31 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Umm, Can you not?

Peanut butter. A food paste made from dry roasted peanuts that originated by the Aztecs. The smell of peanut butter makes me think of peanut butter play dough. A homemade, moldable, and edible dough perfect for kids of all age. One day Julia and I decided to make some peanut butter play dough, also that day we did a series of challenges that have nothing to do with this story. Anyways we spent the day trying different recipes and eating more of it then humanly possible. It was an extremely fun day and also involved somebody being pantsed on video. Now to this day the smell of peanuts or peanut butter brings up all of the good and bad moments of that day. 

For the slice of life challenge Julia and I have been naming our blog three different things. Crossed toes; Yes, Ronaldo, Yes; and Umm, Can you not? These things are either something we just started saying one say and have either a really funny memory attached to it or some weird thing that people do. 

30 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Umm, Can you not?

The dirt road makes the ride difficult. Dust and dirt flies around us filling our lunges. We pass houses will children playing around it. They have smiles stretched across their faces. We drive along a fence with signs. Taking a turn we drive down a path and giraffes walk through the road. Before we even get into the place we see tons of animals.

29 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Umm, can you not?

I stare at my computer screen and that's when it comes. Compressing my brain. I try to make my thoughts blank, and not think about what is happening. The feeling of my skull caving in. The world spinning. I go down to get some water and ice but after drinking the glass twice nothing has changed. Sitting down, nothing works. Eventually just sleeping and everything goes away. 

28 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

The sun blazes on the field as we warm up. The ref comes over and tells us to get in a line so he can check everything. No jewelry, are you wearing shin guards, and other stuff. We go back to warming up until the captains are called over. When they come back we get our positions and run onto the field. The heat has increased. The ref blows the whistle and we kick off. The game goes fast paced, with possession switching back and forth all the way until the first goal is scored.

27 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

We take to boat out into the middle and that's when we first see them. Sparkling with water splashing around them. We follow the two stray until we find the large group. Grabbing our gear we jump into the violent navy blue waters to see them. Underneath the surface they are only a few feet below, and everything stops. The family connections and easily seen and the way they glide through the water is beautiful. But that is just happening underwater, above, everything is different. The waves that used to be small now tower over and crash on top of us. The group that used to be together is now spread out with people as much as 50 feet away from each other. People scream. It is difficult to breath and stay above the water, not to mention the water filling our tubes. The only way to make it stop is to put our heads back underwater and watch the dolphins dance.

26 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

The day before had been sunny and almost too hot, but the next day everybody woke up to dark grumbling skies. They had begun to swirl around each other, one was rain, and the other snow. Neither of them were going to take over each other, to the battle took place, resulting in a mixture of thick large clumps of snow rain. It pounded down and make it not able for the familiar mountains to be seen beneath the white sheet of the mixture. It was off and on all day but it eventually stopped and the sun showed its face again, melting everything the storm had done.

25 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Crossed Toes

On many fall Logan School overnights it is expected to go camping. To a lot of people the sound of camping sounds awful. Carrying everything up and down hills, trying to take off shoes before going into the tent, tracking mud into the tent, trying to find stuff when it is pitch black, and much more. But we never realize that some people will never get the chance to experience camping and everything that comes along with it. There are so many memories made from camping. For example, spending time in a tent as the rain pours down, sitting around the campfire telling stories, playing games, and more, waking up to the sound of the whistling kettle letting everybody know that it will be a hot breakfast with warm drinks, and even more. Even though not everybody loves to camp, a lot of people do not get the chance to even try it, so looking at the positive side and enjoy every moment. 

24 March, Slice of Life Challenge, book blog - Crossed Toes

This week I read Reckoning written by Jeanine Frost. This book is about a couple of serial killers who live in New Orleans and plan to wreck havoc during Mardi Gras. The task of stopping them is put to a hit man. This book was really interesting and I continually wanted to read it. Also I think that is was really well written and pretty easy to follow. Overall I really liked this book, it was not at all cheesy and I would definitely recommend it.

23 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Crossed Toes

We are sitting in the kitchen doing our culture and food project when the door bell rings. We lock eyes and walk carefully to the door. Julia pulled up the shades to look out the window. She jumps back with a blank white face. "No." She says with a panicked voice. "Open the door." "Who is it?" I ask. "Just open the door." I open it and she slips in between the open door and the wall, just as I see who it is. I try to open the door, but its locked and everything continues to go down hill. We go to look for Alex, but just end up hiding outside until they leave.

