November

May be the best month of the year for me. First I got floor seats to NKOTB. Then today I saw this.

I cannot wait.

Conversations With My 5 Year Old

On Nature: Horses are just like lawnmowers. Except they are horses but they both eat grass.

On smiling for pictures: Me: "Aubs why are you making such a silly smiling face in all of your pictures recently?"
Aubs: "I am just trying out some new things. I haven't found one I like yet."

Me: "Can you only try out new smiles when Mommy is the photographer and use your real smile for other pictures?"

Aubs: "Well I can't find my real smile, I think I left it at Michaela's and she may be trying it out. Can you ask Jenny if they have seen it?"

Sometimes I Forget...

How lucky I am to have been born an American Citizen. It is something I think we all take for granted. Today at work one of the ladies came in beaming and said that she passed her test. When asked she stated "My citizenship test, I am an American Citizen.". Wow. Everyone in the break room cheered for her. I wish you all could have seen the pure joy on her face. Her ceremony is on Monday. It was such an amazing moment to see.

Congratulations Y!

I Am In Big Trouble With This One

Aubs has really been stepping up her developing fashion. It is so amazing to watch her put things together. We recently went accessory shopping (for Me) and she kept telling me that her necklaces she picked out were prettier than mine. She even went so far as to tell me "Carly would wear this, if you got this you would be pretty like My CarCar." She was right Carly would wear it but it wasn't appropriate for work.
Speaking of Car Car I think that she has really helped Aubs in her current obsession to be fashionable. On Sunday we took her shopping. She mostly dressed herself and went out wearing the following: 1 maxi dress in pink, white, orange, and purple, 1 pair of purple flip flops, 1 pair Juicy Couture earrings, 1 Coach patent leather pink wristlet (mine by the way, I forgot the rule of pink. If it is pink and comes into the house Aubs may just claim it as hers) and 1 pink sunhat. She was adorable. All that was missing was the giant sunglasses.

My Bravo TV Obsession

My obsession with all thing Bravo reality seems to be spilling over to Aubs. She has asked that I wait until we can watch the "Runway Girl Dress Making Contest Show" (Project Runway) together. She also loves the "Hair Cutting Show" she is so funny. Top Chef was also a big hit. I didn't know it at the time but it is relatively high rated show for 2-14 year olds (or something like that). It proved to be so popular for Bravo that I read they may even make a Kid's Top Chef.

I don't know if I can make it to Friday for Project Runway.

Movies From My Childhood Week

After Annie was such a hit with Aubs, I decided to share another childhood favorite. Tonight we watched Muppets Take Manhattan. I love Jim Henson and miss him as much as one could miss a person they never met. He was responsible for most of my very favorite movies as a child. All of the Muppet movies, Labyrinth, and The Dark Crystal still have a special place in my heart. Here are the thoughts I had while watching this movie:
- I still know this movie nearly word for word. Same for Annie.
- Watching the Jim Henson shows/movies make my heart sad.
- I am thankful for the digital media that allows me to share these films with my darling girl, and that she loves them as much as I did. (She has not yet seen Labyrinth and Dark Crystal, they may scare the crap out of her)
- I remember seeing this movie in the theater with the Binders.
- IMDB is a treasure trove of knowledge. Did you know that Dr. Crusher from Star Trek TNG was first a muppeteer, choreographed scenes in Labyrinth and the Dark Crystal, and is originally from Cuyahoga Falls?
- Thanks to IMDB I also learned that Uncle Traveling Matt is in the wedding scene.

Watch Out Uncle Danny My Uncle Danny*

I think Aubs may grow up to be a bit of a choreographer. She is watching Scooby Doo and has a whole dance for the theme song. It comes with a tumbling pass, cute plays on the words, and of course pointing at the audience. It is absolutely adorable.

*Uncle Danny My Uncle Danny is Kristen's husband. Uncle Danny Your Uncle Danny is Aunt Mary's husband.

Baby A Update

Our daycare providers grandson is doing really well. He is now breathing on his own, and eating. When I have more I will update. Thanks for all the prayers.

What A Great Day

Today Aubs and I spent a wonderful day together we made muffins, chicken and broccoli casserole, and popcorn. We also watched Annie. Aubs had not seen this movie yet and I convinced her it would be a great idea. She wasn't sure but decided to humor me anyhow. She has decided that it is a wonderful movie and has been dancing around all evening. It is amazing how a movie that came out when I was her age can bring the two of us such a great evening.

Happy 4th Everyone

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July. On the Fourth I really get a bit homesick, Stow had one of the best parades ever. I also want to take the time to tell Jesse and Jake how proud I am of them. They made the decision to join the Armed Forces. Thanks guys.

New Milestone

Mom you may need a breathing treatment handy for this one and put down the coffee.

I have started a new job that requires I work some evenings. Yesterday was one such evening and when I spoke to Shawn this morning he asked if Aubs had told me what happened last night. I told him that she had not and he went on to recount the following harrowing tale.

Aubs was reading a catalogue that had come yesterday. She found a discount card that was stuck in with the sticky glue, kind of like the glue dots for scrapbooking, and pulled out the card. She took the stuff off of the back and must have thought it looked like snot because the next thing she did was stuff it up her nose.

She then went in to see Shawn in the next room and said "I have to tell you something" In our house those are the six most feared words. If they are followed by "and your not going to like it" one should run quickly away. She then explained to Shawn that she had stuck this stuff up her nose "and it won't come out".

Shawn had her lie down on the bed so he could look up her nose. He didn't see anything (probably because the stuff looks like regulation boogers). Aubs decided to just blow really hard out her nose while Shawn was looking and the glue came flying out at him.

Man am I ever sorry I wasn't here to see it. Aubrey has now joined the ranks of kids that stick things up their nose. Somewhere in Heaven my mother-in-law is laughing so hard I am surprised we cannot hear her.