Preschool Graduation: Austin

 Austin was so excited for preschool graduation...on to Kindergarten!

 The kids performed some fun songs, I am pretty sure Austin is not naturally rhythmic.

 Listening intently to Miss Sara.

 Austin receives his diploma...he said when he grows up he wants to be a dad.  :)

 Sydney kept herself entertained by bouncing on Matt's legs.

Thanks, Miss Sara!  We love you.  We are so sad that Miss Sara will no longer be teaching preschool.  Derek also went to her preschool and she is awesome.

Guess who lost a tooth?

Austin lost his first tooth this morning.  He is 5 1/2.  I don't think I have ever had a kid lose a tooth so young, but this one was loosened up when Austin skied into a pole a few months ago.  It has been loose ever since and turning a little grayish.  I haven't checked his tooth for several days.  I wiggled it this morning and realized it was barely hanging on.  I pushed it to the side a bit and it was obvious that it would fall out today.  I gave it a little yank and it was out.  It was weird because any other teeth I have pulled have had a tooth pushing them out.  This one has nothing underneath it yet.  I think he will be toothless for a while.  He is so, so excited!

Prayer

Tonight at our Family Home Evening, Austin said the closing prayer.  He kind of sways as he prays, maybe he should have been born into a Pentecostal family?  Matt and I were peeking at him and as we watched him move around we are trying to contain our giggling.  Then Austin says, "Please bless that we can be a family forever, please help us to be heroes and help us to be good missionaries."  Talk about melt your heart!  He took all of the last couple FHE lessons to heart and poured his little heart out in the prayer.  Hurray!  I love when you realize as a parent that some of the things you are trying to live and teach are getting through!

Speaking of FHE, I haven't posted what we have done in the last little while, but tonight I read a scripture in Luke that talks about Jesus Christ as a child and how he grew.  I read the verse without identifying who it was about and then we talked about what it means to grow physically, to grow spiritually and to grow in wisdom.  Then I asked the kids to guess who we were talking about.  I asked the kids to tell us how they can grow in each of those three ways and we talked about what our goals are as a family.  For an activity, we measured everyone and they each committed to improving something that would help them grow (eating more vegetables, serving family, practicing reading, etc.)  Then Matt looked up the height requirements for Disneyland and told everyone how much they need to grow between now and November :)  It was fun.  But the highlight was the prayer :)

Austin

Austin is too funny....he is having a little Valentine's party tomorrow for some of the kids in his Primary class....he is so excited.  He has never had a party before.  He is turning in to a little joker.  Funny story:  A few nights ago, during dinner....Austin jumped up from his seat and started running to the bathroom pulling his pants down as he ran.  Knowing him, I called out, "Austin, lift up the lid and WASH YOUR HANDS!!"  With a background of waterfall music, I hear him call back, "I will, Mother!!!" 

Buddies

Austin insisted this morning that Sydney dress up like Buzz so Woody would have a sidekick.  She didn't mind at all.  She keeps running around the house saying, "Bzz, Bzz."

That little Austin

Four-year olds are funny.  They are old enough to really communicate and their little personalities are very apparent.  They don't throw as many fits and are really starting to figure things out.  Austin says such funny things.  They other day we were in the car and Austin had dropped his Jessie toy.  He kept saying, "Mom, mom, he is only the ground, get him!"  I said, "Austin, Jessie is a she."    In utter disbelief Austin yelped, really he yelped,  "Jessie is a sheep?!?!?!" 

Yesterday before church, I put Sydney's hair in sponge curlers.  The result was very Shirley Temple ringlet-like...in fact, it was waaaay curlier than I thought it would be.  It was cute, but a little crazy.  No time to try an change it, so I put a little clip in her hair and started herding children to the car.  Matt had just fixed Austin's hair and he caught Austin messing it up.  "Austin!  Why are you messing up your hair?"  "I am not messing it up, I am making it look ugly!"  "You don't want it to look ugly, you want to look nice for church."  Austin replied, "But Sydney's hair looks ugly!"

We laughed and laughed and laughed and we were glad that Sydney didn't know what we were laughing at.  He is at such a fun age.  He and Derek are playing nicely together....instead of terrorizing each other for a change.  I don't dare disturb them....

Accomplice

I think Sydney has an accomplice.  I was busy swatting flies when I realized she was not hovering at my feet as is the norm.  I found her sitting on the bottom step, the time-out spot, eating a bowl of chocolate chips!?!?  Not sure how any of that came to pass.  Someone on the inside must be looking out for her.  Or, someone had a hidden stash of chocolate chips (my money is on Derek) and Sydney found it.  Either way, she was happy as can be.

Austin turns Four!

Little Mr. Austin celebrated his fourth birthday yesterday!  This is the first year that he has "gotten" his birthday.  He was looking forward to it so much and I don't think he was disappointed.  He kept singing Happy Birthday to himself all day long.  Insisted that he help decorate the house for his birthday and kept saying, "I am the birthday boy!" 
Austin is so much fun and so sweet.  He loves cuddling and sings all the time.  He loves to build things with Legos, build train tracks and play outside.  He usually will eat anything, but lately is a little picky.  He loves to play with his brothers and sister is a very loving little guy.  He loves going to Primary and can't wait until next year when he can go to preschool.  We love Austin!!!

The James Face

A few weeks ago, Austin said, "James!" and it made my brother's day! One evening, we were trying to get him to say it again and he started making this weird face. He did it over and over and we thought it was hilarious. (Ummm...I wish I could say that the mess on the counter is unusual at our house, but that would be a big fat lie! I usually get it all cleaned off before bed....usually.) But isn't Austin so adorable?

Austin is the new Derek?

