2011 US Figure Skating Championships

Now all our favorite skaters (from left, ice dance team Tanith Belbin & Ben Agosto, Evan Lysacek, Ryan Bradley and Alissa Czisny) have won at least National title!  Here is Simone's take from her blog:

Other than the absence of Evan Lysacek (who was sadly missed by me) a pretty exciting US Championships.  In all four disciplines, the skater (or couple) I was cheering for won.
Here’s my take on the event:
MEN:

My second favorite male skater (and the second hottest skater) of all time, Ryan Bradley, won the gold!  I was so excited….. when his numbers came up, I started screaming and jumping around.  He’s almost as good and cute as Evan!  I really hope he gets to do Stars On Ice this year.  His short program was BREATHTAKING.  He made a few small mistakes at the beginning of his free skate, but in my mind there was no doubt he deserved the gold.  I know he’ll represent the USA well at World Championships in March.

The silver medalist, Richard Dornbush, and the bronze medalist, Ross Miner, were both very young and impressive.  I’d never seen either of them before, but I think they’re both good hopes for US Men’s Figure Skating.  The thing is though, since they were top three, they made the world team, and I don’t know how high they’ll place at Worlds and that could lose the US spots at Worlds in 2012 (see next paragraph).
Last year’s champion, Jeremy Abbott, was in second after the short program, but fell to fourth in the free skate.  Another young rising star, Adam Rippon, had a disastrous short program and a great free skate, but only managed to move up to fifth overall.  I thought that with Evan out of the mix, Ryan, Jeremy and Adam would be the strongest world team for the USA.  Even though Jeremy and Adam were fourth and fifth, I was thinking at least one of them would get a place on the world team.  We’ll have to see what happens.  In the mean time though, congrats again to Ryan on his win!  I’m so happy he finally got it!
LADIES:

Again, one of my favorite skaters won, this time Alissa Czisny.  I met her at Stars On Ice last spring and she was really sweet.  In the past she’s had problems with consistency, but she was really great here.  She’s a really artistic skater and her jumps are getting better and better.  I think that coaching change was just what she needed.

Rachael Flatt, who was second, had a great skate, much better than usual, she’s really becoming more graceful.  Mirai Nagasu, who was third, is getting better, but she hasn’t quite grown on me yet.  The girl who was fourth, Agnes Zawadzski (IDK if I spelled her last name right), is really good except for one fall.  I can see her becoming a great skater in the future.  One of the other girls I really like, Ashley Wagner, had a rough competition.  Lots of the others I like (Sasha Cohen, Emily Hughes, Jenny Kirk, Kimmie Meissner, etc.) have been gone a while.
PAIRS:

Never really been a fan of Pairs, but I LOVED the team who won yesterday, Caitlin Yankowskas and John Coughlin.  They skated a really beautiful program to “Ave Maria” in memory of his mother who died last year.  It was really great and emotinal.  I think they WILL become a force to be reckoned with in international skating.

The winning team was the only one I really liked.  I thought bronze medalists Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett should have beaten silver medalists Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig but the short program counts for something.  And I also thought fourth place finishers Mary Beth Marley and Rockne Brubaker have potential (and he’s cute).
DANCE:

I definitely missed my all-time favorite dance team, Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, who retired after the Olympics last year.  I met Tanith and Ben at SOI last year and they were super nice.  The team who won this year though, Meryl Davis and Charlie White, are easily the best ice dancing team around these days.  The title was theirs before the competition began, but they were doing a great job and they always have great music.

You always get a peek in the future the year after the Olympics, and I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for Maia and Alex Shibutani, the silver medalists.  I can just tell they’ll be the next great US Dance Team.  I liked the fourth place finishers, Madison and Keifer Hubbell, a lot as well.  The bronze medalists, Madison Chock and Greg Zuherlin, had hideous outfits but their skating wasn’t bad.

Guess who's going to see Evan Lysacek TWICE?

