Mommy's Big Helper

My Big Boy has always been obsessed with the "Green Machine" . . . they go WAAAYYY back!




He's become pretty handy over time. He finds such enjoyment in cleaning up the messes under his high chair with the Green Machine. Wonder how long I can get that to last?!

Spilled Milk

Don't worry, Aiden didn't cry over this spilled milk. In fact, he rather enjoyed it. A bit too much. It will be a few more months before Aiden gets a try at a "big boy cup" again!

Couch Findings

I took a few minutes and willingly cleaned under the couch cushions. Look what I found!

This Is For Real

Life is just plain hard sometimes. When it gets that way, I run to the One I know can ultimately understand, comfort, clarify and heal: my true Love, Father and Creator. Jeremy Camp is a Christian music artist that Andy and I saw in concert the year before he became "big." His life has been anything but easy, and recently he and his wife suffered through the miscarriage of their 3rd child. Please take a minute to check out their blog of this experience at http://jeremycamp.typepad.com/jeremy/2009/08/joy-in-gods-presence.html. Jeremy and his wife are such an incredible encouragement to all of us, no matter what we are facing in life.

And when you get 5 minutes of quiet, throw on the headphones like I am and check out these videos of Jeremy's. I highly recommend the devotionals. The others are excellent as well. Please just note that adult ideas are portrayed. May the Lord bless your walk with Him through these videos. And if you are in one of those "life valleys" like I am right now, may you draw comfort in the One who desires nothing else than for you to run to Him.

Surrender Devotional
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QV4qoF-FT4&feature=channel

There Will Be a Day Devotional
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpBuEuagZxE

Tonight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA7qJv2zfgo&feature=related

Lay Down My Pride - Men, you will relate to this one best
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf-rHH2seyk&feature=related

Living Vicariously Thru Grandpa Freddie and Gigi

I love dogs. I REALLY love dogs! Always have and always will. Grew up with them and up until 3 months before Aiden was born, I always had one. At this point in my life my sanity cannot take cleaning the messes of another living thing, but that does not take away from the fact that I long for a dog of my own. So right now I am living thru my grandparents and their 8 week old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I don't think he has a formal name yet. And I really don't care - I just want to steal him and eat him up!

Wisdom of the Day

My second cousin's wife wrote this and it hit home for me. I hope it chastens you as well. Enjoy!

As children, we always thought the days were long, sometimes way too long. When we were really young, we often had to take a nap. The question, "When?" often came from our mouths, wondering just when we were 'going to leave', 'going to eat', 'going to bed','going to play'. Seemed we had all kinds of time, as though time, itself, stood still.

Now, as adults, time seems to be getting away from us. There's never time enough to really get anything much done in a day. Takes longer to do a project. The day passes so fast, that it's not long until we are seeing the sun go down, and it seems just a few hours ago, it was coming up. We look into the mirror and we don't recognize ourselves!!!!

David was anointed by God, and the Bible says that David was a 'man after mine own heart'. [Acts 13:22] But, he wasn't a man without trouble or persecutions. Yet, he held on to God and his promises.

Today, no matter how short the time seems, we need to hold on to God and his promises, just as David did. As the saying goes, heaven is 'just around the corner'. We need to be as the five virgins who remembered to keep their lights trimmed - stay in the Word, keep our eyes open for him to split the eastern skies. He is coming back, and time for us is short.

SO.....no matter how busy we get....we have to make sure we put God first in all things....and give Him the time He deserves. I want God to say that I am a woman after His own heart....even in the midst of trouble and persecution. My time is HIS time--

How about you????

In the News

Before kids, I used to be a huge news buff - Fox News 24-7. I even framed a picture of myself in front of Fox's main broadcasting building in NYC. But 2 kids later ... by the time the boys are asleep at night I catch the last 8 minutes of House Hunters on HGTV before I hit the shower. Thankfully I subscribe to a monthly publication of the Christian Law Association which keeps me in the know of news from the judicial sector (which is all I care about in the news anyway). The following is a excerpt from The Legal Alert that I found most interesting, intriguing and inspiring.