22 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Umm, Can you not

Sports. That word makes people think and feel all different things. Many people do not like them, and it is not their thing. But for the people that do play sports they know all about the fervid feeling. When I think of the word sports so many things appear in my mind. Feelings and memories are the biggest things. The memories of winning, losing, and teammates. The moments when you run off the field, dripping with sweat, and feeling the best you have ever felt. The games that you have played so hard it hurts to move the next day. Another important thing is emotions. These emotions are the things that drive you to play as hard and all out. Lastly is the fun involved. You do not have to be a professional to have fun with what ever sport.

21 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Umm, Can You Not?

The lights flicker and go black. Almost everybody looks up startled, and some people even cry out. The power has gone out and will not be back on for a couple of hours. We spends the day walking around in the dark and sunlight. In many places the sunlight lights it all and there is no need for lights. In others, especially the smaller hallways, it is almost completely dark. We stubble up the dark hallways until we can see the light.

20 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Umm, Can you not?

Everybody rushes out of the the two doors from the cafeteria. It is like a giant heard and we have to fight our way through it. We head to the playground to do something. The monkey bars seem small and short, so unlike they were four years before. We set everything up and it is time. 3.....2......1....... Blackout.

19 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

The clouds darken out my window. I try to do my homework, but outside draws my attention. The weather has said it has been going to rain for days, but it never has. The neighbors house looks the same. The multi-colored roof, brick house, green lining, and creepy dolls in the window. I look back to the mountain of homework and before I realize it the first raindrop falls. A large and thick drop splashes on our roof, like a tear from the sky. The rest of the drops come until it is a full down poor.

18 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

We jump into the car to go get stuff from Target. The car seat burns us because of the sun. The ride is not that long, and it goes by quickly. We go to make the turn into the area where Target, Payless, Sports Authority, and a few other stores. We have to wait for a large delivery truck to pull out of the Payless parking lot. It starts to turn, but not enough. Thats when it hits us. 

17 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

This week I read The Killing Woods written by Lucy Christopher. This book is about a girl named Emily Shepard. Her dad is solider suffering from PTSD. He is found carrying Ashlee Parker's dead body out of the woods. Nobody knows the real story, but Ashlee's boyfriend might have something to do with it. The perspective of this story switches between Emily and Ashlee's boyfriend, Damon. It shows what they both have to deal with and their struggles. Overall I loved this book, it was really interesting, and I did not want to put it down. It was not very confusing switching perspectives, because it picked off where the last person ended, it did not re-tell the story. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody.

To Be Read List : Outliers, The Martian, and The Kite Runner

16 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Crossed Toes

The cubs sneak out from the tall grass out of nowhere. We stop the green jeep with the logo printed on the side. We practically hang out the sides with our cameras ready. The mother slides out of the grass behind them making sure that nobody gets left behind. The sun turns the savanna into and orange and pink color. We watch as they walk away with a bounce in their step. Everything is silent, it is a perfect end to the day.

15 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Crossed Toes

The sky dims as we walk over. We reach the door and step inside. The whole bottom floor is closed because of leaks, so we cannot go swimming. We order pizza and eat it quickly. After we run outside onto the balcony. All we can see are the silhouettes of the tall evergreen trees and the lights from inside. It is cold but we have our jackets. We mess around out there and take pictures that have the memory woven in them.

14 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Umm, can you not?

The hallways fill with people of all heights. Groups of people block off entire sections. The singles try to get passed them, but there is no use, it will not work. The only chance for them is to take the closest stairway and stay away from the main one. This same routine happens everyday, many days more than once. People have tried to break the groups, but they just reform their lines stretching out, with layers.

13 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Umm, can you not?

The song ends and somebody yells JUMP! A person from our table jumps up and half runs half walks to the counter. Food slides through the window and hands starts to grab aggressively. The first thing that comes back to our counter is a giant bowl of cereal, enough to feed many. Next comes milk, coffee cake, and a ginormous platter of fruit of all kinds. We all grab our share and begin eating. Delicious tastes swirl on our tongues as we inhale the food.

12 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Umm, can you not?

The doors open for us and we run out to the gated play ground. In the area there is the normal playground equipment, but there is also an old castle painted a blue, purple, and gray color. The few of us that are brave run over to the castle and creak the door open. Cobwebs and spiders fill the corners. Every so often somebody runs out screaming. Nobody blames then, we were only in preschool. Today the castle has been torn down. Probably because the spiders infested and the walls rotted. It will always be something we remember, no matter how old we get.