Oh yeah.
This morning at school Jake surprised me.  He handed me an envelope and in it were two tickets to Stars On Ice on April 3 AND a printout from the SOI website.  That said that he and I were going to the meet and greet.
And you know who's headlining Stars On Ice?  The one, the only...... Evan Lysacek.
I was already excited about going to see him in March but now I get to go TWICE!  AND I get to go WITH JAKE!!!
"Jake, this is so much!" I said.  "When do you want me to pay you?"
"You don't have to," Jake said.
"Are you sure?" I asked.
"I'm 100% sure," Jake said.
Unfortunately, some controversy is striking about me and Jake.
Today at Honors Band rehearsal Rachel's friend Danielle came up to Jake and said, "Jake, who do you like, Kylie or Rachel?"
"What do you mean?" Jake asked.
"I mean how you danced with Kylie at Winter Formal, then you two went downtown all day on Sunday, now you're singing a Finn/ Rachel duet at the big concert, now you're going to see Evan Lysacek together," Danielle said.  "That sounds like boyfriend and girlfriend to me."
"Kylie's a VERY good friend of mine," Jake said.
"It seems like she's a little more than that," Danielle said.
"I am allowed to hang out with other girls," Jake said.
"What you and Kylie are doing is BEYOND hanging out, Jake," Rachel said.
"What are you doing here?" I said.  "You're a string.  This is the WINDS rehearsal."
"Here to punish you for trying to steal my boyfriend!" Rachel snapped.  "Jacob Ryan Cirino, I am DEMANDING that you return those tickets."
"They're non-refundable," Jake said.
"Then give Kylie's ticket to me," Rachel said.
"She's the Evan Lysacek fan," Jake said.
"Whatever," Rachel said.  "But I'm beginning to think this friendship is going too far."
"It isn't," Jake said uneasily.

Luck can't be getting much better.

Well, after Jake and I danced together in front of the whole school, he called me Sunday morning and asked me if I wanted to hang that Sunday afternoon.
"Just you and me?" I asked.
"Yeah, just you and me," he said.
So we went to the "Snow Days" at Progressive Field downtown.  For the winter, the Indians stadium was converted to a winter fun park with tubing, ice skating, a maze, a walk around an area with lot of lit up trees (nice, because I miss Christmas trees), an area to play in the snow and a fire pit.
We even took the train downtown together, just the two of us.  The first thing we did was go skating all around the field.  (They put an ice skating trail all around the field.)  The skates were smelly and the blades were dull, but that didn't bother me.  Come on - I got to skate around the radius of the field with the guy of my dreams.
The tube chutes were on top of the bleachers and it was a little scary.  At the bottom my tube tipped over and Jake laughed at me.  So I decided to get even with him and threw a snowball at him!  He threw one back at me and we just kept that up until a grumpy old man said to us, "Get out of the way!  And you two are acting WAY younger than you look."
To be honest, I didn't care how stupid we looked.  We probably looked even stupider when we were running through the maze calling out to each other, trying to find each other.  After we did all the festivities, we just sat at the fire pit drinking hot cocoa and talking.
When I got home, the first thing Natalie said to me was, "I can't believe you spent the whole afternoon outside in this frigid cold weather."
I said, "It was even more fun than Winter Formal!"
Yesterday the show choir had practice and our director was selecting two members to open our performance at the big concert.
Guess who he selected?
Me and Jake.
We're singing "Faithfully" from Glee.
It's the only piece the whole choir won't sing.
I'm overjoyed.
When we were practicing yesterday, Jake put his arm around me at one point.  After all, it IS a love song.  We might as well do some sort of love gestures.
Today at school, when we were just with the Miramar choir director, she told us she liked how we did so much on our first try, she wants us to sing it at graduation too :)
I think I'm making progress with Jake.  He probably just doesn't feel ready to break up with Rachel.

