Snow Day!

We got snow!!! And a snow day!!! I think it only amounted to 3-4 inches, but the side streets are pretty snow packed and icy. I love how this whole city shuts down for a tiny bit of snow...I actually got out of the house and did some Christmas shopping done, thinking the streets/stores would be empty, but apparently everyone else had the same idea. It started getting cold on Tuesday, and hasn't been above freezing since. The kids went outside and played in the snow for about 2 seconds before getting cold and coming in...just enough time to get really snowy and wet. I am jealous of recent pictures sent by Grandpa Dave of him outside in his shorts, in 83 degree weather...

I unrelated news...our roof is done! You can't tell by this picture however. But it is done and the gutters are on! I will post a picture when the snow melts, but really I can't tell much difference between the old and new. I am just so glad it is done!!

Done

Okay, I am caught up (minus a few updates, but seriously have nothing left to tell you about!!!)...Not sure when the next post will come, so hope you enjoyed the month of November. It may have to tide you over until March...

30 Days of Updates Day 30

The Christmas Tree is up and decorated (minus the re-arranging that I will have to do because my OCD just CAN NOT allow 90% of the ornaments to remain in the lower front half of the tree...). I don't have all of my other Christmas stuff up, but am not sure how much will make it out of the boxes. I am tired. And Christmas is only a few short weeks away already!!

My little helpers

30 Days of Thanks Day 30

Thankful I am done for another year!!!!

30 Days of Thanks Day 29

Thankful for my parents, without whom I would be lost. Thankful that I get to talk to my mom daily if needed (and often it is), and thankful that my dad is always available to give any advise/guidance/directions needed. I wish daily we lived closer.

30 Days of Updates Day 28

Happy Thanksgiving!! We spent the day with our Red Sox friends watching football, playing outside (because it was beautiful weather) and eating, and then eating again. Brian made his annual pies (pumpkin and coconut cream) and we had all of the traditional fix-ins'. Boy was it delightful. I ate so much my belly hurt for hours.

The boys kept begging to play our annual football game, (parents against the boys other than one of the dads gets to be on their team), so we finally relented at halftime of the Cowboy game. Last year I think we lost. And if I remember right there was an injury, which miraculously wasn't me. I should know better. I feared a twisted ankle or knee, or at best a jammed finger. Working out every day should be making me more athletic/strong/not so clumsy, but so far I am not seeing this benefit. Not two minutes into playing, Pam and I were supposed to cross the field to get open. You would think that would be an easy enough pattern. Somehow we crossed at the exact same spot, and neither of us could stop/change directions. It was like slow motion. I knew we were going to collide but couldn't do anything to stop it. Wham!!! Thankfully we both stayed standing, largely in part because we had a hold of each other to keep from falling over. She ended up with a bruise on her cheek and I with a sore spot on my temple. And we lost the game. And the kids complained we didn't play long enough. Damn football. I am a much better cheerleader from the comfort of my chair with my drink in hand...

30 Days of Thanks Day 28

Thankful for a day full of friends, family, football, food and beer. Especially thankful I didn't get a concussion from slamming into my friend Pam during the annual backyard game of kids vs. grownups football game. Thankful we didn't lose too badly.

30 Days of Thanks Day 27

Thankful for a 5 day weekend. Thankful I got more of my Christmas shopping done today and that the kids held up and didn't have huge meltdowns after the 5th store. Thankful for a warm bed to fall into.

30 Days of Updates Day 26

I am totally running out of things to tell you about. This year seems like a whirl wind of baseball, school events and PTA, hanging out with friends and trying to keep up with my chores (and failing). I am not sure all of my laundry has been completely done all year. I have been so disorganized and feel like I am constantly playing catch up. My first resolution of the New Year will be to be more organized...

30 Days of Thanks Day 26

Thankful that I married a man who is such a wonderful daddy. He is everything I could have hoped for in a father, and more. My kids are lucky to have such a smart, goofy, kind hearted man as their dad.

30 Days of Updates Day 25

We didn't get a snow day...the kids and I were very disappointed.

