This year has been full of ups, downs and everything in between for us. It certainly has been a journey and we have embraced every moment of it.
We started the year off with a new puppy, Sophie. She was our first family pet and she just made herself right at home and never lets Aubrey out of her sight. They spent many, many hours of early Spring on the play set in our back yard. They just became the best of buddies. Aubrey continued with gymnastics and had her first exhibition in late March. We quickly learned that she is quite the showman. As the snow started to melt, Aubrey found herself back in her favorite place in the world, the giant mud puddle that forms in our driveway. Wait for mom to turn her back, take off running, jump in the mud, eat the mud, dunk head under water into mud, get in trouble, shower, repeat - over and over and over again. We also enjoyed visiting the dinosaur exhibit in Minot in April and Aubrey's first birthday party for a classmate. By the time Summer rolled around, Aubrey had mastered her new communication device and was beginning to express her thoughts and feelings with ease. Her frustrations of being non-verbal started to ease and we were finally able to have a better understanding of her daily thoughts.
Seth ran the Fargo Half Marathon again in May where he ran in the top 10% for his age. He continues to impress with his dedication to being physically fit.
Seeding started in May and we helped Ray with that and started gearing up for a busy Summer.
Aubrey finished Kindergarten and hosted the end of year school party at the indoor water park in Williston where got to hang out with all of her friends at the pool. She was the happiest girl alive with her friends and in the water at the same time. We later celebrated her birthday at the community pool in Crosby with a few close friends. Also in June, Aubrey met Mac. Mac is the horse that Aubrey has fallen in love with and gets to ride once a week, every week while the weather is cooperative.
I took the entire summer off from work to be home with Aubrey and to farm with Ray. We spent most days of June and July playing outside, going for walks and playing spelling games. Aubrey attended Summer School for one hour each morning to ensure she stayed familiar with the school environment. I started my blog during this time to help find a creative outlet for myself and have found it to serve much more purpose than just me expressing my thoughts. I have thousands of readers in over ten countries. I love knowing that my experiences with Aubrey are enjoyed and helpful to so many.
In late July, Aubrey and I took an epic road trip down to Mississippi to visit my family. We made it in two days and it took me two days to convince her to get back into my vehicle. A road trip, alone, with an autistic six year old was quite the experience, to say the least. We sang the same Dora song about 999 times and she ate way too many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We visited family in Holly Springs for a few days and then Seth flew down and we made our way to Orange Beach, Alabama. We stayed for a full week and were joined by my mom, Drew, my grandmother, and great aunt the first few days and then my dad and Marsha the last few days. We had a blast! We did everything from parasailing to laser tag to visiting the infamous Florabama with a lot a swimming from daybreak to sunset. It was an absolutely amazing family vacation. On the way home, we stopped in Nashville to see Tyler and catch up with him over dinner.
As soon as we returned home, harvest started. Aubrey and I spent the beginning driving grain trucks up to Crosby. Eventually, Ray got all three combines online and I spent the next month combining wheat and durum and learning the ins and outs of all things required to farm full time. Aubrey spent a lot of time with Grandma Jeanie and Jeanie certainly had her work cut out trying to keep up with her.
Aubrey started First Grade in August and again is in a mainstream classroom with a full time aide. She transitioned fairly quickly back into her routine and just as quickly let us know that she had advanced well beyond some First Grade subjects and would need to be moved up to Second Grade spelling. She has also taken an interest in science and has demanded that she be allowed to study the subject every day of the week and not just two days a week, as her class does.
Our nephew, Bryce (Tyler's son), came to visit for a night at the end of August and we had a jammed packed two days of fun! He has grown so much over the past year and is so full of life and joy. He is now living just outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania with his mom who is a RN at the hospital there.
As harvest wrapped up in early September, I went back to work at the law office in Crosby. I had to make a few adjustments when I returned as the job as a full time Oil and Gas Paralegal was not existent anymore with the sharp decline in the oil industry in Western North Dakota. I have been able to keep busy with assisting in title corrective, land transactions, and family law though.
Seth continues to work for Hess at their gas plant in Tioga, ND. Hess has proven to be a great company to work for and he still enjoys his work very much.
Drew is entering his junior year at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi where he is majoring in accounting. He ended the semester with four As and one B. He has been working for JCG Apparel in Oxford for the past year and half and they are generous enough to completely work around his school schedule.
We are now on Christmas break and will be spending Christmas with Seth's family. We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and hope you are filled with joy and peace this holiday season.
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