As Promised.

A girl and her trains, what a beautiful sight. Papa noticed that Aubs' loved the train set at Ikea and decided she should have one of her own. She decided today's storm was a perfect time to pull it out. After the first power surge that shut down the movie she was watching I declared TV free time. She is truly enjoying some "open-ended playtime"*.
I also decided it was the perfect time to play with my new lens.

* This was the term the lovely Brio Trains people used to convince us to sell more of them. As a parent I can tell you it works like a freakin' charm.

My New Lens

is awesome. I had so much fun playing with it at Disney. I cannot wait until the weather holds long enough that I can go out and take some shots of Aubs.

I have also started updating the photo blog again if anyone is interested.

Aubs' Dinosaur

Ever since we saw Night At The Museum a couple of years ago Aubs has been asking to go to a museum with real dinosaur bones. While in Boston we went to the Museum of Science and she got to see her dinosaur bones. They also had a butterfly garden, a frog exhibit, and tons of interactive exhibits that really held her attention. If anyone is going to Boston with kids I highly recommend it.

A Girl And Her Marine

Is there a more beautiful sight?

Here He Is!

Sorry for the quality of the pictures but I was sobbing.

Waiting For Our Marine

Have You Seen Aubs?

I asked her to stand next to the column for perspective but I just cannot see her.

MFA

Museum of Fine Arts. We had a ton of fun at the MFA. Aubs enjoyed herself much more than I thought she would. This is the two of us with my cousin Sam. They had a neat infinity mirror installation with regular mirrors on the bottom. It seemed like a great way to actually get a picture of me and Aubs during the vacation.

OSV

Yesterday we went to Old Sturbridge Village. It was a "working" museum. I am guessing it is similar to Hale Farm but I have never been there. We had a ton of fun and Aubs learned all sorts of stuff. She even got to help feed the chickens and the sheep.

Happy Mother's Day

Aubs and I had a great day in Boston and the greater Boston area with our family and my Godmother. I woke up and Aubs and Uncle Danny My Uncle Danny made us breakfast and coffee. Aunt Mary had some work to do so the rest of us went off to the New England Aquarium. It was a blast and we had a great opportunity to hang out with the cousins. I bought a Boston sweatshirt for $15, it is nice and warm, Red Sox Colors, and just plain awesome. I am posting some pictures of our day.

My Yellow Woobie

Before Jake left Aunt Maury sent us each an Eagle, Globe, And Anchor necklace to wear as our yellow ribbons. This necklace became more than an outward sign of having a Marine close to my heart. It became a security blanket of sorts. People would comment on my necklace, some Marines themselves and some supportive civilians. It was a way that people could open a conversation to let us know that they are praying for our Marines, my Jake, and my family. It restored my faith in the human race.
I would clutch it as I prayed and as I read bad reports on the news. I would hold it with a smile after talking to Jake on the phone or reading a good message on facebook.
Today I took my necklace off. I feel naked and more thankful than you could imagine. Thank you Aunt Maury for my woobie, thank you all for your prayers, thank you God for bringing that boy home safely.

Welcome Home Marine!

Jake has landed safely in Hawaii. Welcome back to US soil lovely boy. We love you.

Have a good night all, I surely will. I am off to fall on my knees and thank God for Jake's safe return.

Aubs Big Day

Today Aubs had 3 firsts. She rode her first school bus. She said a little scary at first but ended up okay. With the exception of school sponsored trips she will be a walker until she is in High School. She had her first swimming lesson. Her elementary school takes all kindergarteners for a week of swimming lessons at the YMCA. She also learned how to whistle. She has been working on this for quite a while.

Homecoming

Is the word of the day. Jake is officially on his way home from Iraq. I cannot wait to see him in Boston in a couple of weeks.

FGA

I believe Aubs is a card carrying member of Future Geeks Of America (FGA). Not really surprising given her father's love of all things electronic and Star Wars/Trek. While looking for a book this afternoon (still MIA) I found quite the collection of items:
- My college ID
- My last college journal
- Random collection of items purchased at Epcot while intoxicated
- Box of coffee cups under my bed
- Assortment of instruction manuals some for items we no longer own.
- Tickets to a variety of concerts/sporting events/movies
- Pencil case I used in high school/college that was given to me in high school by a friend from Japan.
- Numerous Happy Meal Toys, please do not reassure me that since I have a 6 year old these are normal because most of the ones I found are from 1996 to 2000

While I was finding this and other things I cannot remember Aubs found one item. I am pretty sure her finding this is what gave her the FGA card. Of all the things I own she discovered my legos. She has been playing with them for over an hour. The very first thing she built was a robot. I was told not to worry because it was a good helpful robot.

