8

Dearest Aubrey Beth,
Today you are eight years old.  I can hardly believe you are the same little baby that they handed me in the hospital.  Every now and then when you are sleeping I glimpse that once not so tiny baby.  Most of the time though I see the young woman you are becoming.  You have one of the most generous hearts I have ever seen in a child.  You are always wanting to help and would give up the shirt on your back if someone needed it. 
In the words of our New England family, you are wicked smart. You are reading at around a sixth grade level and would read all the time if we would let you.  You are continuing to dance and have started taking two classes this year.  You are super excited to get a dressing room at recital this year.   You auditioned for the school play last week and were cast in the chorus.  You will be an Oompa Loompa for your first non-dance performance.
You miss Michaela terribly, as do I, and she is still the best friend you have.  I hope you two never lose that. I am excited to see what eight brings us.
Love always and forever,
Mama.

Project 365: 1/16/11

Are we a musical family? Why do you ask?
The girls enjoyed performing multiple concerts for us.  This was not the best picture of the bunch but Keira's face was priceless.

Project 365: 1/15/11

Five of the cutest slumber party attendees I have ever seen.

Project 365: 1/14/11

Aubs and Michaela's schedules finally allowed for a nice long conversation. We sure miss our Cowans.

Project 365: 1/13/11

Birthday Shopping for the Girl.  She loves clothes and I love H&M's prices.

Project 365: 1/12/11

The Girl practicing for her audition.  They are doing Willy Wonka Kids. 

Project 365: 1/11/11

Mr. Anthony made the picture I had set up seem like it should be abandoned as soon as I saw him napping behind the desk.   This young man works very hard and deserves the opportunity to sleep whenever he can catch a nap.  I also thought I deserve to take this shot and post it since he regularly embarrasses us students on Youtube and facebook.

Project 365:1/10/11

Many Bloody Returns the first book of 2011.  This is a collection of short stories about Vampire Birthdays.  The collection is compiled by Charlaine Harris, the author of the Sookie Stackhouse or True Blood stories.  I loved some of these and was indifferent about others.  It has made me very excited for her new book that comes out in a few weeks.

Project 365: 1/9/11

Sisters of the Heart.  This was my Christmas gift from Dawn.  It could not have come at a more perfect time.  It will hopefully help me to remember that I am loved.

Project 365: 1/8/11

It was a beautiful day driving in to work.  It was 72 degrees and I was thankful to live in a state where the weather was this gorgeous on a random day in January.

Project 365: 1/7/11

Thankfully, I put the point and shoot in my handbag. I ended up working a double and would have had to miss today otherwise.  This is the Giant Ugly Ornament LED Tree that sits at the entrance to my mall.  For some reason it is the first decoration up and the last one taken down.

Project 365: 1/6/11

I let Aubs give me a makeover today.  She asked that I close my eyes for the picture so everyone could really see her eye makeup job.  She is also the guest photographer for today.

Project 365: 1/5/11

Our new collection of Butterbeer glasses.  They have a commemorative glass for special events.  Shawn managed to collect six of them.  Being the Harry Potter fan that I am I jokingly said "We should use these as our new glasses" Shawn agreed so here they are.

Project 365: 1/4/11

Shawn with the Harry Potter Frog Choir.  Oh, how I love the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Shawn's company party was here this year.  We had it all to ourselves.  They set the food out to look like the tables in the Great Hall.  There was also hard cider aflowing.  That may or may not be what prompted me to exclaim "A Jacka** Hair" when asked what the core of Shawn's wand was.  This may seem mean but was said with love and is a joke that goes back to our first date and an unfortunate balloon artist.

Project 365: 1/3/11

We attended Shawn's annual Owner's Conference at the Buena Vista Palace.  It is a lovely facility and gets bonus points for being within walking distance of Downtown Disney. I really liked the way the sun made the building seem to glow.  I am quickly realizing why photographers refer to that hour before sunset as Golden Hour.  I love it.

Project 365: 1/2/11

I have been feeling a little down about my weight after the holidays and cruise.  I have gained a few pounds and after all the work I put in to lose it, I was feeling defeated.  However, tonight Aubs asked if she could try on my shirt because it looked like it may fit her.  I wore this on our Mexico day of the cruise.  I figure if my shirt can fit a seven year old, I can't be doing that bad.  Who knew a kiddo playing dress up could be so good for the psyche?

Update: How did I not notice this was my 700th post?

1/1/11 Project 365

I have decided to join Marie in the Project 365 challenge.  I made it through December, since it supposedly only takes 21 days to make a habit I should be set.  We'll see.  I would also like to read 52 new titles this year.  I am going to incorporate them into Project 365 so I have  a good record of when I finished each book.  Last year I used goodreads and I kept forgetting to update the finished date.  I did read around 46  new books as well as re-reading some old favorites.  I am starting with the final book in the Stieg Larrson Millenium Trilogy.  I am about a chapter in and just as hooked as I was with the first two. The bookmark was a lovely gift from my girl.

12/31/10 December Photo-A-Day

I can't believe I took and posted all 31 photos.  I also have a ton of bonus shots from the cruise and holidays.  This is what I woke up to today.  Aubs and Shawn were playing PS3 Modracers and had downloaded the OSU race.  I believe this shot is as they are on the way into the Shoe.

12/30/10 December Photo-A-Day

I cannot believe I am posting this.  I thought it was hilarious.  I thought the best way to take a self portrait and show off my new flat iron would be to set the camera to auto.  This was obviously a bad choice since I forgot that also means the flash can unexpectedly turn on.

12/29/10 December Photo-A-Day

My three girlies.  I love my daughter and my nieces.  It is so lovely having them on this side of town again.  I can go and borrow them whenever I want.  Aubs is obviously very sad they are so close.

12/28/10 December Photo-A-Day

Girls Night In! We had a slumber party with Kait and Keira.  It was a lovely evening filled with laughter and dancing.

12/27/10 December Photo-A-Day

Last load of laundry.  This is all I have left from the trip and surrounding days.  Please ignore the folded baskets of laundry in the background.  At least they are folded.

12/26/10 December Photo-A-Day

Holiday Dinner sliders served with green beans and mashed potatoes.  We had an amazing Christmas dinner of steak and baked potatoes.  Shawn still was in the mood for a turkey dinner.  I was feeling wiped out from the week so I came up with these.  They are turkey sliders topped with cheddar cheese and cranberry sauce.  Aubs loved them.

12/25/10 December Photo-A-Day

Santa brought the Michael Jackson Experience: Special Edition with glove.   She is currently insisting on wearing her Fedora to play Smooth Criminal.

12/24/10

Who knew that having a husband that is a percussionist would come in so handy while trying to hide gifts?  This also marked the first year that we had all presents wrapped before the middle of the night on Christmas Day.

12/23/10 December Photo-A-Day

Supposed to be wrapping gifts.  I was otherwise detained. (Work schedule shifted again.  No worries it is all for a good cause.  Baby Sya was welcomed into the world.)

12/22/10 December Photo-A-Day

 Since Aubs lives far away from snow my parents started her a snowman collection.