We want to thank everyone for thinking of us this year. We took lots of pictures but some just didn't turn out for lighting reasons. So thanks to Grammie and papa, grammie and papa pelto, Aunt Heidi, uncle matt, aunt kathleen, uncle dave, and shain, Aunt ericka, uncle matt, maddie, and lilly, Grammie and papa nijhof, grammie and papa putman, Aunt lisa, Uncle rick and Aunt natalie, Oma Helm, Jennifer, taylor mackenzie, and gunner, Aunt Myrna, aunt Joan and Uncle Arnold, Dave, Cindy, and Noah, Olivia, charlie, claudia, emily, and mary, ken and janet.
We are soooo appreciative of the gifts, but we are glad to see that so many of you went out of your way to keep us included at christmas time. It really means the world to us and we can't thank you enough.
Love always,
Michael, Elizabeth, and Austin.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Chritmas Morning

Well we finally finished. It took us two hours to open all his gifts, mainly because his attention span is like 30 seconds long, but it all worked out well. We took a nap immediatly after!

Christmas Morning

Always excited to see what he is getting from grammie and papa.

Christmas Morning

Ok...so the cars pj's ruled.

Christmas Morning

Now when mommy and I play with my aircraft carrier I get to be her boss!!! Thanks Aunt Ericka, Uncle Matt, maddie, and lilly.

christmas morning

Thanks grammie and papa for my sleeping bag...now I can have sleep overs the way sleep overs were made to be had!!!

Christmas Morning

At this point he was knees deep just hauling butt getting all his presents out of their packages.

He loved his clothes from Aunt kathleen and uncle dave and baby shain. Michael especialy liked the "I break for lunch" shirt.

Christmas Morning

The Hoody....He did eventualy take it off when he started to open more clothes. He has to try everything on. ohh and now he has to dress himself. I mean he really wants no help. One day he just woke up and said "you know what...I am going to do everything my self. He has been putting his clothes on himslef for months, but he would at least let us assist. Now it is a no go!!

Christmas Morning

Ripping into his gifts from Jennifer, taylor, mackenzie, and gunner. He loved everything. in fact we couldn't get him to take off his hoody.

Christmas Morning

Trying to decide what to open next.

Christmas Morning

Too cool!!! He is very much so all boy and loves his dump truck.

Thanks grammie and papa pelto.

Christmas Morning

ooooohhhhhh!!!!!! Shrek Three. I am sure I don't need to tell you that we watched that later that day.

Christmas Morning

Austin got started right away. He picked a gift from Aunt Myrna first. He was elated to see it was baby einstein things.

christmas eve...

We put out cookies and milk for santa right after we opened our three gifts in hopes that he may leave more...all though Austin would have been satisfied with the three he opened.

christmas eve...

Everytime he opened a gift he said "oh my gosh" it was the cutest thing.

Christmas eve..

We got to open three gifts from santa on christmas eve because santa had already come to virginia by the time we got home. When we looked up NORAD, the base that tracks santa, he was in already in Detroit.

Performing Patty Cake

sparky the horse

jake and sparky pulled us around the resort.

Big smiles

Austin and daddy looking at the horses in the stables.

Riding lessons

We couldn't believe it, but Austin actually got on john boy to ride him.

The horses

Daddy had to hold austin so he could hug and kiss the horses. This horse is John Boy.

feeding the goats

We got to feed the goats who were very friendly.

weekend getaway

We took austin to the blue ridge mountains this weekend and this is where we stayed.

The Stockings

From left to right. Austin, mommy, daddy, kittys, maggie.

So Excited

Decorating

The Tree

Mommy changed him into a much more presentable outfit to put up decprations.

Austin and Aunt Liz

Aunt Liz

Austin and Aunt Liz saturday night, the day before she left. We were decorating for christmas but austin insisted on wearing his halloween costume or so daddy says...more than likely michael picked it out!!

going to the ocean

This is how we left the house...all dry. by the end of the day i had to buy him new dry clothes and a towel at the beach. I thought we were just going to go to look, but i was mistaken. we all ended up getting pretty wet.

water spout

We played at the water spout longer than we played in the ocean. all the surfers had to ask permision from austin to clean there surf boards. it was really cute.

sopping wet

We left the ocean somewhat dry, then austin got a hold of the water spout...and the rest is obviouse.

running from the waves

Austin and Mommy

Austin made sure mommy got wet!

Aunt Liz

We had a great time!! it was a beautiful day 75 degrees and sunny.

tomorrow i am going to take her shopping down town.

Aunt liz

My Aunt Liz came down to see me!!! I was so excited I had to take her to the ocean and play in the waves with her.

Some think he is smiling because he is about to get candy. He is really smiling because he has three beautiful ladies on his right!!!!

Trick or Treat

Austin had a blast trick or treating. He went up to the houses on his own and said "Trick or treat." At one house he even said "Trick or treat smell my feet." I bet you can guess who taught him to say that!!! The night was great and we got lots of candy. He went with his little girlfriends from accross the street.

At the park.

Daddy and Austin haveing a yelling contest!!

At the park.

Austin on the swing...needless to say it wasn't easy getting him to get out of the swing. He was having way too much fun.

At the park.

useing his new and improved legs!!!

They were a huge hit!!

Bubbles!!

Bubbles in his bath for the first time...

This is mary...she is 2.

Some friends I have made.

This is Emily...she is 4. I play with her and her sisters everyday.

So...did it work?