Hitting The Boy Band Trifecta And Alternate Titles

1. I JUST MET DONNIE FREAKIN' WAHLBERG!
2. I have been plotting this day since I was 13 and Terri E. introduced me to NKOTB.
3. This is the best picture I could get because I am a 31 year old woman who totally lost her sh*t when meeting a New Kid On The Block.
4. Helen this is for you.

On the way into the concert on Friday I screamed as we pulled up the the parking lot. We had prepaid our parking and were assigned the lot right next to the tour buses. I scared the crap out of Jenny and she was a tiny bit upset with me. After the concert the ladies and I ran full speed through the arena to stand at the gates. We waited for quite a while and watched 2 other New Kids walk to their buses, there was conflicting info as to who they were. It was probably Joey and one of the Knight brothers. While standing there I talked the Helen and asked her who her favorite was. After she got over his disappointment that I couldn't remember she told me Donnie. We discussed the fact that he was our best shot and we hung up. I promised a picture if he actually came over. Within the next two minutes the people standing by the gates started screaming and we actually met Donnie. It was Awesome. Jenny obviously forgave me as we called everyone in our phone books to tell them what had happened.

This is the Boy Band Trifecta for me because I have already met members of Backstreet Boys (AJ and a friend stopped to help me with a flat tire) and Nsync (Joey Fatone came into my work all the time and once offered to kick down a door for me, Justin Timberlake yelled at a lady for being mean to me, JC and Lance also came in.) I managed to meet all of these other people and keep my calm. I also met a number of other celebrities since moving to Florida and kept it all together. On Friday I absolutely lost it and was shaking and screaming. I mean seriously I have been waiting for this moment since I was 13 years old. That is why the picture kind of sucks. I was also using Aubs camera and the battery was about to die so I got all I could.

GNO @ NKOTB

Thanks Ladies for an awesome night.

30

Not years but pounds. That is how much I have lost since I started back at retail.

Learning To Shoot In Full Manual

Since I got my SLR a few years ago I have set a goal to be able to shoot in full manual mode. I started by practicing with the shutter speed and aperture separately. I have almost always used the manual focus feature. As I became better at those I started trying out more of what the camera could do. A friend recently taught me how much he loves the white balance on his Canon. I am familiar with this from my SeaWorld days and didn't realize my Canon would allow me to change this. (No I did not read all of the instruction book) Around Christmas I started changing the white balance for different situations and did it ever make a difference. On Sunday I finally put together everything I had learned and was able to take some great shots of Spectro. I have photographed this parade tons of times but have never been happy with the results. That definitely changed on Sunday and I am looking forward to many more experiments over the summer.

Shuttle Over Disney

This was awesome. We were in Frontierland when the shuttle went up. The first picture is what you get when I ran through Liberty Square ducking around people and through the Christmas shop so I could get a picture of the trail next to the castle. I think it was well worth it. The second picture is the booster separation over the Hall Of Presidents.

Old Friends and New Memories

My friend Jackie and her children were in town this week. I have known Jackie since I was 16 so it was really nice that our schedules worked out and we were able to meet up. I am pretty sure that Aubs had cemented her friendship with Jackie's daughters allowing our friendship to continue for another generation.

Conversations With My 6 Year Old: Catching Up

I have a few posts that will go up today. I just have to upload the pictures, it is on my to do list. I thought I would put up a Conversations With My 6 Year Old to tide you over.

While walking out of Disney late on Sunday, I had noticed a little girl looking longingly at our folded up stroller and said to her mother "She is looking at my stroller and then at me as if to say "Lady, can you open that up so I can ride in it"" The mother laughed and her daughter continued to look exhausted and at me like I was crazy to be walking with a folded up stroller. Aubs and I then had the following exchange:

Aubs: (To me and the girl's mother) She can ride in my stroller if she wants.

Me: That is very sweet. (The mother nodded in agreement)

Aubs: Yes, I do not know why God made me such a sweet girl but He did.

My Smart Girl

(This is what a girls face looks like when she hears her Marine's voice for the first time since he went to Iraq.)

Aubs has been having issues being motivated to go to school lately. It seems kindergarten has become boring for her. The other day she told me "I don't need to go to school because I already know the stuff she is teaching us. Can't I just stay home today? I am so bored." After explaining that she could not stay home (possibly using nail polish as bribery) she went and all seemed fine. Her teacher had warned us this day was coming and Ms. O had actually been surprised that she made it this far into the year. We have started sending workbooks with her that she can use during the times they are working on something she already knows. We have been talking with a friend at the School Board and she said that they have a program in the works for the kids like Aubs. It should be up and running for next year. In the meantime Aubs has a great teacher who is working on ways to keep her interested. Aubs has been asked to write a speech for a school wide contest.(Possible proof that she is not actually related to me since my palms started sweating at the mention of speech) The theme is "My Favorite Hero". I was told that most kids pick their mother or father. You guessed it Aubs does not fall into that category. She has chosen Martin Luther King Jr. I thought I would share the speech she has written so far because it is very sweet.