30 Days of Thanks Day 25

Thankful for our family of friends. I know I have said it before, but we have the best friends anyone could ask for who have become part of our family. I don't know what we would do without them. It has been difficult at time living so far from any family, but having the friends that we do make it so much easier. Blessed...

30 Days of Updates Day 24

Austin's best friend stayed the night last night...and waking up to snow was too much for them to be able to stay inside. So outside we went, all bundled in hats and mittens and coats.  I didn't last too long, it was cold (forgive me my Wyoming family...I am just not cut out for below 50 degree temps anymore). They played some football but it quickly turned to snowball fights with daddy...I think daddy won.

Daddy getting ready to bombard them...

Aubrey was more interested in catching snowflakes on her tongue and eating the snow...

Austin's attempt at a snowball...

30 Days of Thanks Day 24

Thankful for warm fires and a friendly game of Life (where Brian didn't win.. go Aubrey!!) on a cold winter's day. Still hoping for a snow day tomorrow...

30 Days of Updates Day 23

We have another chef in the family (and no it isn't me...pretty sure there is no hope for this girl...so thankful daddy has patience to cook with these kids). Aubrey made some yummy recipe that she found in her highlights magazine (thank you Grandma and Papa!). She and daddy went to the store and picked out ingredients together, and she chopped the tomatoes, cracked the eggs and made the dish all by herself. And it was pretty darn yummy. She was so proud of herself, as was I...

30 Days of Thanks Day 23

Thankful that I have finally started my Christmas shopping (I can already feel I am going to be racing around trying to get done...it just doesn't feel like Thanksgiving and Christmas should be this close). Especially thankful for my good friend Danielle who is my annual Christmas shopping buddy. I make her crazy with my indecision, but she makes Christmas shopping way more fun.

30 Days of Updates Day 22

We got our first signs of Winter today...ice on the truck! It is cold here!!!

And I heard that it is supposed to stay cold with snow possibility on Monday. Which means the city will shut down and we might get a snow day...fingers crossed.

30 Days of Thanks Day 22

Thankful for the days that I catch my sister at home on my way to pick up the kids from school. We don't get to chat very often, but I love it when we do.

30 Days of Thanks and Updates Day 21

Another combo post!!

Thankful that the painters finally came back and finished the job of painting my house!!!! (Still no roof/gutters but I am now more optimistic than ever that it will be finished soon...in their defense the weather has turned kind of nasty).

I have 'before' pictures for this project...

And another drum roll please................

I love it!!!!!

I will post pictures again once the roof is replaced...not sure what color it will be as it has been so long since we talked about it, so not sure if it will look much different.

30 Days of Updates (sort of) Day 20

Missing summer days by the pool...

30 Days of Thanks Day 20

Thankful that I have had the motivation to get up early at least 3-4 times per week ALL YEAR SO FAR to go and work out at 5am. I think I have lost/gained about 50 pounds (it's a process...I am still working on embracing healthy eating), and as of right now I really am not down the pounds I think I should be, but I do believe I feel better (most days) and am stronger. I still wake up sore everyday and am tired a lot, but I keep telling myself it is a good tired and a good sore...Overall I am pretty proud of me.

30 Days of Updates Day 19

Austin is playing basketball again this fall. Due to the drama with his baseball team (who he played basketball with the last 2 years), there are new coaches this year (Brian is one of them). The other coach is one of our favorite dads from the Bulldogs, who also knows very little about coaching basketball. And about half of the team is new. We are definitely still a bunch of baseball players just staying in shape for baseball, but I think it will be a good season. We lost our first pre-season game, but won the second one in a nail biter. I think the actual season starts after Thanksgiving. It should be interesting.

Go Scorpions!

30 Days of Thanks Day 19

Thankful for mornings off and breakfast with good friends.

30 Days of Updates Day 18

Austin's baseball team got to go to a Little League World Series Tournament in Kansas City this summer (it sounds official but it is not "the" Little League World Series baseball that you see on TV. I have learned there are multiple World Series Tournaments per year, per state. Why we picked KC is beyond me other than it was different teams to play, different atmosphere and a lot of fun!). It was a 5 day event full of baseball, swimming, BBQ, drinking, laughter, frustration and friendship. I will treasure the memories that we made during this trip, and very little of them had to do with actual baseball.

