Austin's life as it is today....

Some significant and insignificant details that I want to remember about Austin's life as it is today.....

• He watches Glenn Beck everyday when he comes home from school
• He is taking an A~hour and wakes up every morning on his own at 5:31 a.m.
• Math is his favorite subject
• I periodically pick him up and take him to filibertos for lunch
• He loves to snowboard
• His nickname is still "A-Train"
• He clears out our garage, blows it out and mops the floor every Saturday morning {he is becoming a pro at it}
• He takes piano up in North Mesa on Monday evenings at 8:00 p.m. As much as it is a sacrifice and inconvenient... I love the time we get to spend together on that drive. I learn a lot.
• He is our entrepreneur and loves to figure out ways to earn money
• 90% of the time he makes his bed with out being asked
• He doesn't like to have his picture taken. Every time I pull the camera out, he runs!
• He has 4 vending machines around town and makes bank for doing practically nothing, except keeping them filled
• His best friend is Tyler Brown
• He eats a ton of food. His favorite lately is good bread from the bakery dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. He makes this up and feeds it to his friends when they come over
• He tells his sister {who is 17 months younger than him} that she is not aloud to talk when his friends are around! Go figure.
• His favorite scripture is Helaman 5:12
• He plays the piano constantly, it is therapeutic to him and he claims it is how he relieves his stress. He is working on a medley to play in sacrament, he sounds beautiful and we all love it!
• He is apprenticing with our home teacher and learning all he can about low voltage!
• He is who we all go to when we need help on our mac computers, he is a computer whiz
• He keeps up on current events and is always talking politics
• His favorite hymn is... How firm a foundation
• He loves all types of music
• He is sensitive and knows when to ask if I need any extra help
• He loves to make homemade bombs! Ugh!!
• He confidently, can talk to any adult
• He looks forward to playing with Piper. He comes to me often, asking where she is so he can play.... she loves him!
• He is now 5 ft. 9 3/4 in.
• He is funny and has a quick wit
• He is the first counselor in his Teachers Quorum
• He is a know it all to pretty much every one in our house. He is always trying to teach us something. This either goes with the age or the birth order? Not sure which.
• Out of sarcasm, he still calls me mommy.
• He tells me he loves me everyday and always hugs me good bye
• He loves his seminary teacher and is always filling us in on what he learned that day
• If he has a desire to ditch a class, he always calls me to ask permission first
• His favorite t.v. show is The Office and 24.
• He is working slowly but surely on his Eagle Project
• He is taking voice lessons and has a secret talent!
• He has his permit and has me sweatin' bullets when he drives
• He is always current on the latest and greatest and newest gadget that apple has come out with or is coming out with
• He is trust worthy
• He always comes and finds Scott and I to tell us good night before he goes to bed and it usually, is pretty early
• He is a good example to his younger siblings and I know there is a reason he was sent to our family as the first born!

We love you Austin and are so grateful for your example to us and to your brothers and sisters! You are a choice spirit and I feel honored to be your mother.