Haikus

Green fades away now

Orange, red, and yellow come

Sounds like fall is here

So much work to do

But I’m great under pressure

Time to get focused

Sun shines so brightly

Waves surround all my body

Worries float away

Buzzer sounds Game ends

Lakers have done it again

Go purple and gold

Rain drops are falling

Surrounded in sea of tears

Still so beautiful

Wind whispers to me

Can not understand message

Someone please translate

Chirping everywhere

Roars and squeals and squeaks and grunts

Call of the wild

The sun is setting

Sand so squishy in my toes

Love days at the beach

Sky brilliantly blue

Grass under my feet so cold

Clouds are so fluffy

Flames rise from forest

A beautiful disaster

Medley of colors 

Visit to the Moon

If I was given the opportunity to go to the moon I would definitely say yes. I would without a doubt be terrified, but it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity I just couldn't pass. Going to the moon would be a great adventure I'd be able to tell to my children and even grandchildren. I think it would be cool to get to wear the whole astronaut suit and get to move and fly around in zero gravity.  I am also curious to get to try space food. Last but not least getting to look at Earth while flying over it would be positively awesome. I know it would be a lot of work to get ready to go to the moon but I believe it would be worth it once up there.

Ways to Earn Money

There is always a way to earn money. Being seventeen doesn't matter because if you really want to earn money, you can make it happen. One way to earn money is by getting a job working for some sort of business.  You could work for a clothing store at a mall or at food places such as Subway or Coldstones. You can work at a restaurant as a waitress or file papers for some company. Other than working for  business you could also work for yourself. If you are really good with children than you could try babysitting. Maybe you might be great in science  or some other subject, making you a perfect candidate for working as a tutor. You could also earn money be mowing people's lawns. One of the areas teenagers tend to be great in is technology. Thus, you could charge people to fix their computers or other appliances. If you are a teenager and you want to earn money the main thing you need is to be resourceful.

"The Baby Dragon"

Once upon a time there was a scared little village who sent a brave knight to kill two very fierce dragons who lived in a cave right next to the village. The dragons would often destroy their city and eat their animals. The brave knight took two swords and his shield. The brave knight waited for both dragons to fall asleep before he sneaked in and killed them. Just as he was about to leave he saw an egg. He carried the egg into the village where he was welcomed as a hero. One week later the egg hatched and a baby dragon was born. At first the villagers were scared because they didn't know how a baby dragon would react. The baby dragon stared at all the villagers and after a couple of minutes seemed to accept them as his family. The baby dragon would play with the village kids and he never harmed them. The villagers trained the baby dragon and fed him. The baby dragon in turn would protect the village from all its enemies. Together the baby dragon and the villagers lived happily ever after.
                                                                     -THE END

Favorite Season

My favorite season would definitely have to be fall. I like fall because for some reason at some point during Fall there is a combination of the other seasons. During the beginning of fall there as still sunny, warm days; days warm enough to go swimming. Then in the middle the leaves start turning colors and the trees look beautiful. I rake the leaves in the back yard and then my brother and I run or jump through them.Fall is also the time I start getting back into soccer or in other words start getting back into shape. Then around the end of fall it starts getting cold. Some days are dark and gloomy. On theses days I love watching movies with my family. I cover myself with blankets to keep warm and then ironically eat ice cream. Fall is just a beautiful season that I look forward to every year. I love all  the other season as well but Fall is definitely my favorite.

Game Show

If I could be on any game show I would be on Deal or No Deal. At the beginning of the game the contents of the 26 briefcases are revealed but their locations remain unknown.  I would have to choose a case from the 26 cases to begin with. I do not get to see what is in the case I chose. From then on I choose cases. Each time I open them I eliminate an amount. The more cases I eliminate the greater the possibility that the case I have chosen has the biggest sum of money. My hope should be that with each case eliminated the biggest amount of money remains safe. A banker makes an offer for my case with each other case eliminated. Then it is up to me to make to deal on a no deal with the banker. With each case eliminated not containing the largest amount of money the banker's bid gets higher. A contestant must resist the temptation to make deal because they might have more money in their case than the banker is offering. If I were on this game show I would hope my case has the biggest amount of money and that I don't make a deal with the banker and decide to keep my case. That would be awesome!

