Merry Christmas from the Austin Family! 2009 was another eventful year and brought a new address for us!
Our busy year started on January 1 with our New Year’s Resolution to move. We loved our home but we needed a little more space and something with a better view out our backyard. We put our home For Sale by Owner the first of May. Now that was a lot of work that we would not recommend! After a couple months of less than serious lookers, it got old quickly. Chris and I pulled the sign and decided to stay. However, our view out back did not change, and we just thought it would be better to move before the kids were all set in school. So, Chris and I ended up listing our home with Michael and Michelle Jenkins of NP Dodge, who we would highly recommend, on our 10th wedding Anniversary in August. 3 weeks later, our home was sold with a close date set for 4 weeks after that! We were happy with that since homes in our neighborhood were averaging 3-4 months to sell. The house buying did not go any easier, but we did find something and were to move in just before the bitter cold of winter set in. Days before closing on the home, the home’s builder shut his doors and liens were piled on the home we were to buy (which had been purchased by a family and lived in it for just 6 weeks). We were then forced to box up our home and move it into the 4 car garage of the home we hoped to buy and waited out the lien mess to be cleared in a small apartment on air mattresses. Five long weeks of drama later, we closed on our new home in a shotgun closing at 6pm the night before Thanksgiving. We are in the Shadow Lake neighborhood in Papillion (right behind the Shadow Lake shopping area), just minutes from Chris’ work. Bell Elementary is right up the street, walking trails and geese are all around us, and shopping is close by. We are adjusting to our new home and trying to make it our own. Come and see us when you are in the area!
Alivia started Kindergarten at Standing Bear Elementary near our old home in August, and will transfer to Bell Elementary in Papillion in January. She has done really well in school. She likes to learn and has become a little social butterfly. At home, Alivia likes to play with Addison and Asher, draw and color, and watch movies. Her biggest accomplishments this year are learning to swim underwater, riding her bike without training wheels, and now learning to read! Alivia is also our little helper and likes to take care of her brother and sister.
Addison, who turned 3 in July, remains the loudest child (but Asher is a close second). Addison started preschool in the fall at the Gingerbread House two mornings a week and has done well. She was not as shy as we thought she was! Addison had a difficult time with Alivia going to school, but she has become better playmates with Asher in the process. Addison likes to play her with dolls and go on monthly visits to the Omaha Children’s Museum.
Asher, who just turned 2 on November 29, keeps us busy. He is a very curious little boy who likes to play ball, run around outside, escape from his crib, or play with his cars, trains or dinosaurs. He also likes to keep really close to Mommy and loves to cuddle before going to bed at night. Asher is a big help, too, and likes to clean up the toys, “fold” laundry, and unload the dishwasher! Asher has quite the vocabulary, but his favorite words are “No” and "Why?"
Chris is into his 11th year at Northrop Grumman. Chris has done a little more web design on the side as well as done some graphic design for Northrop Grumman. For fun, Chris goes riding on his motorcycle, goes flying, or listens to music on his IPOD. Usually, you will find Chris in his “office” doing “something” on the computer.
I have continued to be the full time Austin Home Manager and Mommy of our 3 kiddos. The kids and I stay busy going on our monthly visits to the zoo, Children’s Museum, and Fontenelle Forest as well as swimming, visiting playgrounds, story time, daily walks around our neighborhood, play dates, etc. We were gone all the time this summer soaking up all of the time we could with Alivia at home. We have hit all the major hotspots in and around town and like the Safari and Pedestrian Bridge best. Last spring I started working at UNMC as a nurse a couple times a month from 11PM-7:30 AM. It helps me to keep my nursing license current without missing the kids’ activities since they are asleep. do, however, miss
a night of sleep! In May, I ran and completed my first ½ Marathon in Lincoln in 1h 40m 44sec with a 7m 42s pace (but who’s counting!). It was a killer with getting our home ready for market at the same time, but I still hope to complete a full marathon “someday.” In my free time I run, scrapbook, and update our family blog online (http://ckaustin.vox.com).
Now that the challenging 2009 is behind us, we look forward to a dull 2010 and the many blessings the year will bring. From our family to yours…Merry Christmas and God bless you in 2010! We look forward to hearing from all of you!
Love, Chris, Krista, Alivia, Addison & Asher
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