Destination 1: Goodbye Sweet Summer

This past summer has been the most eventful, entertaining, and enjoyable break I have experienced thus far. I am extremely grateful to my faithful summer companion Tim Ramirez, who accompanied me to the very last Disneyland trip, beach get-a-way, Storm's minor league baseball game, pot-luck picnic, movie marathon, even my last Taco Bell Crunch-wrap Supreme....which had become quite the caloric addiction. It was so hard to welcome the approaching school year, no matter how generous the back-to-school shopping spree that Mom offered nor the excitement for my 1st varsity football season. Nevertheless, the twentieth of August whisked its way to the surface of my calendar and it was time to say goodbye to Timothy distractions and hello to books, homework, and persistent teachers... :/

Free admission.

I know, I know. Pathetic my most recent blog dates all the way back to the fourth of July and it is now nearing the end of November....oh how my life has changed since then!

I believe it is appropriate to give a super quick, semi-detailed account of my whereabouts, news, etc....basically everything important that has occured in the last, oh lets say, four months. So, considering the circumstances, I invite you to hop on Haley's Awesome Honorary Time Machine....destined ultimately, to arrive at the present holiday season. So pack up some hot chocolate, slippers, a warm robe, and I'll provide the snacks..this adventure is coming at you in 3, 2, 1..

(My apologies to anyone that by chance will read this...including my faithful readers Mom, Lauren, Cason, and possibly Ben...it may seem brief and scattered. It's just too overwhelming to document that much of life!)

Fun Tag

Lauren tagged me months ago...and even though I haven't been maintaining a faithful blogger run, I follow Lauren's daily. So here is my belated tag. I filled it out on schedule, but for whatever reason it never got published. Enjoy!

I tag Breanna, Ryan, and Mom's future profile next. :]

4 Jobs I've Had.
1. Little sister slave to Trent
2. An Alien
3. Favorite grandaughter to Joyce Swenson...I've had some pretty tough competition..I'll give Lauren credit..
4. Mommy's helper

4 Movies I Can Watch Over and Over.
1. the Little Rascals
2. Pride & Prejudice
3. Star Wars series
4. the Ladybugs (a ridiculous 90's comedy that didn't even make it to theaters then)

4 Favorite TV Shows.
1. American Idol, what else.
2. Disney Channel. I love my little Disney world.
3. So You Think You Can Dance (new obsession)
4. I hate to admit...the Hills :/ Don't hate.

4 Favorite Hobbies.
1. Cheerleading
2. Eating....especially sugar :]
3. Shopping bargains with good ol mommy
4. Homework. I know.

4 Places I've Lived.
Get a load of this!!! :]
1. Temecula, CA
2. Temecula, CA
3. Temecula, CA
4. Temecula, CA

4 Places I've Been on Vacation.
1. Mexicali
2. Kauai, Hawaii
3. Utah-- second home
4. Is this sad that this is the extent of my vacationing? I am anticipating a trip to Holland this spring break to visit my foreign exchange buddy Ryan.

4 Favorite Dishes/Places to Eat.
1. Teriyaki Chicken & Tempura meal at Gin Sushi followed with a Crunch Roll....sinful.
2. Chili's Caribbean salad
3. Iron Wok's walnut shrimp...a must try.
4. Spaghetti. YUM.

4 Websites I Visit Daily.
1. Hotmail
2. Myspace.....I hope it's only a stage I'll get over. It's not improving so far..
3. Blogger (Lauren, I like to read them...not actually write them!!)
4. You Tube. Check out Jared McBride all you viewers.

4 Places I'd Rather Be.
1. The start of summer
2. On vacation---especially someplace in Europe
3. My bed. Sleeping...
4. Getting primped, as any girl would like.

...and the "7 things about me" --
1. I hate stickers. They really gross me out to the extreme. Seeing them on someone's face or on shoes or just on the ground in general, I get uneasy. They get so disgusting with dirt and hair that sticks to the back of them! Must be related to some form of OCD...
2. I always stop at the Gumball machines in the mall. I love quarters!
3. I prefer to eat M&M's in an organized fashion. In pairs, and only in the same colors. Skittles same way..
4. Oddly enough I type whatever I hear. Whenever watching a movie, listening to a lecture, whatever, I type out what I hear on my imaginary key pad. May be my middle school Computer essentials class haunting me..or it may just be an odd quirk..but I like to believe the former.
5. I love my older sister Lauren. It seems whatever she does, I have to copy. Here's my tribute to her...I'm admitting Lu.
6. I am a dentist's daughter and have had a cavity on nearly every tooth..including two stainless steel crowns. Bad genetics or poor hygiene?? Again, I like to believe the former.
7. I was an alien. Yes, you heard me. I was born an alien. My blessed brother Trent stated that opinion after only a few hours at home for the first time. Ever since, the term "Halien" has been recited on the playground, the classroom, even best friend's mouths... :[

Fourth of July

Last Wednesday was the fourth....typically a very un-exciting holiday in my household (no offense Mom, Dad). Usually the whole Fam comes home in a gathering of husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends...you know, the like. The pool gets some use, home-made ice-cream is made, the golf cart is taken to the top of the hill, and the Pulsiphers accompany us while watching the Temecula fireworks show. It's how it has been played for years. Like Christmas! However, this year Ben & Lu had other obligations, which started a whole chain of siblings drop-outs till finally mom, dad, and the little girls were left to fend on their own. But not to worry folks, they found refuge at the coolest, most extravagent party of their lives!

