Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Tanner and Brooklin patiently waiting for enough to play in!!
It's finally here. We woke up to a little bit of snow this morning and it's snowed most of the day. It's really wet snow - so not sticking to the ground alot. I'm sure it will be mud in no time. This kids were excited to come home from school and play in it.

LOOKS LIKE TROUBLE!!!

On another note, it was our Primary Sacrament Meeting Program yesterday. Our kids did great!! I was so proud of them. We did have a few minor things. Like our Bishop's son telling our "teleprompter" he DID NOT need any help! He is so funny. These kids are amazing! During sharing time yesterday we had a couple of missionaries come in and talk about their missions. The kids were listening very intently while one of them told of his mission, and that being the point of his life where he gained his testimony and truly learned of the truthfulness of the gospel. One little boy (about 10 years old) raised his hand and said, "didn't you learn that as a kid?" He KNOWS, at his young age, that what he learns in his home and each week at church is true. It's so neat to see pure faith in these kids. They know without a doubt...

A Hunting We Will Go....

Last Monday night Patrick and I left for the valley. We spent the night with the Pease (thanks guys) and Alvin was kind enough to take us to the airport Tuesday morning where we were off for St. Louis. Once we got there we headed straight for Nauvoo. We didn't get there until late, but did get a chance to just drive the town and check a few things out. Wednesday we spent the entire morning in Nauvoo seeing the church history sites. It truly makes you have a deeper appreciation for what those people went through. It was freezing!! That afternoon we went over to Carthage Jail. What an awesome experience!! It was just Patrick and I (not many tourist there this time of year). If you haven't been - plan a trip. That evening we went on to Illinois and checked into the "hunting" lodge. It was a beautiful place. Patrick hunted everyday, with no luck in bagging any wildlife. But, we sure did have a good time!! The food was great, the company was awesome and it was sooo nice to just spend some time together. We haven't seen each other that much in years. My Mom and Dad kept the kids (which was like a vacation for them too). They were spoiled and catered too I'm sure. Grandma knows just how to do that. We were all glad to be home Monday and now we're just trying to get back into the swing of things and get ready for Christmas.

NASCAR

Patrick's brother had extra NASCAR tickets and it happened to be on weekend that I couldn't miss Primary. Shayna was more than happy to be her Dad's date for the big event. Patrick LOVED it and Shayna had a good time (that was all I could get out of her).

Shayna's Birthday!!

Eleven VERY short years ago on a Sunday night around 9:30 Shayna was born. I cannot believe how time has flown since I first became a mother. What was life like before this day? I have a hard time remembering. However, I wouldn’t change it for the world!! I’m so grateful to be her mother. She’s a great kid. Now that she’s getting older we are becoming good friends and hope time won’t change that (I hear teenage years can do that). She loves to tell me how to do my hair, make-up, what to wear etc. How fun it is to have such a special oldest child. We LOVE you Shayna!!!!!

Tour De Tucson

Patrick has yet another accomplishment to add to his list (his list is MUCH longer than mine). Last weekend he rode the El Tour De Tucson which was 109 miles. His goal was to do it in under 6 hours and he did it!! His time was 5:48, which put him in the gold medal group. He did awesome, especially considering he only had 600 total miles on his bike. He's only been riding since May. Maybe next year I'll join him :-). How many of you laughed (be honest).

My Name is Tanner Austin and I'm Playing Little Indian Brave

Tanner had a piano recital and did awesome. He's really starting to catch on (after him and I nearly giving it up a few months ago). He was so handsome and did a great job.

How Crazy is Your Life??

I can't believe it's been almost three weeks since I posted. Time is just flying. I love this time of year!! Especially now that I'm not married to a football coach :-) A few things that have been happening around here:

Brooklin's THREE!!
My baby is already three. I can't believe how she's growning. She's sooo much fun and I can't imagine our family without her. She brings such a sweet spirit into our home. Although many of you know three is much worse than two and we're already feeling it. She's a busy one!!! Most of my day is spent cleaning up messes (15 pounds of flour and sugar mixed together, office cabinets emptied, a witch stamp ALL over my doors - and that's just today!!!). No, she wasn't home alone all day either.
Shayna, Brooklin, Jasmine, Austin Stratton and Saydee Shelley.

As most of you have heard I got put in as primary president last week. Most of my days are at the computer or on the phone while Brooklin redecorates and destroys. I've got just under 100 kids in a ward of 300 (do the math - is that possible?).

