The Friday before Austin and I left for Iowa we all took a trip up to Cheyenne Canyon. We had a picnic and then the kids and I walked down the creek about 1/2 a mile or so. Austin was a bit shocked at how cold the fresh snow-melted mountain water was! Like Nick and Kelli last summer, he had a bit of the itch to find rocks that were filled with gold. Unlike Nick and Kelli, he was not determined to collect every rock that had or might have a few golden specks.

Back Yard Blast

Yesterday we went to Prospect Lake to go swimming, but much to our dismay, the swimming area of the lake is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. So, we went to the dollar store and bought some buckets and sponges, went home and turned on the hose. We had a sponge fight, dumped buckets of water on each other and drenched each other with the water hose.

Austin watching in fear as tMichael sprays them with the water hose while Mikey and Catherine fight over camera poses

Austin Mikey and Catherine posing...Mikey attempting to be a camera hog

Mikey and Austin chasing each other down with buckets of icy cold water

Mikey in "ready to attack" Catherine mode

Michael and the yahoos filling buckets for another round water fun

Austing not sure who to attack or who is going to attack him

Catherine in "ready to attack" Mikey and Austin mode

After the back yard water blast, we went inside and had ice cream sandwhiches. Then, the kids decided that they needed to give me some love...

And drag me down the stairs...Their loves became an ambush. But, in the end, I was the one to prevail!!!! NOT THEM!!!

Helmet Homework

I was working in the garden and told Austin to go in and start working on the math pages. He reluctantly went, but was able to find a way to do his work and have fun at the same time. I came into the house to check on him and this is what I found...

Gone is the mop

Austin's "date" with Linnette

Linnette is a dear friend of mine that took a job in Vail a few years ago. Austin met Linnette when he came to stay with me two years ago. In fact, Austin and I "lived" at Linnette's place for about a week or two before we flew back to Iowa. Anyway, Austin and Linnete came to absolutely adore each other. Sometimes, Austin calls to chat with her...which brings her the greatst joy. Any call from that boy will leave you smiling if not laughing hysterically!!!

Linnette knows how much Austin loves Hot Wheels, so she bought two mystery Hot Wheels and they enjoyed discovering which cars they got, played with them and of course, Linnette left them for the bubba.

Who has the longest tongue?

Austin's hiding place

Austin and I took a quick trip up to Garden of the Gods one evening. This place is amazing! Breathtaking. Beautiful. Spectacular. Full of the glory and splendor of God. It is so fun to watch children climb the red rocks formations. It is a place that ignites the imagination, even in those whose imaginations are difficult to engage.



Austin's hiding place he found about three years ago when the kids and my sisters came out for my 28th birthday.


The Bubba mater and Aunt Katie striking a pose


Adorable pose 1

Adorable pose 2




More adorable poses to come.

Austin says he misses everyone, especially Sissy.

Sink and Drain Plunger or Face and Belly Plunger?

No words necessary.
Michael swears that Mikey and Austin are the same pea in the same pod. They are one individual. They are boys. Stinky, funny, goofy 12 year old boys.

The first weekend of April I fel home to suprise Austinf for his Confirmation. It was a busy weekend filled iwth gymnastics, shoe shopping, Red Robin "yum" burgers, Confirmation and time with the family.

Granna and The Bubble Bean

Big Brother and Sissy. The Bubba Mater misses his sissy.
He prays for her every night.

Pastor Wheeler and Austin--Austin's Confirmation

Kelli and her first gold medal

Karina...Smiles and pig-tails.

"Manners Matter"

Michael is on a mission to teach Austin how to use some table manners. Mom warned him about his table manners, or lack thereof and what his Uncle Michael would do to him if he ate like he belonged in a barn. Austin, being the 12 year old Bubba-Mater that he is failed to believe granna's warnings. Austin thinks it is funny, but he is going learn how to use manners one way or another!!!

.

snow for gramps and bubba mater

so last Christmas was the first Christmas in 10 years or more that i can remember having snow while back home in iowa. not only was there snow at Christmas, but there were blizzards. not only in december but both times i was there in february and i believe there was even a bit of snow when i was back home in march...

dad and austin decided to spend some quality grandpa and grandson time together outdoors. they built a snowman, attempted a snow fort and had a snowball fight.

he wasn't that tired...he had enough energy to rund around the yard and have a snowball fight with me and grandpa.

grandpa packs the snowman while austin eats it. another austin antic!

the snowball fight.

Bubba Mater

Bubba Mater is full of hilarious antics...Stories, comments, questions, logic, gas, songs...You name, he can make it funny.

When he found out that Michael and I were going to get married, he called to tell me that Aunt Kari spilled the beans about our news and that he'd made up a song for us. He started out with a gruff duuuum-da-da-duuuum-da-da-duuuum to the Star Wars theme. He stops and starts humming an unrecognizable tune and then says "Oh shoot! Wait, no! Hold on!" (Like he was really talking to me and I might hang up)...Then he starts humming and singing the Here comes the bride tune as only Austin can do. Of course I still have it saved on my voice mail and anytime I need a laugh, I listen to it.

Just a few of my most favoritest pictures of Austin.

I started a tradition with Austin...Every summer we go out to East Lake Park to do photographs.

As the years have passed, I take all four of them, (sometimes to Q Pond for a change of scenery). When Austin was about eight or nine he complained about going out to East Lake to do picures. He thought it was dumb that we do the same thing every year...He thought I had enough picures and didn't understand why I needed more....Now, though, it is the first thing he asks to do when I come home. And he HOUNDS me until we do.

Grandpa took Ausin, Nick and I fishing at Q Pond. Austin was more concerned with finding flowers for me than he was fishing. Thus far, this photo is my absolute favorite photo of Austin.

Wish I had some baseball pictures to share. Baseball was never a sport Austin found much fun in. I suppose becasue it was a slow moving game, and well Austin is much too busy to be slow. If he is bored, he finds his own fun. Playing baseball (or T-ball) when he was to be in the outfield or on a base, he has his own personal coach out there with him. If the game wasn't exciting, he made it exciting...I have photos of him doing a bellydance on first base! Only Austin.

Soccer is a better sport for Austin. Faster paced, but he actually has to pay attention and exert some energy in order to play. So, maybe Tae-Kwon-Do is the best sport for him right now.

Everytime I come home, they all beg me to sleep with them. That just isn't so comfortable anymore. They are getting too big and too old for that. Besides, me and one of them on a twin bed...Don't think so. The are so darling when they are sleeping. I just wanna cuddle with him and kiss his chubby pink cheeks off!

Our trip to Mt. Evans

Last summer Mom and Kari brought Austin out to stay with me for a few weeks. We took a tour up Mt. Evans. Mom did not like the ride. She thought we were going to tumble over and fall down the side of the mountain. Needless to say, Mom's dream of going to the Grand Canyon is now sufficed with pictures of the Grand Canyon.

Here are a few pics of our trip up Mt. Evans.