The Best Thing About My Home

I honestly love everything about my home but if I had to choose the best place in my home I would choose the little secluded area we have in the back yard. Next to the backyard there is my dad's studio. Behind my dad's studio is the small area I am talking about. Right in the middle of this area hangs a beige colored hammock. There is a desk area on the right where my brother and dad like to draw and do other art. The left side is covered completely in vines with pink and red flowers. The suns rays shines through the vines and other small openings. I love this area because it is the perfect place to relax and just get away. I like to go read books in the hammock. Sometimes I just go there to think. This is something unique about my house that I'm glad I have.

Job At a Football Stadium

If I worked at a football stadium I would be the quarterback. I am an athletic person, I like to play sports and physically challenge myself. That's why I would be playing on the field instead of watching from the side, cheer leading, selling tickets etc. I would want to be participating in the game. As a quarterback I understand that it is my responsibility to show up to practice and work out with the team. I also understand that it is also my responsibility to stay in shape. While on the job it would be up to me to make the best decisions for the team to win and to carry out the decisions of the coaching staff to the best of my ability. As a quarterback I would have to come up with solutions to any problems the team might face and create plays out of hopeless situations.

Four Years Ago

Four years ago I was thirteen in middle school. My parents would not let me learn how to drive because I was not the appropriate age. I remember getting jealous of my brother sometimes because he was allowed to drive. He could take the car and go anywhere he wanted to when he needed to. I, on the other hand, had to tag along with my parents everywhere. If I wanted to go somewhere I had to find a ride and give my parents all the details. At thirteen I really wanted my driver's license. I wanted the freedom and the responsibility that came with it. Four years ago I also had no idea how to play soccer. I knew very little about it but I worked hard to learn. I practiced and improved. Now I enjoy playing for two teams. Last but certainly not least, four years ago I wasn't allowed to stay up as late as I wanted to. Now the decision to go to sleep at the time I choose is up to me as long as I am prepared to deal with whatever happens because of it.

Monkey For A Pet?

The only pets I've ever had are a bird and some goldfish but I don't even remember the bird because I was a baby. Now, if I could choose a pet I wouldn't even consider a monkey. In my opinion a monkey would not make a good pet. Sure a monkey is smart and might behave for sometime but we must not forget that they are wild. Having a monkey as a pet would be too much of a risk.You would never know when a monkey might strike. They could destroy your house and your belongings. Monkeys might even wrongly interpret one of your actions for a threat and instinctively attack you. Don't be fooled by a monkey's size. they are very strong, thus dangerous when mad. I don't think a monkey would make a good pet because the risk is not worth it.

The Youngest Person I Know

The youngest person I know also happens to be the cutest person I know. I am talking about my four month old niece, Grace. She has a light skin tone, big brown beautiful eyes, and brown hair. Grace has super chubby cheeks that are "oh so squeezable." Grace is also a very observant baby. I can tell because she follows people's movements with her eyes and she follows sounds. She will stare at something for some time before moving on. She  has recently become very curious. She constantly tries to touch anything that is around her. Once when I was trying to make her fall asleep she kept touching my face. She felt my nose and mouth and actually fell asleep with her hand on my face. One of the things I love about Grace is her smell. She has a a special smell to her that for some reason I find so comforting. It makes me want to hold her all the time and sometimes when I think of her special baby smell I can smell it even if she is not around. Her smile is captivating. It's there one second and gone the next but all you know is that you want to do whatever it takes to bring it back. Her laughter is adorable. Once she starts you don't want her to stop. It is a very contagious laughter. Grace is a beautiful baby inside and out and I am proud to be her aunt.

The Oldest Person I Know

The oldest person I know is my grandma, Christina Flores. She is 73 years old.She is short, has black hair, and has small soft brown eyes. She is loud when she talks, funny, and loves to hug her grandchildren. My grandma also loves to watch novellas in Spanish. She could talk for days about all the novellas she watches. Best of all she is a wonderful cook and its even better that my grandma enjoys cooking for her family. My favorite meal my grandma makes is pupusas. Every time she knows I'm coming to visit she tries to make some for me. Sometimes she makes way to many but I don't mind. I save them for later. My grandma also makes delicious posole which is a soup with "maiz" and she makes amazing chicken tamales. Sometimes my grandma is crazy and slightly annoying but she always makes me smile and I love her.

If I could Paint my Bedroom...

