Reunited and it feels so good(:

As you may know, I got foot surgery over the summer- a much needed surgery. This lovely beauty knocked me out of running for a few months.. which is kinda a big deal. I went from being able to run about seven miles in the beginning of June, to struggling to even jog a mile by the beginning of August. I don't know why, but it really irked me... a lot. Andd, instead of being all strong willed about it and pushing through the pain until it got easier, I gave up. I didn't run for about another month and a half...way to be an example of personal motivation, right?? So I was pretty much a slacker.. I hated the way I felt not exercising. I felt lazy and like I couldn't eat so much junk because I knew I wasn't running any of it off... dramatic, eh? Then one night, my sister was going running, and instead of continuing my self pity, I decided to join her. We went for a fifteen minute jog that night, then gradually built up. Today, I can FINALLY say that I, Natalie Mortensen, can run up to 4 miles(: without stopping(:

Time flies by when you're having.... Ap U.S. History??

Two months?? What a wonderful bloggerett I am(: Bloggerett? Sure(: Well it's just about a term into the new school year and things are going stupendous. I think that means great.. I hope it does. School is keeping me anxious, friends are keeping me laughing, and homework is keeping me sleepy(: But I wouldn't have it any other way. I would rather be busy and accomplishing hard classes than sitting in a good-for-nothing Easy-A course. (Ya.. I just said course. It's a fancy word for Class) Anyway, this opinion of mine led me to a now seemingly sinful decision of taking AP U.S. History, my sophomore year. The class is killing me. I am not joking. This is no "oh ya... I've got lots of homework" kind of class. This is a "I had a nightmare that I failed my AP History Exam, and got shunned from the world" kind of class. That's the kind(:

And now that I have gone on for a lengthy paragraph about my fear of Ap U.S. History, I will end my nerdy post by saying that I love my APUSH buddies(: I love study parties at Haley's house and I love getting random bursts of intelligence(:

ANDD, I love life(:

I Can Do Hard Things (:

This last week I had the AMAZING opportunity to go on Trek with the other youth and adult leaders in my ward for youth conference. The days leading up to our Trek departure , I was really excited, and I didn't really know why... I found out who was in my "family" one week before we left, and that made me even more excited! But I felt like there was something waiting for me on that Utah-Wyoming border, hidden in the beautiful, mountainous 235,000 acres owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Something that I would only receive and experience at that place, with the people I was privileged to go with. I had three great brothers, two wonderful sisters, a baby sister Sophia Emmie Rose, and my awesome Ma and Pa(:

I loved loved loved Trek(: I would do it again in a heartbeat(: I learned so much about the early pioneers, and my respect and love for them grew bigger than I ever thought possible(: I'm so grateful for my ancestor, Rachel Ford, who crossed the plains so that I can be sharing my testimony and love for this gospel right here, right now(: While on trek, I had a mighty change of heart(: I don't know how it happened, but I know that it did. I felt lighter and happier and stronger than I ever have! (: And I know that that kind of happiness- that true happiness, can only come from a higher, more glorious and perfect being's love; and I know that more glorious and perfect being is my Father in Heaven. From him, I can gain my fondest dream(: I know this because of a book. A wonderful, perfect, inspiring book called The Book of Mormon. A book that I know if we read with a sincere heart, we can feel our Creator's love. The joy that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can bring into your life can be stronger than anything you will ever feel. (: I know that a positive attitude can make all the difference in the world. It's not the trials that we are given that affects us as much as the attitude we have toward those trials. The way we react to things shapes us, and gives us experience. I know that through the Lord, Jesus Christ, we can do anything. He can give us the strength to do the "impossible" if we ask for his help and his strength, through prayer. I know that with his help, I can do hard things(: I know this gospel is true, and it's the most true and important thing in my life, and it can be in yours too. The gospel gives me motivation and hope to become better, because I am far from perfect. I know that the power of prayer is amazing(:

I know these things(:

Mother knows best(:

Today I had the realization that my wonderful mother has permanently rubbed off on me. I woke up, got ready, then looked in the mirror. My shirt had wrinkles. Lots of them. I tried to ignore it, thinking that they would flatten themselves out. After about twenty minutes, I gave in.

I ironed my shirt. Without my mother telling me to.