We (and by 'we' I mean the parents) did multiple fundraisers throughout spring to fund this trip so that the only out of pocket for each family was gas and food. And even a few of our meals were covered. We stayed at a Super 8 Hotel, which we were almost thrown out of and which was a little on the trashy/dirty side. We now call it the Okay 4 1/2, because it was not super and it definitely wasn't an 8 on the scale of 1-10...

 The first night we took over the pool and had water balloon fights with the kids. At the end of the night I am pretty sure every parent was thrown in fully clothed. We were told the next day that we clogged the pool pump with our balloon fragments...ooops. That was probably strike one.

We got to go to the original Arthur Bryant's BBQ which was amazing, and the Dinosaur Cafe which all of the kids loved. We stayed up late (the parents) and got too loud at times and maybe drank too much Fireball and ran around outside chasing helicopters (which probably contributed to strike two at the hotel). We cut loose and were poor examples for our children, who thankfully were in bed asleep so didn't know it.

Baseball-wise, it was a disappointing trip over all. I think we won 1 game and lost 4; at least 3 of which we should have won but lost due to stupid coaching decisions...

Austin played great though, as usual. During one of the games, he was brought in to pitch with the bases loaded down by a run or two. He had to shut down the other team with about 5 minutes left in the game in order for us to get a chance to bat again to take the lead. I will never forget his pitching...he struck out 3 kids  in 9 pitches in a matter of 3 minutes to give us a second chance. Which we in turn blew...but I will never forget what a little rock-star he was on the mound. And he will never forget the chants of "What time is it?! It's Miller Time!!" that his teammates and the parents chanted every time he came up to pitch or every time he came to the plate to bat. It made the trip entirely worth every minute.

Austin and Aubrey, Kansas City; July 2013

Sliding into 3rd...safe.

Striking out the side.

30 Days of Thanks Day 18

Thankful there is always tomorrow...

30 Days of Updates Day 17

As I said before Austin was chosen by his art teacher to attend an art workshop this Saturday. They worked with construction paper, foil and markers...and this was Austin's creation. I think he had a good time and may want to do it again. They have another workshop in the spring and then a 2 week camp this summer. Of course it will all depend on baseball. As it was, Austin had to leave a little early for his basketball game, as basketball has started again this fall. But that is for another post.

30 Days of Thanks Day 17

Thankful for a day with no plans and nothing to do (other than laundry, clean the house and get organized for the week...or take a nap).

30 Days of Updates Day 16 (I am running out of stuff here)

Aubrey came home from school yesterday and said she learned all about the differences between living in the country and living in the city. In the country she learned that there is more space, more trees, less cars...and in the city there is less of all of those things (this was her explanation). She also learned that her teacher lives in a Suburban. And that Suburbans are a mix of both country and city life. I can't wait to tell her teacher this!

30 Days of Thanks Day 16

Thankful for little daily reminders that God is Good, and that He is in control.

30 Days of Updates Day 15

It is Aubrey's turn for a black eye...The school nurse (who I work out with in the mornings so she feels free to call me anytime not knowing that a phone call from the kids' school sends me into a panic) called yesterday just to let me know that Aubrey was going to come home with a black eye. She said Aubrey was standing too close to a friend who was doing flips on the monkey bars and got kicked in the face. It looks worse in person than this picture. I am amazed at the amount black eyes my kids have had. I don't think I got my first one until I was in high school, and then it was by jacking around w/ a friend. Even all my days of basketball didn't get my black eyes...just multiple sprained ankles.

30 Days of Thanks Day 15

Thankful for relaxed mornings where everyone is up on time, there is no rushing around, no crying, no yelling. Makes for a good start to the day...

30 Days of Updates Day 14

Austin has switched baseball teams. We have been frustrated w/ his team and the coaching for the past two years and decided that it was time to part ways before we lost friendships that I so much wanted to keep. We had been talking to another team prior to our big tournament in Kansas City (will write about that in another update) and learned that they had an opening. Austin played in a few tournaments with them when our season with the Bulldogs was done, and they offered him a spot on the team. So in the spring he is going to be a Slugger. We are excited about the move for him, but I am so going to miss baseball games with the family that we made with his last team.