Winter Formal Recap

Can I just say Winter Formal was the most fun I've had in a while?
What a night.
As predicted, Graham got to our house late.  But we didn't let that bother us.  It just gave us time to fill everyone in on the plan.
He didn't bring me a corsage.  But I didn't let that bother me.  By the end of the night, he wouldn't be my date.
As predicted (again), Graham trash-talked Jake and some other kids at Miramar on the way there.  "Good thing I met you, Kylie," he said.  "You proved Miramar isn't TOTALLY full of losers."
We pulled into the parking lot and walked into the gym, where the dance was held.  Graham took one look around and groaned.
"What's wrong, Graham?" I asked.
"I'd forgotten how many black people there were here," Graham said.
"Can you say racist much?" Natalie's date, Will, said.
"They're no different from you," I said.  "They just look different."
"Whatever," Graham said.  "Let's go get some refreshments."
"I was thinking the same thing," Hannah said, as she and I exchanged a smile.  Our plan was about to start.
When we got to the refreshment table, Graham took a look and said, "These don't look like they were catered by an expensive restaurant."
"Maybe because they weren't," I said.
"Kylie, I should have brought you to a dance at my school instead," Graham said.  "Your school is too ghetto."
"Don't say that, Graham," I said.
"Kylie, get me some punch," Graham demanded.  Normally I'd tell him to get it himself, but this let Hannah and I carry out part of the plan.  And, to make luck better, Jake was coming over.
"Hey, Graham," Jake said.
"Oh, NOW you're talking to me, Jake?" Graham asked.  "I thought you were done with me forever."
"I thought it over and I forgive you," Jake said, as Hannah, Natalie and I dropped mints (thanks Roxy!) into Graham's punch, as their dates looked on giggling.
"Here's your punch, Graham," I said.
He took a sip.  "This tastes weird," he said.
AND THEN IT EXPLODED ALL OVER HIM!!!
"OH MY GOD!" Graham shouted.  "I KNEW what a crappy school this was."
"I don't know, nothing's wrong with mine," I said.
"Whatever," Graham said.  "Come on Kylie, let's dance, that is if you're not embarrassed to be seen on the floor with me."
"Oh, I'm not," I said, knowing that the next phase of our plan was already underway.
"Come on," I said, taking Graham's hand and heading toward the dance floor.
"What's going on?" Graham said.  He was stuck to the floor.
Of course I knew what happened.  I wasn't going to say though.
"What type of school is this?" Graham screamed.
"You could just take off your shoes," Hannah's date, Johnny, said.
"Ew, that's gross," Graham said.
"Well, what do you want to do, Graham?" I asked.
"Fine, I'll take off my shoes," Graham snapped.  He pulled of his shoes - which had gum stuck to the bottom.
He screamed like a toddler.
"Who did that?" he shouted.
"I don't know, but you weren't very well liked when you went here," I said.
"I'm done with this crap," Graham said.  "And Kylie, I'm done with you."
He stormed out of the gym.
"We showed him," I said laughing.
"Yes we did!" Hannah said.
"Kylie, I think you got him out of my way for a while,"  Jake said.  "Way to go!"
"Thanks Jake!" I said.
"And Kylie, seeing as you don't have a date anymore.... would you like to share a dance?" Jake asked.
"Yes!" I said.  Trying not to give it away that this was what I'd been waiting FOREVER for.
"JAKE!" Rachel snapped.
"Hey, her date walked out on her," Jake said.  "She deserves a dance."
And we went to the center of the room and slow-danced for an entire song.
MANY people were looking on :)

Tomorrow's The Big Day

Tomorrow's Winter Formal!
I'm actually really excited.  Graham called to say he's excited too.  I'm sure I'll have a great time - but I don't know if Graham will.....
I can't disclose any details of our plan, but let me say it WILL NOT DISAPPOINT.
We even got Jake in on it.
Full recap will be given within 24 hours of the dance :)

Got my ears pierced :)

Do you notice anything different about me?

Look a little closer...

A little closer....

Yup, I got my ears pierced!  Here's a closeup of both my ears!

 

It actually didn't hurt.... I thought it would but it didn't.  All five of us went together.  Natalie (being the daredevil she is) went first.  Then Molly went and she screamed.  Kit then decided she was too scared too.  But after Hannah and I got ours done she decided she wanted hers too.  So now we all have pretty earrings!

I picked out a really nice pair for Winter Formal.  And speaking of Winter Formal.... Hannah, my cybertwin Roxy and I have a plan stirred up..... and Jake might help!  I can't post details yet though.