Justice Sotomayer

Please pray for Justice Sonya Sotomayer as she begins her service on the United States Supreme Court. Although Pres. Obama appointed her because she would be "empathetic", i.e., would rule based on her feelings rather than following the law, during her confirmation hearings, Justice Sotomayer repudiated the President's view of the law and said that despite her previous statements to the contrary, she did not believe that judges should make law from the bench or issue rulings based on feelings of empathy. In fact, as she was questioned by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, at times Sotomayer sounded almost like a strict constructionist on the order of Chief Justice Roberts. It is hard to know which Justice Sotomayer will actually appear on the Supreme Court bench. Ironically, she was appointed to the Second Circuit federal court by President George H.W. Bush, who had also appointed Justice Souter, the liberal justice she will succeed. Although seemingly a solid liberal vote on many issues, liberals have good reason to wonder what her views will be on abortion and school choice. America's first Hispanic Justice and its third female Justice, Sotomayer's family sent her to a private Catholic school rather than to her neighborhood public school so that she could receive a better education.

Lots to Do

Well, it's 12:30 at night (or morning, depending on how you look at it) and I am still "do-ing." In the middle of putting clean sheets on the king size bed, in fact. Why is there always so much to "do??" Mop floors; organize garage; vacuum upstairs, just to bring it downstairs and do it all over again; stain the deck; organize medical paperwork from the last 3 years (yikes!); convince Andy that we need a duvet cover (check it out! http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Jacquard-330-Thread-Count-Duvet-Cover-Set/44575/product.html?tid=CartLayer:SitewideDollarShipping - in Ivory, of course!); and that is just the top of the long, long, long list (2 pages in Word, to be exact). So now I am going to go finish the bed, take makeup off, brush teeth, take contacts out, put jams on, plug phone in to charge, quietly check on both boys, run downstairs and get some ice water, plug in laptop to charge and finally jump into bed and fall asleep in 1.5 minutes flat.
Please pray that I can work on putting quality time with God and Andy in front of all these "do-ings." I might get burned out on this stay-at-home-mom thing if I don't!


And first things first tomorrow: getting hair cut and highlighted! LOL . . .

Thoughts of My Dad

Some people are raised with a world view. Others, a Christian worldview. I was raised with a natural view. Dad and I have always been close, the bond of stubborn-headed firstborns running deep. And my dad is a nature lover. But don't get the wrong idea, he isn't as big on "going green" as he is on understanding and appreciating that which is already green. With a degree in renewable natural resources, he raised me and my siblings to be still, watch intently, and see God in all living things. As my boys grow, I am flooded with emotion at the daunting task of raising men. But praise be to my God, I was raised by one of the finest men of all times (in my book, he's up there with Solomon and George Washington). A man of few words (mostly grunts), my dad is a helicopter pilot, war hero, cowboy, farrier, mechanic, hunter and son of Christ Jesus. But to his mom and wife, he is Brian, to my siblings and I, he is Dad, and to two lucky little boys, he is the best Popeye they will ever encounter. Dad, I love you! (And I apologize for being such a stubborn child. Yes, what goes around comes around!)

Popeye and Aiden watching a fierce monsoon thunderstorm


Popeye meeting Aiden for the first time - 4 days old


Manning-up and changing a diaper


Proud grandparents adoring baby Aiden


My dad, the hunter, keeping the rich family tradition alive. Papa would be proud!

New Look, Same Ol' Blog

Just wanted to let you all know that yes, this is still Aub's blog. I know, I know. New look ... don't freak out. I felt I needed something that more reflected me. I have been told numerous times throughout my life that I am very square, so when I saw this template, it just screamed "me." If you know me even a little, you would agree. Although, I am not a big fan of blue, Andy digs it, so the color reflects him and the life we share. Enjoy the new look!

Can he get any cuter?!?!

No, I don't make it a habit of throwing my 4 month old on the hard living room floor, but this was an exception, as he was cuter than a button in this outfit and I was determined to snap a shot of him before spit-up desecrated the never-been-worn outfit. Sharon, it's adorable! And yes, it was cool enough today for him to wear it comfortably. Such are our summers!

Shutterbug

I was being a shutterbug at the park and here are a few more of my favorites.

Aiden, thanks to the empowering trips to the park with Daddy, has mastered slides all by his big-boy self.

Even the scary, enclosed purple slide is no match for Zib.

And I was cracking up while taking this pic of Sara trying to untangle her dizzy self from the tire swing.

Halfway thru the park visit, Ash became a bit grumpy - it couldn't happen to have anything to do with the adorable hat, now would it?!

But he came around, and just decided to try and eat me instead! Love that little boy!