The Sluggers didn't play fall ball as most of those kids play football, so Austin played for another team whose coach used to be on the Bulldogs, as well as some of the players. So he (we) got to reconnect with some friends we hadn't seen in a while. One of the kids on the fall team was his very first little best friend from daycare. Austin and Cole were inseparable their first 4 years of life at daycare, getting into trouble (mostly for throwing balls or anything they could throw) and tormenting their teachers. We have seen Cole around the baseball/basketball world a few times since, and his mom and I would always take their picture together but the boys were shy and never really said much to each other. It was nice for them to get to get to know each other again on and off the ball field. I am hoping we can play with that team again as a pick up player here and there so we can stay in touch.

On a side note, at one of their games we also saw one of their old day care workers whose son plays baseball. She was amazed of course at how big the boys had gotten, but mostly at how much hair Austin had. She remembered him bald...for the first 3 years of his life.

30 Days of Thanks Day 14

Thankful for second chances, and 3rd and 4th chances. Especially thankful for forgiveness.

30 Days of Updates Day 13

We are in the process of getting our roof replaced (due to the massive hail storm we had here in May). A friend of ours from baseball (Austin's old coach) works for a roofing company so we have contracted w/ them to get it done. And as part of the contract he has promised that they can paint our house...It has been a slow process and I continually question my decision to mix business w/ friends, but am still optimistic that it is going to turn out okay. Every week I get a phone call saying our roof/painting will be done within the week...and then it never is. Anyway, we do have painters here today scraping and getting things ready so that is promising. AND...he fought with our insurance to get us a new air conditioner as our last one was pretty badly damaged by the hail. I am so excited about that, because we have never been able to get our house cooler than 80 degrees in the summertime...

I know nothing about air conditioners, but isn't this one pretty!!!!

30 Days of Thanks Day 13

Thankful for nights when Austin and Aubrey get along and all I hear are giggles instead of screaming and crying.

30 Days of Updates Day 12

Aubrey is finally taking Gymnastics!! She has wanted to for a few years now, but our schedules really haven't permitted it and the one time I signed her up (thankfully hadn't paid yet), she backed out because she was scared. And it interfered with baseball...

But she chose to do gymnastics this winter instead of basketball. She has attended 3 sessions now and loves it. She is learning how to do cartwheels, somersaults, and handstands. She is also learning to walk on the balance beam and how to do flips on the bars. I can already see huge improvement in just 3 sessions (I know you think that I might be exaggerating, but if you saw her handstand and cartwheel prior to starting and then now...you would say the same thing). She still has a long way to go, but she is excited to be there and having so much fun. I think she will be pretty darn good at it.

My Little Gymnast 

30 Days of Thanks Day 12

Thankful that I have a flexible job & can take time off whenever I need/want to. I am very blessed to be able to make my own schedule and can take time off to attend school assemblies, volunteer with the PTA or just go have lunch with the kids.

30 Days of Updates Day 11

One of Austin's friends had a birthday party at Frontier City this summer, which is the 'big' amusement park in Oklahoma. It is a bit scaled down from Six Flags, but it has some good rides. Aubrey decided she was going to hang with the big boys and ride all of the roller coasters (except for the one that does two loops frontwards and backwards, thankfully she was too little so she didn't feel too bad about not wanting to do that one. I am not so sure I would have let her).

Anyway, I was so proud of her. She has a tendency to skip out on doing things because of her fear, and when she eventually tries whatever it is, she loves it and wishes she hadn't waited so long. Usually I try to 'gently' push her into doing things, (and by gently I mean drag her and threaten), but this time I was secretly hoping she wouldn't want to do the coasters because I was a little nervous for her. You can tell by this 'before' picture that she was a little nervous too. I wish I would have gotten her 'after' picture, but she ran by me so fast to get back in line to do it again that I couldn't snap it. She had a blast! As did the boys, who rode all of the rides at least a dozen times. I, however, rode one ride too many and left the park nauseated with a headache. I think it was the double loop ride...

