Choice...

I took Aubrey out for a quick photo shoot the other day. 

She is such a special girl. 

She is beautiful inside and out!

I am really tired this morning.  Hopefully I wake up soon.

I plan to make this day great. 

It's my choice, right?!

I had a great chat with my second oldest last night.

I love when we really share from our hearts.

She is an amazing young lady...

just coming into her own.

She is just starting to figure our who she is.

I love it!

We have lots and lots of sniffles going on around here.

Hopefully, that passes soon.

Well...

That about sums it up.

Go out and CHOOSE to have a great day!

Personality...

I sat down this morning to do some editing of photos from the past couple of days.

I was planning on doing a whole post on the excitement that took place when we received a box from Galen and Cadi...

but I couldn't resist posting this picture!

This is a perfect example of crazy attitudes in this house.

Take special notice of the little one on the left...

Do you notice anything... strange about her face?

Click on the picture to get a close up...

She thinks this is hilarious!!

It is definitely a true representation of her personality...

Crazy Face!!

Learning...

It is chilly today.

Fall may have officially arrived in our part of the country.

The other day, however, the sun was still blazing and the kids were out and about.

Pay no attention to Aubrey's hair.

This was crazy day at school...

and she knows how to do it right!

I guess every animal on the farm came for a visit...

or that is what it felt like everytime I was called outside to see their newest find.

I did NOT take a photo of the snake that I "nicely" told them to get away from me...

I'm sure you can understand.

This little boy thought I was honestly going to let this turtle sleep in his bed!

No Way on EARTH!

He carried that poor thing around forever!

I finally had to make him put it down..

and then he wouldn't leave it alone.

I sent him off to do another task and that poor turtle moved faster than any turtle has moved in the history of the universe.  He knew he had his chance and he took it!

Raising country kids is hard...

when you have always been much more of a city girl than you realized.

I am learning, though.

Driving and Playing...

Somedays around here (not often) we get a chance to play more than work.

Play comes in all forms, though.

Just because something sounds like work to one person doesn't mean it is work for all.

Mowing the lawn is a perfect example.

The girls have fallen in love with the riding lawn mower.

Sydnee was the first to learn to use it, although I somehow can't find the photos I took of her driving it.

Then Daddy got in on the action and drove Brysen around...

who thought it was "So Much FUN!!"

Ofcourse, the swing is always in use.

Aubrey loves nothing more than having someone push her really high...

up into the leaves and branches.

Grandpa is more than happy to help out.

Grandpa noticed a large rock right under the swing and decided it wasn't safe.

He took a couple of minutes, removed it and the swinging began again.

That is Aubrey pushing Lily up into the branches...

The belly laughs coming out of Lily were so cute!

Then Aubrey took her turn on the mower.

Hey Galen...

Now Syd and Aubs know how to drive a stick shift...

Have you learned yet?

Uh Oh....

Am I in trouble for asking that question?????

Breaking a Horse...

Aubrey loves the country.

My dad is fond of saying that she was born for this kind of thing.

She was.

She just... fits.

She loves being with horse most of all.

They seem to be kindred spirits...

to borrow a term from my favorite Anne of Green Gables.

Brysen has been waiting for his chance to ride Buck.

I guess he finally wore Grandpa down.

Here he is jealously patiently waiting for his turn.

This was the big day when Aubrey was being given the chance to ride without the lead rope.

She was nervous, but the huge smile on her face was proof that she was so excited she couldn't keep it all inside.

She did a wonderful job!

She really is a natural.

...and Grandpa couldn't be more proud!

In the next couple of days, I will share Brysen's exciting horse adventure...

What Happens...

...when you point the camera at a 6th grader for an extended period of time.

I guess we call it...

Death

on camera.

Meeting a Challenge...

Aubrey is really showing herself as a leader these days.

I am so proud of the way she jumps into a challenge and meets it head on.

Way to go, Aubs!

4 Days Until the Big Wedding Event

Never Ending Hole...

 Aubrey and friends

... checking out the never ending hole in the tree trunk.

With all of the packing we are having to do... double time... it is nice to see the kids get to just hang out and be kids.  I am sure that when this move is over we will be so tired!  In fact, I am already tired... but it is a good tired.

13 days until the big wedding event...

Fairy Princess...

Once upon a time...

There was a fairy princess...

Who was getting older...

She knew what she liked and wasn't afraid to ask for it.

"Soda Pop Cake, Please."

She knew what type of clothes she liked and she wore them well!

She loved to read and her taste in reading was getting older and more difficult.

She had many family members who loved her and showered her with gifts!

She was overjoyed and thankful for each one!

But deep, deep down...

She still held on to a little bit of that fairy princess...

and she wasn't afraid to show that side either!

Happy 11th Birthday, Aubrey!

We LOVE every side of your personality!

Aubrey's birthday was last week and Mama was just a little slow posting the photos!

Shame shame, Mama!

Aubrey...

Today is Aubrey's 11th birthday!!!!!

Happy Birthday, beloved!!!!!!!!

Kids Day...

We recently celebrated kids day at our church.

Some of the kids participated in worship.  My two sweeties are front and center...

Look at Syd... always the showman!

10 year old Girls...

Mom, look!

This egg has a mouth!

Oh the things that excite 10 year old girls...

Someday and Today...

I can see what a great mother you will be someday...

You make me so proud to call you mine!

My children have really stepped up to the plate.  When I say that, it sounds like I asked them to help with the twins.  I haven't.  Each and every one of the kids has pitched in.  In some way they have helped me tremendously.  Miranda helps in the middle of the night. Sydnee helps with feedings and diapers.  The little ones all help with binkies that have fallen out.

But...

Aubrey has been such a blessing.  You never have to ask if someone will help feed or hold or love or kiss...

In fact, you will have to ask her to step away from the babies before anything else!

Science With Dad...

Aubrey and Dad were studying how electricity works.

Science is a favorite subject for Aubrey.

She not only loves learning the new stuff, but loves the Daddy time.

Wants It All...

Some kids are quiet.

Some are little chatterboxes.

Some read and contemplate the world.

Some take the world by its shoulders and give it a good shake... just to see what will happen.

Some kids give hugs and kisses.

Some kids just want a smile.

This kids wants it all!

...and she gets it, too!

A Great Day...

Happy Birthday to you...

We took Aubrey out to lunch today to celebrate her special day. The kids love to get some one on one time with mom and dad. We had a wonderful time. Then we came home played a little and went into party mode.

These were not the relighting kind of candles, but amazingly...

after she blew them out, one of them relit!

We all burst out laughing. Silly, but fun...

Aubrey couldn't wait to get to the gift that came in the mail.


Her FAVORITE part was seeing her name on the address label.

Grandma's know how special that kind of stuff is!!


After Lily received a grandma blanket (that is what the kids call them) for her birthday in January, Aubrey couldn't wait to open her gift. She was praying that she would recieve the same gift.

I think the smile says it all...


Shortly after opening the other girls grabbed it and Aubrey had to fight to get that blanket back!

-very popular, these grandma blankets!

Okay, this photo has nothing to do with the birthday except it shows a very tired mama after a full day of birthday celebrations. Ari is sitting with me. She has a sty in her eye and we are really trying to get it to heal up.

It didn't take long for Aubrey to spread her blanket across her bed and give it a permanent home.
Finally, we took a family photo. Unfortunately, Chey had to work today, so... she is not with us in the photo.


What a great day!