We just had parent-teacher conferences. The worst thing Tanner's teacher could think to tell us about him is "I feel sorry for you two, the girls have it BAD for this kid!" Oh boy, I think bad grades would be easier to deal with. He's such a great kid and so much fun to be around.
The three of them making cupcakes for Brooklin's preschool class!!

Shayna was just nominated as Student of the Month for her entire school. She had her picture in the paper and everything!! They do a characteristic each month and her's was attitude. She is getting so grown up and is a lot of help to me. We are so proud of her. Of course, good grades too.

Moab Trip

What a weekend!! I know many of you enjoy our camping trip updates. This one was much less eventful (thank goodness!!!). No property damage, mosquito infestation, near divorces, etc. I'll try to do a day-by-day update:

Thursday: We left right after the kids got out of school. And drove straight to Chinle. Stopped and got a bite to eat and traded kids. This seemed to make the drive go faster if they had new friends to talk to. We got to Moab about midnight...... We took our trailer and stayed in an RV park. It was nearly 1 by the time we got things set up and everyone settled down.

Friday: We were assigned breakfast so we woke up to Patrick's yummy pancakes. Soon after it was off for a family mountain bike ride. I haven't been on a bike ride for probably 10+ years so breaking me in with a 13 mile ride wasn't real easy. The first part was great - ALL down hill. We stopped at Gemini Bridges (awesome place!!!) and then went on. At one point or another Tanner, Shayna and I all had breakdowns. Patrick is absolutely convinced we are all wimps and out of shape and we'll be doing it again next year. That afternoon the kids swam for about 3 hours. Needless to say we were all tired that night and went to bed early - GREAT DAY!!!

Saturday: Patrick got up for his bike ride about 7:00. He made the 74 mile ride!!! We were all quite proud of him. Now he's gearing up for 109 mile ride in Tucson next month. The kids and I slept in til' almost 10 (I love vacation!!!). We got to watch the first session of conference. The kids swam again and we took them all out for pizza. After pizza, the girls went shopping and the boys went and napped and swam (AGAIN!). That evening the guys were off to priesthood.

Sunday: We were able to see the first half of conference. Check out was 11:00 so we had to get on the road. We stopped in Montecillo at the temple, it's small but beautiful of course. Most of the leaves were changing and everything was so pretty. Again, the stop in "beautiful" Chinle and then home.

The weekend was great!!! Such great friends to hang out with. The kids had a blast and we're looking forward to our next trip.

AN UPDATE ON THE AUSTIN FAMILY

OK - here's my first attempt at this "blogging" thing. I enjoy reading everyone else's so much, I decided I better join in. Our life seems to be as crazy as ever right now. I'll try to catch you up...

Patrick isn't coaching football this year, and is suffering withdrawals. I'm loving every minute of him being home (which still isn't a whole lot). He is still running the business and teaching fire science. So we are down to just two full time jobs right now. He did recently buy a road bike and will be competing in his first race the first weekend in October in Moab, UT.

I am attempting to keep up with Patrick and the three kids. I guess I spend my days doing what most other stay at home mothers do: laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, homework, piano practicing, taxi cabbing, chatting (I do alot of that Tanner says), etc. I can't find time to keep up with friends so maybe blogging will help.

Shayna will be 11 in November. She is SOCIAL!!! We already don't see a whole lot of her. She's off with friends whenever she can. She loves to snowboard. Which isn't too convenient since Patrick or I neither one ski or snowboard. Luckily we have family that does. She also loves softball. She did a volleyball camp this summer and really enjoyed it too. She just recently did a cheer camp and hated it!! I guess she won't be following in Mom's footsteps.....

Tanner, what a boy!!! He's our handsome 2nd grader. The only thing we can say about him is we wished he would've been a triplet. We could definitely handle more than one of him. He is such a good kid. Very low maintenance and for the most part just does what he's asked. Grandma Peggy informed us the other day that she really believes he is "the best kid in the world." Don't get me wrong he has his moments... everyday when we try to practice the piano. He wants to learn how to play, but he's pretty sure practicing is not necessary. I'm hoping we can stick this out - we'll see how it goes.

Brooklin has a mind of her own!!! She's our little caboose. We have enjoyed her so much, she's just growing up too dang fast. She starts preschool on Tuesday. I'll update with a picture. I'm going to miss having her right her with me. She's been a Momma's girl. It's going to be QUIET! Maybe I can get a few things done.....