If I could paint my room anyway I wanted too I would definitely paint it like a tropical beach. Personally I prefer to swim in pools rather than in the ocean but I love the way the beach looks. I love the calm, relaxing vibe it gives off and I love the sound of the waves. I love how the sand tickles in between my toes and the breeze feels  great. I would paint my room with a beautiful bright blue color. I'd paint some dolphins leaping over the waters and some brightly colored tropical fish swimming under the water. Then I would paint white, brown sand around and create some sort of rippled waves where the water meets the sand. Off to the side I would add palm trees and other shrubs. Then to make everything look even better I would add some clouds. Last but not least I'd add a beach chair and an umbrella to give my room a playful look. If this were possible I bet I'd always smile the moment I set foot in my room.

"The Bat Who Couldn't Fly"

Ricky was the only bat in his family who couldn't fly.When Ricky was a baby he had been flying around at night when out of nowhere he hit something hard. He fainted but when he woke up he was no longer in the forest he was in some sort of man made place. There were lights all over him and people with masks covering their mouths. They wore hair caps on their heads, had gloves, and wore baby blue uniforms. One of them put a clear mask on Ricky and he went back to sleep. When he woke up he felt very weak. He heard two people talking nearby. "Poor little guy, we tried everything but we couldn't save his wings," they said. Who were they talking about thought Ricky. Suddenly something clicked in his head. This was a hospital and those people were doctors. He looked down and let out a loud scream. Where were his wings! Everything immediately came flowing back into his head. The night before he had been flying when he ran into a car. He had been so distracted by the lights he forgot to use his echolocation. The doctors were nice and made him strong enough to go back into the wild. It took him a while but he finally made it back home. His parents were so excited to see him and comforted him when he told them what happened and that he would never be able to fly again. His siblings weren't so kind but he knew that with time they would soon stop their teasing. Ricky understood he was lucky to be alive and promised himself that he would overcome his situation and make the best of it.   -The End

Lunch with a Famous Person

If I could have lunch with any famous person I would have a tough time choosing between Angelina Jolie or Sandra Bullock. They are both my favorite actresses. However, if I had to choose right now I guess I would choose Angelina Jolie. She is my favorite ACTION movie actress.  She is AMAZING when it comes to acting in action movies. She knows how to come off as passionate, strong, unstoppable, and even beautiful. I love her in Salt, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Changeling, and Life or Something Like it. I also like that she is very involved in Humanitarian efforts. If I could have lunch with her I would ask her what it is like to act in action movies. I would ask her how she prepares herself for such challenging moments and if she has to do some sort of training for the fighting scenes. I would also ask her why she is so involved in humanitarian efforts and what about it makes her love helping out. We would spend some time talking about her movies and we would also talk about her children. We would  talk about the pros and cons of being a celebrity and maybe if everything goes great she'd even let me meet Brad Pitt :) 

My Brothers

(My brother and his Wife Jessica)

I have two brothers, one older one younger. My older brother's name is Adrian. If I had to choose three words to describe him I would choose intelligent, passionate, and a prankster. He is a great role model  and I am blessed to have a brother who loves me and is always there for me. I know I can come to him for advice as well as a good laugh. My brother is passionate about God. He is a man of faith and a great inspiration. However, as great as he is he does not fail his brotherly duties: he loves to pull pranks on me but I must admit I love planning my retaliations. I remember one time he surprised me by squirting me with a small hand size water gun in the face. He laughed so hard that he didn't pay attention to my disappearance. About two minutes later I blasted him with a water gun as big as I was. He never saw it coming and after realizing what I had done he couldn't help but laugh. It is one of the few memories I love and owe to my big brother.

My little brother's name is Raymond. He is six years old. As one would expect from a six year old boy he is always full of energy. He enjoys playing outside and riding his scooter. Raymond LOVES animals. I am always surprised by how much information about animals he knows. He could talk about animals all day. He even has about 100 animal toys. I can't help but smile every time he excitedly tells me a new animal fact he learned. If asked what he wants to be when he grows up Raymond says a zookeeper, an animal cop, or a veterinarian. He may be animal crazy but I love him.

