Wee, I'm 3!

Austin and Grandpa at the beginning of Summer

Austin at the Zoo on the train this Sunday.

So, as usual, time has gone by way too fast.  It's been several months since my last post, and time has just flown by.  Many new and exciting things have happened to our family (as well as a few not so good) but we've managed to reflect and remember that what doesn't kill us, only makes us stronger.  We have been very blessed in the last several months; we've taken a vacation with our wonderful friends and what we refer to as Austin's "Aunt's and Uncles", Jared was offered a wonderful job opportunity at The University of Saint Francis, Jared and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary, Austin just started Preschool at The Children's Nursery School at Peace, and most recently, of course, today's his 3rd Birthday!  There are, of course, other things, but those are just a few. :)

Austin and I floating at Lake Webster :)

Jay, Austin, and I floating in the pool in VA

We were able to take a week long trip to VA with our friends Matt and Drew, and Chris, Kristin and their adorable daughter, Aubrey (Thanks so much to Darl and Rita for allowing us to use their timeshare! It was a great week with many wonderful memories made for all of us).  While we were there, we went to a Winery, beer and wine taste testing, swam in the pool a lot, hung out, made some great dinners, and we even made a wonderful day trip to Washington D.C. to see the sites with our awesome tour guide, and friend, Nicole.  We even got to meet up with another friend, Mike, and his fiance Leann.  It was an awesome day, and something that all of us will remember forever.  It's so great to make memories like those, and we're very blessed that we were able to share it with some of our closest friends.  Austin's favorite part of the trip was probably swimming, and let me tell you, he's a little fish.  He loves it!  His flotation device (called a Puddle Jumper if anyone's interested) was awesome.  Uncle Chris, Uncle Matt, and daddy even taught him some of the basics of swimming such as learning to kick his feet and paddle with his hands.  He's even a pro now floating at the lake with us and loves going from person to person while we all hang out!

Austin at the "Monster Truck" show at the Allen County Fair

For those of you that may not know, Jared showed Austin Monster Trucks on YouTube a while ago, and he's been obsessed ever since.  He loves to watch videos about Monster Trucks, and loves to play Monster Trucks with his cars and have the trucks "crush" on cars.  It's so funny to listen to him talk about them.  It's probably one of his favorite things right now.  We took him to the Allen County Fair to see them and he wasn't too sure about them in person!  He didn't like how loud they were!  His Birthday cake this year was even monster trucks.  Thanks, Daddy, for that obsession!

Austin outside in the Parking Lot

Austin in Front of his door at School

So, like I said earlier, Austin started Preschool this year about three weeks ago.  He's at The Nursery School at Peace right now and LOVES it so far!  It's so nice to see him get in a routine and to bring home art projects and play with other kids.  We can already tell that it's helping him out in many ways that we never expected.  It's like pulling teeth to get him to tell me what goes on there day to day, but he loves playing in the "big room" which is like recess.  He's not really to into art yet, as the pictures he comes home with typically have 2 items on them, but hopefully he'll get over that soon.  It's pretty cute to drop him off on Tuesdays and Thursdays because I can really tell that he misses me.  He just walks straight into his room without turning back!  It was really hard on me first to leave my baby, but i've known all along it was going to be a great experience for him, and so far, we made the right decision.

Austin and Jared on the Floor.

Austin on his Trike outside

As the day's go by, Austin looks up to Jared more and more.  It's pretty cute to watch him imitate the things that Jay does.  When Jared is fixing something, Austin has to go get his tools.  Even the other day Jared was dancing so Austin started to try to dance like Jared.  It's really cute to see how much Austin looks up to his daddy.  And not only that, it's like me and mini me!  The two look so much alike!  Austin even loves to ride his bike like daddy does!

Austin and Claire

This is Austin with his cousin, Claire, who's just about 6 months younger than he is.  I just think this picture is adorable.  Austin loves going to visit his cousins and has the best time.  They were all pretending to be puppies and kitties when we were down there last time, which was so cute to watch.  It's so funny to watch him play and interact with other kids.  His cousins even called him this morning to tell wish him Happy Birthday and he asked if we were going to see them today.  Not quite, but soon :)

So, we've gone Apple Picking two weeks in a row now.  Anyone need some apples???  It was my first time ever going, and Austins first as well.  He loved it!  Austins' eaten a few of the apples, but luckily Jared LOVES apples, so we haven't had to toss many of them yet!  We went last weekend just for fun and then again this weekend since Austin loved it so much.  This time though, we had the treat of Grandma and Grandpa going with us to enjoy on the fun.  Apparently, Grandpa and Daddy thought it would be fun to pick baking apples....so now I just need to figure out something to bake.  Thanks so much, guys!  

Part of Austin's special Birthday celebration was going to the Apple Orchard again, and to go to the Train Museum in New Haven.  Well, the Train Museum didn't really have much that was exciting, but Austin did get to climb around an engine and his favorite, the little red caboose.  We didn't have a party for him this year, just went to the Apple Orchard, the Train Museum, the Saint Francis Football Game, and this his friend Hayden came over to play.  It was a crazy busy day, but I know he loved every minute of it.  

Austin got many wonderful presents this year for his birthday, but this is by far, is his favorite.  Austin has been telling me for weeks that he wanted a Blue or a Black Car for his birthday.  Well, Grandma and Grandpa pulled through and surprised him with his very own Jeep!  He loves this thing!  His face was priceless to watch when he saw it.  Every time we would go to Toys R Us, or as Austin calls it "The Blue Store" he would climb into these things.  And, now he finally has one to himself.  He loves to keep it clean, run it through mud puddles, and wave to us when he passes.  It looks like so much fun, I just wish I could ride in it with him :)

Boys will be boys, right?  Ain't that the truth.  It seems like since Austin started school, we've seen a TON more "boy" tendencies coming out.  As some may know, it pretty much rained all last week here.  Austin played in a mud puddle and splashed around (as you can see by the mud caked on his face).  He was having the best time, and Jared and I just sat in the garage and laughed at him.  It's amazing to watch him do things like that and how much it makes people light up inside.  To be a child again!

Here are a few more birthday pictures of Austin.  Nothing too exciting really :)  Austin needed help blowing out the candles again on his Monster Truck cake this year (which he still won't eat, by the way).  It's hard to believe that he is 3 years old already.  We are so thankful everyday that we have been blessed with him.  I don't think a lot of people realize how lucky they are when children are brought into their lives, but it's a pretty amazing thing.  We're so lucky to have such an amazingly lovable, happy little boy in our lives, and I don't think we would want it any other way!  He's just the best!