Merry Christmas!

12/15/11: Happy holidays everyone! We've been keeping busy here getting ready for Christmas. Austyn had her first Christmas Show at her school a few weeks ago. She had been practicing her songs every day and did such a good job! We were afraid she would get shy and not sing when she got up in front of everyone - but she did great and kept waving to us in the audience!

Here are some photos from the past month:

Christmas Program:

Austyn's on the left side in the bottom row:

Finally put up her big girl bed last month- she was so excited!

Beach day with friends - building sand cities

Getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner in Long Beach!

I love cousin Bailey!

With grandma Kuencer & auntie Margaret

Camping for the chili cook-off (it rained and our tent leaked -
Austyn sang "raindrops keep fallin' on my head")

Thanksgiving feast at school

Merry Christmas everyone

Hugs & kisses,
The Nichols family

First Haircut!

11/12/11: Austyn got her first haircut! Here are some pictures! She did very good and sat nice and still!

Trike A Thon

11/2/11: Austyn's first trike-a-thon was today at school! She rode her scooter and did 5 laps around the playground (with mommy and Omee's help) . It was very cute.

Getting ready!

Scootin' along...

Gets her first lap marked off

Showing off her 5 lap check marks!

Medals for the trike-a-thon riders!

Halloween

11/1/11: Trick or Treating was lots of fun! Austyn was very brave and said "trick or treat" and "thank you" and even told people "I'm Dorothy" when she started the night out. As the night got longer, she became very shy and didn't want to say a word! After we were done, she picked out her favorite candy and then gave the rest to the Candy Witch - who brought her a princess movie the next morning! Here are some pictures...

Dorothy and the Wicked Witch of the West...
"I'll get you my pretty!"
The trick or treating gang

Pumpkin carving!

Fall Fun

10/28/11: Austyn started a new school in the beginning of October (pre-preschool)! She really loves it - she learns new songs, made some new friends (she was holding her new friend's hand ~Ella~ when I picked her up on her first day) and she is even taking a Spanish class once a week! Her new song she sang last night goes "Adios means good-byyyye" and she waves her hand and then holds up my chin as she sings. She had her first school picture last week. It's fun to watch her grow up, and boy does it fly by!

Nathan and I went away in September for our 7 year anniversary - our first weekend away (alone) since Austyn! It was really nice and kind of strange at the same time. Austyn and I took a trip to Arizona at the end of August and got to spend some time with everyone there, including Auntie Kristin who was visiting at the same time. We had our first airplane meltdown on the way home. Austyn hadn't had a nap yet and we were about ready to land when the stewardess asked us to put up the tray tables and stay buckled in. Austyn wanted to slide out of her seat belt onto the floor to stand and I wouldn't let her. She began screaming at the top of her lungs and I didn't know what to do so I picked her up and snuggled her in my arms - she fell right asleep (just as we were landing)! You always hope you're not the parent with the screaming child but sometimes you have no choice. Hopefully I've got that adventure checked off the list!

We're looking forward to Halloween. Austyn's going to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. She is excited even though she's never seen the movie before! She is also excited to give most of her candy to the "Candy Witch" who comes on Halloween night to pick up candy (so she can build a candy castle) and then leaves Austyn with a new movie!

Here are some pictures from our recent outings these past few months:

First Day of School (10/6/11)

Picture Day at School!

Pumpkin Patch (with her pumpkin she picked)!

I wonder what they're talking about- perhaps contemplating pony rides!

Cousin Bailey's 1st Birthday!

Santa Barbara Zoo

Arizona

Butterfly Exhibit at SB Natural History Museum
Austyn was really excited that a butterfly finally landed on her!

Have a happy Halloween!

Nathan, Seren & Austyn

Summertime Fun

7/29/11

It's been quite a while since we've posted anything. Summer is flying by and we've been having fun. Austyn is such a little character and keeping us entertained with her sense of humor and cute conversations. Here are a few to share:

Austyn: Mom do you have Rosie? (her baby doll)
Mommy: Yes, do you want her?
Austyn: Yeah, she's sad
Mommy: Why is she sad?
Austyn: She wants a Tic Tac, it's okay baby, we can buy some
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Austyn: Mom, I going to school tomorrow?
Mommy: Yeah, you get to play with all your friends
Austyn: Who mama?
Mommy: Paige, Lilly, Amelia, Zachary
Austyn: Not Zachary, he laughs at me
Mommy: He laughs at you - is he funny
Austyn: He's silly, he's a goopball (meaning "goofball)!
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While eating a coconut popsicle (or as Austyn says "pop-si-all), she starts spitting out the coconut shreds and said "ptt, ptt, this ice cream has seeds mama"
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Austyn: When I were a tiny baby I lived in your tummy and ate your boobies!
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Austyn: I love you all the way to the moon, back and forth
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Austyn: Mom
Mommy: Yes sweetie
Austyn: Um, I love you
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I have to say that the last one is one of my favorites! It's really fun to be able to talk to her now- she listens to everything and is too smart to trick sometimes! She still loves to be naked, loves dancing (always has to put on a dress if we're listening to music), decided that she wants a baby sister (since there are 2 kids at her school who just got baby sisters and now Austyn wants to buy one!), wants to go to dance class like Sawyer, likes doing mommy's hair & makeup, feeds and burps her baby (and even has to change her shirt if the baby spits up on it!), dips everything in ketchup and wants "too much" of everything (instead of just a little)! Aside from all the wonderful things, she is 2 and decided that temper tantrums are what she's supposed to do when she doesn't get her way! Those aren't so much fun!

We've been having fun this summer. Here are some pictures....

1st Rock Creek camping trip

Daddy caught a fish
(Don't worry- that's just sunscreen in daddy's hair)!

Roasting her own marshmallow!

Hot Air Balloon Festival

Lake San Antonio

Trying the ski skimmer

Eating her 1st smores

4th of July

Baby Jacob (Austyn's newest cousin)

Kristin & John's Wedding

Silly girl!

Bakersfield

Dancing in the mirror

Watering the garden - naked!