30 Days of Thanks Day 11

As always, thankful for those men and women, past and present, who chose to join our military to keep this country safe. They are the true heroes in this world, and I have so much respect and admiration for each and every one of them.

30 Days of Updates Day 10

Aubrey learned to ride her bike this summer without training wheels. We kept putting it off because she is a bit of a drama queen and we feared the amount of crying that would happen, but I think she caught on faster than Austin did and didn't cry once! Here is a little video of one of her first attempts. Never mind my nervous shouting of her name...

30 Days of Thanks Day 10

Thankful for beautiful fall weekends in Oklahoma where baseball tournaments are able to be played, in short sleeves. And thankful for new opportunities with different teams to show the baseball community how talented Austin is.

30 Days of Updates Day 9

Last May Austin's art teacher chose one of his 'masterpieces' to be in a district wide art show at one of the high-schools. In between baseball games (of course) we had a chance to go look around and take his picture by it. His is the blue owl right above him. So cute...

His same art teacher this year has nominated him to attend some artsy workshop next Saturday. She said she isn't really sure what it is about, but thinks they get to "do a bunch of art". I think I am more excited about it than Austin is, but he said he would go. As long as there isn't baseball.

30 Days of Thanks Day 9

Thankful for lazy mornings when I actually get to sleep in (and by sleep in I mean about 7:00, gone are the days of sleeping in much past then). Also thankful for afternoon naps.

30 Days of Updates Day 8

My little entrepreneurs...

We had a garage sale a few weeks ago. I swear every time I have one that I will never have another one, but then the crap keeps piling up and I always think it is too much to just give away..."I can make some money on this stuff"...

Anyway, during the garage sale, Austin and Aubrey and two of Aubrey's friends set up a Lemonade/cookie stand. I think they each came away with about $6.00. Which isn't too bad considering they each ate at least $10.00 in product.

30 Days of Thanks Day 8

Thankful for this boy...

And this girl...

...who have filled my life with such laughter, and love, and amazement, and wonder and humility. They have made me appreciate the simple things in life such as finding tiny turtles, climbing big Magnolia trees in the front yard and chasing bubbles. I didn't know how much I could love another until they came into my life. I am thankful everyday for them, and they own my heart...

30 Days of Updates Day 7

Aubrey had her first manicure a few weeks ago. I had my first one at the age of 23, she has hers at the age of 6...she loved it. Which is bad news for me.

30 Days of Thanks Day 7

Thankful for baseball. Not only do my children love to play (especially the boy) and are both pretty dang good at it, but we have made so many wonderful friends and are so blessed with all of our baseball people in our lives. We have our 'baseball family' here in Oklahoma, and I hope that our kids continue to play sports together for many years.

30 Days of Updates Day 6

Austin attended a baseball camp again this summer. He learned a lot and had a great time. He didn't attend with his baseball team this year so was very nervous about going and not knowing anyone, but that lasted about 10 minutes...that kid can make friends anywhere. He impressed the coaches of course, and won most outstanding camper for his stellar baseball skills and good behavior in his age group...which was 9 to 14. So he won most outstanding in the 9-14 age group out of at least 50 kids! We are so proud of our little ball player.

He got a Miguel Cabrera Plaque for his award, good thing it wasn't a Yankee player...

30 Days of Thanks Day 6

Thankful for our busy lives. I love that the kids are so involved in sports, and with school, and especially that we have so many wonderful friends to share any of our free time with. We are always running, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

30 Days of Thanks & Updates Day 5

This one is a combo post, because it was such a huge project for me and took me almost all year to complete it...

Thankful that I got my kitchen done (finally!!) and that it turned out so beautiful! I love it! It started last Christmas with my mom and dad, who helped me tear wall paper, mud the walls and paint them. My dad and Brian tore out some cabinets over the counter to open up the kitchen and made some shelves in the corner. And that is about as far as we got over Christmas break.

