Another Nieces Night

The girls love spending time with their Aunt Aubrey.  Last night they did manicures (Kenlee had fun; she just doesn't like photos).  So fun for them!

Jon & Aubrey

These two siblings have always been close, since they were little. I couldn't resist this shot. We were watching Aubrey's class presentation that Jon helped her create. She's self-conscious but she does well before a camera. It reminded me of her Skype appearance on Oprah a few years back.

Jon's Photo Magic!

Aubrey's family (Asher, Steve, Aubrey, Max, Josh)





Jon is currently booking photo sessions (in your home) for Christmas pics. He accepts donations to help bring his children to Utah for Christmas.

Happy Birthday, Aubrey!

When Aubrey was born, Jenn felt like she had the best birthday present ever! She was 10 and a baby sister was just what she had ordered. It was appropriate that their birthdays would be so close together.

Aubrey's wonderful! She completed our family - at least that generation - giving us 3 daughters and 3 sons (plus the bonus one we didn't get to keep in this life) and she has added 3 wonderful boys to the equation. We now have 9 granddaughters and 9 grandsons. Pretty perfect!

I hope both Aubrey and Jennifer have a great "birthday week".

Day 1 Roof

We had a real mess before we were able to locate a dumpster. One bagster was not big enough so it was back to the drawing board.
Jenn, Aubrey and I had to move all this mess to the dumpster - after Fred moved it enough to even get the dumpster in the driveway.
What a project!
After many attempts to locate a dumpster (holiday weekend complicated this), we finally got one but not before we had filled the driveway with roofing debris. I got the last Bagster in the valley but it turned out to be too small for the project so once we finally located the dumpster we had to throw all the shingles in it from the driveway - no small task! This was a job I could do since I don't do heights! Aubrey and Jenn helped me on that project.
Fred using a sled. Jenn had the idea and it worked great for dragging the shingles over to the dumpster.
Emma was an amazing worker, gathering nails on the roof
Ken
Steve
The roof was more rotten than we had even thought and would never have made it through the winter. There are spots where a man could fall right through the plywood with little effort. They had to watch their step.
My neighbor, Sarah, helped in the morning but hurt her back. I hate it when people get hurt helping me! Jenn and Noah spent some time on the roof too but after Jenn stepped on a nail we made her go for a tetanus shot. Aubrey went with her and as soon as they got back she stepped on one too. Unfortunately the clinic was closed at 4:00 (early today because of the holiday weekend). So, she still needs one but where to get it this weekend?
Steve and Alan (my neighbor and one of the High Priest Group leaders) came after work. They were a welcome sight to Ken and Fred who were pretty beat. Nothing like a few more hands.

Thursday Update

I appreciate everyone on Facebook who voted so far for Aubrey to win the cool stroller. I apologize for not realizing you had to be a "fan" of Parentville in order for your vote to count. Because of that we lost some votes. I don't expect anyone to be a fan unless they want to, but if you do, feel free to try again. I was excited and surprised to make it into the final five. If I'd realized I would have put more time into the limited wording they allowed :) I really thought it was kind of a long shot, one in a million. But, we're actually one in five so she has a chance. Not sure when the voting ends but it's a valentine thing so it will be soon. If you go there, vote for #1. You just put it in the comment section once you have become a fan and are logged into FB. Thanks bunches and Happy Valentine's Day to all my friends!

Parentville Valentine's Giveaway - Vote for the winner and be entered to win an Organic BabyBjörn Carrier!

Welcome to our "Spread the Love" Valentine's Day Giveaway! For the past two weeks, Parentville.com members have been invited to nominate a friend who they think deserves some love this Valentine's Day to receive a Limited Edition Quinny Buzz Stroller...

Max and Mom on Blessing day

Movin'on

Aubrey moved yesterday and is moving on. Reminds me of George Strait's She Let Herself Go. After a full day of packing and moving she went to a movie with friends. She's handling a hard time pretty well. It's no fun to move back home when you've been running your own household but I do believe it is important to know there is a place to go and you don't have to feel stuck in a bad situation. It will be temporary and she will now be able to focus on things that matter and that bring her joy - her children, good friends, extended family members who care about her. At only seven weeks postpartum after a c-section and with two other boys, I think she's doing great.

Happy Birthday, Aubrey!

My baby is 25! Here she is with her adorable boys last Christmas.

