Lee Time!!!

Is getting out the door for family functions frustrating and a big task? It is in my family. Our tardiness even has it's own name-Lee time meaning you are three hours late to an event and stay five hours later :) It's mostly on my dad's side of the family but the disease has spread to my mom's side too. Events always start off as "6:00 at BB's house...is that Lee time?" Sometimes we get calls asking if we are on Lee time. It's horrible. My family is the latest of the whole bunch-which is odd because we are all teenagers, there are more drivers and there are multiple cars. BUT with that said while we do have the most kids in our family it's always dad who is mowing the lawn 15 minutes before we leave, mom is still curling her hair when the event "started", the boys haven't taken showers yet since they have learned that we aren't going to be leaving for a couple of hours, my sisters are already waiting and yelling at everyone else and me...well I try my best but for some reason I am prone to long showers and therefore making myself late.

My grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all have become clever and told us an earlier time an even started so by the time we get there we are closer to on time. But getting in the car is another big task by itself. We all wait by the car-like we are four again- then the boys and dad wrestle in the yard. Someone yells "open the window or turn the air on" (so we turn the radio and the air on) a few minutes later my dad comes and takes the keys... "DAD!!!" he then proceeds with locking the front door, forgetting something, going back to get it, locking it again and then walking to the back door to make sure its locked even though we locked it before. Then the seating arrangements...usually I am in the middle seat because I am one of the oldest but lately we have been going by size which means I am squished in the back. We all fight about the air and such resulting in some grumpy kids.

By the time we are leaving an event it takes us 40 minutes. That's right! We are slow in general :) We say goodbyes, and then hugs, goodbye again...then someone talks about something then we wave to the people leaving until they are out of sight...more hugs, goodbyes blah blah blah. By the time we get home we are tired, cranky ad just want to get in. The problem is is that everyone is lazy and doesn't want to take their house key out so...we wait for dad. Dad has a habit of locking the car door, checking EVERY door to make sure they are locked, turning the water spiket off even though it was off and then very slowly walks to the door to unlock it. He knows it bothers us and does it just to hear us whine and moan :)

All in all, my family has a hard time with time management!!! It only effects me with the family events not with school. I have never been tardy to any class!!!

Important people!

Grandpa Lee!!!

My Grandpa Lee and I have been inseparable since I was born. His first words when I was born was "Pork chop!" yes, I did have Large cheeks!

He was mine from the start...

He was there for me at Graduation!!!

My sisters

While there is some age difference between my sisters and I, and we do fight alot and such I still love them.

I am the oldest, then there is Grace and then Emma...However I am approaching on being the smallest. Ironic.

Christmas Pajamas!!!

Larisa!!!

Larisa has gotten me through so much in life. I know that when I have dark days I can always count on her being there to cheer me up. We have known each other for about 7 or 8 years now. I dont know what I would do without her. She is my rock in life and always has been. She is my best friend and the sister that destiny forgot to grant me.

Fun and exciting Physics class...ha

Balloon release...Last day of High school!!!

The group...Larisa, me, Lauren and Cheyenne!

Great Grandpa Valdez

For as long as I can remember my great grandpa has always been "sick." There was a time I do remember him being healthy and that was for his wedding anniversary. Every time we go down to California in the back of everyone’s minds is “say goodbye to great grandpa because he might not make it.” 18 years later-he is still kickin’ it!

Recently he has taken a turn for the worse. It’s going to be hard letting him go but for the past 11? Or 12? Years he has always said “I just want to go to the bone yard.” Sad. He misses my great grandma who died several years ago.

Great Grandpa has taught me so many life lessons! The stories he has told us and the way he could feed blue jays and squirrels will always be with me. He always called me Kaity, it was never Kaitlyn and he was with me the day we went to the duck pond and I said “Patrick, you are a nerd!” to him we are known as the nerds.

 Squirrel that Great Grandpa fed daily!

 90 years old!

 Great Grandma Evelyn-all the girls have lyn at the end of their names!

 Favorite Quote: "Kaity, can you help me blow these out? I can't, my teeth will fall out!!!"

 Great outdoors-just like he liked it!

Leonard Valdez!

5 generations!!! This was the trip that my brother got pulled over in Weed because he was trying to catch up to my dad!

Am I ready for change???

A little more than 8 weeks from today I will be sitting in my first college class!!! I am kind of scared at the same time. I am going to be in a new state, new city, new environment with all new people. I love meeting new people and I just hope they like me. Going to Westminster College I think will be a refreshing new start for me and the chance to be on my own. While I am there I will be studying to become a Neonatal Nurse.

I know I will have tons of friends less than an hour away at BYU, Provo but I am still afraid of being “homesick”. I am going to miss all my little cousins up here that I get to play and cuddle with, I am going to miss my grandparents and the rest of my family like crazy and of course my kittens. IDK how I am going to not go through a day without cuddling with my kittens.

Despite my fear of being thrown into a new place I am excited for college. I have a countdown-which my aunt absolutely hates J

The front of my new home!!!