It took me a long time (mostly because the project was on hiatus for most of the year) to get the cabinets painted and put back together. I would be embarrassed to confess how long we actually were without cabinet doors while I was "in the middle" of this. But once I got started again it didn't take too long. The final touches were changing out light switches and plug-ins as the old ones were nasty and yellowed, which was Brian's job. We only had to call my dad once (okay twice...) to get help with a three way hook up. And he only got shocked once (okay twice...), but the numbness went away in a day or two and the sporadic tics have stopped, so no permanent damage done.

I failed to take before pictures, so for those of you who never saw my kitchen before, picture hideous small flower wall paper on the top half of the walls, with a huge flower border mid wall, leading into horizontal striped flower wall paper on the bottom half. In blues and creams and mauve/pink colors. With ugly old wood cabinets.

But, here is the new kitchen...drum roll please!

30 Days of Updates Day 4

Sign on Aubrey's door.

Subtle hint for her brother?

I love how polite she is.

Things haven't changed much around here between the two, they are either fighting or inseparable. I guess that is the way it should be.

30 Days of Thanks Day 4

Thankful for enough...we might not have everything that we want, but we sure have more than we need. It is always enough.

30 Days of Updates Day 3

Aubrey lost her first tooth May 4th of this year. She hasn't lost any more since then but has 3-4 loose teeth right now so it won't be long. She was very brave and tried hard to pull it herself, but in the end mommy had to coax it out.

30 Days of Thanks Day 3

Thankful that we, after 11 years of living in this house, finally are using our fireplace! We have enough wood for the next 10 winters...Here's to lower heating bills this year!

30 Days of Updates Day 2

Austin and Aubrey, August 2013

First Day of School

Austin is in the 5th grade this year. 5th Grade!!! He will be in middle school this year. Every time I think about that I have a panic attack...

Report cards just came out for the first quarter and he, of course, had a fabulous one. His teacher said he is "a respectful, intelligent and hard working young man, and I am proud to have him in my classroom". I may have teared a little when I read that. Especially since the year started out rocky. He has a male teacher this year, who is very strict and "mean" (according to the naughty kids). He is all about teaching responsibility and good behavior. I think Austin was having a lot of anxiety about going to school because he is not the "warm and fuzzy" type of teacher he has had in the past. But he quickly settled in and learned that Mr. P was not "mean" unless you are out of line, so he and Austin get along just fine.

Aubrey is loving the 1st grade. Her only complaint is that she doesn't have homework every night, so she makes us create some for her (math problems). She has the same first grade teacher Austin had, who I absolutely adore. She is doing well and also had a great report card. Her teacher said "Aubrey is doing great! She is such a joy to have in class this year. She makes me smile everyday!!".

My kids are awesome!

30 Days of Thanks Day 2

So very thankful for good friends who helped us cut down the ginormous dead tree in the backyard so that we didn't have to call tree removal and spend thousands of dollars. Especially thankful that no one was hurt, and the house/fence/shed & neighbors house/fence/shed are still standing.

That is big stump...

30 Days of Updates Day 1

I figured since I have been such a slacker this year in posting, I would do 30 days of updates in addition to my 30 days of Thanks. Maybe I will catch everyone up on the happenings this year with the Millers...

Halloween 2013

This year for Halloween we (and by we I mean the Millers, our Red Sox friends and another family with whom we are really good friends-our camping buddies) dressed up as Duck Dynasty/Red Sox Nation. If you haven't seen Duck Dynasty on TV, you should. It is a Reality TV show about a family in Louisiana who made millions making duck calls. They are self proclaimed Red Necks who love God and guns, and I am in love with this show. As are my children. We can't wait for new episodes. And of course, with the Sox winning the World Series (yay!!!) we had to include our Sox paraphernalia.  The only thing missing are the beards...

30 Days of Thanks Day 1

Today I am thankful for anyone who has been faithfully checking my blog in hopes of one day finding that I have returned...

My Awesome Ballplayer

Today you turn 10. What an amazing, smart, sensitive and beautiful boy you are! I am so very proud of the young man you are becoming.

