AUBERINO.... AUBS..... AUBREY MAY..... - SHE'S 12!

The birthday fairy struck again.....

A second child to be old enough to be in YW - the church's youth program. Seems impossible!

We had a fun family get together for the two March b-day girls - The kids always look forward to gatherings with cousins!

We usually let the kids have a "real" party on their 12th. Aubrey thought and thought about what to do...

My husband is brilliant. He came up with a "Downtown Picture Scavenger Hunt"

Brilliant because a) - the girls had a blast and b) - IT WAS FREE!!! Aaahh - I love that word. That, in my opinion, is brilliant!

We drove the girls to downtown Boise - we realized last minute that we couldn't responsibly fit 7 girls and Chip and I in the van - (can you imagine that conversation between the girls' and their moms?!) so thank goodness Aunt Kelley was available - not only was she a driver, but she also took Taylor, Hannah, and Jack to the mall during the pizza part of Aubrey's party. Again, brilliant!!

Once downtown, we gave the girls a map (beautifully hand made by my talented map maker of a husband) and the coolest list of pictures they had to get with Aubrey's camera. Chip and I thought they'd be apprehensive about asking complete strangers to take their picture. Uh.. think again!

Here are just a few:

A picture of all the girls in sunglasses...


A picture with everyone's hand on a big bell... (they had to find the bell somewhere downtown)



Aubrey with a cook...


A picture of all the girls with the capitol in the background...

And the one that made me, Chip and Kelley laugh so hard - They had to get a picture of all of them in front of City Hall. The first people they saw was a sweet senior couple taking a leisurely stroll downtown. Without hesitation, all seven of them ran full speed to ask them to take a picture. So, the nice man did... BUT... the girls weren't happy with it because they did not see the words "City Hall" in the picture. So, they asked him to "get down a little" and take another picture. Well, he didn't just get down a little - he down a lot! After the girls stopped giggling, Aubrey went to get her camera from him, and he asked for help getting up....

When he walked away, he had dirt all the way down his sleeve... we felt so bad, but couldn't help but laugh about that all night!! But at least he got the picture they needed!! He was such a sweet man. The girls are trying not to burst out laughing here...

After downtown, they came home and had fun being 12 year old girls. The conversations of 12 year old girls are quite entertaining, to say the least.

Perhaps the ride home was the best part! Yes, we did squeeze for these few minutes in the car - ssshhhh.... we aren't telling!!!

Aubrey always has us all in stitches - a special girl she is indeed! Sure love you Miss Aubrey May!