More Austin...

First off, let's talk about Logan. 

Logan is a 10-year old ATHLETE trapped in a little 4 year olds' body. 

In fact, I think he was born an athlete.

Somehow, I've never managed to capture the magnitude of his skill on camera.

But you should see him roll and tackle with the 8 -12 year olds during pick-up football games.

They actually FIGHT to get him on their team.

;-)

No, I don't like him playing football.

Especially with older/bigger kids.

Yes, I make him wear a helmet.

And have told him he can NEVER play on a real football team.

;-)

Logan lives, breathes, sleeps and dreams sports.

All day long, "Mom, I'm on the way to my BIG game tonight."

"Mom, I just came home from the BIG game and we WON! 

And I got the TEAM trophy!"

"Mom, can we go to (insert local highschools and colleges name here) big game tonight?"

He even chooses his seat at restaurants so that he can watch sports while we eat.

;-)

Jest sayin', my boy, Logan is a star in his own right.

Although Austin's been getting some extra "blog-time" lately,

it's only because he's on some massive (without trying) funny streak!

And I just can't keep them to myself!

Onwards!

~~~~

While shopping during the holidays

with both boys at a big ole craft store and after

(I am NOT kidding)

the FOURTH dang run to the potty,

(In their defense it was late afternoon, and they had had lots of fruit for lunch!)

we come out of the bathroom,

and both boys are "dancing" all over the aisle.

(def. dancing = they just bounce and hop and kick and I don't know what. 

But there's never been any "walking" in their "walk.")

Austin is blocking people and then he tries

to hitch a ride on the side of the

(excruciatingly TINY little) cart provided by Michaels,

and (for the eighth time this trip)

by merely stepping on the side,

he is tipping over the cart.

I am hungry and tired and frustrated

trying to keep up with the two of them, not to mention make my selection,

and already dreading the check-out scene,

add-on the numerous pit-stops and

well, you get the picture.

So, through gritted teeth,
I not so nicely say,

"AUSTIN!  Get. off. my cart!  NOW!"

And at the exact same moment,

we both catch eyes with the father and daughter

who are trying to pick-out a picture frame

from behind us and are witnessing our struggle.

Austin merely throws a thumb in my direction,

rolls his eyes and with a nod, apologetically says,

"She gets like this sometimes!"

~~~~~

In the car, on the phone,

I am being bombarded with questions from the back seat.

I tell the boys to hold on, that I'm trying to co-ordinate plans with Tracey for our play-date.

Logan: "What's car-ordy-a-nate mean, Mommy?

Austin, "I know what co-ordinate means -

it's when people share their ideas and organize a plan to come together. Right, Mommy?

...er, um, yeah - that's kinda exactly what it is, buddy.

;-)

~~~~~

At the dinner table one night,

Gary and I were talking and Austin rolled his eyes

Me: "Don't roll your eyes, Austin"

Austin:  "I'm not.  This is the mommy look."

~~~~~

One morning, Austin had a "accident."

My boys never, ever want to stop having fun in order to go to the potty,

so there's usually one or two close calls a day

(note: shopping is NOT fun, therefore,

much to Mommy's dismay, we go to the potty LOTS when shopping)

So, I was fussing at Austin about WHY didn't he go to the potty?

Reminding him that he needed to allow for time to go, blah, blah, blah.

When I asked him what happened, he responded,

"I don't Momma.  I just went to fart and then KABOOM! 

My whole butt exploded."

The rest of the morning, Logan walked around saying,

 "kaBOOM!  hahahahahahahaha"

~~~~~

On a sweeter side,

we met up with our friends, Karen and her crew

during the holidays to go on a walk through a "live" Town of Bethlehem recreation.

(It's a really awesome event, complete with Roman guards on horses, an Inn Keeper who turns Mary and Joseph away right in front of you and SO much more.)

At one "stop" or one "scene"

One of the disciples was talking about the crucifiction of Jesus and Austin turned to me and whispered,

"Mom, is he telling the truth or is his making up all that bad stuff about Jesus?"

No, baby it really happened that way.

He scrunched up his face and said, "WHY?  Why would they do that to HIM?"

;-(

~~~~~

Later that same night,

in a group setting, with Nonnie

we prayed for her and the upcoming season

(with both my Dad and brother being gone)
And as we prayed for Nonnie's heart,

Austin once again leaned over and whispered,

"Mom, is her heart special?"
What?
"Is that why we're praying for it?"

;-)

~~~~~

During another one of our (very few) shopping excursions

as we approached the car,

I noticed one of the mini-vans' side doors was open.

"WHO left their door OPEN?  Boys, you canNOT do that!   Mommy told you to shut the doors.

WHO did it?  WHO left the door open? Austin?  Was it you?"

At this point, we are all trying to get in, and get seated, and I'm just fussing away.

Austin yells, "DON'T worry about it, Mom!  Okay!  YOU worry about "Donna!"

(Okay, fine, smart-alec, but I'll take that as a "Yes, it was you!")

~~~~~

Austin: "You're not in charge of the world, Mommy."

 Me:  "I'm in charge of YOUR world, Austin."

 Austin: (completely unphased and very confident in his response):

"No, you're NOT. God is in CHARGE of my world.

He is in charge of the WHOLE world. Cuz HE made it."

~~~~~

Austin has always been very "in-tune" with God. 

His "go-to" book is always some sort of children's bible or book about the stories in the bible.
And the boy pays attention in Preschool and Sunday school.

He knows his stuff.

One night, his prayers were soooo sweet,
he skipped over all the usual "bless" so and so and thank you for so and so and went right into,

"Thank you, God.  Thank you for SAVING us. 

Thank you for JESUS. 

Thank you for being our SAVIOUR."

As he was going on, Logan and I exchanged a look like,

"Dang, our little 'Thank you for the fun play date, Thank you for an awesome dinner...' kinda pales, eh?"

;-)

~~~~

Along those same lines, one evening I was walking past the boys' room, and in the middle of his sleep,

I saw/heard Austin sit up and shout out, "JESUS!"

kinda like he was reaching out to him....

Kinda makes me think I shouldn't be yelling at him to get off of my cart.

;-)

~~~

Christmas night, I asked the boys what their favorite party of the day had been. 

Without hesitating and by-passing all the gifts he received,
Austin immediately jumped up and down and excitedly said,

"Giving out ALL my
(handpicked and handwrapped)

presents to my whole family!" 

awwww!

Sweet boy!

Drives me crazy.

Makes me laugh.

Also makes me late.

And I love him dearly!

;-)