The phone rang last night.  I was planning on calling Graham and telling him I didn't want to go to the Winter Formal with him after all.
No date is better than a mean one.
But I decided to answer this call.
Guess who it was?
Graham.
"Hello, Graham," I said unenthusiastically.
"Hey, Kylie!" Graham said.  "Feeling better?"
"Yeah, thanks," I said.
"Good.  Because I wouldn't want you to be sick," Graham said.
"I'm fine," I said.  "But Graham, I really didn't like those things you were saying about Jake."  Hopefully that would make him just break up with me.
"You know what?  You're right," Graham said.  "Jake's a nice person and it was wrong of me to say that about him."
I doubt this was a real change of heart.  He was probably just saying that to avoid me dumping him.
"So, excited for Winter Formal on Saturday?" Graham said.
"Well, Graham, there's actually something I wanted to talk to you about," I said.
"About how excited you are and how much fun you'll have?  I was thinking the same thing.  Can't wait!" Graham said and hung up the phone.
I groaned.  Apparently getting rid of Graham wasn't going to be easy.
I went to my room where Hannah was.  Normally I don't like it when my sisters are in my room, but today I didn't mind.
"Hey Hannah, how am I supposed to get rid of Graham?" I asked.
"Just tell him you don't want to go with him anymore," Hannah said.
"I tried, didn't work," I said.
"Then how about we play a prank on him at the dance or something like that?" Hannah said.
"I like the way you think," I said.  "Maybe not a prank, but we'll come up with something."
"You know who I think we should get in on it?" Hannah said.
"Who?" I asked.
"Jake."
Not a bad idea.  Maybe going to Winter Formal with Graham won't be so miserable after all...... ;)

The Wrong Guy

My phone went off.  I took a look.  Graham.
"Hey," I said, picking up the phone.
"Hey babe," Graham said.  "Want to go out to lunch today?"
"Sure," I said.
To my surprise, it was okay.  Simone's never even met Graham.
Graham and I went out to lunch at Mongolian Grill, a stir-fry buffet downtown.  He offered to pay, which was a good thing, but I really don't know how much I like him.
"Aren't you glad you're going to Winter Formal with me instead of with that loser Jake?" Graham asked as we were eating.
"I thought Jake was your best friend," I said.
"He was," Graham said.  "Up until I switched schools.  Then I realized what a goody-goody baby he is."
Jake is not a goody goody, and he is NOT a baby.  I was finding myself liking Graham less and less.
"Kylie, are you okay?" Graham asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said.  Not really though.  Graham is making me not okay!
"Good," Graham said, putting his arm around me, "because I would never want to see my girl upset."
I don't consider Graham my boyfriend.  Certainly not.  I regret asking him to Winter Formal in the first place.  Stupid me.
"Graham, I'm really not feeling well," I said.  "I think I should get home."
"Okay," Graham said.  He called his parents and they took me home.
I don't like Graham.  He's mean.  Jake is a nice guy and doesn't deserve to be talked about that way.
Somehow, I have to get out of taking Graham to Winter Formal.

Visit to the high school

Today the school took about a dozen eighth graders to the high school to tour it, have a question and answer session with a counselor, observe a class and have lunch in the cafeteria.
Only the top students went: me, Jake, Matt, Amy, Jessica, Katy, Maddie, Ava, Sara, Abby, Ana and Brandon.  The school is so overwhelmingly big.  There were so many people sometimes I felt like I couldn't turn around.
Everyone we met there was very nice.  The first floor halls were a little too noisy, but I guess you get that anywhere you go.  A girl from Miramar named Kelly and a boy from Miramar named Brian gave us our tour.  They showed us the main halls, the cafeteria, the band room, the choir room and the recreational facilities.  The school has a really nice pool and the gyms are nice too.  We got to meet the band and choir directors and the athletic administrator.
We were paired up to observe a class.  Guess who I got partnered with?  Jake.  Of course.  A month ago I would have been overjoyed, but now I'm struggling with my feelings for him.  Why did he go anyway?  He's so tied up with the idea of going to that all boys Catholic high school downtown.
Anyway, Jake and I observed an Honors Algebra 2 class.  There were only two ninth graders in it, but next year I'll be taking Algebra 2 (and so will Jake if he ends up coming here).  There were only THREE kids from Miramar in a class of over 20.  There was one kid from Mount Vernon, two from a private school, so that meant about FIFTEEN of them were from Pinewood.  The Pinewood kids kind of look down on us at Honors Band, Honors Choir and MSSP events but everyone was so nice.  They were very welcoming to Jake and me and some kids even invited us to have lunch with them.
So we had lunch with some sophomores from Pinewood.  They were so friendly to us and chatted with us.  Four of them are on the swim team and they love it.  I told them I'll do it next year.  Jake said he'll do it too if he comes to Heights.  (Yay - I think.)  The food in the cafeteria wasn't bad - better than the food at Miramar.
On the way to our question and answer session, Jake asked me how I was liking the high school today.  I said I liked it.  He said he was glad he got me as his partner because he was nervous and I made him comfortable.  Awwww!  Does he like me?  But if he does, why doesn't he break up with Rachel?
Wait a minute.  I can't take action on Jake right now because I'm going to Winter Formal with Graham next weekend......
So, we headed back to Miramar after our meeting with the counselor.  It was a little nerve-wracking at times, but I think I'll like Heights next year.  I'm going to have to ask Simone if I can visit for a whole day.