My Pet

If I could have any animal as a pet I would have a golden brown horse, with light brown eyes, and white hooves. I remember that as a child almost every other Saturday my dad would take me to Griffith park. At Griffith park there was a section for riding horses. You had to start of slow depending on your age. If you were little then you would have to ride the horses that only went around in a circle. If you were big you got to ride the horses that you would have to control. I use to dream of being able to ride the horses that were more free and when I finally got to do it I loved it. I have a lot of good memories about riding horses and if I could have any pet I would love a horse. I like the bounce to their step and the wind hitting my body so gently. I would have to buy a barn for my horse or leave it in one of those rental farms that let you leave your horse there but it is your job to clean them, exercise them, and feed them. I  know there will be times when I would have to brush my horse and I think I would find that relaxing. I also feel like I could develop a special connection with my horse. I would find riding my horse to be fun and a nice to way to relax or think about things. Horses are awesome pets.

My Journey On a Pirate Ship

One second I was staring at the ceiling in my room and the next I was on a pirate ship. There was a cool breeze and fog slightly blocked the sun. I looked down and saw I was wearing a complete pirate's uniform from the stripped shirt to the black boots. I looked up and was surprised to see my friend Marlene wearing the exact same outfit. "What are your orders Captain?" she said. I looked around but there was no one else, she was talking to me. "Captain?" I said. "Yes, where do we go next?"asked Marlene. I decided to go along with it and told her to go East until we hit land. As I walked around the pirate ship I stumbled across giant cannons, barrels of gunpowder, and a room full of gold objects. "Marlene, what is this?" I asked. "Stop playing around, it all the "loot" you stole," she responded. Stole! I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I would never steal anything. Suddenly a giant wave came up over the boat and crashed on top of me. I gasped for air and looked over at Marlene. She squeezed her hair out and continued as normal. As we continued sailing I came across dolphins, whales, and even a giant squid. Finally after hours of seeing nothing but water we spotted an island. We only needed a couple more miles. Out of nowhere another giant waved came crashing down on top of me. I opened my eyes and there was the ceiling again. What a dream! What a journey!

My Deepest Fear

My deepest fear can be summed up in one word: FAILURE. It covers everything. I want to be proud of the way my life turned out. I want to be proud of the choices I made or how I dealt with consequences. If I am not happy with my life then that means I failed myself and that would be devastating. I really don't care what other people think about how I live my life because if I'm truly happy that is all that matters. I also don't want to fail God. My family is very church bound and God is very important to us. I understand that I will make mistakes and I will fail sometimes but as long as I learn from them then I am not a failure. Failing at some things doesn't make me a failure it just makes me human. Not learning from my falls is what would make me a failure. I'm not sure I'm making myself clear but I'm basically trying to say that in general my deepest fear is BEING a failure not necessarily failing. I just mean that I want to be happy with my life and turn my mistakes into lessons. If I am able to do this then in my eyes I wouldn't be a failure.

My Own Restaurant

If I could open my own restaurant I'd want it to be something out of the ordinary. I would open up a restaurant that only serves desserts. The name of my restaurant would be Erika's Sweets. It would be the kind of restaurant that you could come eat delicious desserts whenever your sweet tooth is begging you for some. Since our focus would be only on the desserts they would be the best ever. There would also be a little section for people who want to pick up some desserts and take them home.

I would like my restaurant to have an awesome atmosphere so I would paint it with bright colors. My walls would be turquoise with black borders. I would have white square tables and frames on the walls. I would need to hire some people because most of my family members already have jobs they love, but I know my mom would enjoy working with me in a restaurant. I would serve chocolate cake, warm cherry and apple pies with ice cream on the side, arroz con leche, fruit salads, gourmet raspados, and much more. My mouth is getting watery just thinking about all the possibilities.

Dinosaur in my Backyard

BEEP, BEEP,BEEP,BEEEEEEEP!!!
I groaned as I realized my alarmed had gone off. That meant that it was time to get up from my warm bed and start another day. I turn off the alarm and for just a few more seconds I crawl back into my bed. Then I fling off the blankets and stretch. I rub my eyes and put on my glasses. I make my way to the bathroom and glance at the backyard through the window. WHAT!!!!!! There's a dinosaur in my backyard. At that moment I realized I must be dreaming. There was just no way there could be an actual dinosaur in my backyard. Weren't they extinct? I tap my face and pinch my arm but nothing happens. The dinosaur is still in my backyard and is happily eating the leaves from our tree. "Mom there is a DINOSAUR in  the backyard" I yell. "MOM!" My mom hobbles out of her room with eyes still half closed.
 "What are you screaming about?" she asks.
"Look, there is a dinosaur in the backyard" I respond. By this time my brother and dad had woken up. I grab the phone and call the police. Then hoping that maybe they might be able to do something I call the animal patrol. Both the police and animal patrol laughed at me but I convince them to come. Within 20 minutes there are dozens of camera crews reporting the amazing news. Even with all this commotion the dinosaur makes no sudden movements and keeps right on eating leaves. Thank God it wasn't a tyrannosaurus rex in my back yard. That would have been a whole different story.

