Thankful!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my wonderful family and friends. I am truly blessed.

SIX

Aubrey recently celebrated her 6th Birthday. I know I say this every year, but how is that possible? It has been a big year for her with graduating pre-school, starting Kindergarten, playing soccer and tennis, and getting her first permanent tooth (and no, she hasn't lost the baby one yet... it's getting crowded in that mouth).

So far, she seems to be adjusting to growing up pretty well. Of course, she is exhausted from school and has a little more attitude lately, but for the most part, she makes good choices and is still so excited by life and learning (it has taken me several days to get this post done, and wouldn't you know it, she has been making some bad choices! ugh). She is extremely independent, and a little stubborn, which I know will serve her well later in life, but often gets her into trouble now. We were walking home from school the other day and she was getting a little too far ahead for my comfort with all the traffic around. I asked her to come closer and she said "no mommy, I want it to look like I'm walking by myself." If given the chance for a play date, she would always prefer to have it at someone else's house. I've decided that they must have better snacks. At family camp recently, she wanted to sit with our friends and their kids and not with us, and even after they had left the table to chase their kids, she preferred to remain there alone instead of sitting with us. It sometimes breaks my heart and makes me think she doesn't like to be with me. Maybe I have been too hard on her, maybe I haven't been fun enough, maybe I haven't shown her enough love. But i have to remind myself that she was like this from day one. Always more content to be out of the house. Always better behaved for everyone else. It's just her personality, and I do love it, even if I can get frustrated sometimes. I'm sure I perpetuated it some when Henry came along. I expected a lot of her, probably too much for her age. She was so verbal and seemed so mature that I think I forgot that emotionally, she was still a baby herself. Anyway, I just want her to slow down a little now!!!

I asked Aubrey the same questions I ask on every birthday so I can remember what she was like at this age. Here are the results. You'll notice there wasn't much change this year from last year.

What is your favorite food?

A: Shrimp Enchiladas

What is your favorite book?

A: Rainbow Fairy chapter books

What is your favorite color?

A: rainbow, gold and turquoise

What is your favorite song?

A: Great Fairy Rescue

What is your favorite toy?

A: Tinkerbelle puzzle

What is your favorite thing about Kindergarten?

A: science

What is your favorite movie/show?

A: The Magic Schoolbus

What is your favorite game?

A: Candyland

What is your favorite thing to wear?

A: tinkerbelle t-shirt

Who do you miss?

A: GiGi

Who is your favorite brother?

A: Henry

Who do you love?

A: mommy and daddy

What was the best part about being five?

A: playing soccer

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: a scientist

Who is your best friend?

A: Clara

So on to the actual birthday. Unfortunately, Brian had to leave town that day for work, so we woke her extra early so he could wish her a happy day and see her open her present. She was half asleep, so my surprise didn't go off exactly like I hoped, but once she woke up she was super excited about going to Disney World!!! My dear friend Jeny is still in the Navy reserves, and as a result, gets an incredible discount at the resort. We have been wanting to meet up for a girl's trip, and decided it would be even more fun to take our oldest girls to Disney. Even with the discount, it's a big trip so we decided it would be a once in a lifetime birthday present. I found a huge Cinderella Castle balloon and stuffed it in a gift bag. It floated up when she opened it with a note attached. She is starting to read, so I thought it would be fun for her to read it herself. She was so sleepy that I basically had to do it for her.

Since she didn't have a party last year and she won't really get her present until we go to Disney in January, she got to have her first big birthday party. Until now, we have kept it a little low key with either a celebration at the house or a park. She has been wanting to go roller skating lately, so we decided to have her party at Playland Skate Center. I used to skate there as a kid, and it hasn't changed much! Her only request was for a mint chocolate chip ice cream cake. She also wanted to make sure everyone in her class was invited. I was leaving the country the next day (more on that soon), so it was nice to just show up with the cake and a few decorations and that was about all we had to do.

Skating was a little tricky for most of the kids, but they all seemed to have fun.

Fairy wings for the girls, and super-hero masks for the boys

They had some great skates for Henry. They wheels hardly moved, so he was able to stay upright, which definitely allowed us to focus on the birthday girl.

