eighteen

why am i so sad about turning 18?

e i g h t e e n .

i can't believe it. i don't want to be 18. 

 My grandpa and I made a deal that we would never, ever grow up. I would tell my family that everyday. I was always going to stay little and play with my barbies. I was never going to grow up and be boring. I wasn't going to have real responsibilities. I was going to be 8 year old Madi. Forever.

I actually cried about turning 18 tonight. How ridiculous am I? I guess because I'm the oldest one in my grade, it makes it a little bit harder. Everyone is just now turning 17 and here I am becoming an adult. For some reason, it breaks my heart. I don't like growing up. I don't like it one bit.

My mom found my old blankie in the attic this week. She said it was in my play baby stroller, just the way I left it. She said that even though it was 10 years ago that we last had the stroller out, it seems like just yesterday. I know that's a cliche, but it's true. And I started crying. Again. I feel like a week ago I was dressing up my babies and playing with my brand new barbie car. All I worried about was what I wanted for lunch (usually it was a McDonald's happy meal). 

I love my birthday, don't get me wrong. But becoming 18 means just two more years away from being 20 & just one more year away from graduating. I'll never be a kid again. I'll have bills and a job and adult things to do. 

Life moves by too fast. Way too fast.

this week

this week should be a good one. 

this morning i woke up at 7:15 to actual sunlight. it was amazing to wake up at a reasonable time when it's not pitch black outside. it's crazy what that extra hour and a half of sleep can do for you. 

not having practice gave me an excuse to wear my glasses, too. so that made me happy. 

i got to listen to bon iver while i drove to school in the rain. there really is nothing better. 

i went to chick fil a for some chicken minis & to my surprise i was the 100th customer. so i got 4 chicken minis and a diet lemonade for free. day made. easily. 

i don't have anything going on this weekend for the first time in weeks. no competition, no solo practice, no meetings. i plan on sleeping in (alot), napping (duh), and hopefully riding my bike and welcoming the arrival march. 

February

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Goodbye Contest Season!

Contest season is officially over! It was such a busy time, but at the end of the night last night, I realized that it was all worth it. I love my team. I love my friends. And I'm really going to miss this.

Now I can relax for a little while and focus on school, which is much needed. 

Leah Witham took some really awesome photos of me performing my solo! They're so good! 

Now begins the countdown to Disney World and my 18th birthday. March 22nd, you couldn't get here fast enough. 

Crowd Pleasers 2013

We had our first competition this weekend! Woohooo! It went pretty well, but we still have more to work on! All I can think about is the fact that this competition being over is just one more step to our trip to Disney World. To say I'm excited would be an understatement. & the best part is that I'm turning eighteen while we're there! I have a lot to look forward to. 

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Music: Anna Sun - Walk the Moon

Harlem Shake: Lariette Edition

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Saturday

Yesterday, I went to a dance competition by myself to get some practice before my next few competitions and performances. It was nice to get on stage and do my routine just for fun. The floor was super slick and my stomach was in knots with nervousness, but it went well! I made solo finals, which is all I wanted.

Johnny boy came with my family & I to solo finals to watch me perform. It was kind of the cutest thing ever. It was so funny to watch him there. I tried to warn him that the drill team world is a little weird to people who aren't dancers, but he took it all in like a champ. I tried to get him to stretch and warm up with me, but he was a little too embarrassed. :) He really is the sweetest and most supportive guy ever. I have no idea how I got so lucky. 

Madeline and Caroline showed up and surprised me! It was the best surprise ever. Literally, I was about to go on stage and I looked up into the audience and there they were. They're so funny & so sweet. It felt pretty awesome to have my best friends and Johnny boy there. Oh, and my amaaaazing parents. 

Busy, Busy, Busy

Sadly, this blog is going to have to be on the backburner for a while. The next three weeks are going to be crazy.

- Competition this Saturday

- Coffee Talk this Sunday

- Imagine Dragons concert on Monday (hopefully)

- Lariette Show Offs on Wednesday

-Competition next weekend, and then the weekend after that

& I'm not even including the random practices here and there. And I somehow have to keep up with all my homework and studying. Booo, life is so crazy sometimes. I really just need to take time to read and write and take pictures and make videos and paint and color and go bike riding. But that's what summer is for, right?

To take my mind off my hectic life and all the pressure I feel, I found a few little things that make me happy. 

1. A fresh stack of magazines
2. Handmade bracelets that my grandma brought me back from Mexico
3. My mom's vintage coach purse
4. The mason jar lamp my dad got me for Christmas
5. The Eiffel Tower necklace Johnny boy gave me!
6. This weather lately. :)
7. My adorable puppies. 

Hi Friends