He said yes.

I asked Graham to the Winter Formal last night.
He said yes.
I bought tickets for us at school today.

We'll be going with Hannah and Natalie and our dates and with some of our other friends.
Well, I did it.  I have a date for Winter Formal.
It took a lot of nerve.

Fever.

Yesterday Simone went back to school and took us with her.  On the way back to school Natalie was coughing a lot.... and now we all have colds and fevers.  Oh well, at least this means we don't have to go to school- hehehe!

Even though we're sick, Simone, being Simone, took pictures of us in her room and wanted me to post them on my blog.  We're all in our PJs, as you can see.  She did let us take a nap in her big bed while she went to class today, and took a photo before she went out.  Here we all are sleeping in Simone's bed.

Since we're sick, obviously I didn't get to buy Winter Formal tickets yesterday or today.  I plan on asking Graham later today or tomorrow.... gulp.  Wish me luck.
Jake texted me to ask if I was feeling okay because I wasn't at school yesterday or today.  Thanks, Jake.  Of course, then he asked if anything was going on between me and Graham.  Does he like me?  If he does, why doesn't he break up with Rachel and date me?
Guys are complicated.
I'm feeling better today than I did yesterday and Simone says if we feel well enough, we're going to school tomorrow.
Maybe if I go to school tomorrow and see Jake I'll figure out what's going on.
Somehow though, I doubt it.

This just doesn't feel right.

I talked to Graham online last night.  A lot.  For nearly an hour.
I honestly don't get why Jake doesn't like him anymore.  He seems like such a cool guy: he's nice and he's funny and he's interesting to talk to.
Maybe Jake got mad at him for switching schools.  But I don't know.
Anyway at school this morning, Jake came running up to me.  "Kylie, do not get involved with Graham!" he said.
"Why not?  He seems cool." I said.
"Listen.  I used to think he was really a great friend, but he isn't.  He's going to woo you and then he'll break your heart," Jake said.
"Jake, do you like me?" I asked.
"As a friend, yes," Jake said.
"Then why are you acting jealous that I might go out with Graham?" I asked.
"Kylie, you just can't do it!" Jake said.
I texted Graham to tell him what Jake said.  "Typical Jake," Graham texted back.  "He overreacts to everything."
I have to admit though, something doesn't feel right about this whole Graham thing.
It isn't right to spend time with a guy just to make someone else jealous.
But even though that's how it began, I am starting to like Graham.
And I'll see if I still feel that way in time for winter formal.
Now I'm at home, writing in my blog, with Molly and Kit arguing (as always) in the background.  Helina and Sarah are crying, Natalie's at her chamber group and Hannah's doing homework in her room.
This weekend, Simone heads back to school.  Just enjoying the last few days home as much as I can, before I have to take an hour long bus ride to school every day.
Peace out.

Sometimes, life kicks you in the rear.... and then you think of revenge.

