Polaroid Film Five

50 polaroids. 

I've taken fifty polaroids. 

My life is awesome.

I'm happy with this roll, a lot of good shots. 

1. Honeydukes in Harry Potter World.

I can't believe we only have three months until the Harry Potter movie era comes to a close. 

That, my friends, will be a sad day in history.

2. UF's Butterfly Garden with Alexa, Chris, and Kate. 

These two were taken during my confusion with the dial on the front of the camera, 

which I am proud to say - I've figured it out!

3. A butterfly at the Butterfly Garden. 

If you squint and look near the right center - you can see it. 

It kind of looks like a monarch - but in black and white. 

Believe me, it's there.

4. Spring Break Week. 

This is my best dog friend. 

Look how great this polaroid came out. 

5. My Nana never lets me take photos of her, 

unless it's a holiday or she's with some of the grandchildren. 

So any shots I take, I have to sneak. 

But that's fine with  me, I like candid shots better. 

I was pretending I wanted a photo of Bentley, so she was helping me; 

obviously I just wanted a photo of her. 

Got'cha. 

6. The day I realized I liked college. 

Joking, that day never came. 

This was the day I was so sick of studying and everyone was busy, 

so I walked around campus thinking of places to take a polaroid.

I chose this gator because as far as I can remember, it was 

where my first solo-shot on campus was. 

[During Aleksi's graduation]

7. My favorite building on campus. 

This building usually goes by unnoticed because it's not in direct student traffic, 

it's on the road in front of Library West.
I would pass it when I would get out of Exceptional People and go to the lib.
It's covered in vines.
It's such a Hogwarts kind of building, it's what I'd expect Herbology to look like,
minus the greenhouses. 

8. I admit, this one was a mess up.
But I was testing how close you had to be for something to be in focus.
The white object is a wind chime,
I think we've had it since we lived in Pembroke Pines.

9. My last time being home before summer.

10. Photo Adventure with Brennan.
Brennan asked me if I've ever tried to mess with the polaroids,
which I said that I hadn't because I was still trying to get the basics.
But after this roll,
I think I'm finally ready to start doing some tricks.

Get excited.

and a new header!

Wisdom Teeth.

My face hurts. 

Today, I got all four of my wisdom teeth yanked out. 

I was really relieved when my dentist told me that this was going to be a tough surgery 

because my teeth had grown in so fast, 

and that it probably would've been easier if I had taken them out three years ago. 

Such a good feeling. 

When the dentist assistant brought me to the room for the surgery, 

a large room with one 'lay-down' chair in the center,

I felt like Aslan from Narnia going to the sacrifice table to die. 

The shots of anesthesia hurt like a snitch. 

And then the drilling began. 

I just laid there - numb and lifeless - as they drilled and pulled.

I couldn't watch - all the drills and sharp tools - it was just better
without me flinching as he would get closer. 

I was Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars episode three during his transformation surgery into Darth Vader.
I could just hear the Star Wars anthem playing in the background.

Each painful sting, I would just tell myself -

"Bethany Hamilton was attacked by a shark, she didn't even scream" 

and I would picture the scene in Soul Surfer right before her attack. 

She helped me survive. 

 After, I have to say - I looked good.

It was a scene out of a horror movie.

I had a constant flow of blood and saliva dripping out of my mouth. 

I can't thank Alexa enough for being patient with me and for helping me out,

she drove me back from the dentist and dropped off my prescriptions,
not to mention had to watch as the Hoover Dam of blood came spilling out of my mouth.

From all the drilling I had a pounding headache. 

Every little sound was driving me crazy aka Bentley's panting. 

I'm good now though.
I'm like Harry Potter in Chamber of Secrets waiting in the hospital wing drinking Skele-grow.
Bentley and my padre are being very helpful,

I'm on the pain meds, watching movies, eating some ice cream.

It's hurts to smile.

Easter Sunday.

People always tell me I take tons of photos. 

I don't deny it. 

I know, I take a lot of photos.

And here is where I have them all posted. 

But this is my blog. 

and these are my memories. 

