilling. Though we went the movies. The little ones watched Tin Tin and Auntie, my aunt and uncle, the oldest girlies, and I watched Sherlock Holmes. We came out earlier than the others, so in classic Auntie fashion, we snuck into War Horse. The munchkin was super excited because she had never snuck into another movie and her parents were kinda tense afterwards because she was a little TOO happy about it. I was exhausted afterwards, but I did finish Son of Neptune. :) 500 pages in 2 days. Lol.

Wow that was a lot, and all typed on my iPad! Kinda proud of myself. Okay I'll finish this off with a college update.

I was accepted to the University of Michigan!!!!! I was so pumped. Then I got a letter from Fordham. FULL TUITION!!! I seriously had already cut it out of the running, but dang. Now I just need the $10,000 to $15,000 for room and board. ^^'. We'll see but the university is right next to Central Park!

Happy Holidays!

~S~

The Events of an Uneventful Life :D

Here I am! Yes, I have not died, though I did seem to hide. Anyway, in case you've been wondering what's up with me I'm here to fill you in.

The "surprise" trip to Texas was super fun! I still have to upload all the pictures but I'll be happy to send them to whoever asks. <3 I wish I had longer than a few days. :( (Although, I must say I felt like I did so much stuff in those two days there that it felt like I spent a week there XD) The hangover feeling that Monday was not fun however. :/ That plus the insane amount of tests that week (the last week before finals) felt like I was being punished for having a great trip. Still way worth it. :D

Speaking of school: it is almost done for the year! (this year, 2011 at least ;) ) These last two days have been finals days. Which, by the way, having to take all 7 of my finals (even AB Calculus which I do not get a grade for) has been awfully brutal. I do not study THAT much, but just having to take two 90 minute tests back to back makes me want to slam my head against a desk. At least now I have four done and each day is a half day. :) On Friday I made two 100's (for AB and Biology), and so far I have the score to beat for Biology ;) (92 out of 100 let's see who beats me). Also: I've been taking pictures :D I know some of you people in Texas asked for some, plus Ting is leaving. :( It's so sad!!! She even leaves on Xmas D: Tell me that does not stink! (Not that she celebrates it, but still!) So I took some pictures of us and Matilde. :) Then I took some pictures with Apollo! Then some with Apollo and Uniqia ^^ Super cuteness.

Now for college stuffs: I think I may be done applying!!! YAY!!! Last weekend I was an essay maniac and wrote about 7 of them. So I applied for my last two schools: Johns Hopkins and Columbia University. Also applied for some Hispanic Scholarship Fund scholarships. This weekend I wrote some essays, but definitely without the drive I had last weekend. :/ That's for the Gate's scholarship. *sigh* My relaxation from finishing applications was so short lived! Cannot wait until college is all prepared for and done with. :)

Also speaking of college stuffs: I GOT INTO THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN <3 I knew I would, but I was getting worried when I didn't get my acceptance email on the first day (the infamous December 15) but I'm in! <3 So hope I can afford it. Sadly, U of A is looking quite affordable. :/ I won't know about fellowships for a while, but I got an $8000 scholarship there, which would cover at least all of tuition. So far it's six for six people. After Case Western, I'll only be waiting on the biggies for replies. Can't say I'm totally looking forward to those probably rejection letters but oh well.

As Winter Break gets closer, I cannot wait to go to Chicago! We didn't go last year, so I am really looking forward to it. :) My dad and I made this whole list of things I really have to experience (since I was so young when I lived there). Plays, fancy restaurants, the South side and North side? I'm game. :)

In case things get hectic: MERRY XMAS TO ALL <3

And to all a great year :D

~S~