"Kylie!  One more wrong note and you'll lose first chair."
Well, hello?  Do you think I can focus on the notes?
Okay, I guess I'm being a little overdramatic.  Yes, I'm mad that I've discovered the guy I like has a girlfriend two weeks before Winter Formal.  I was planning to ask him tomorrow.  Guess I can't.  He'll be going with Rachel.
I'm trying to think of another guy to ask.  Not because I like him, but because I want to get revenge on Jacob Ryan Cirino.
I'll find a guy to take to the dance.  A guy who it will make Jake SO angry to see me at the dance with.
May I add that at my school, the winter formal dance the GIRLS ask the GUYS?  Tickets go on sale Monday.  And I'm determined to go.
My guy experience is next to none.  After all, this is the first time in my life I've gone to school with guys.  InnerStar U had a brother school, but I rarely saw the guys from there.  I knew a few guys but I didn't see them on a day to day basis.
Anyways, right now I have to focus on my clarinet.  I do want to sit in the first chair at the big concert.
We played through our song one last time.  Selections from Wicked.  I love Wicked.  Our medley has my four favorite songs: No One Mourns the Wicked, Dancing Through Life, Defying Gravity and For Good.
We finish our song.  "Good job, everyone," the band director says.  "See you next week."
I gather my stuff together and look for Hannah so I can make a quick escape.
I find Hannah.  "Hey, I got a text.  We need to get a ride home," she says.
"Kylie, I bet my dad can give you a ride home."  I turn around.  Jake is standing there.  I do NOT want a ride home from Jake.
"Thanks so much!" Hannah says.  "We REALLY appreciate that."
I glare at my sister.  She knows who this is.
Jake, Hannah and I head for the car.  We climb in, where Jake's dad is waiting.  "Dad, this is my friend Kylie and her sister Hannah.  Can we give them a ride home?  They live near Cambridge."
Your friend?  Yeah, Jake.  More like your type of girl.  You just don't know it yet.
"Of course we can," Jake's dad says.  "Come on in, girls."
"Thank you very much, Mr. Cirino," Hannah says.
"Please call me Matt," Jake's dad says.  "Oh, and Jake, guess who I saw at Target?"
"Who?" Jake asks.
"Graham."
Jake groans.
"Graham who?" I ask.
"Graham Goldman," Jake says with a hint of disgust in his voice.
"Who is Graham Goldman?" I ask.
"My ex-best friend," Jake says.
"Why don't you like Graham anymore?"
"He's turned into a spoiled, stuck up brat!"
Now, we pull into my driveway.  "Thanks for the ride," I say as I drag Hannah out of the car.
"Okay, you can hit me now," Hannah says.
"No Hannah, actually thanks.  I think I know who to take to the Winter Formal now."
"Who?"
"Graham Goldman."
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Nope.  Just to make Jake jealous."
"You're one sneak, Kylie Nicole."
"Indeed I am."
I log onto Facebook and search for Graham Goldman.  I find him, send him a friend request and attach a message: Hey!  I'm a friend of Jake's.  He's told me lots of nice stories about you.... thought I'd give you a friend request.  Not entirely true, but.....
Thirty seconds later a Facebook notification pops up: Graham Goldman accepted your friend request.  Now a Facebook chat message from Graham pops up: Hey!
And we begin to chat.

Dumped.

"Hey Kylie."
I turned around.  Was Jake Cirino REALLY standing at my locker?
"Hey Jake, what's up?" I said, trying to act as normal as I could.
He gave me his blinding smile.  "What's up with YOU?" he asked.
"Not much.  How's the high school search going?"
"Eh, it's going.  We still haven't heard back from my first choice, and I don't find out about scholarships until April."
"We'll definitely miss you next year."
"Yeah, I'll miss you too.  There's just some people here I can't take going to school with anymore.  Rachel really wants me to go to Heights though."
"Rachel?  Who's Rachel?"
"My girlfriend.  She's in seventh grade at Pinewood."
WHAT?  Since when does Jake have a girlfriend?!?!?  "Oh, I didn't know you had a girlfriend," I said, trying to contain the shock and hurt I felt.
"Yeah, we've been together since last spring."
OH MY GOSH!!!  "I never knew that.  I thought when you broke up with Amanda, you'd been single since."
"Yeah, Rachel and I have been keeping it quiet."
"I've got to go now."
"Kylie, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
I was sure Jake had been single since he broke up with Amanda Cochran, who's in our grade at Pinewood.  I never really understood why he dated her.  She acts like she's about five years younger than us, and she's not even pretty.
Okay, maybe I'm just jealous.  Or maybe Hannah just didn't know about Rachel.  I asked her all about Jake the day after I started at school.
The day crawled by.  As soon as I got home, I logged onto Facebook.  "Jake Cirino.  Sex: Male.  Interested in: Women.  Relationship Status: In a Relationship with Rachel Phalen.  Anniversary: April 30, 2010.  Siblings: Luke Cirino.  Parents: Matt Cirino, Cassandra Cirino.  Hometown: University Heights, OH.  Birthday: May 27.  Political Views: Democratic Party.  Religious Views: Catholic/ Jewish."
I clicked on Rachel's name and decided to check out her profile.  Yeah, she's pretty.  Prettier than me....
Then it hit me.  Jake's dad is on the school board.  Rachel's mom is on the school board.  Amanda's dad is on the school board.
Does Jake only date other school board members' daughters?
People say that children of elected officials tend to clique with children of other elected officials.  I knew Jake's dad was on the school board, but he didn't seem like one of those.  I thought he was a nice guy.  Looks like he's like virtually any other politician's kid.  He wants a girl from another powerful family, not a nice girl.
Now I'm interrupted.
"Kylie, I need you to watch your sisters tonight," Simone told me.
"But it's Natalie's turn," I protested.
"The strings are practicing tonight for the big concert.  You know that."
"Fine, what about Hannah?"
"Hannah's going to Nicki's."
Of course I end up getting stuck at home with Kit and Molly fighting like cats and dogs and Helina and Sarah always needing to be fed the day I feel totally dumped.
I KNOW Jake belongs with me.  I just know it.
This Rachel Phalen girl will NOT last with him.

