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