So to delete a photo - or not include it - is like deleting a memory. 

My photos are my memories.

This post is super long aka there are tons of photos. 

Happy Easter.

[Modelling on the way home from church]

Can't pass up the opportunity to have a Poirier photo shoot all dressed up. 

"Max make sure you can see my shoes" 

"This spot isn't comfortable - you try sitting here"

"The camera's crooked" 

It's always so much fun - I don't know why we don't do it more often.

It was a colorful and bright Easter Sunday.

We changed from our church clothes and headed down south to visit the fam. 

Naturally, we were an hour off schedule so my aunt called and told us they would 

have to start the egg hunt without us. 

Bummer. 

Cassie was really upset, she didn't know last year was going to be her last. 

She was still crying by the time we arrived to find out the egg hunt had just started and 

we were both still going to be able to participate. 

Okay, Cassie wasn't crying - and she won't admit it

but she was sad when she thought we were going to miss the egg hunt.

She was right in there fighting for those eggs.

"We're done - we found all the eggs" 

"Oh really - even the one with $20?" 

Cassie: "Money?! Competition against 10 year olds?! That egg is mine."

and so the day-long search for the 'golden egg' began. 

We had a great BBQ lunch/dinner. 

Chicken. 

Beef. 

Mom's salad.

Grilled peppers.

Potato Salad

[which would usually make me want to vomit, but I'm over coming my one food phobia 

and even had seconds]

and bratwursts.

Food was tasty.

My cousins are getting so big. 

It's a sad reality, growing up. 

I guess, in a way it's fun - we can joke now and talk, 

and they finally get my sarcasm - so that's good.

It was hot, but Christian was the only one to go swimming. 

Everyone else was pretty focused on finding that egg, 

especially Cassie, who kept asking for clues.

Such a kid. 

"okay, I know it's a soccer-ball egg at medium height" 

Aleksi to Cassie: "Make sure you kiss Dylans chunky cheeks for me" 

She did. 

Again. and again. All day. 

and then pretended to be a bartender for a little bit too.

[it's her "I'm a bartender" shot]

For dessert we had: 

Rice pudding. 

Fudge. 

No peanut or anything that Dylan's allergic to cake with dulce de leche frosting.

and Raspberries. 

Yum.

We all basically gave up searching for the egg, 

concluding that it was just a hoax to keep us busy while the adults chatted. 

It definitely worked. 

So we went inside, took some photos, and when Cassie fell asleep the rest of us went outside 

for a few games of dodge-ball.

Me, Alexandra, and Sebastien against Christian, Dylan, Sophia, and Angelica. 

We lost by 3 [We won 7 games, they won 10]

We could've used Cassie. 

Oh yeah, and we jumped some too. 

When Cassie woke up - it was as if the fire to find this golden egg was rekindled. 

She narrowed the location down to the front yard

and then Bill Sr. [hid the egg] started to give out hints to everyone. 

"You're all within 20 feet"

"It has the capability of moving"

Even Lilli was in on the game - everyone wanted the money.

Long story short - Otto found the egg - Sebastien took it out of his pocket, etc. etc.

Cassie was angry - that egg was supposed to be hers.

When Bill gave the "has the capability to move" clue - everyone else thought "car" 

while Cassie ran to find Jack - thinking she was outsmarting everyone. 

This mishap cost her 20 bucks. 

Poor Jack. 

And now - for the yearly photographs of the kids. 

But this year we did something a little different:

Themes. 

This is our 'smile for mom' photo.

Our 'make 'em laugh' photo. 

[Cassie won]

Gangsta shot. 

'Get closer'

Intermission. 

And we're back with the 'smile so mom will be done' photo

It's all fun and games until Dylan gets mad, 

then it's just fun.

 And to end the session - Model shot!

It's been a great Easter. 

Lots of family, laughter, conversation and love. 

I'm a grateful for this time of year to reflect upon the Savior, his infinite atonement and resurrection.

"The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances." - Robert Flatt

Because of the Savior our past does not determine our future.

  He lives.