Back to school.......

Well, it always happens: breaks end and we head back to school.  Yippee.
I'd forgotten for a split second and was sleeping, then Simone came into our room and said, "Girls, wake up.  You've got to get to school."
At least I get to see Jake again.
The first thing that happened when I got to school?  My homeroom teacher asked for our winter break packets.  My school's like that.  Obsessed with the OAT.  So they give us practice packets over winter AND spring break.
My first and second period classes are all girls (some of our classes are organized by gender) so I didn't get to see Jake.  Ugh.
Third period: Science Olympiad for MSSP.  Today our teacher was announcing who our partners are for the upcoming competition.  She read off every name, and I dreaded that another girl would be paired with Jake.....
"Kylie," she said as I crossed my fingers... "you'll be doing Crave the Wave with......"
My heart skipped a beat.
".... Avita."
Don't get me wrong, I like her fine, but I was really hoping to be partnered with Jake.
"And Jake," our teacher read, "you're doing the Wright Stuff with Johnny."
Oh, so my crush is partnered with my sister's crush..... very nice.  I glanced at Hannah, and could see disappointment in her face as well.
I couldn't look at Jake the rest of the day without feeling totally let down.
After school as I was leaving, I passed him talking on his cell phone.  Laughing and calling someone on the other end "baby."
Could it be?  Does he - have a girlfriend?

Our New Baby Sister

Well, turns out we got a new addition to our family after all!
Last night before we went to bed, a box was sitting on Simone's bed.  We saw it before Simone came in the room, but decided to wait till she came in to let her open it.  It looked AG size and we were wondering.... was it Felicity?  Or Elizabeth?  Or Grace?  Or Sarah?  Or someone new we may not have even guessed?
Simone was VERY excited.  She ripped the box open and there she was.  Sarah.  Our new baby sister.
Simone held her up and declared, "Okay everyone, this is your new baby sister, Sarah Amelia."
Then, when Simone went to thank her parents, she let ME hold Sarah.
There are perks at times to being the oldest.
"Hi Sarah, I'm Kylie," I said.  "I'm your oldest sister."
Hannah came over to us, carrying Helina.  "I'm Hannah," Hannah said.  "And this is Helina."
Helina giggled and clapped, happy that someone close in age to her had finally joined the family.
Natalie, Molly and Kit came over too.  "Oh Kylie, can I hold her?" Natalie asked.
"Better wait for Simone to get back," I said.  I didn't want to lose any time with her!
"Okay," Natalie groaned.  "Well, I'm Natalie."
"I'm Molly," Molly said.
"And I'm Kit," Kit said.
Simone came back.  "Good thing Sarah's finally here," she told us.  "The eBay people procrastinated in sending her, but she arrived yesterday.  Mom and Dad wanted to wait until today to give her to us, so she can be a New Year's baby."
Then, she took Sarah out of my arms and let Natalie hold her.  Maybe she knew.  She always knows what she wants.
What a nice surprise for right before we go back to school!  Tomorrow..... ugh.
I will post pictures of Sarah soon!  And speaking of pictures, have you checked out Simone's Flickr?
www.flickr.com/americangirl728
Soon there will be photos of Sarah there, too!
Have a great rest of the weekend everyone!
~ Kylie ~

Happy 2011!

Happy New Year one and all!
Hope everyone had a great New Year's Eve and has a great year!  Of course one of the first thing Simone made us do was take a picture with the 2 0 1 1.  In 2011 we expect an exciting year: I graduate middle school!  Plus the swim team may qualify for States and I may get to perform in DC with the music department.  And there's the opening of the DC AGP, and we're more than likely getting more additions to our family, starting off with Erin and Emma!
I hope you all have a great year!
~ Kylie ~