Sunday Letters

My sweet friend, Jennifer just started a blog.  She is doing something called "Sunday Letters", I think she borrowed it from another blog.  It is an opportunity to write "letters" to the members of your family. I am going to give it a try:

Dear Sam,
The past week at the beach was quite a trip.  I forget how fast you are growing up and what a good big brother you can be.  You love the ocean more than anyone I have ever known.  The best part was Anna Beth acting like your spotter to let you know the wave was coming.  It makes me nervous.  I kept telling your Dad you were out to far.  I am really glad you are part of our little family.

Dear Anna Beth,
You are learning to swim.  I am so proud of you, especially your flips in the pool!!  You love the beach and the pool.  I am glad we got to take you to the cupcake bakery.  This week you and Chris made homemade icecream.  It tasted great and you made it all by yourself.  You are growing up so quickly.  I sure do love you.

Dear Maddie,
I asked you this week if you were ready to go to school, you replied, "nope".  Me and Daddy are not ready either.  You are getting big so quickly.  You have learned to fasten your own seatbelt in the car.  You also brush your own hair.  I love when you come to my bedroom each night and say, "can we cuddle?" Of course, you end up staying all night... I love it, but don't tell Daddy!!  You are such a girlie girl.  You love to dress up, wear make-up and paint your toenails. 

Dear Ava,
My sweet Ava.  I want you to be a baby forever.  I try to hold you like a baby, but you won't allow it.  You are so big, wearing big girl panties.  You loved the sand at the beach.  Daddy spent lots of time working to build a castle and you kicked it down.  Mommy laughed.  I love the way you talk all the time and provide explanations for everything. 

Dear Chris,
I sure do love you!  This week was our first beach vacation with no swim diapers, that was awesome.  I loved being together all week.  I can't wait until you don't have to drive so far to work.  I miss you in the mornings and when we get home in the afternoons.  I am looking forward to the next few months.  I am even excited about the uncertainty.  Thanks for being patient with me and supporting me in so many ways.  You are truly the "rock" of our family.  I am also really proud of you for finishing the 48 mile bike ride a few weeks back.  I am glad to be spending this life in your arms!

Baby "Harry" is Here

Harrison Robert Mullins entered the world last week.  He is a cute little fellow.  We are excited to have a new little baby boy!  I sure hope he likes to play dress up....the girls will have it no other way.

A little trip to the BEACH

Chris had a meeting at the beach.  We decided to make a trip of it.  We had a great time!  This was our first trip with no swim diapers... that is like heaven.  All of the kids loved the beach and the pool. 

When we checked in to the hotel, we had chocolate covered strawberries and wine waiting in our room.  Wow!!  Chris must be a VIP :)  We don't drink wine, but the strawberries were great and by chance there were six of them... one for each of us.

We ate awesome seafood.

It was a great week!  Sad it is over, but excited to head home!

“My Big Girl Panties”


Monday morning began like any other. Chris kissed me goodbye and headed off to Grundy. I stayed in the warm bed wishing I could sleep in, but instead I got up and proceeded with the usual routine. Four kids up and ready, teeth brushed, backpacks packed and out the door. I dropped everyone off at their appointed locations and suddenly the day changed from ordinary to really unordinary.

I drove to the airport, by myself. Boarded a plane, by myself. And headed off to the big city. I have never flown alone. I have never been to the city alone. Surprisingly, I was not scared or concerned. I tried hard to look like an ordinary traveler amongst all those “professional” travelers with their ipads and cell phones. I am not sure I fit in, but I gave it my best shot. I got a cab and gave direction to my hotel. After I checked into my hotel, by myself, I went to my room and the thought suddenly occurred to me….. “I think I am really a big girl now”. I laughed out-loud and determined that I am perfectly capable and competent to wear “big girl panties” everyday, if I choose to.

And so in my mind, having a husband, kids, a job and a house did not cause me to cross the bridge into real adulthood, but this experience did. What an enlightenment!

Tomorrow is going to be another new experience. I am taking the train and metro to the airport. When my plane lands I will drive home. There I will assume my ordinary life, which I am quite fond of, but it doesn’t always require “big girl panties”.

Catching Up

We decided to change things up a little this year for Christmas!  So, we headed to Disney for the week!  The kids were super excited.  It was our first trip to Disney with everyone and I was nervous!  I worried about losing a kid or someone getting sick, but all in all it was great! 

Vanessa and her family also went, so we hung out together and ate lots of meals together. 

Prior to our trip, people asked us some pretty interesting questions, since we were going to be there on Christmas.  They said,
"What will you do about a Christmas tree?"
"What about Santa?"

We laughed!  Christmas is not about trees or presents.  It is about spending time with the people you love the most, and we did just that! 

I am humbled we were able to have the opportunity and I really did cherish the memories. 

And so, we headed home after Christmas and it has been snowing since.  The kids have not been back to school, but they don't mind.  We can't seem to get back into a routine and our house is a disaster. 

I am looking forward to 2011.  Last year was amazing and I can't imagine what this one will bring!

From our family to yours,  Happy New Year!!

Time really does fly by....

Wow!  Where did this year go?  I always get really excited when the end of the year is approaching, it is so exciting and somewhat scary.  When a year comes to an end, I find myself reflecting upon the year and thinking, "wow, time flies". I cannot believe in a few short weeks it will be 2011.

The following are things that really stick out in my mind when I reflect upon 2010:

• Ava learned to use the potty
• Chris started a new job
• I completed the first half of my doctorate program
• Anna Beth was placed in the gifted and talented program at school
• Maddie learned to write a letter "M"
• Sam grew up ( I mean really, he is big now)
• We got a new patio at our house
• We lived happily ever after

We are very blessed.  God has been more than faithful to the Austin family this year.  It is so exciting to see where we have been and anticipate where we will be going.  So much happens in a year....

And on a much lighter note, we had a cookie cake for dessert tonight.  Can you guess who brought that home???

Gobbling and Shopping

Happy Gobble Day, a few days late.  We had one of the best Thanksgivings ever, basically because I did not have to cook at all!  Yeah for me!  The Black Friday shopping was really fun.  Chris, Ness and I headed out at 10 o'clock Thursday and arrived home around 10 o'clock Friday morning.  We racked up lots of great deals.  I am not convinced I will do it next year.  Everyone that knows me knows that sleep is a necessity or I turn into a monster.

Vanessa and I spent today cooking.  We made homemade tomato soup, Check out the recipe here.  It is awesome.  We also made homemade sourdough croutons using a traditional recipe.  It seems absurd, but I have been wanting to make homemade tomato soup for months.  It was well worth the wait!

Life is crazy busy and I don't have time to blog, but I am going to make an effort to do better.  Tomorrow we are going to attempt a craft project, if it proves successful, I will share.

Have a blessed Sunday....