Samuel and his daddy, Jack.

Aubrey gave the "walker" a try, but preferred to just hold on to the rail

Aubrey has really come to love Maddie. They aren't in the same class, but we had met her last year through a mutual friend. I don't think she remembered meeting her, and just came to know her on her own during recess.

Happy Birthday to our sweet and spirited Aubrey!!!

Halloween

Catching up here from a busy few weeks. We continued our tradition of carving our pumpkins with power tools this year and then the next day, headed out for some good ole trick or treating. Henry continued with his super-hero theme and went as Robin. Despite my best efforts to get Aubrey to be Batgirl, she continued with her fairy theme and went as Krystal the Snow Fairy (from the Rainbow Fairy book series). The kids had a blast running around with the neighbors and filling up their pumpkins.

Modeling for the pumpkin carver

C

LLYC reunion

I was so fortunate to have been able to attend summer camp at Laity Lodge Youth Camp from the time I was about 8 or 9, until I was a counselor back in 1991. I have so many amazing memories and grew up there in many ways, both emotionally and spiritually. This weekend we headed back to camp for a camper/staff reunion. I saw so many familiar faces. Mostly, I just loved being there, singing my favorite camp songs, and spending time with the family. The property is just simply gorgeous. The camp is nestled down in a canyon along the Frio river with no phone service!!! The weather was absolutely perfect, and we had our first cold snap of the year (finally)! Our great friends, the Skaggs, were also there and the kids loved getting to play with their buddies.

I was definitely sad to leave, but the kids were wiped out! Aubrey had a really rough time on Saturday night settling down for bed and pitched a serious fit, complete with hitting, biting, and all the potty words she could think to say! Whew. I'm so glad these types of fits are few and far between now, but they are no less painful. I know she was simply exhausted and with a birthday coming up this week, it seems like she is going through some growing pains. Hopefully she'll be back to herself soon. Despite all of that, I feel renewed for the week ahead. I love camp!

Round up!

Brian and Amy

The kids put on quite a show while we waited for round-up to get going. Henry busted out with some serious dance moves.

S'mores! There is still a burn ban so we had to roast them over a grill. The kids didn't mind one bit.

On Saturday, we started off with pumpkin carving, made some tie dyed shirts, played for hours in a big sand pit, went to the adult retreat center for a queso bar, took a tour of the new family camp location (it is AMAZING!!!!) and then ended the day with another round-up and a rodeo dance.

Jane Ann and Samuel working hard.

Sabra and her girls

It was no surprise that the kids lost interest pretty quickly and the dads were left to carve the pumpkins. The tools were less than optimal and it took some serous elbow grease!

I took a few photos around the property. This is the new ranch house where we eat. It is luxurious compared to what was there when I was a camper.

The dinner bell. If your cabin was late to a meal, you ended up in the river with your clothes on.

And finally, I thought I should include a photo of me as a camper in the early 80's! My oh my.

Hill Carnival

Aubrey's elementary school has a neighborhood carnival every year to raise money for the school. I can't believe we have never gone before! The kids had a blast. My parents happened to be in town, so they got to enjoy the fun too. Aubrey was most excited about winning a cake at the cake walk and climbing the rock wall. That girl has some amazing upper body strength. The first thing she HAD to do was show us her playground skills. She has been obsessed with the monkey bars since the first week of school and has found numerous way to challenge herself on them. She has had at least six blisters on her hands, but I think the skin has finally toughened up!

This was impressive. She shimmied her way up these bars!

I feel sure she could have made it to the top of the rock wall, but the side they had her on was missing hand holds about half way up and there was no way for her to get any higher. Bummer.

Soccer Star

Aubrey is playing soccer in the neighborhood league for the first time this year, and daddy is the coach. It's been an adventure! Not sure if she is more excited by Brian coaching, the uniform, or scoring goals, but at least she enjoys running around and being part of a team! She isn't the most aggressive player, but she is learning and she has some speed when she wants to turn it on. We don't keep score, but she does :). GO RED STORM!

She shoots, she scores!!!