sNOw thanks

I am SNOW grateful for a husband that likes to ski and kids that are super COOL.  And WEATHER they like it or not, I'd rather CHILL at home, thank you SNOW much.

Our Year 2017

THE PERFECT 10.

Aubrey decided it was okay to just turn 10 last week.

In all honesty, I don't get too sad about my kids getting older.  I know some moms sob and cry themselves to sleep and literally cannot. even. come. to. terms. 

But for me, I don't loose too much sleep over it.  I like watching them grow and change and learn, and while I do get a little nostalgic sometimes, I'm able to enjoy the stage they're at and not let sadness ruin it. 

And on that note, Aubrey turned 10 and we are feeling every emotion.

Happy for the awesome decade we've had with her and excited for the ones ahead.

Here's my 10 Year Interview with Aubrey Lyn.

1.) What do you want to be when you grow up and why?

I want to be a teacher or a doctor.  For the teacher... because I've seen my teachers at work and it just seems like something I want to do when I grow up.  And for the doctor, my dad is a doctor and he comes home and tells me what he did every day and that interests me.

2.) If you could go anywhere/do anything for a day, what would you do?

I'd want to go to Hawaii and go snorkeling and got to a luau with my family and my best friend, Aubree.

3.) What is your favorite part of every day?

Probably the second my dad comes home from work and he runs up to me and gives me a ginormous hug.  Or when I come home from school and Jagger jumps on me and Bailey runs up to me and I get to tell you (Ashley) about my day.

4.) What was your favorite memory from childhood?

Hmmm....probably going on the cruise with our family.

5.) What are you the most scared of?

That is none of your business.  (5 minutes later after begging.)  I don't know. Spiders. Snakes.  Brooklyn always tells me scarry stories about spiders and snakes and I'm mostly just afraid that they will crawl into my bed at night.

6.) If you could have lunch with anyone (dead/alive/real/fake), who would it be?

Probably Hugh Jackman. Because I think he is a really great actor and I'd love to meet him one day.

7.) If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Spaghetti and ice cream.  Wait, that does not go together.  OK, yea.

8.) If you were a Disney character, who would you be and why?

Well, I took this test at Disneyland and it said I was Mulan, so I'm going to say that because computers do not lie.

9.) What is a goal you have for your life?

Find a job that pays a lot.

10.) If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it?

I would buy a theater and an ice cream shop and watch all the movies I want, and eat all the ice cream I could.  And if I had left-over money, I would buy a cat.

 

 Happy Birthday, Aubrey.

Feeling thankful. And full.

This Thanksgiving was hands-down, without question, absolutely, positively 

the GREATEST Thanksgiving of my life.

Here's why.

1.) I didn't have to leave my house.

For the first time ever, my family came to me.

Having a new house + a guest room is where it's at.

2.) Guitars + S'mores + Campfire Songs + Hot Chocolate.

Need I say more?

3.) Bailey's first Gymnastics class.

Didn't go well at all, but OH. MY.  That little diaper butt in a tiny white leotard falling spastically off a balance beam.  Nothing cuter I tell ya.

4.) The Aquarium.

All our wildest dreams - lizards crawling on our bodies + feeding raw shrimp to sting rays + getting pooped on by birds + letting fish eat the dead skin off our fingers.  Magical. Ish.

5.) Ice Falling.  Oh, I mean Ice Skating.

I wish pictures could convey the sheer emotions of this experience. 

It's safe to say that Bailey inherited my California blood/repulsion of all things winter.

She no likey.

Cameron was a close second on the Ice Skating Hate Graph. He gave it a good effort for approximately 23 seconds and then ate it and spent the rest of the time pouting and trying unsuccessfully to avoid frost bite.

Aubrey loved it and picked it up in a jiffy.  She was so fast, I couldn't even get a single picture of her.

Brooklyn was THE most hilarious ice skater of all time.  She just didn't give a crap.  She slipped and skidded and stumbled and swerved.  She was Tara Lapinski one second and eating ice the next.

6.) Winner Winner Turkey Dinner

This year the boys cooked Thanksgiving dinner while the girls watched a football game.  My how the couches have turned.

They did THE BEST job and it could not have been any better.

New tradition.  For sure.

7.) Family Talent Show

I have only videos of this, but let suffice it to say that it was maybe the best thing ever.

The highlights were Aubrey and Brittany's Acro routine + My dad's guitar songs + Cameron and Luke's light saber fight + Braden vs. the kids in the pit + Brittany and Maria's gorgeous song + My mom's slideshow + the brother's guitar solos + Bailey's sign language + our family's "Riptide" jam shesh + so many more.

8.) Cookie making.

9.) Temple with family.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Halloween - Two Thousand Seventeen

It finally happened.

We were sitting at dinner one night and I said, "So what are we going to do for our family Halloween costume this year?"

And there was an awkward pause and then the kids were like, "Umm... so we were thinking.... what if.... I mean hypothetically..... if we just like.... didn't... do.... a.... family thing. this time.  Or something." 

And I cried a little in my mind.  And swore a few times.  And declared Bailey my favorite child, and then just said, "Yea.  I mean, of course.  Cause family costumes are like totally lame...and stuff."

And that is how our family Halloween theme died.

(Thank goodness we still have one child who doesn't get to make her own decisions yet, amIright?)

But just like in years past (awww, the good old days), we all somehow seemed to perfectly fit our characters (and in some ways - not so much.)  

 (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012) 

So here is how we are similar (and not so much) to our Halloween costumes.

Brooklyn - the Tiger

SIMILAR: Brooklyn's spirit animal is a tiger.  A FIERCE one that is constantly on the PROWL for the next big adventure.  She POUNCES on every opportunity and has a PASSION for life.

NOT SO MUCH: She usually doesn't viciously murder other animals.  

Aubrey - the Peacock

SIMILAR: Aubrey is a MAJESTIC little beauty.  She has a DIGNIFIED and REFINED presence and she is SOCIAL and fun to be around.  She makes every day BEAUTIFUL. 

NOT SO MUCH: Peacocks are extremely territorial and Aubrey could not be more opposite.

Cameron - the Cop

SIMILAR: He is the ultimate RULE ENFORCER.  He likes order and structure and he's not afraid to lay down the LAW. 

NOT SO MUCH: He maxes out at half a donut.

Bailey - the Big, Bad Wolf

SIMILAR: She is a FURY little ANIMAL who likes sneaking up on people and stealing their beds.  She's UNPREDICTABLE and WILD and my, WHAT BIG EYES SHE HAS.

NOT SO MUCH: Nothing big or bad about her.

Luke - the Woodsman & Ashley - Red Riding Hood

LUKE:

SIMILARITIES: HUNKY, MANLY, and MACHO.  They both fend of danger of any kind and come to the rescue of the damsel (when she's in distress.  AKA dinner time.)

NOT SO MUCH: Carries an ax around at all times and stalks little girls in the woods.

ASHLEY:

SIMILARITIES: Enjoys a good skip through the forest on the way to Grandma's house.

NOT SO MUCH: Basically everything else.