Cooking For My Family

If I could cook one meal for my family I would love to make it a simple yet delicious meal. I would want to create a big, "stacked" sandwich with cesar salad, some chips and salsa on the side, and a strawberry lemonade made with real fruit. I'd start off by grilling the chicken breasts for my sandwich. Once the perfect sear marks are on the chicken and the aroma only a grill can give is in the air, I'd add the cheese so that it could melt. Then I'd put the bread on the grill. Once the bread is nice and toasty I'd add the chipotle sauce, some avocados, a slice of red tomato, some cucumber, and some spinach leaves. Once the sandwich is built I'd take a knife and cut it diagonally down the middle into triangles. For the cesar salad I would take the lettuce, add the cesar salad dressing, some parmesan cheese, and top it off with some homemade croutons. The homemade croutons would add that special toasty flavor. For the croutons I'd simply cut up some bread into squares, add some oil, sprinkle a hint of garlic, and toast them in a pan. For the strawberry lemonade I would need a box of fresh strawberries and a bag of limes. I'd squeeze out all the juice from the limes and blend in that juice with the strawberries. Then I would add water, ice, and sugar. I would want to make my meal special so instead of eating inside, my family and I would eat outside on the patio table set for that day.

The Time I Was Brave

When I was about seven or eight years old I was put into a situation where I had to be brave. The fear I felt on that day is still such a clear memory to me. I remember the sun's warmth on my body as it crept in our house through the small openings in our window's blinds. As I look back on that day I realize that it had to be sometime in the afternoon around 5:00 PM because both my parents had been home. However, they had decided to go shopping at the local market and since I didn't want to go I stayed at our house.
I was watching cartoons on the television when I heard my mother's voice call out. "Helllloooo!" I responded and opened the door for them. My mom walked in carrying grocery bags and then walked right back out. I asked if she need some help but she waved me off and said that it was okay. About a minute after I saw her walking back up the stairs as my dad walked behind her with a heavy box full of more groceries on his head. My mom was carrying a bag of chips in her hands. She put some in her mouth and then turned around and put one in my father's mouth. Suddenly my dad started coughing. I didn't pay much attention to it because everybody coughs every once in a while just to clear their throats. However the coughing didn't stop. It got louder and louder. I looked over and saw my dad's face turning red. Sweat beads had formed on his forehead and he was clutching his throat. I immediately realized he was choking and was scared. I started to panic and felt my eyes getting watery. Within a couple of seconds I realized that I didn't have time to be scared. I had to be brave because every second I spent scared was a second my dad spent without air. By this time my mom had realized what was going on. I gave her a glass of water to give to my dad. He put the water in his mouth but it all poured back out. Things were starting to get serious. My dad was turning purple. I started hitting my dad on the back as hard as I could. I didn't care about the pain in my hands I just wanted him to breathe. My mom moved me out of the way and put her hands around my dad's stomach. Meanwhile I grabbed the phone. I started dialing 911. Just as I was about to hit "Talk" my mom squeezed with all her strength. Out flew the chip and my day took one giant breath followed by quick little ones. His face slowly went back to normal color. If I had let fear take a hold of me instead of being brave and thinking clearly things might have been a lot worse.

One Hundred Dollars You Couln't Keep

If I had one hundred dollars that I couldn't keep, I would give it to my mom. Sure we argue every now and then but that is all overshadowed by all the times we laugh. I feel lucky to be able to see a different side of my mom some people never get to see and if I had one hundred dollars to give she would be my first choice. She has done so much for me that I would be more than happy to return the favor at any chance I get. I would definitely want her to spend it on herself. My mom has bought me many things from clothes to jewelery and yet I'm only able to give her things on special occasions such as her birthday or mother's day. I know these gifts still mean a lot because I save up money and give her presents from my heart but I would definitely love to buy and give her things "just because" every once in a while.

Specifically, I would want my mom to buy herself a purse. My mom loves to purchase new purses that match with all her clothing. I know how happy she would be to get any purse, but I believe she would be even happier to know that I gave it to her. I guess it would have more sentimental value. One hundred dollars may not go as far now as it use to but I know that for my mom one hundred dollars that I gave her with love means just as much. In the future I know that treating my mom is something I will enjoy doing.

Do You Remeber...?

Do you remember when you were five?
When we were so excited to start kindergarten because that meant we were "big kids" now.
When ten page research papers and the theory of relativity didn't exist.
Remember looking forward to two recesses per day.
When swinging on money bars and playing kickball meant you were awesome.
When class lessons were all about shapes, colors, numbers, and the ABC's.
When class work was painting and homework was writing your name three times in big letters.
When you came home ready to keep on playing and having fun.
When it was a major accomplishment to be able to ride your bicycle without your training wheels.
When you weren't afraid of anything because you were an unbeatable, undercover superhero
When college ruled paper meant the paper the "grown-ups" used in the "big" school.
When you could spend a whole day looking for "rollie pollies".
When the world was your playground.
Do you remember when you were five?

Free Write (He got out of the car...)

He got out of the car for the first time as I watched from my house's window. I had seen him before at the hospital when I went to visit him and my mom, but now he was actually here. My new born baby brother was home. Raymond Enrique Alvarado. I'm sure he had no idea what was going on but I remember clearly. I even remember the instructions my mother gave me. 1- Be careful he is not a toy,
 2-Always hold and support his head because his neck is not strong enough, 3- try to be quiet, and
 4-babies are fragile so always be gentle. I remember that everything turned out to be way more different than I imagined. I quickly learned that newborn babies don't really do much except for three things; Eat, sleep, and "use" their diapers.
I was constantly helping take care of my brother and my mom. See my mom didn't have a normal delivery. She had a C-section or in other words her stomach was cut open and the baby was delivered through there. For that reason my mom was very weak. Recovering from a C-section is a lot harder than recovering from normal childbirth. For one you have to be really careful because you have an open wound inside and any little damage to the wound can cause internal bleeding. You have to think of infection and do your best not to touch it no matter how much it itches. With a C-section even the little things become hard work. I remember seeing my mom struggle so much with the pain that came with just getting out of bed. Walking around was even harder but she knew she had to do it to speed up the healing process and get in little moments of exercise; doctors orders. I did my best to be there when she needed water or help with the baby. I even woke up various times in the early hours of the morning to help so she could get as much sleep as possible. Needless to say I was a very busy little girl on that month of April 2004 but I didn't mind. Thank God my mom eventually healed completely. Meanwhile I continued enjoying every moment I spent with my new little brother.

Free Write (when I wake up...)

When I wake up in the morning the first thing I hear is my beeping alarm. I fling my blanket off and turn the alarm off. The faster I turn it off the better. I routinely begin to stretch and rub my eyes. After a minute or so I reach for my glasses and my day truly begins. I make sure my mom is awake so she isn't late for work. I turn on some music to cheer me up and keep me awake. Then I put on my contacts, get dressed, and eat breakfast. Once that is done I go and wake up my little brother. I help him prepare for his school day and make him some breakfast. Although I would like to take my time with all of this preparation, I need to keep a close eye on the clock because come 7:20 AM I need to make sure I'm walking out the door and heading to the school bus stop. Missing the bus isn't an option!!!

Free Write(The house we lived in...)

The house we lived in when I was a child was small. So far in my life, I have lived in a total of three different houses in three differnt cities. Each house was bigger than the previous one. I lived in the first house from the time I was born to the time I finished second grade. I had to share a room with my parents but I didn't mind since I was still little. I lived in the second house from the beginning of third grade until half of fifth grade. It was in this house that I got my own room. I remember I asked for the walls to be painted pink. From then on I lived in the third house. Let's just say I no longer have pink walls.
Although every time I moved was an adventure, there were some things I disliked. Perhaps the worst part was getting use to my friends and then having to pick up and move. I ended up going to three different elementary schools and each time I had to deal with being the new girl. However, I haven't had that problem anymore. I'm pretty sure I won't live in my current house forever but for now I am glad I do. I guess all the moving was worth it because now I have a great house and even greater friends.