Yes, I Realize ...

... That my son's clothes don't match, his shorts are too short (but they actually fit around the waist withOUT a belt!) and his teeth aren't brushed, but he had a great, err, fun time at the park (after getting over his initial stranger-danger shyness).

Sunny Day at the Cool Park

There is a cool park just a mile from our house and today's weather was just too perfect not to go ... so we did! Aiden had fun (as long as Aunt Sass was playing with him) and Ashton didn't mind being toted around in the front pack. So much so, in fact, that he decided it would make a nice snack! Poor Bjorn!

Sass' Blog

Here ye, hear ye! Aunt Sass, my sister-in-law has been living with us for 10 days now and to keep her parents in Arizona still a part of her life, she has started a blog. She has a great sense of humor, so come check it out! http://sariberry.blogspot.com

Poopy Morning

Aunt Sass having a conniption over Andy changing a poopy diaper at the hotel in Boston


Happy Saturday. I stayed up too late last night and am paying for it this morning. Ugh. And I had too many cookies last night, so first things first this morning. (if you get my drift!) Then I was sitting at the dining room table, still in a sleep coma while eating a Daddy Bart when Ashton, sitting on my lap, strains. I choose to ignore it, until, I feel warmth on my leg. The baby poo has oozed straight up the back of the diaper and out the top and is proceeded to lava-flow onto my pajama shirt and sweat pants. Up the stairs Little and I go, changing BOTH our clothes and of course, the useless diaper. Then down the stairs, twice, to the basement to start a load of laundry. Then back to the dining room to encourage Big Brother to keep eating and to clean the rest of the infant gunk off the chair and cushion. Aiden is done with breakfast, so down he goes to play cars. On my way to the trash can with dirty disinfectant wipes, I look over at Big. He's making "the face." So once he declares "I awl done, Mommy!" then it's upstairs with all three of us to Big's room. Now the top story smells, even though I sprayed air freshener. Now I must end this entry to take said offending diaper wrapped in a grocery bag sitting at the top of the stairs out to the back yard where it will be deposited into the big black trash can. Maybe then I can try and take a shower. Again, Happy Saturday.

Little

I just can't get enough of my Little. He has such a special place in our family.

Candid Shots

These shots from about a month ago are of us enjoying dinner out on the deck after a rainstorm. The snapshots tell a story of me making sure I wasn't being attacked by a mosquito and then Aiden proclaiming that a bug flew in his eye. So much for a quite dinner! It's always something around here!

Greetings from the Desert

Hello! We've been visiting family for a week now, and we only have 6 days left. )-: Besides the cold I came down with, everything has been wonderful. Both mine and Andy's dads were able to take time off from work, so they have had plenty of bonding time with the grandboys. Grandma Bernie, Grandpa Freddie, Olive Oyle, Grandma, Gigi, Aunt Sass, Aunt Aileena, Uncle Tay, and Aunt Celeste have been most doting. We've been dining at our favorite waterholes and seeing friends (and don't forget the shopping!). But it has been seriously hot here. And I am not exaggerating.

See?!?!

Temperature reading on the way home from our favorite Mexican restaurant

Anyone Seen It?

Um, yeah, we haven't seen the camera since the 4th when we were at the park watching fireworks. It's either in a random bag, or it's still at the park. /-: So, until I can figure out how to use someone else's camera, there just won't be any pics. So sorry! Go enjoy someone else's blog for a few days! LOL

Ok, last video from Aunt Sass!! 

Hopefully the old folks could deal with the rap on that last one ;]

Ok, this is Aunt Sass again. I made this video just for fun a while ago, Andy and Aubrey thought it was funny enough for the blog!

Big Truck Sound

Hi everyone! This is Aunt Sass! I'm here visiting the family A. During our chill Sunday afternoon I made this silly video of the adorable Aiden doing his best impression of a "big truck". Enjoy :]

Boston!

Thursday and Friday we went to Boston because, well, er, uh, just because, really. We'd never been and with it being close to the 4th of July, we just went! It was awesome, and I've decided I want to live there. We discovered pretty much the whole city, and the tangible American history and presence of patriotism was so great!

Aiden at the Boston Commons Garden


Ashton being amused by his Aunt Sass


Aunt Sass and her all-time favorite animals: seals


Me in a booth at Old North Church (think the ending of National Treasure)


Andy and Paul Revere