Hi. My name is Aubrey Barrieau. My favrite hero is Martin Luther King Jr beckuse(because) he fidid(fighted) for fredum(freedom) and fidid so black and wite(white) kids clod(could) go to the same scools(schools). That is why I like Martin Luther King Jr.

We had a conversation about tenses and how she should use the word fought. We just need to add some facts and she will be done.

500

I have been slow on the blogging lately because I wanted to have something really fun for my five hundredth. Now all that keeps running through my head is "Be careful what you wish for". However I think that this little drawing on my bathroom door is perfect. Aubs growth chart is on one side of the door jam. She must have been feeling inspired while finding the sharpie we use to measure her.

The Girl

I was just looking over Aubs' homework and noticed that she has started signing her name differently. She has started signing all of her papers Aubrey Beth Barrieau. I started calling her Aubrey Beth on her second day. She was laying across my lap in the hospital and looked at her sweet face and thought "Oh, my Aubrey Beth." It just kind of stuck and that is what I called her during some of her sweetest moments. I just think it is adorable that she would sign her name that way and wanted to share.

We got to spend some time with Jenny and Michaela this weekend. It was a very nice impromptu girls afternoon. Jenny noticed that the girls seem to have special smiles and laughs that are reserved only for spending time with each other. The picture above is from Aubs' birthday.

Conversations With My 6 Year Old: On Iraq

Aubs is on the phone with Jake. I can only hear part of the conversation but I just heard the following:

Aubs: What do you do on your days off over there?

(Me yelling EXCERCISE, EXCERCISE!)*

Aubs: You know when there is a lot of sand what you can do? Make a sandcastle.


* Yes, I know Jake is perfectly capable of sheltering Aubs, I just had a moment of panic.

An Open Invitation

I am well aware that this is 10 months ahead of schedule, this type of adventure may take that long.

I have decided to have a Handmade Christmas this year. I am going to try to create most of the gifts I give. There will be a few exceptions and the purchased gifts may allow the theme to continue through the recipient. (I haven't quite decided yet). I told Jenny about this and she decided that she would like to try too. We discussed the plans for a few minutes and we thought we should put up an invitation on the blog.


Handmade Christmas Challenge 2009
1. Missy
2. Jenny
3. Anyone else?

Question For All

Does anyone want to go see the Muppets with us?

Conversations With My 6 Year Old: Groundhog Day

Me: Was today the 100th day of school?

Aubs: No. That is tomorrow.

Me: Do you know what today is?

Aubs: Groundhog Day! There was a tree that wasn't good so they cut it down. Then the mayor thought that he should make the old tree a house for Phil.

Me: Punxsutawney Phil is his whole name. What state do they live in?

Aubs: Allesanya.

We also spoke about grammar, weather, and traffic patterns on the way home. It was quite a drive.

Conversations With My 6 Year Old: Inaugural Edition*

I have had this post since inauguration day and haven't gotten around to posting. While watching the taped inauguration Aubs and I had the following conversation:

Aubs: Did you know Obama is the first African-American president?

Me: Yes, I sure did.

Aubs: Martin Luther King Jr. was too.

Shawn: Not President.

Me: Yes, he was African American. Aubs, why do we celebrate his day?

Aubs: Because he was a fighter.

Me: What did he fight for?

Aubs: Freedom.

We then had a conversation about his "I Have A Dream" speech and a few other very important things. I later relayed this story to her kindergarten teacher and she was amazed. Most of the kids still can't remember President Obama's name let alone all the other details.

*Yes mom I do crack myself up.

6

Dear Aubs,
Today you are six. I absolutely cannot believe you have been mine for six whole years. I am amazed at you everyday, even after six years. You are such a wonderful girl and I am so lucky to be your Mama.

As you have grown I have taken to saying "She is too smart for my own good" when people ask me what you are up to. I do believe yesterday was the day I finally witnessed the truth in that statement. I have long lamented the fact that you are not really a little girl* anymore and you always respond "I will always be your little girl, Mama" and I usually smother you in kisses. Yesterday you asked my Mama if I was still her little girl to which she wisely answered "Of course she is, just like I am still GiGi's little girl". I am pretty sure if I had been looking in the rear view mirror I would have seen a smug look on your face similar to my "I told you so" face.

