Not SWEET Aubrey

. . . Oh yes, sweet little Aubrey has a not so sweet side too :)

Last month, I made a "motherly" decision and pulled Aubrey from her softball team. While she completely understood my reasoning for why she couldn't be on the team anymore, she was devastated. Thinking quickly, I came up with this "exciting" plan to train her to be a runner, and compete in short races with me (ones with medals of course). I figured it would be something fun for us to do as a family. She was totally on board, and the plan immediately lifted her spirits. I made cute charts, convinced grandma to join us, and everything seemed great. . . ummm, that is, until the training and running aspect of the plan actually started :) GRRRR! Our training progressively leads us through series of run/walk cycles, leading up to 30 minutes of continuous running. We have basically the same ritual every day (or 5 days a week), I come home from work and chipperly announce. . . . "it's time to change into running clothes!" and my sweet little Aubrey immediately turns into the BEASTmaster :) The first two weeks we had a 6 minute walk/2 minute run cycle, repeated 5 times. We got through the first week with minor whining and complaining but when week #2 rolled around, the HOT SUN also decided to roll in to town. Not far into our run one day my Aubs turned into her crabby runner self and was purposely doing everything I was training her not to do. To say the least, she grew frustrated with my critiquing and yelled "I HATE YOU," and proceeded to spit on me. Ummm, I was a little shocked, and in my stern, mean mom voice (holding back my laughs) she got a yelling :) I believe she immediately regretted her actions, and even more so now. . . .A couple weeks have passed and not a day goes by that someone doesn't mention it. "Hey Aubs, you're not going to spit on me, right." We all laugh at her, and sometimes she laughs too. I am happy to report we are currently working on week #4 and today's run increase was fabulous. Mom and Aubrey did amazing and Pregnant Auntie Molly is here visiting and joined in the training fun :) Yeah for our new hobby. I hope one day Aubrey will admit she kind-of-sort-of likes it and I can relive my early running years through her :) The reason we have kids, right? Oh how I love them and their little mistakes too :)

Dedicated to my dear, sweet, pregnant (w/ my lil' Brooklyn) sister who doesnt believe changing fonts & layouts counts as blogging :) Here's your post

Hooray for fall!! A time for new beginnings . . . or is that Spring? Guess it doesn't matter, I am ready for new beginnings. I love it. . . the kids are back in school, the decorations are up, apple cider, chilly weather, yummy soup . . . fall is the BESTEST!!

Besides a great family vacation, the exciting reveal of my sisters baby girl, and Caydens 8th Birthday (okay, I guess there was more good there than I thought) August was basically a BUST in my life. . . . I lost my 2 best friends to the wicked witch of the west (ummm, like seriously), discovered a boy I dated but 3 months earlier ran off and got married (hmmm, you think he was dating us both??) , and lost the current bf when he ran off to Greece for a month and ummm, never returned??
I'll just assume he got married too. I was sad all month, but now it is September, I am putting it behind me, and trying to find humor (and a lesson) in it all :)

The kids have fallen into their school routine and so far everything is perfecto. Aubrey started middle school (attending the same school I did as a kid) and LOVES it. To be honest, I think the transition was harder on me. She is getting so old and I don't like it :) I actually wasnt even able to drop her off on the first day and had to take her to a friends. . . I have since over come that haha. I went to preregistration, back to school night and parents lunch day and am so happy with her teachers, the staff and the school environment. It is awesome and I know she will continue to grow in to a bright young lady there :) Cayden is now in 3rd grade and getting so big and responsible too. He was sad his sister wasn't at his school anymore (although they rarely even saw each other) but has proven to be quite independent and happy with school life. He loves his teacher (his first man teacher), is doing well with his school work, and hasn't even had a close call with the principals office (knock on wood). He got a new bike for his birthday from grandma and grandpa and it is still (yes 3 weeks later) his most favorite present ever. He practices riding it every day in hopes of proving to me he is responsible enough to ride it to and from school. Awww, maybe one day little one!! He is also having a competition with grandpa (although gpa may not realize the competition factor) to grow the biggest pumpkin. He wakes up extra early each morning to tend to that growing plant. It is beyond cute!
Okay, okay. . . I will stop rambling. Hope this post will satisfy my sister . . . Happy new school year and fall to all :)