Last night I was hosting a neighborhood ladies game night at my house. It is basically impossible for me to clean anything when all three children are around because, well they are little boys. Anyway, I was going to make Grasshopper bars and Derek really wanted to help. So he helped, while smashing only one egg! and Austin ran amok around the kitchen/family room, since Derek cooking needed my undivided attention. There was chocolate batter EVERYWHERE! I could hear Austin playing and it didn't sound too bad so I left him alone while Derek and I baked. FYI the following destruction occurred in less than ten minutes.

This is what Austin was doing while Derek was cracking eggs and licking the bowl:
And this:
And this:
Awesome....huh?

The Terrible Two? The Delightful Duo? You Be the Judge

Derek and Austin have suddenly become the best of buddies. Don't get me wrong, they still torment each other but they have suddenly discovered that they can have fun together too. Yesterday I was doing the dishes and heard Austin squeal. I turned around to discover Derek pulling Austin all over the tile on a rug. They had a great time. And then today: I hear a scraping sound (the kids had been having a snack at the table) and look up to see Derek pushing Austin out of the kitchen into the family room. I decided to document his journey, mostly because I was really curious where they would go. Austin was squealing in delight. Past the couches....
Rounding the corner.....
Down the hall.....
To the end of the line.....
In all honesty, Derek wanted to continue up the stairs and asked me to carry the high chair. I had to put my foot down as visions of Austin and high chair flying down the stairs came to me. (And down will come baby, high chair and all.) I think they will give me a run for my money. And my sanity.

Austin's First Birthday!

Oh where, oh where has a year gone? This past Weds. was little Austin's first birthday! He is such a darling boy and I can not believe it was a year ago that he came to our family. He is such a happy, happy boy and love to imitate people and play with his brothers. He says: Mam (mom), daa (Dad), Uh-oh and that is all. My brother swears that he said Chris once, but none of us believe him. This year went be too fast. Unfortunately, on his birthday he was sick with a double ear infection and a sore throat. He had been on a prescription for about 24 hours and he was definitely not interested in celebrating. He would not eat cake, didn't like his presents and just wanted to go to sleep. When I was getting him ready for bed I noticed that he was covered in hives! The next morning we went back to the doctor and found out that he is allergic to the antibiotics he had been given, so we had to go with something else. The doctor also said...time to start thinking about tubes for his little ears. The other two boys had them and it made a huge difference, since apparently all my boys are ear-infection prone. We decided if Austin has another in the next two months, we will go for tubes. This one was his second in 4 weeks, his 5th since April. But now he is really feeling better and ready to play with his little rocking horse that he wanted nothing to do with on his birthday. He is such a sweet, wonderful boy and I can not imagine our famiy without him!!
Yes, his cake says "Piff" It is his nickname and pretty much the only thing his brothers call him.
Happy Birthday darling boy!!!

Use the Force, Austin!!

Austin thinks he is as big as his brothers and loves to play with them. The other day he got his hands on Derek's light saber. Here is what happened: Aha! He has found an enemy of the Force! Wait, how does this thing work?
Ah...now I have the idea!
Count Zachary has been defeated!
Time to celebrate!

Austin Boston Puddin' Pie

Well, I just can't believe it, Austin is seven months old!! Where have the months gone? I don't even know. I thought Zack grew up too fast, Derek even faster and Austin? It is all a blur. Here is a little update, (mostly for my own sake) of what Austin is up to at seven months.

* He crawls....I know, insane. He has been crawling for a few a weeks and is getting really fast. He loves to head to the tile where he can just slide right along with hardly any effort at all.

* He can sit up. For a minute. Then tips over. That big head and those cheeks. The lower half of his body doesn't stand a chance.

* He is so happy. Nearly all the time. He laughs and smiles and coos and opens his mouth really wide when he is excited.

*He is LOUD! And his voice is really low.

*He loves his brothers. When they come anywhere near him, he gets so excited, he will wiggle and flail his arms around and just get a huge grin on his face.

*He is tough. Last week he had a really fussy night. (fussy for Austin is waking up a few times and I give him his binky and he goes back to sleep) When we woke up the next morning, I saw that he had sprouted a tooth overnight! No crying, no fever, no screaming, no red, swollen gums, just lots of drool. Wow. And another is on its way. (I distinctly remember walking the floors with Zack, a little bit with Derek, while they screamed in pain.) I guess having two olders brothers, he just is naturally tough.

*He is friendly. He will let anyone hold him and loves to cuddle. (Zack wouldn't let anyone but me hold him until he was like, two.)

* He has his daddy's adorable little chin dimple!

I love having three boys! They are so fun and full of life and noise and messes and jokes and hugs and wrestling and teasing and snakes and snails and puppy dog tails. At least that is what my little boys are made of! I love you, Austin. You are an absolute delight! Never an easier baby in the world.

The Pirate Party....ARGHHHH!

Yes, I know this is my third post today, but I haven't had time this week to post the other things I wanted to, so I am doing it all today! Yesterday I threw my first real kid birthday party. Zack will be five (five, holy cow!) next week. He begged for a party and I said okay. We invited all his cousins, of course, and then he invited four friends. We had the kids do different "pirate tasks" like Pin the Patch on the Pirate, Walking the Plank, etc. After they finished each task, they received something to help them be a better pirate, hooks, eye patch, that kind of stuff. After they had become true pirates I handed over the treasure map and Matt took them on their treasure hunt. It was really fun and the kids all had a blast. The big hit was walking the plank, everyone wanted to do it over and over. After Zack's friends left, the fam all hung around for a while and we picked up some pizzas and just hung out. It was great. Thanks to Tara, John and Laurie and Jen and Chad for all yout help!
Okay, I just thought this was a cute funny face.
And this just cracked me up. Austin has started folding his hands together whenever he is sitting in his swing. I wanted to catch him with his hands like this, and I got this awesome face too! I think he looks very pious. :)