With Asher
Aubrey loves Twilight, etc.
Reading to the boys
Aubrey is a talented writer (and blogger), a great mom and a loyal friend. She is also artistic and dramatic. She enjoyed doing community theater as a teenager. She loves her boys and her sisters. I am lucky to have her as my daughter. She is going through a rough time right now so I hope she has a great day!

Another move

Steve and Aubrey moved to their new place this week. It will be much better all around - closer to Steve's work and school, Josh's school, the rest of the family (both Steve and Aubrey's), easy access to the freeway to Salt Lake. I haven't seen it yet but Aubrey says it's nice and has washer/dryer hookups, although not gas which is what her dryer is. But overall, lots of advantages. Let's face it, we rarely have reason to go to Ogden so they were just out of the way. I know it was frustrating for her that they didn't get anyone coming to see them there. Anyway, things are looking better at least on that end. Now she gets to put everything away - again!

Aubrey's in her new apartment...

Before leaving, the gang got together to rake leaves at Chris's house. I think they filled 20 bags and still have more to do in the back yard. The Jackson kids were amazing helpers.
It's been "moving week" for Aubrey to her new apartment. She had to go 23 miles away to find a place that would allow dogs. She is very anxious to have her own house again so we're scrounging basics (dishes, bedding, etc) to keep her going until the Army moves their things after Steve gets his discharge orders. There has been one holdup after another so he's getting discouraged - most recently the physical exam required before exodus. He arrived at his scheduled appointment in his regular uniform and they said he was supposed to be in his PT uni so they wouldn't see him that day. Never mind that nobody told him that before. So a week later he returns, appropriately attired and they said they want to do more labs so he's still waiting.... oh the joys of military life.

Another First for Josh & Halloween Fun Begins

Emma dressed as a pioneer for the school party but she's considering a different costume for trick-or-treating.
Olivia, Alex and Ashlie
Nat doing some touch-ups
Josh started school the day of the Halloween party. He greeted his dad on the way outside after his first day.
Steve, Asher, Aubrey and Josh at the school
Aubrey and Josh going to school

They made it to Utah... and the flowers think it's spring.

Chris's house is finished now and Jenn's artistic touches have really made it look great. We'll post some updated photos. Meanwhile, this is so weird! The iris are blooming! They are confused - maybe that's what a southern exposure and very early snow storm will do.

White iris (there's also another whole segment with buds ready to bloom)
This is a beautiful yellow one
Steve, Aubrey and Asher checking out Avery. Asher said, "I want that!"
They arrived here around 11:00 PM. Asher and Josh were quickly put to bed but a little wound up. We were so glad they made it here safely. So often they have made the trip with delays due to weather in Wyoming. This time it was a breeze and the kids were amazing for that long drive.

Aubrey and family will be here this weekend

They're leaving at 5 AM tomorrow. Dorothy wanted to go back to Kansas but Aubrey can't wait to leave it - go figure!

So, depending on the drivers, kids' tolerance and weather, they could be here either late Friday night or on Saturday. We can't wait to see them all and it's great they will be here for Halloween.

Click and drag on the map below to see their route. Ft. Riley is west of Topeka - see where Manhattan is - pretty close. Their house that the renters ruined is in Abilene, where the Eisenhower Library and boyhood home are.


View Larger Map

Surprised~

(Added note) ~ Sorry, Ashli - I did notice your immediate comment after you saw her on the show....

One really amazing thing that happened this last week was a little overshadowed by the scary stuff but I was really surprised that nobody commented at all that Aubrey appeared on Oprah and talked to her via Skype! Not that I expect people to comment regularly even but I did think someone would find that interesting. She didn't have a lot of notice since it was response to a show from the previous week and until it taped she wasn't even positive they would include her so there wasn't a lot of warning. They didn't even tell her until the day of the taping that it would air the next day. But I thought she did an excellent job. She was composed, articulate and we were really proud of her. Am I the only one who really thinks this is something? Hmmmmm - well I am her mom.

Aubrey on Oprah Clip

This clip is from the beginning of last Thursday's show to the end of Aubrey's piece. At the very end they also showed her as they said good-bye and thanked those who participated. The opening is there so you have some idea what they are talking about in case you didn't see the show. If you only want to see her slide it over to 7:15 on the counter.

Oprah!