Mama, you should be so proud(:

Anxiety

I was writing in my journal two nights ago, when I reverted to my phone to see what the date was (because that always seems much easier than flipping back a page in my journal to see what the date was the previous day, and adding one to it.), when I saw the burning date- JULY 1ST. Really?! I've already wasted away one whole month of the fragile two and half given to me for Summer Vacation?! The sudden anxiety set in. It's not like I've just sat at home on my batooshk all month or anything, I mean, I've been pretty productive! But at that moment, it felt like anything and everything I've done since June 2 just wasn't enough- it wasn't good enough to call my first half of Summer! So, at approximately 11:29:03PM on Friday, July 1st, I pleaded- no, I vowed to myself that I will make July of 2011 A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. (:
This month I will:
-FINISH two out of the three of my online classes.
-Learn how to make at least five new recipes(:
-Talk to my friends everyday(:
-Spend lots of family time,, cause ya know...my family is awesome(:
-Learn a legit, funny joke... one that people other than just me will understand and find funny(:
-Read at least one legit novel(:
-Prepare to make August just at amazing as July(:
And Lastly,,, LOVE LIFE(:

But i'm already doing that one(:

My Return(:

Life has been so crazy! My month gap of blogging has been full of adventure!
-Escaping Jr. High...foreverrrr(:
-My first backpacking trip,,, ever!
-Girls camp(:
-African (A Frickin) Ice(:
-Family(:
Anddd,,
SURGERY!
Nowww, let's get to the details(:
1. No more Jr. High! Three years has been plenty, and now it's time to move on to bigger and better things(:
2.Backpacking- who came up with the idea: 'let's carry everything essential for life, shove it in a bag, and carry it on our backs! oooh but just wait(: we will hike up a mountain while carrying it all! Thus doubling our chances of death(:'
Looking back, it was worth it(: The ten mile trip took us behind a few beautiful temples, through a few scary snow banks, over 26 rivers, and eventually, back to the car(: It was beautiful though(: But once was enough for me(:
3.Girls Camp!(: I think I love it more each year(: I have awesome girls in my ward and stake, and the best leaders ever(:
4. African Ice(: need I say more???
5.My family, as you all know, is my favorite(: my two amazingly cute nieces make my day(: And as for the rest of 'em,, they're awesome(: (:
6. Surgery! Besides wisdom teeth, this surgery has been my first legit surgery! I had "Accessory Navicular Syndrome" orrrrrr, I had bones in my feet that had to be taken out(: I've had them all my life, but once it got to the point that I couldn't go one day without them cramping up, we decided they needed to be fixed(: soo, here I am, sitting at home, with my Helga post-up shoes and wrapped up feet(: Let's just say on a scale from one to babe, I am so a babe and a half(:

NOT(:


And now, you know my life(:

Normal?

Is it normal that ice cream makes me extremely thirsty?...

Christmas in May(:

Thursday, May 19, 2011: I gave the old beauty back to it's beloved owner (:

Merry Christmas Hal Scott (:

Sometimes...

Sometimes my family sits and watches "Confessions of a Shopaholic" at nine pm on a Sunday(:

I love them (:

Courage vs Cowardice

After three hours, help from the best big sister ever, and only a couple of meltdowns over my pitiful technology skills,I can proudly say that I have finished my English Essential Question video. (: This does sound like quite the pathetic accomplishment, but it's equivalent to about 30 million lbs, now off of my shoulders. (:

Take a Breather

Alright. There are two more legit weeks of school. The last week is full of Lagoon, Year book day and that pathetic last day that shouldn't be considered a day of school. But none of that matters. There is nothing to really look forward to, because the fourteen days separating me from that last week of school are killing me! I just finished writing out my homework for the next two weeks. I filled up one whole COLLEGE RULED notebook paper. That is not okay. Especially since those are only assignments that I know of right now. I'm sure the list will get longer as the week goes on. Between English, Biology, and yes-Choir, I am going crazy. This constant ball of anxiety in my gut needs to leave. As long as I can make it to next Saturday, then half of it will be done. THEN, I will look at the glass half full.

This post most likely made no sense, but I had to let it out. (:

Hotel California(:

Spring Break(: it came. And now,, it's over. But that's okay because my spring break kicked booty. (:

Car Sick.
I'm not sure why, and I'd like to find out, why I get car sick so easily. I've tried different things to distract me from getting sick to my stomach in the car on long car rides: listening to music, looking out the window, ...breathing deeply like I'm in a yoga session, drinking pounds of water at a time, reading,,
Then I found it:
Sleeping. I curl up with my little girl monkey pillow and homemade quilt, and lay there till I fall asleep. So don't laugh at me when I say I've had an enjoyable drive when I've been asleep the whole time... (cough cough...mom(:)

Sea World.