11 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

The ride to get there is long and takes hours. The long ride has many turns. The scenery is covered with deep green evergreen trees. The trees fade away and the lights darken. The tunnel lights appear. After a while we reach the familiar turn leading straight down the road. Dirt avalanches around us as we drive through the archwayed gate. We have arrived.

10 March, Slice of Life Challenge Book Blog - Yes, Ronaldo,Yes

I read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn written by Betty Smith. This book is split into five different parts each set in a different year. It is based around the Tree of Heaven. This book follows a family of four. The book follows the family, mostly following the daughter, named Francie, through two decades of their lives.A lot of stuff happens and crisises. This book was really good, a lot happens, but it is really detailed and not very confusing. Overall I thought that this book was amazing and perfect for anybody.



TBR: Outliers, The Martian, and City of Bones

9 March, Slice of Life challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

The sun has started to melt the snow and it reflects off of the dark grey cement. As I place each foot I dodge the dark slushed snow. The leash gripped around my fingers jerks. We have reached the house with the neighborhood bullies. Three dogs that look cuddly, but have been treated so poorly, they are extremely violent. My dog makes the largest semi- circle possible to avoid them. We get by without having to deal without waking them up.

8 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

The waxy velvety petals swirl around each other. A deep red has taken over and green leaves hold each petal to the next. It has been six months exactly since this flower was still in its perfect state. Six months since we went to Iowa. Six months since we sat around telling our favorite stories of her. Six months.

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36330830531@N01/3638571014">40 red roses</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>

7 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

The sun beats down on the snow covered mountain. We ride thee lift to the top of the mountain. The trees are covered in beads of all different colors from people throwing them off the lift. We reach the top and get off ready to go. Turning a corner we reach the first slope. We go.

6 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

The waves crash and slide up the sand creeping closer and closer. They snake closer and slips around my ankles. A chill runs up my spine because of the icy water. The sand sticks to my feet as the water and I take a step back from each other. As I turn around to leave the water comes back drawing me in deeper and deeper. But I have to resist the urge to run back and sink beneath the waves. I turn and run.

5 March, Slice of Life Challenge - Yes, Ronaldo, Yes

The sun dips beneath the mountains as the engine turns on. We take off the runway and are in the air. Even though the sun has disappeared, the sky has erupted with colors. Reds, oranges, yellows, and purples streak the skies, just as we fly above them. Not a second later they turn to a mixture of purple, teal, and a deep navy blue. Finally the colors fade and the stars come out. Even though hours go by it seems like minutes and we are already hanging over the ocean. The almost full moon reflects off the waves that crash into each other. Almost a day later I open my eyes to the shining sun beaming down on the cement. We are here.

4 March Slice of Life Challenge - Crossed Toes

Floors pass up as we continue to go higher. Finally we reach the seventh floor and we step out of the elevator and walk to the balcony looking over the inside of the whole hotels. The railing is lined with bronze. Our hands turn white from hanging onto the railings, that drop would be a long one. We run back to the elevator just as someone has pressed every floor. We start the journey down by get stuck one floor down just as somebody gets onto the elevator. Not waiting for them to notice that they have to stop at every floor we get out and wait for the next one. It takes a while until we get back to the room just to wait until somebody opens the door. Thats when the fun really begins.

3 March Slice of Life Challenge, Book Blog - Crossed Toes

This week I read Beautiful Creatures written by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl This book is about a guy named Ethan Wate who lives in the small town of Gatlin, where people do not move to. Suddenly a girl named Lena Duchannes shows up at Ethan's high school and weird things start to happen along, like a strange event that the two can see involving their ancestors whenever they touch a certain locket. A bunch of strange events lead to Ethan finding out that Lena comes from a family of castors. This book is a romantic fiction book with magic involved. I thought that it was really good, even though it was fiction . and had things like magic and seeing into the past, it was written in a way that was really realistic. Overall this book was incredibly well written and really interesting book, that I would definitaly recomend

TBR: Outliers, The Martian, Beautiful Darkness

2 March Slice of Life Challenge - Crossed Toes

The clouds darken and swirl around each other, like preparing for a fight. A moan erupts from the skies as the first tear comes. Rolling down the air in a dance. More come and the sky is sobbing. It last for a long vacant hour until finally the last drop has fell. It takes hours more for it to disappear like it never even happened.