The Courtyard, I can see myself studying here!

Things to Remember

*        I used to share a bedroom with three of my brothers!
*        My brother used to dress up in all my dresses and hats! He wearing my heels was pretty awesome too.
*        I remember my 6^th birthday tea party with friends and then a family party at home. My friend wanted to come to so I hid her under my bed until the family birthday started J
*        The day my sister came home from the hospital. I was jealous because I was the “princess” of the house for so long.
*        The many, many, many water balloon fights with all my boy cousins! I get along better with the guysJ
*        Dressing up as a sunflower for Halloween and getting real sick the day after.
*        The traditional Friday night homemade tents in the basement. Those were pretty legit. With the help of my big brother and his friends we could do everything from watch T.V., sleep, eat, and play in those things. We even had our own “room” within the tent.
*        Remodeling the basement! That’s when my uncle put a nail through his foot. Can you say idiot?!?
*        Racing up and down the stairs on our hands and feet with my brother. That all ended when a sharp pencil when straight through his hand.
*        Thinking I was a boy. I dressed up like a boy, played with the boys and then cried when I was told I wasn’t a boy.
*        My neighbor coming to babysit us and bake brownies with us. We stopped making those brownies once she sneezed and a huge snot bubbles came out. YUCK!
*        Making mud pies in the garden with my neighbors!
*        Learning to ride a bike because I am a bit competitive and the older kids were doing it.
*        Building the in ground pool in the backyard.
*        Going over to Ms. Ruth’s and having her read to us.
*        Playing with the best dog ever! Shadow.
*        Taking all sorts of pictures in the corn field and the swing set. My little sister ate the corn husk and then my brother got sting by a bee!
*        Going skinny dipping the pool with the neighbor girls! Then dad coming out asking if we were ok. Good thing it was nighttime and we had nothing to be embarrassed about since we were only 8 years old!
*        Camping out in the backyard and having my neighbor padlock us in. they then proceeded with shooting pellets at the tent and then pouring syrup on our heads in the morning.
*        Getting a new dog and then another new dog and now we have three.
*        Picking up my kitten for the first time and having to turn around to get her brother!
*        Going to Seattle with my family to visit my uncle. He had pillows in the shape of the Little Mermaid, Buzz Light-year, and Woody waiting for us.
*        On that same Seattle trip, I went to the store with my uncle to pick up something. He decided to do some flips with me in the aisle and had to embarrass me. “Katie, why do you have wholes in your underwear?!?!” I was only five at the time. He got his payback though because some lady scolded him for having a little girl out so late.
*        My auntie’s wedding! I was the flower girl and during the rehearsal my dress flew up because I walked over the vent. I was so embarrassed. It didn’t fly up in the wedding though.
*        Same wedding, I danced with my new uncle. I think he had to hold me since he was super tall and I was only 6 years old.
*        My uncle’s weeding I was also the flower girl. That wedding I passed out in J that’s what you get when you put me-who has been swimming and running around all day- in a huge white dress and make me stand still in the hot summer’s sun.
*        Going down to California and kicking my second cousin for “flirting” with my favorite big brother. 10 years later I see her and learn that she has no interest in guys what so ever…
*        Meeting my favorite cousin (at the time) in California and tried sneaking her into the van with me.
*        Visiting my brother for spring break in Portland, Oregon.
*        Playing tennis with all my Asian relatives at a country club! Tennis turned into a crab walk race for all the cousins.
*        Catching kittens at the farm house in Finley. I would spend hours out in the dump pile where they liked to hang out waiting to hold one.
*        Climbing in the wood scrap pile and having a nail go through my sandal. Luckily, it went in between my big toe and the next and my cousin was able ot carry me down from the pile.
*        Making the gravy for every Thanksgiving from ages 4 to still now.
*        Having sleepovers with my aunt at my grandparent’s house.
*        My uncle BB babysitting with my aunt Erin. Needless to say…we baby sat them since they always fell asleep.
*        My aunt Erin and Uncle BB finally getting married!!!
*        Meeting my cousin Hunter for the first time. He was too long for me to hold, he’s still super long.
*        My cousin Andrew pooping and then “painting” his playpen in my room…I couldn’t sleep in there for days after and we had to air out the whole house. YUCKY.
*        Getting my life size doll house from my auntie!!! I then played house with my brothers and made them sleep in it.
*        Getting homemade stools, chairs, rockers from my aunt with initials for every cousin. She always messed up on mine. KNL not CNL!
*        Pulling names for the gift swap at Christmas and my cousin Christopher getting me or me getting him every year. It got annoying since there are so many of us to choose from.
*        Camping at La Wis Wis and getting lost for 3 hours. I told my aunt I was going to the bathroom. No one came to look for me L and I almost made it to the highway. In fact I was one camp site away from it and the family campsite was 2 miles north!
*        Nana: “Kaitlyn let’s walk on the fallen tree!” Me:”Okay!!!” so we go walking. Nana: “ahh, Kaitlyn I’m falling!!!” me:”Don’t run. Just stop, then you won’t fall” so nana runs! She ran off the tree and scraped up her entire right leg. Thigh to ankle. We were camping so the moms of the camping area made her change into her swim suit and they slathered her leg in Neosporin. Me:”I told you so” nana: “shut up”
*        I used to go to my neighbors all the time. They had rats and I had just eaten a taco for dinner. The rat bit my hand and my hand was wrapped up in gauze for days! OUCH.
*        I went boating for the first time with the neighbor girls. I also got my first experience with whip lash and the police during this adventure.
*        Catching tad poles in the pond…killing tadpoles in the kitchen since I am clumsy and broke the jar.
*         Having the worse appendicitis in the county for 5 months. That’s right-5 months
and 6 or 7 surgeries later.
*        Swim team for 11 years. And of course the famous race between me and Cody Rush. I kicked his butt and his mother was mad as heck. “you let a little girl beat you”
*        Crying when my big brother and I were split up for a lengthened amount of time.