I LOVED Sea World. It wasn't crowded or crazy or loud. Tuesday, the day we went to Sea World, I decided to get out of my Lehi pride scrounge sweats, and actually look descent for the day. So, after a day full of seeing obese whales and such, my dad, Ethan, Brandon, and I set out to ride "Journey to Atlantis". This ride is much like Splash Mountain at Disneyland, but with more roller coaster-ness. Not in the mood to get drenched, I protested to sit in the middle seats when I heard my brothers saying that's where you would get the most wet. After Brandon, my oldest and most wise brother, said to me- and I quote: "I promise you won't get wet if we sit in the front row I'll give you five bucks if you get drenched." That's saying a lot, seeing as my brother has never sworn money to me over anything. Having been told that from a mere 30 year old man, I trusted him.


Let's just say that Brandon owed me five dollars by the end of the ride, and some ointment for the leg chaffing that was happening by the time we returned to the hotel.(:


Lessons learned on my trip to California, Spring Break 2011:
-Adolf Hitler's birthday is April 20 (Thanks Gramps)
-Fake tanning was invented by Friedrich Wolff in the 1970's.
-Yellow shirts and turtles are the best.(:
-My family is the best.(:
-58 degree pools are NOT warm.

Families

A family is, "a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not."

(Thank you Dictionary.com)

There are different styles of families:

Mixed family,

Single parent family,

"Fun" family,

Traditional family,

Step family,

Then there's...

The Mortensen Family.

Yes folks, we are our own group. I've never met, and doubt I ever will meet, a family quite like mine.

And, i'm 100% fine with that(:

I don't think there's room in the world for two families such as ours.

I mean really. What family can have fun in a hospital waiting room- multiple times, for hours on end. What family can sit and play catch phrase for hours.What family can tease each other and put ice down their younger siblings pants, and still find some love for each other?!!

My family. (:

This Isn't Funny Anymore...

I would consider myself a pretty outgoing person, yes? I mean I love to talk to new people, old people, everything in between. I don't mind getting up in front of groups of people. But something about having the pressure of explaining to my whole 9th grade Biology class the process of frog reproduction???

It's just not doin' it for me.

Tomorrow it will all be over, and to this we give thanks.

Flying Plastic.

There are many sport teams out there.....

• football
• soccer
• lacrosse
• rugby
• cheer
• track
• swim...

But Frisbee???

My dear pal Maddie Hyde and I were contently sitting on our froggie quilt after our events at today's track meet, when we noticed something. A group of striking young men doing drills.... with a frisbee. Diving to the ground all legit like, to catch.. a frisbee. As they jogged around the field to become buffer, I approached them with the question, "Are you guys on a Frisbee team?" I was pleasantly answered with, "Ya. It's competitive." Competitive Frisbee. Who would've thought. Not me and Maddie.. that's for sure...

So, thanks to my track meet, I have a new life goal.. and it has nothing to do with track.

This girl is going to be on a Frisbee team.

March, 2011

March is almost over... sadly. Here are my top favorite quotes of March, 2011:

"Natalie- The cameras are looking at us."

"Cara, that's a fire alarm."

"_____ you have a bugar." -Chelea Corrington

"It smells like ham.."

"Ben, it's a pig."

"I practice my burps every night." -Maddie Hyde

"Grandpa Corrington???"

"My grandpa's deaf in one ear..."

"You're grandpa's been dead for two years?" -Chelea Corrington and Natalie Mortensen

"We have to mug him to get to the apple juice."

"OOH... that's what mugged means..." -Chelea Corrington and Natalie Mortensen

My life...is awesome (:

Dance. It. Up.

Ever since the seventh grade, I've been anxious for that one night. The night of the ninth grade night dance. Sounds lame, I know, but I couldn't help it! Getting my first "Fancy" dress, dancing with "the guy of my dreams"...

Then it came.

Saturday, March 19, 2011 started out by me waking up and making some dang good bisquick waffles with my best pal Chelea. The day went on, and we went to a friends house for a good hang out, then returned home to get ready for THE DANCE.

We walked in the front doors of old Lehi Jr. High, and payed our five dollars to the very happy gentlemen who got volunteered to be the..."ticket giver-outers", and agreed to do so under the conditions that they could watch the BYU basketball game on their Ipad while doing the job.

We continued our walk down the hallway, toward the "Better Together" themed lunch room, and on our way, passed a few of the "wash-rag wearers". We all know what I mean- the girls who wore the dresses that barely went passed their zebra print spankies; the spankies that they HAD to wear so that they could even be let into the dance... Because when they would jump up and dance, their dresses were more like shirts. Interestingly enough, those people were with the same group of girls who went all out PROM dress shopping. Their floor length dresses decked out in sequins and...fluff. They stand by, waiting to be nominated prom queen. Those girls you later saw sitting down on the floor crying because their boyfriend danced with someone other than them.