You are still, and always, all about baseball. You amaze all who watch you play and have continued offers to play for several teams. You hear chants of "It's Miller Time!" when you come up to bat, or when you take the mound. Watching you play ball gives me goosebumps. You are awesome.

You still make friends where ever you go. You are shy and reserved, and always scared in new situations, but it doesn't take long for kids to gravitate to you. You see the good in everyone, and have a kind heart.

You like school, even though you say you don't. Your favorite subject is Math, and you have already passed Mommy's knowledge in this subject. We have to wait for daddy to come home in order to check your homework. Your teachers love you, and you are always one of the best students in class. Their only complaint is that you have a hard time sitting still.

You love your little sister, and you still love to torment her. Screams of "Nahnie stop!" permeate the house on a regular basis. She worships you, and  you are learning how to be kind to her as well.

Your best friend is still Kaehler, you are two peas in a pod playing anything baseball when you are together. You are still a total daddy's boy, and are interested in whatever daddy is. You love to collect coins, and have almost memorized the red book. You are also getting into collecting baseball/football cards, and have about a million of them. You love your hair long (as do I), even though you regularly get called a girl. It makes us all giggle when people realize their mistake.

I love you so very much, and am so thankful that I get to be your mommy...I am your biggest fan.

Happy Birthday! 

My Dearest Little

Today you are 6. You are growing up so fast and becoming such a big girl. You are sassy and smart and sweet and silly. You are honest and kind and bossy. You are cautious in trying new things, but can be so brave when you make up your mind to do it. You make my days brighter. I don't know what I would do without my little best friend.

 

You love school and can't wait to start first grade. You love to read and are reading small chapter books. Your Kindergarten teacher said you are already on 2nd grade skills. You love to draw and color and write stories. And you love to play baseball. Which is a good thing, because if you want to spend any time with your brother, you have to be playing ball. You have been picked up by a boys' team for the fall because you are so good.

You love your brother as much as ever, and are always so sad when he is ornery to you. But you do like to tattle on him for whatever wrong he has done toward you. But at the end of the day, he is still your Nahnie. You would spend all day doing whatever he wanted as long as he would let you play with him.

 

You still love horses and love to watch the Lone Ranger and the Black Stallion. You enjoy spending time in your room listening to your radio, singing and dancing. You love to come and get me when one of our songs are on. Your favorite food is still Mac n' Cheese. Your favorite color is still green, like mommy. You still love to cuddle although you won't let me cuddle you as long as you used to. You are a social bug and make friends easily where ever you go. 

 

You are amazing, and I love you so much. Happy Birthday my Aubrey.

Aubrey after a few hours of swimming

No Excuses...

Wow. Almost 2 months since my last post. Good grief, where do I start?

School is out for the summer in 2 days. TWO DAYS! The kids (and I) are so excited we can hardly stand it. I will cut back to working only 3 days a week again this summer, and am very much looking forward to it. I am hoping that I can get some work done around the house (I haven't seen the bottom of the laundry pile since January, and my kitchen is still only half painted), but not really holding my breath. We already have big plans of days spent by the pool with good friends. I love summer in Oklahoma.

Aubrey had her Kindergarten "graduation" today. Basically her teacher rolled out the red carpet (butcher paper) for the kids to walk down when she called their names, and then gave them candy awards specific to them. Aubrey got the 'Nerds' award (which included a big box of Nerds) 'for her intelligence and hard work in all areas!'. So proud of my little smart girl. She is very much looking forward to 1st grade, although according to her teacher she has already mastered most of the first grade skills.

Welcome to the First Grade

Baseball is going well. Austin continues to be a rock star both on the pitcher's mound and in the field. We are  a little frustrated with his coaches this year, but continue to be amazed at what a great ball player he is. And Aubrey is following in his footsteps. She is doing really well this year too. Between the two of them we really have no free nights or weekends, but I really wouldn't have it any other way...

This shirt pretty much sums it all up...

We went to the annual coin show this month. Austin especially enjoys going (not more than his daddy though) and was excited to see his "coin club friends". Aubrey just like getting free coins "because I am cute".  What a spoiled girl...

Looking for needed coins

That is about it for this post. With continued promises to do better I will go for now...