The party's theme was Pirates & Wenches....or in Tim's term "wrenches". You like the attire?

The party had jolly jumps (one of which was even a pirate ship), a personal petting zoo made complete with a zebra/donkey and other exotic animals, a Caribbean-type band, catered food, and.....

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........

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.....Free Ice Cream!! It was amazing! So many choices...and I hadn't seen an ice cream truck in years! I was always deprived of that as a child...


The party gang: Timmy, Jason, Kenz, and myself. It was adorable how much the boys got into the whole sherade. They even visited the local thrift store for added accessory emphasis. I love my little pirates!

Thank you Dods' family for the best Fourth of July party known to Temecula! <3

Summer-- Take One.

I know, I know. Where have I been? It's amazing how much your life changes once you hit the sixteen year milestone. In my case, nearing the seventeenth. So weird. Suddenly, you have unlimited access to the beach, to the movies, to Valley Center (boyfriend?), to Disneyland, and tragically FAST FOOD. I guess there's a downside to everything, right Mom?? But, the biggest change is your summer vacation. I find myself not wasting daylight watching trl and music videos I have already seen a million times, or painting my nails a new, cool shade as I used to. I am finally experiencing what I've read in books and seen in the movies! Am I being too cliche?? Alright...alright..

So, I decided it was about time to document my general whereabouts, considering I have been on the run since the second the final school bell rang. I know, it's pretty brief.

Meet Tim! My super cute, extra cuddly, dark and handsome boyfriend. If I've seen anyone more than I have seen myself this summer, it's been him. Literally. There's rarely been a day that has gone by that he hasn't been my companion. And fam, don't even ask me how he has been able to cope with me for this long, because even I can't answer that one...

I mentioned fast food. Want to know the second person/people that have seen me more than myself this summer? My friends/employees at In N Out.

I joke you not. Sometimes it will be eleven at night and Tim still manages to find an appetite. So he drags me here...to In-N-Out. He's always really considerate to ask me if I want anything....even though it will be six hours past my dinner que...and I always will reply no...be proud of me Mom...but what used to be "Oh, I just want a few of your fries and that's it" always ends up as "Oops, Tim I'm really sorry. Where did all those fries go?" .....I am my mother's daughter :]

Destination three: Disneyland. Yes, still the happiest place on Earth. Tim and I both bought season passes to have the pleasure of going whenever we want and however long we want. It's well worth the expense people!

These are some of the pictures we managed to take waiting in lines for Splash Mountain (it was my first time), Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Star Wars Tours..you know only the good ones.

We were both a bit shy at first to the cameras...who wouldn't?


But eventually, we were able to manage a few candid moments..





This last one was solely my idea...I promise.

Destination four: Oceanside beach. Okay, so here's one day I wasn't with Timothy. But Bre and I had lots of fun with the obnoxious ten year olds disturbing our tan sesh and such.

(That would be Bre's amazing body by the way...not mine haha)

I hope everyone's summer is just as wonderful as mine!

Haley

Boating, Scurfing, Down-right FUN.

It's no surprise that summer is here...or at least nearly here. Thirteen days and counting until my new and spontaneous life officially begins...hah, such a joke!

However, my family has this thing called a boat....I know, this weird device that can tread water, make a ginormous wake, hold ten plus people, AND play music at the same time...it's crazy. It's become a tradition to take it out every day possible that we can fit in dad's busy schedule. Fortunately, we were able to last Saturday. I not only got to enjoy the presence of my cousin Benji, older brother Trent, Mackenzie, Mom, AND Dad....but friends Tim, Scott, Jen, and David as well. We had a blast to say the least.








If I might add, the bonus of having a friend who owns a lake house and private docking station isn't too bad either. We love the McBrides :]

Catalina Birthday Bash.

I know it's a little late in coming, but nevertheless I had to make mention of it. I had the opportunity to spend the most amazing weekend in Catalina for the celebration of Brooklin's sweet sixteen! We had so much fun!


Our beautiful condo. If you can believe it, we had access to a private beach, tennis court, pool and jacuzzi, and this beautiful view. It was so refreshing to open up the balcony and wake up to the smell of salt water and adventure!

All four of us girls on the second day were treated to a full three hours of snorkeling. We had the chance to ride with hundreds of dolphins, play with nearby sea otters, and collect sea shells....one of which was still the residence of a very unhappy hermit crab, whom we only discovered one day after taking him home...he never made it back to his sea habitat. May Gary rest in peace. I also need to mention that we were even able to go para-sailing! Here I was, thinking that cool things never happen to people as average as me...pfft.

One of our numerous rides in our included golf cart. I found it so amusing that rather than the main transportation being via cars as it is on the mainland, the island population is accustomed to driving golf carts. Whether decked out in spinner wheels, leather seats, and 22 inch rims in order to impress passerbys, or simply acting as a vehicle used to commute to the local Vons express and Mr. Zorro's Pet Pampering, these cool mobiles were the norm. The parking spaces and streets were designed for their small dimension...and speed limits, there were none!