Oh the ninth grade drama(:

Just across the room from all of those sweet spirits, you see a group of kids. A group of ninth grade kids being crazy and loving life. Dancing with whoever, because everyone's friends. Those kids,,, are my kids. (: The ones that I call my friends... because we don't get caught up in Junior High Drama. We realize that there's life beyond four years of high school.

So, here I am- Sunday, March 20, 2011. The dance is over. It was good, and now it's over. I give thanks that I payed $30 for my reusable dress, and feel bad for the girls who bought their $200+ dresses that will never be worn again. For what? An hour and a half dance at Lehi Jr. High.(: As for the dance with the boy of my dreams, that's yet to come. But it will. (:

Got OCD???

My Top 10 OCD symptoms...

1. When I eat food, I must have equal amounts in both sides of my mouth...
2. Generally, when doing punctuation marks, I do them in sets of 3.
3. I feel awkward when going up staircases containing an odd number of stairs.
4. I HATE when people play with their gum or put in anywhere other than their mouths or the trash. (Yes.. I sound like a mother...)
5. Bare feet. I can't stand bare feet.
6. When using the same eating utensil for different foods, I have to wipe off my utensil as to leave no trace of the first food before using it on the second food.
7. I find it very bothersome when rugs are messed up, or have the edges rolled over.
8. I hate when people run their hands (or bare feet) through the carpet.
9. People who try to sound good while singing 100 % of the time... I love when people share their vocal talents in performances, but when I'm walking down the halls belting Hannah Montana with my amigos, please don't come out-sing me with your Christina Aguilera vibrato.
10. Last but definitely NOT least- WET SOCKS. Just imagine... You're walking around your house, and you walk innocently into the kitchen. As you approach the fridge, you feel water soak into the bottom of your sock. Do you think, oh no biggie, I love having WET FEET. No... the correct response is: Who spilled the water and left it here for me to step in?!! Wet.Socks.Are.Not.Cool.

Middles

So I was thinking..... I was thinking about my day, about my life, about everything, when I came to a very interesting word. The word middle. There's a middle to pretty much everything that I can think of. The next thing I realized, was that most middles.... stink.

The middle of the week- EVERYONE knows that Wednesday is the most hated day. It separates seven days in such a dull, dreadful way.

The middle of a class period-Biology. You look over at the clock, and see that it's only 10:15. Once again, HATED.

The middle of humans- awkward to talk about, I know... but think about it... what person doesn't ever complain about their "middle"??

The middle of a Donut- that one is simply a rip off, because donuts have no middles. Jelly Donuts, you are okay, but not many people want some fruity substance spoiling their fried snack.

The middle of a Track Event-Half way through any race, you're wishing you were the one in first place, who is most likely already done.

*HATED

I could go for hours.

So middles, could you please improve your reputation? Because..... most people strongly dislike you... that is, unless you are the middle of a Hostess Cupcake.(:

Love,

Natalie (:

Romeo Romeo....

The following post is rated O for opinionated. (:

Shakespeare.

Has there ever been a more perverted, chemically unbalanced man in the history of the world? The answer is simply, utterly, and completely, NO.

Romance?

Maybe, just maybe, I'm the only one who doesn't find: falling in love, getting married, and committing suicide all in one months time of each other NOT romantic. I must confess, when Mr. Favorite teacher EVER announced to my 9th grade English class that we were beginning our Romeo and Juliet unit, there was a hidden (verrrry hidden), deep excitement inside of me. I mean, everyone says Shakespeare is romantic... right???

Wrong.

So here I am, approximately two months after that day. The small, hidden excitement in my heart for the "Romantic Story" has been dumped on the side of the road, and recycled into annoyance, heebee-jeebees (spelling?), disgust, and an overall longing to never read Shakespeare- Ever again. I realize that this is an unrealistic wish, but... i'm going for it. I don't mean to offend any Shakespeare fans- if you enjoy him, that's just fine and dandy.(:

It's just a bit much for my little fifteen year old brain.

Words(:

Alright... I'm not sure where to start... so I'll just jump into this. Yes? YES. (:

I must first say, I'm not a writer... or an inspirational writer at least. I write what I would say out loud. Nothing more, nothing less. I'm not starting this blog to empty out my emotions or to tell any inspirational thoughts or stories. I'm simply writing because.... I want to share my awesome life.(: