Coffee Anyone?

This is my new favorite picture:

World Travelers

I love to travel!  This past fall, Aubrey and I had the great opportunity to take the trip of a lifetime.  Friends of mine from college are currently living in southeast Asia and Aubrey and their children think they are relatives, so Aubrey misses seeing them.  Over a year ago, she asked if we could go visit them and I decided to answer her question with a yes.  It isn't easy to plan an overseas trip with a 6 year old, but I managed!

We had a great time visiting with our friends and experiencing life with them and also traveling to Thailand.

After 10 flights and 20 days away from home, Aubrey was ready to be back to Kindergarten (which she absolutely loves by the way).

Merry Christmas!
-A

Running a 5K

Sometimes I feel like my life is one big marathon, and many days I don't get to walk much.  Today, I ran a 5K (yes a real one) for the very first time.  A friend of mine challenged me to sign up for a 5K and run with her back in May.  At first, I really didn't think there was any way that I could achieve that, but I decided that I was going to try.  I downloaded the couch to 5K app on my phone and got started.

I ran the 5K today in 30 minutes and 2 seconds, which was my best time since I've been training.  I also won 2nd place in my age division!

As a mom, I don't do much for myself, but it has felt good to bet a little bit more in shape and I'm kind of proud of myself for meeting this goal.

Enjoy the long weekend.

-A

Going to School

My baby went to kindergarten today!  She was super excited and ready to go, I wasn't in quite the same frame of mind.  When she got home and I asked her what the best part of the day was, she couldn't decide and told me that she loved all of it!

Aubrey with her friends, Myra and Jamie.

-A

Going, Going, Almost Gone

Summer that is!

The summer has flown by!

At the end of July, we had a great visit with our good friends, the Newtons.  The girls had to play dress up.

The day after they left, we took a trip to the Ft. Wayne Zoo.  

I had to work on Aubrey's birthday, so we took a special trip the day afterwards.  I had a meeting in Columbus, so my friend Angie took Aubrey and her friend to the zoo for some fun.  The next day, we went to the American Girl store, what fun!

That evening, we had Aubrey's birthday party, a bonfire!  We made s'mores and ate yummy s'mores cupcakes.

 Aubrey loves the fair as much as Ryan did.  She couldn't wait to try this trampoline thing and was doing flips after a minute or so.

Aubrey starts kindergarten on Tuesday; I can't believe it is that time already!

-A

Playing on the Beach

This past week, we went on a nice vacation to Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.  We went with my parents and my two nieces, Kaitlyn and Camryn.  My grandma, aunt, a cousin and his friend went along as well (they took their own car, ours was a bit full).

While in North Carolina, we visited one of my mom's brothers.  We also explored the history of Fort Macon and the North Carolina Maritime Museum.

We also went to the aquarium and because no one had naps, we got a little crabby.

We went on a boat ride and saw dolphins in the bay.  We also played in the sand and sent messages home!

 -A

Traits

It has been amazing me lately how many traits Aubrey has gotten from Ryan.  A lot of her expressions and mannerisms are very much him, which makes me believe so much more that who were are in designed into our genes.  Anyway, it seems like I've been noticing how much she is like him lately, until the other day in the car . . . she totally gets this trait from me. . .

Happy 4th of July (a little late)!

-A

Riding...er Swimming Through June

Well, maybe both!  Aubrey is on the Versailles Tiger Sharks swim team this year and she has had 2 meets already.  Tuesday night's meet was cold and rainy and not a whole lot of fun.  Tonight's weather was beautiful!  Aubrey had better times on Tuesday night than she did tonight, but she's trying her best and swimming the whole 25 meters!  Here she is on Tuesday and then tonight swimming the freestyle.

Last weekend we went trail riding with the Wulbers.  We had a great time enjoying nature and "roughing it".  Aubrey rode Cody on a buddy seat with Auntie Rachel.  I rode a mule named Tippy.  

I was sure hoping that Tippy's name did not come from the fact that she liked to tip people off, and it didn't, it was because of her floppy ears.  She was a good mule.

-A

Welcome Back

So I haven't blogged one time since before Christmas in 2013, but I'm going to try to go back to this regularly again.  Aubrey and I have been busy doing normal things, not much major stuff has been happening, but we are enjoying being able to do things around home, and spend time with our families.

Near the end of December a lot of my mom's family was together to celebrate my Aunt Pam's birthday.  It was nice to see some relatives that we haven't seen in a while.

In January, I finally got brave enough to take Aubrey to the sledding hill outside of New Paris.  It was so much fun.  She is very independent and was very brave and went down multiple times all by herself.

In February, we went to the Newport Aquarium on a no school day, we had a lot of those, but I think this one was actually scheduled!

In April, we colored Easter eggs (Camryn and Aubrey did, while Andrew (my nephew) watched).  

 Easter was a lovely day and we enjoyed time outside Easter egg hunting, but also a little time on the couch visiting with family.

At the beginning of this month, Aubrey and I went to a tea.  She was such a big girl and we had a lot of fun.  We went with my friend, Angie.  She's our new science specialist at work and she's become a great friend.

I have been growing a lot this year.  I've been pushed to get outside of my comfort zone a bit and it has been good for me.  Music has always spoken to me, and one of my current favorite songs is "How Sweet the Sound" by Citizen Way.  Part of the chorus says:

You were healing in the pain,

You were shelter in the storm,

Hallelujah, you restored my soul . . .

In the past few years, God has surely been those things to me . .. 

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

I hear you singing over me.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

It covers every part of me,

And it's a beautiful sound.

I hope that God's grace is a beautiful sound to you and that your spring is blooming with joy! 

Hope to blog more often in the coming months!

-A