An aunt, five cousins, a mom, and three siblings later...

My Gramma and I have been lucky enough to enjoy a visit from family these past few weeks... regretably I've had to work most of the time they've been here, but my days off have been a (rare) wonderful treat.


I'll admit, I'm not the first to jump at the opportunity to lend my time to 8 children under the age of 13, HOWEVER, I LOVE these kids. My cousins are wonderful, despite the freezing cold showers on Sunday mornings, arguments in pitches only poodles can hear, horrific noise at UGLY hours of the morning, and completely unpredictable throw-up episodes in the van, these past few weeks have been great. It's not very often that we have the opportunity to get together in such big groups (yes, I know, surprising considering the size of my family) - to better illustrate these events, I would ask that one imagines the movie 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' - a mayhem of bodies, laughing, talking, hugging, crying, and CHILDREN. I could never understand why the potential husbands and wives were always so intimidated at family gatherings; having gotten older, and more able to stand back and observe the chaos of my clan, I can more easily understand.

There are some things I won't miss - having my room back to myself, warm showers, everything being left in the spot where it belongs - BUT I will miss 8 little "Good morning Aubie"'s every day, and the priceless comments that only kids can get away with (like Jacob during the prelude music in Sacrament Meeting this morning - he leaned over to me and asked "Aubie, WHAT is this TINY song for?!"), and having someone who wants to play with you all the time, who thinks you're the best even when you're wearing pajamas and have morning breath.

All things considered, I think a visit from the family is worth two weeks of cold showers.

Wedding Things

I love my wedding. True, I have not had my wedding, but I love thinking about it, and imagining what it will be like, and planning how everything will be, and looking at photos of other weddings. I love thinking about what my Dad's speech will be like, and having a dance with my Grampa to the song that inspired my name,(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqXek853SDE) and what my Mom will wear, and what the invitations will look like, and most of all... the dress.
I might look forward to this dress more than most... but I think almost every teenage girl has looked for a picture of her PERFECT wedding dress. I understand (and have been warned) that picking out EVERY DETAIL of the dress will only bring disappointment, so I have refrained from setting my heart on anything too specific, but how can you not fall in love with this dress??

http://www.foxglovegowns.com/images/full%20sized/F4A%20custom%20Alencon%20lace%20wedding%20gown%20x600.jpg
(Here's another view)
http://www.foxglovegowns.com/images/full%20sized/D5B%20buttons%20+%20loops%20%20Alencon%20lace%20wedding%20gown%20x450.jpg

Of course, my dress will be more modest, but I just ADORE these lacy gowns!

When we had the privelage of going through the temple open house, I fell in love with the Bridal Room.. it was absolutely beautiful. I can't WAIT to be there with my Mom and get ready to be married for time and all eternity.

The invitations will be beautiful, simple, but beautiful. And WHITE. I love white, especially since it's not a color that I wear very often, so I think it will be even more special on my wedding day.
Keep checking your mailboxes! Invitations to come! (wink)

Aubrey and the NO GOOD, VERY BAD day

Yesterday was a no good, very bad day.
It began to the sound of my alarm clock at 7am (a disgusting hour for me) reminding me that I had a dentist appointment at 8 o'clock that morning. I got ready, and went to get my filling. This may seem strange, but I quite like going to the dentist... .probably a good thing since I plan to spend a lot of time there once I become a hygienist. Then (since my dentist is right next to where I work) I stopped by work to get a few things ordered for patients, and had the unfortunate luck of (after being "on hold" for about ten minutes), having my call answered by the grumpiest woman of all time. After making me feel a complete fool, she reluctantly ordered what I needed, and ended the phone call. I then was told my one of my colleagues,I would have to tell a patient, that their broken glasses would not be covered under warranty, and that they would have to pay for the repairs (being the bearer of bad news is never a pleasant thing for me).

A NO GOOD, VERY BAD start...

When I finally arrived back home, I decided to go back to bed and try to start my day over, but was greeted by my frantic Gramma, tearing apart the house, preparing for the visit of 8 of her grandchildren.
It was shortly after my room was cleaned and laundry done, that an event threatening to turn my day around occurred! My wonderful best friend showed up unexpectedly at my house! - however; we spent little time together before he spared my Gramma another stressful chore, and went outside to mow the lawn.

Two hours later, having previously not been able to eat with my frozen mouth, I was starving! I thought maybe a nice lunch would make me feel better, but no. Richard then informed me that he had to bring his truck home for his Dad to take camping - this made me even more upset as it reminded me that he would be gone for the next four days. So, after acting horribly to everyone around me, Richard had to leave, and I was left feeling angry, and wishing I would have apologized.

After I reluctantly accompanied my Gramma grocery shopping, Richard called to say he was all packed, and on his way over.(Horray!!!) We went to grab a bite to eat, and prepared to make our way over to a YSA activity. I guess he could tell I wasn't in the mood to be cheerful and outgoing, so after a completely illegal u-turn, to my surprise we started heading the opposite direction! We ended up at the pool, and have a TON of fun. (I forgot how much I liked water slides !)It seemed like my no good, very bad day had finally turned around! But in true, NO GOOD, VERY BAD day fashion, I realized I had lost my green scarf. We retraced our steps around town, but with no luck, made our way back to my house, scarfless. Somehow, even after all the horrible events of the day, I went to bed feeling like the luckiest girl in the world. I have a WONDERFUL family, a beautiful home, a great job, and the best friend a girl could ever ask for.
I think from now on, I'll leave the NO GOOD, VERY BAD days to Alexander.

The Ambulance in the Valley

I'd heard this story before, but when it was brought up the other day, I just had to look up the poem.... I love it! I'm the kind of person who thinks that idealy, we should be prepared for the worst, but do our best to AVOID getting into the worst situations.
I just love this poem !!

"‘Twas a dangerous cliff, as they freely confessed,
Though to walk near its crest was so pleasant,
But over its terrible edge there had slipped,
A duke and full many a peasant.

So the people said something would have to be done,
But their projects did not at all tally.
Some said, "Put a fence around the edge of the cliff,"
Some, "An ambulance down in the valley."

But the cry for the ambulance carried the day,
For it spread through the neighboring city,
A fence may be useful or not, it is true,
But each heart became moved with pity,

For those who slipped over that dangerous cliff;
And the dwellers on highway and alley
Gave pounds and gave pence not to put up a fence,
But an ambulance down in the valley.

Then an old sage remarked, "it’s a marvel to me
That people give far more attention
To repairing the results than to stopping the cause,
When they’d much better aim at prevention.

"Let us stop at its source all this hurt," cried he.
"Come, neighbors and friends, let us rally.
If the cliff we will fence, we might almost dispense
With the ambulance down in the valley."