Aubrey's 14th Birthday

We were able to celebrate Aubrey's birthday on January 9th.  It was a Saturday and so it was fun to have Breena there as well.

She started off her morning with a special phone call from her big sis.  (On a side note, it seriously is the best that missionaries are able to call home so often now.  When I was serving, we called on Christmas Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day.  Being able to call on Father's Day was something my mission president allowed but was very unheard of for the most part.  We love feeling so connected to our Brinley Kate.)

Bryn also sent her a letter in the mail.  I'm not sure what all was in it but this little potato guy was.  Now Aubrey and Breena try to take a picture or make a video w/ the potato guy every time they are together and send it to Bryn.

I had an elegant pile of gifts all wrapped in white and gold.  Then a gift from Tanner and Breena were added to the mix.  This turkey girl actually knew almost all of her gifts.  She peaked on the Amazon purchase history page.  SPANKINGS!

Breena gave her a really pretty James Avery ring.  It is a silver band w/ hearts around it.  (Aubrey knew her gifts from Breena and Lauron as well.  They had discussed them.  Seriously...turkey girl!)

Brian and I gave her a robe, metal straws, a hair/shampoo massager thing, a pj shirt, markers, colored pens, and a cactus phone and cactus air pod case.

Parker gave Aubrey this huge box of Gushers and a hot chocolate bomb.

Tanner totally spoiled Aubrey and purchased a $60 basketball for her.  He has been helping her some to improve her basketball skills.  She tried out for the Nimitz basketball team and made it!  (She did Liahona Preparatory Academy home school last semester.  However,  she missed people.  She is loving being back at Nimitz and so happy the coach allowed her to try out for the team.)

Of course we read the cute and funny things about our girl.  I loved that Breena was there to hear it all.  Aubrey has been boy crazy for years.  When she was in preschool, her teachers finally had to talk to me because she would not stop kissing one little boy.  (I think they had to talk to his parents too!)  In her journal, I mentioned having to talk to one of Tanner's friends about not kissing her.  I think she was around five.  She has always loved the boys!

She was feisty and cute as a little girl and we all adored her.  I mention her hitting me, talking back and even spitting in my face when she was two or three.  SASSY for sure!  She always walked swinging her hips back and forth.  She loved saying the word "booty."  We finally had to reign her in when she started pinching people's rear ends while saying booty!  (She got Grandpa Vore, once and it was pretty hilarious.)

When she was in first grade, her very best friend moved.  She was a little lonely during recess for awhile.  She had two friends she sometimes played with but she didn't really have another best friend yet.  One day I asked her what she did during recess.  She said she played under the "pervillian." (pavilion)  I asked her if she played with anyone and she said no.  Then she paused and got a huge smile on her face and said "I did!  I played with the bench!"

She was genuinely so pleased with herself.  She played a little clapping game with the bench.  How is that for adorable.

I didn't read this story when we were all together because I didn't want her brothers to tease her for the rest of her life.  The best part of this story is she is just finishing up week one of being back at school.  She is trying to find her group during lunch and is feeling a little out of place.  When I told her this story she dryly said, "I think I'm going to be playing with the bench all over again."

 As a teen, she is still somewhat sassy, spunky and also so much fun.  We love our Aubrey Joyce.

Brian and I took the girls to Chilis to celebrate.  We invited the boys but Tanner had practice, and Parker declined.

Happy 14th Birthday Beautiful Bree!