Happy 4th Birthday, Austin!

a little more Austin

Sorry if this is a ridiculous amount of Austin info and photos. I make scrapbooks on shutterfly and by posting these here to my blog I can come back and remember what I want to put in my books when I finally get to them, 6 months later :) So for now... a few more of our 3 year old, almost FOUR!

Austin has spent the last almost 2 years with these 2 pals. They both came here while their mama's and daddy's were at work and/or school. It was quite the trio and Austin loved it. They both are happily home with their stay home mama's now and I couldn't be happier for their families, even as bummed as Austin was when they left. Such a fun little trio they were...and so sweet.

Austin always ready for a good observation comment...

Funny face...

Austin loved to help water the plants around the yard this year. He is an outdoors man at heart! I loved when he would throw on his rain boots and head outdoors no matter the weather!

This boy will play in the tub forever...

His umbrella. Enough said. He LOVED when the rain came and he could pull this thing out and stomp in puddles.

Always up for a splash in the backyard...

Austin has spent most of his life going to and from Jaxon's school everyday... this last year he could finally really play well on the playground equipment and chase Jaxon's friends around.  They love to get him going and Austin loved the game :)

His first summer of swim lessons with Miss Jen...

His first ice-cream truck treat...

His first movie at the theatre! Right before Carson arrived we checked out Cars. I think he liked the popcorn the best and is still a true Cars 1 fan!

He can really get Jaxon to imaginary play better then Jaxon can on his own, aside from make-believe sports scenarios :)

And he and his big brother loved to sleep together almost every night during his year as a 3 year old.... love the stillness and peace of two sleeping boys side by side.

Austin and three

 As a 3 year old, Austin has used this year to really start to show us his own personality, likes, and spirit. What a joy to walk alongside him and watch God mold who he is becoming! He, like big brother, LOVES the water...

 He is adventurous and "flies" around here all the time. This is the year I had to almost take him to ER for a mild concussion after attempting to be Buzz Lightyear and flew right off the couch onto the hard floor, head first. All with no clothes on of course. (if you know this son of mine, you know he prefers the buff vs. clothing any day! Actually many pictures I can not post because he is too naked)

 "noooooo".... for so long I heard this when it would snow out. Now I hear his little prayers at night asking for the real stuff, snow, to come the next day for him to play in. I think he's the only one disappointed we don't have any yet :)

 Famous for his wildy long hair that I have to trim every two weeks because it grows so fast.... and famous for his ability to sit and play cars/trains/trucks for very long periods of time all by himself. He loves it!

 He is my little helper in the kitchen. I love that he keeps me on track with a few family traditions too. He would have family pizza, movie, and popcorn night every night if he could choose, not just for Fridays!

 A big year... as a 3 year old he became a Big Brother. I will never forget all the excitement he had leading up to Carson's arrival.... it fell a bit when he realized Carson could do nothing for him or with him just yet, but I'm holding out. These two will be buds soon :)

 He is my little creative bug. He loves painting, coloring, drawing, getting messy with whatever I put on the table for him.

 And I know he's really probably too big, but I don't care. It's not like he will walk into kindergarten with these things!  He was still my blankie and binkie boy as a 3 year old. He recently has been trying to ditch both though and it makes me a little sad.

 Outdoors.... he would be a farm kid if we let him. Chasing chickens here and loving it!

 And I can't say enough about the handful of amazing people God continues to surround our family with. As we raise these babies, God faithfully puts people in our lives who make bringing up these boys easier, encourage us, love on us, pray for us, laugh with us....just walk with us. Austin is especially fond of our good friend, Natalie. I sure appreciate her heart for my children....her heart in general. She is a light to my family and Austin spent a lot of his time as a 3 year old loving her! If I could bottle her up and freeze her for the next 20 years, I'm sure she'd be a keeper for him :)

 Austin is one fun-loving kid... he still loves slides and prefers them over the swings at the park.

 Austin wanted to be in almost ALL my pregnancy photos. I love how he would wrap himself around that big belly. Most of my photos are of him and I, taken by Jaxon.

