Austin's 3rd Birthday

This is the backwards post of Austin's Birthday... although, this first picture has nothing to do with it.... it's just funny that kids and cats are both attracted to getting into empty boxes.


This being the backwards post (because I haven't posted in so long that I forgot how)... we begin after the presents have been opened. Kaleb and Austin are playing his new Wac-a-mole game.

Jim is demonstrating how to use Austin's new car seat..... fascinating isn't it?

He really got into unwrapping this year.

The pile of loot

Austin and his cousin Kaden. Kaden is very good to Austin and they are great friends!

The train expo was held again on Austin's birthday, and see from his expression how much he enjoyed it.

Again, unrelated.... he likes to sit in the laundry basket and pile it full of other things.... balls, pillows, blankets.... whatever. Kind of fun.

Union Pacific Rail Road Museum

These are some displays at the NE/IA railroaders club. Open to the public on Saturdays

This last one is Austin's "special train" he got for xmas. We've put it on a board and he loves to switch out the rail cars. He's quite good at it.

Let It Snow

It's been snowing for over 24 hours and continues as I type. We had snow drifts nearing 3 ft tall.

Fortunately for me, the whole family helped did us out.

Christmas

Most of my adult life I've been a bit of a Scrooge around Christmas and although I still not a huge fan, experiencing it though a 3 y/o eyes sure can be alot of fun. This year, again, our Christmas was filled with trains.

Santa stayed a little longer to set up a model train for Austin

Austin is learning to be careful with the "special" train.

He got a ton of Thomas stuff too.

One happy little conductor, he played with it all day.

These are just totally cute on him

Happy Boy!

Santa's Winter Wonderland

We had seen an advertisement for Santa's Winter Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop. We had never been there, but knew there was a train, so we headed out. Here is the photographic evidence. Please forgive Austin's crazy hair, his hair was wet when we put his hat on.

The poor deer whose lives were sacrificed to make a neat looking landscape for Bass Pro Shop.

We found remote control Monster Trucks...

Nerf gun target practice....

And Austin's favorite..... the TRAIN!!! He wanted nothing to do with Santa Clause, so you will find no picture with Santa.... who wants Santa when there's a train nearby!

They had this HUGE fireplace by the entrance. I thought it was awesome!

We have about 2 pictures from 2009 of all three of us. Unfortunately, I chose this day to go out without make-up and I didn't touch my hair.

Playing in the elevator. We were there for several hours.... lots of fun!

Future NFL Star!

Loess Hills

The Loess Hills Scenic Byway traverses western Iowa through the forest covered bluffs. We decided to take a trip out that way and see what there was to see.

A free tractor museum in Missouri Vally.

Lot of trails to explore

We picked a bad day to go. It was rainy and overcast. This is the best view we got.

Fun with Daddy!

Doesn't every little boy like to climb on daddy?

Saying "ME!" after daddy asks "Who's daddy's favorite little boy?"

Showing daddy his "mad face"

Showing off

You've gotta rest after all that fun!

Cool Park

We found this neat park in Council Bluffs that is right by the river, and incidentally, right across the river from Eppley Airfield. So, you can sit and watch the boats while the planes fly right over your head before they land. Pretty cool.

Pretty Place

Black Hills-Going Home

Finally, I am done! Now I can update more recent things. It only took me 4 months to get it done!

Black Hills-Day IV (almost done)

Well, apparently in my absence from blogging, I have forgotten how to put the pictures up in order.... so they are completely messed up. I usually would have fixed it, but then I decided that none of you really care. So, here is day 4, completely out of order.

Here is Crazy Horse. Rather impressive. You can see it from the road (as this picture shows) or pay an extraordinary amount to see it up close. We chose the road, although I understand the visitor's center is really quite nice.

The weekend we were in the Black Hills, they were doing some celebration, where you could do all of this free stuff.... including entrance to Custer State Park, and a hay-rack ride where we were serenaded by this guy. We drove through the wildlife preserve while this guy sang us folk songs. It was fun!

Austin did have fun, but he just looks tired here.

It was slightly chilly.

Waiting for the ride.

They also had a free pancake breakfast. After we ate Austin, Papa and I went on an impromptu hike around a lake.

In the middle of day 4, we were tired and went back to the cabin to rest for a few hours. Our vacations are pretty packed full of activities... so rest is rare.

Earlier that week, Jim bought a rubber dart gun (at the expense of his glasses, but that's another story). During our rest at the cabin, Austin and daddy shot darts at us from the loft in the cabin. Very stealthy.

We saw big horned sheep that day, I hear they are rare.

Buffalo in Custer State Park.

We attempted a pony ride.... I say attempt because Austin was not happy. The next picture in our archive shows him crying his eyes out.... I didn't put that one in.