Why daddy has a hard time getting work done....

Some new "firsts"

I wanted to post these pics/videos to document some "firsts"~

While Gigi was visiting last week, she got Austin to dip his apples into caramel (he NEVER dips anything.) So tonight we were having a hamburger after church and he was dipping everything into ketchup.. and so it begins.








Austin is one of those rare children that actually said "yes" before "no"- in fact, he just said "no" for the first time this week. And even though I don't like it, I think it's the most adorable little "no" that I've ever heard! He's also obsessed with stop lights- and telling us when they turn green! :)

A spring day.... in January!

We had a beautiful weekend- 2 days in the mid 70s! So we couldn't resist getting out to enjoy it! On Saturday Shane took Austin to the park, but I stayed home to bake... so no pictures were taken. But on Friday we went for walk/ride in the wagon around the neighborhood & also played in the backyard~

Austin & Mommy


Playing on the exercise equipment


Watching airplanes


Nice ride


Watching Jack through the window


Then Jack came outside to play with us


Our big boy- can't believe he will be 3 in March

The next Michelangelo

I bought Austin some new watercolor paints at the store this week- he thinks it's the best thing ever. Here are a few pictures of our little artist~

Very serious


Not so much :)

Cousins

My cousin, Serena, was in town for a business trip last week- so a bunch of us cousins got together for mexican food at La Hacienda Ranch! This might become an annual tradition~

Me, Serena, Becky, Dennis, Diane, Amy, & Jalynn

A ride on the carousel.... or 3

Earlier this month we decided to spend the afternoon shopping at a mall over in Dallas. I knew Austin would love it because they have a carousel! Sure enough he saw it immediately & could think of nothing else. They have it set up to where you have to use token, but the token machine won't give change- so we had to buy $5 of tokens (3 rides.) OH well. So we used this to our advantage....if he ate a good lunch, we could ride again. And then a third time just because we're the best parents ever.

To no surprise, he loved it. On the other hand, it made me dizzy. I'm getting old.

With Daddy


And Mommy

Playroom

After Austin got some large toys for Christmas (train table, kitchen, easel), we officially decided to change the guest bedroom into a playroom. As much as I disliked the idea of giving up the guest bedroom, we couldn't justify keeping it to use maybe 6 weeks out of the year... when we could get daily use out of it as a playroom. So we moved the furniture to storage and cleaned out the closet to store extra toys and crafts. We didn't moveany toys from the family room- just new toys or things I had stored away. This room is supposed to eventually be Austin's big boy room, so we didn't want to make too many changes since it's temporary.

The finished product


Left side of room


Some of Austin's artwork


Right side of room


Cheap decor- flash cards from Land of Nod hung on twine (only other money spent was on rug, bookcase from Target, and organizational shelves in closet)


Another angle


The closet


So far Austin loves the playroom! We do a lot of craft activities on the picnic table, and he uses the easel a ton! I'm so glad we made the change... our house was feeling taken over by toys! Of course I might be singing a different tune when we have company visit...

These last few pics were taken during the makeover process~ Jack checking out the new easel