You started Kindergarten this year. You continue to excel at every task placed in front of you. You will complete your third year of dance and will move into the "real" classes in the summer. You have asked for tap and ballet, your heart was set on hip-hop but unfortunately the way they run the classes is not conducive to mid-year birthdays.
This past year your daddy and I have started noticing how other people react to you. We think you may be one of the most engaging little girls we have ever seen. People who have known you for less than a minute seem to want to do anything to make you happy. Last night the University Of Central Arkansas Honeybear Cheerleaders noticed your birthday candle on your sundae and decided they should sing to you. To some people this would seem out of the ordinary but things like this just happen to you.
Your last day of five included your first use of the stove. You were of course well supervised. Everyone loved your pancakes. You and papa make great chefs.
I cannot wait to see what six has in store for us. We are going to have a great year.
I love you always and forever.
Mama
*Technically you were never little. You started life at over 8 1/2 lbs and that is larger than most.

Conversations With My 5 Year Old: Final Edition

On Her First Time Eating Moon Pies:
A: This is delicious. What is this I am eating?
M: A moon pie.
A: These are really, really delicious. Do they have real moon in them?


On Salad
M: You need to eat your salad.
A: I don't like salad.
M: You used to eat salad all the time, why do you not like it anymore?
A: It's not that I don't like salad, I just don't like the taste.

It's Back.

We are of course stuck to the TV watching American Idol. I feel pretty over this show but thought I would give it another shot. I have no idea why except that the little one love, Love, LOVES this show. It is going to add a whole new element to it this year. After they sent one contestant home the poor girl couldn't figure out why they would do that his voice was nice enough they should have let him keep trying in Hollywood.

The Award For...

Most helpful internet time sucking device goes to: Free Rice You answer questions and for each question answered correctly they will donate 20 grains of rice through the UN World Food Program. I chose English, French, and Spanish vocabulary and helped donate over 2000 grains of rice in just a few minutes. Have fun.

Conversations With My 5 Year Old: Nearly Final Edition

Aubs has been on a roll lately. Here are some things we have learned:

Toe Water = Hydrogen Peroxide
Shawn had a cut on his foot that he was pouring Hydrogen Peroxide on and Aubs decided it must be called Toe Water.

Charlie and Lola sound much better when spoken in a British accent. This child may end up in movies.

Homework is too easy so she needs more.

Easter is Jesus' second birthday.

I'm It.

I have been tagged by Steph, at least I think I have. I may have been tagged twice, Missy M and Missy B, hmm. So I figure I might as well play along. :)

Q. Five Names You Go By
- Missy
- Mommy
- Nunky
- Missel
- Morgan

Q. Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now
- Sweatpants
- AXiD Long Sleeved Tee
- Underpants

Q. Two Things You Want Very Badly Right Now
- Jake to be home safely.
- To be there for Jake's Homecoming.

Q. Two Things You Did Last Night
- Watched Scrubs (Oh how I have missed this show)
- Laundry

Q. Two Things You Ate Today
- Spinach salad with ranch dressing
- Maple glazed salmon

Q. Two People You Last Talked To On The Phone
- Shawn
- Jenny

Q. Two Things You Are Going To Do Tomorrow
- Hang with the girl
- Work

Q. Two Longest Car Rides
- Seemed like the longest: Driving to Florida when Shawn's Mom passed away. I couldn't get here fast enough.
- Actual Distance: Driving to California. We were in a motor home and it was an absolute blast.

Q. Two Of Your Favorite Beverages
- Caramel Macchiato
- Rosa Regale

Tagging:
- Charissa
- Mellie
- Helen

Might I Suggest...

...To anyone purchasing a digital camera for a 5 year old a 4 gig memory card. It will allow your picture happy child to take over 1200 pictures. I am interested to see how many pictures she can take during a trip to Disney.

Who Needs Starbucks?

I received a cappuccino maker for Christmas this year. I have spent the last 5 days perfecting various espresso drinks and steamed hot chocolate. This is a Caramel Macchiatto I made myself this afternoon.

12/25/08

To Grandfather's House We Go.

Yes, I know it is a Thanksgiving song. We are truly blessed to have my father in law live on the street behind us. We walked over for Christmas dinner in the early afternoon and walked back afterwards. We loaded up the wagon so that we could bring our gifts to everyone and not have to drive. It was a beautiful Christmas spent with family and warm weather. Aubs got nearly everything she asked for and has started on her Birthday list.

12/24/08

Traditions are being turned on their ears in our house. For the second year in a row Aubs requested to read to us.

12/23/08

Steven Curtis Chapman singing Joy To The World.



A slow shutter experiment at the Light Arches.

12/22/08

Another ornament. I am not sure where these came from. I believe they were crocheted by my Mom, mom mom, or my Nana. The reason this ornament made the photo a day is because everytime Aubs walks by the tree she rings the bell. I keep thinking the line from It's A Wonderful Life.

12/21/08

Once again Shawn was the photographer for the day. Is it just me or do these three look like trouble?

12/20/08

Mommy and Aubs ballerina shadows.