 He is true dirt and trucks kind of boy.... most summer days I emptied pockets and shoes full of sand and dirt.

And most of all... I have loved the way his heart is shaping towards Jesus. He talks about God a lot and relates Him to so many things. The faith of a child is so simple and real. Much can be learned from my 3 year old's heart for Jesus!

How do I pick?

So many great moments, qualities, and things involving this kid!! Can't believe his FOURTH birthday is here. We'll be celebrating our boy all weekend so look for some fun photos of our 3 year old who will be this age no longer in just a few days.... there are so many great memories with Austin as a 3 year old! How do I pick just a few??? He's such a fun, sweet, easy going boy. Enjoy the pictures as much as we've enjoyed our sweet little Austin :) Let the celebrating begin!!

 Headed outside... his favorite place to be.

 Playing Leapster with Dad...

 Getting braver with Bay Carson...

 Our animal lover...

 More on this boy and this puppy to come... :)

 Makes up fun all by himself often...

 Becoming Dad's second side-kick... (sigh, it always seem to happen to me!!)

 Getting braver like big bro Jaxon...

 "take a picture of me with Carson" is what I hear more and more...

 LOVES his bikes and cars...

 Loves to just be goofy...

 Will sit for long stretches and do puzzles, color, or paint at the ole dining room table...

Loves junk food :) and sneaks it often! (little stinker!!)

More to come... we're just getting started birthday boy!

gangsta Jaxon

It seems when I download pictures these days I almost always have a few I didn't take myself... or know anybody else was taking! These always make me smile.... and then laugh a bit!! Who is he trying to be here? Oh Jaxon... you are becoming more and more a very funny and personality filled boy!

"that" mom

I'm not going to lie... I never I thought I would be "that" mom, but totally LOVE when my boys dress alike! It's just too stinking cute :)

Kick-off to our Christmas Season

Every year after Thanksgiving we head out to the local tree farm with some good friends to find the "perfect tree". Jen and I did the math this year and this marked our fifth season of practicing this tradition. Crazy how time flies by. I still remember that first year we decided to skip Menards and Flowerama for our trees and take the then little boys out to a real tree farm. My tree has started to be not only a sign of Christmas in our home, but almost every time I look at it I also think of friendship and smiling little kids running around the tree lot. It always makes me smile. 

This year was much the same as past years... we bundled up, my husband insisted the first tree we saw was fine, I convinced him to keep walking, Matt found the tallest and fullest he could find, the boys chased and darted through the trees, the men pretended to cut the tree down and then called the real tree guys over to finish, we laughed a lot, made jokes, sipped on cider, ate popcorn, and just shared a simple yet special tradition that we just threw together 5 years ago. The only thing missing this year was Matt's plaid shirt!  It has nothing to do with Jesus' birth or the real meaning behind this season, but has everything to do with friendship, family, love, fun, and tradition. And it is very good. It has become one of my favorite traditions we do and it all started on a whim decision not too long ago. The tree is cut and up and the Christmas season at the Hansen's has officially begun!

 Funny story... this tree we are posing with is a fake. We did choose this tree. Matthew took a lovely family picture and we cut it down. (by we, I mean the tree guy that works there!) As we were hanging out in the little shed waiting for our trees to be bundled the tree guy returned and needed to chat with them about the trees. The dad's went out to chat with the tree guy and I thought nothing of it. They were back very quickly and I assumed all was well.  Well, as the guys put the tree on our car I knew it wasn't our tree we picked out. Supposedly our tree was going to split and wasn't any good. Dave and Matt wasted no time getting another to take its place and all without involving the kids and wives :)  As soon as they started tying it to our car I knew it wasn't the same tree... a fast one by my husband, but it did not go unnoticed. Needless to say, he did pick out a lovely tree for us in .5 seconds!

 Checking out the situation... 

 Waiting for our tree... notice the decorated windows in the back ground? Those are re- purposed by Dave's aunt and cousin... don't they do an awesome job!?!?

 The gang... five years and counting!

Let the Christmas season begin!