There are so many other things that I remember from childhood. It’s had its ups and downs but with how big my family is there is always something or someone to laugh at.

ABCs about me...

Some things that describe me…   

Ambitious- I always go for big or don’t do it at all. Sometimes I take on way too much stuff but I always seem to get it done some way or another.

Brothers- I grew up with my brothers mostly. Sharing a room with them (a set of bunk beds, a day bed and a crib made for some fun forts!) was the best. I even thought I was a boy and dressed myself in boy clothes and told everyone my name was Kevin!

Clumsy-I hurt myself sometimes more than people hurt me. I fall standing up, bang into things that aren’t’ near me and sometimes I just wake up with something sore from something I fell off of or banged into the other day! 
Dependable-you can always count on me for something whether it’s keeping a secret or a promise.

Energetic-whether I am super tired or super cranky I am always full of energy!!! Sometimes I have too much.
Feetsies-I have the tiniest feet out of my entire family!!! Sometimes I hate it but most people are surprised at how small they really are. I am a size 2-4 J but I tend to wear bigger shoes because I am self conscious about it.  
Giggles-those who know me know that I have a contagious laugh! Once I get going I cannot stop. Sometimes my giggles make others giggle, and I sound like a little girl again!

Helpful-I would like to think I am helpful! I am always willing to help someone even people who I do not know! Helping others by volunteering my hours is one of the best feelings there is.
Insightful- I have been through a lot in my short 18 years but I have learned a lot from my mistakes. I like to be able to help others with their problems by giving them some insight into mine.  
James/Joshua- without these two I would still be more immature. Joshua is my nephew who I have been attached to since the day he was born. He has taught me soo much from how to change a diaper to dealing with seizures to patience. I love this little boy more than anything. James and I never got along but now he and I are really close! It’s amazing what distance can do to a relationship.

Kamiakin Brave-I am proud to be a Kamiakin Brave!!! Just graduated June 2011.
Laughs-I absolutely love to laugh!!! It truly is the best medicine.  
Middle child-unfortunately I am the middle child. Yes, I have been through the middle child syndrome stage and it sucks at times. But I am the only one in the family to have a younger brother, 2 older brothers and 2 younger sisters!

Nurturing-I love to take care of all the little kids in my family! I am the first granddaughter on my mom’s side so I feel like it’s my duty to take care of everyone!
OCD- I am OCD about a lot of things!!! It gets annoying but I wouldn’t be me if I weren’t a neat freak!!! 
Picky eater-I never thought I was a picky eater until my dad asks what I want for dinner. Everything he says is a no for me!!! I diffidently won’t eat anything with any type of seafood or anything in a white sauce! Some Chinese foods I won’t even eat…and I am Chinese!!!

Quiet (at times) - I like my quiet times; times to myself!
Reasonable- sometimes I do things differently but I never do things to hurt people. Everything I do is reasonable and sometimes chaotic.  
Short, swimmer, smiley- I am the shortest in my family…my grandparents who are shrinking are even taller than me! I have also been swimming for…12 years now (competitively). I also have a crooked smile-no one notices it but me lol.

Talkative-this is making Q seem like a lie but along with being quiet I also LOVE to talk!!!
Unique-I am diffidently a unique one of a kind one! 
Viola-I have been playing the viola since the 5^th grade. They gave me the smallest one they had which was still too big for me and said I would grow into it. 9 years later-I still haven’t grown into it. In fact my viola is the midget of all the viola’s in my school’s orchestra and it actually is a violin wit viola strings!!! It’s my short arms.

Walrus- freshmen instrumental tour to Oregon the band/orchestra discovered I could not say Walrus or Albuquerque or social or an abundant amount of words.
Xylophone-I used to play these in 5^th grade-until I hit someone in the head with the mallet! 
Young-I’m still young lol-I’ll be 19 soon!!!

Zealous- I couldn’t come up with anything else lol.