Aubrey made it on the show today. I couldn't see it at work so Chris taped for me. Even though she didn't get to say what she really wanted to, Jon assured me it was great! We're really proud of her and this is an opportunity that doesn't come along every day - a first for our family for sure.

To give some credit too - it was a major stress and accomplishment for her.

• Steve is out of town so she was on her own with the kids (something she doesn't do well anyway).
• She had to read the book, of course. She downloaded it when offered for limited time by Oprah so she had to read it online.
  
• It was quite short notice to gather her thoughts.
• She had to speak many times to the producer, present her ideas in written form just to be chosen for the interview.
• Her last pair of contacts (out of money) were saved for the show but the kids had lost her lid to the case and a mosquito had gotten on one contact. She refused to put something that had a dirty, gross mosquito on it in her eye so she had to wear her glasses (confidence damaging).
• She had to make arrangements for babysitters for both boys, Josh to get to school since taping started at 8:00 A.M.
• She had equipment delivered Monday night at 10:45 PM so had to wait up for UPS.
• She had a practice run to be sure she could operate equipment (computer, mike, camera).
• She woke up very early on Wednesday and kids were sick! She called me at 5:30 our time wondering what to do - cancel after all this? She had to modify babysitting arrangements because now kids were sick (who wants to tend sick kids?) and Josh could not go to school. No extended family in the area!
  
• She had to do her makeup, hair, etc. and be ready in time to get the kids to sitters and be calmly in front of satellite camera.
  
• She did it! Taped Wednesday (then she had to arrange to send the equipment back to Oprah).
• She showed up and was not edited out. Yay!
• She did a super job - she was articulate and clear. Of course we thought she looked beautiful too!
  

Undoubtedly there are a million more details I don't even know about but anyway, Way to go, Aubrey!

If you missed it I heard they do re-runs after midnight. Don't know if it's the same day or the next.

Oprah

Watch tomorrow (Thursday). I don't have TV at work and can't see it myself but Aubrey might show up via satellite. She didn't get to say much and of course it is edited before it airs but what a great opportunity for her. It was feedback on a book she read from a previous show. If you want her opinion you'll have to ask her directly.

Happy Birthday Aubrey!

Ten years and three days after Jennifer's birth, our youngest child, Aubrey was born. Chris was twelve at that time, Justin nearly 9, Natalie about to turn 7, and Jon was 3. She was a welcome addition to our family but it had been a long nine months. The seventh pregnancy (one was stillborn) and my age seemed to have taken a toll and it was a very difficult delivery. Thankfully she came through it OK even with a "brow" presentation, meaning her head was extended back so rather than the chin tucking under to ease the descent, she kind of got stuck with the larger part of the head trying to come through. I apologize if this is more than anyone wants to know but it was kind of foreshadowing for what was to come since Aubrey has always needed to do things her own way and did not like to fit in any mold.

Aubrey was a very fussy baby and all the older kids in the neighborhood, as well as her siblings, wanted to hold her. It was frustrating for them because she just cried no matter what they did. If she happened to be sleeping or being calm, I wouldn't let them hold her because we didn't want to rock this rare boat! By her first birthday she had calmed down and we were able to all enjoy her more. Jenn was always very close to her and honestly believed it was for her Aubrey was born. We named her from the "Bread" song by the same name and occasionally she encounters people old enough to appreciate that. Interestingly enough her favorite celebrity's name is similar, Audrey (Hepburn).

This is how Aubrey looked in her late teens/early twenties - always a phone in her hand

Aubrey recentlySteve, Aubrey and boys last Christmas
Aubrey and her boys, Asher and Joshua (summer 07)
Aubrey and her brother, Jon
Me, Aubrey, Asher, Josh
Aubrey and Asher
This winter picture reminds me of Tonya in Dr. Zhivago

Aubrey is beautiful, talented, creative (a lot like her sister, actually) and she loves being around people. She gets very anxious when she is alone and it has been a challenge for her to live away from everyone she knows. I know this has caused her to mature in many ways too, since she decided to enter adulthood way too soon and had to do some catch-up.

We are all very proud of her and so glad she is part of our family. We miss her and her little family since they live in Kansas and we look forward to their return to Utah soon. We are grateful that Steve was never deployed (knock on wood) and though he has been bored to tears in his job, he has been preserved!

You can see more on her own blog, Just a Detour (on my blogroll to the right).