My Little Comedy Act

Aubrey cracks me up sometimes. Today I had to get her up early because we were headed down to the Newport Aquarium, so she was still tired while driving to my parents' house, but when we passed a row of small pine trees, she started telling me that she saw some little trees; however, halfway through the word little she stopped and changed her word to tiny and told me that she saw some tiny trees. It just cracked me up for some reason.

She really enjoyed seeing the fish, sharks, and turtles today. She touched a shark and a star fish and would have probably jumped in the tide poll had we let go of her. We stopped at the mall on the way home to make a couple of returns and she wanted Lilly, her baby doll to ride in the stroller, not her. She did ok for a little while, but then wanted to run off. My mom ended up staying with Aubrey and Camryn in the play section while I finished up the returns. Before we left, we had to ride up and down the escalator. What fun!

-A

Merry Christmas

Aubrey and I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, or as Aubrey may say, you wish me a merry Christmas, that's how she asks me to sing We Wish You A Merry Christmas. We celebrated Christmas with my parents and my brother's family this past Sunday and Aubrey was so excited, she wanted to open everybody's presents. She got a rolling suitcase, new clothes, and snow boots, which she promptly put on and wouldn't take off until it was time to put her pajamas on. She has been wearing them around the house every day since. She finally wore them outside today and walked around in the snow. She thought that was pretty great. She also got a doctor's kit, a fairy house, a new movie, a rocking chair, a teeter totter, and a high chair and stroller set for her baby dolls. We had to have Papaw and Mamaw come over and help put that together.

Tomorrow evening we will have Ryan's side of the family at our house and Saturday we will go to my parents' to celebrate with my mom's family.

Next week, I get the whole week off, so we're going to catch up on things at home. Please pray for Aubrey (and peace for my mind). She had some blood in her urine on Monday, which they assumed was a urinary tract infection. The cultures came back today and they were negative, so she has to go in again next week to have her urine checked. I am a bit concerned, but the doctor thinks that she probably just had some irritation. I'd just like to know for sure.

-A

Five Years Ago

Today was one of the happiest days of my life. I was a bundle of nerves, excitement, and happiness. I was marrying the man I was planning to spend the rest of my life with. Some of my favorite memories of the day are Ryan teaching my friends to square dance, and Ryan and I putting our wedding cake in the faces of our best man and matron of honor, Curtis and Tricia - luckily, they were good sports :). We spent that Christmas, our first together, in Australia, on our honeymoon. The following year, we went with Ryan's parents to Clifton Mills to see the lights. Two years later, we had a four month old, and were probably more interested in her than in going out to celebrate. I'm not sure if we did anything special on our third anniversary either. Last year, we called my parents around 3:00 and asked if they'd keep Aubrey while we went to supper at the Texas Roadhouse.

Year five is here now, but Ryan is not. I was fully aware that this day would be rough; it was harder than Thanksgiving. I got an email from a close friend this morning sharing her remembrances of our special day. I had some meetings this morning, so I didn't have time to dwell on it much. After lunch was a different story and I kept running different memories through my head. Tonight, Aubrey and I went with Jeff, Dena, Jacob, and Laura Wuebker to supper and then to Clifton Mills; Aubrey loved watching the lights and the little train go around the tracks, and I enjoyed having something the smile and laugh at.

The last year and a half of our marriage was sometimes stressful, but Ryan and I had such a wonderful marriage and although I was much rather him still be here with me, I don't get to make that choice and I'm so grateful for the time that God gave us and that we have such a beautiful daughter.

I don't fully understand God's plan in all this, but I know that Ryan is in a great place with our Savior and Aubrey and I miss him a lot, but we're happy.

-A

Snow Day

I got to stay home with Aubrey today. Actually, we went to town and went to the grocery and had lunch with my mom and my nieces. Aubrey took a three hour nap today! I should have gotten a lot of things done today, but I didn't do as much as I wanted. I did finish up my Christmas card a and started a little wrapping. I also did a couple loads of laundry and some ironing. It is about time for Aubrey' bath and she has her whole "diaper" bag torn out all over the living room floor - she's definitely 2!

-A

New Car

I got a new vehicle! I thought it might be a good idea to have a four wheel drive for the winter out in the country, or the middle of nowhere as the guys at work say. I decided on a GMC Acadia, but they didn't have any all wheel drives on their lot, so mine had to be ordered. They said that it could take up to six weeks to get it, but it was In in just over four weeks. I picked it up Saturday in the nice, snowy weather. I have only driven it a couple of days, but I like it so far!

Saturday night we went to Shawnee Prairie for the luminary walk with Justin, Tricia, Brooklynn, and Elliott. Aubrey and Elliot were snuggled up tight I. The wagon, we had a good time and Aubrey sat on Santa's lap.

Sunday we went. To the Boonshoft Museum for a birthday party, and then we did some Christmas shopping.

-A