Oh Austin

Someone please tell me the fours are better than the threes. Austin has been something else lately. I don't know where he is getting all of this energy & naughty behavior from. For instance, we've been letting him play outside in the sandbox by himself. We always have the side door open when he goes out to play and about every 5 minutes or when I don't hear him, I call his name. He usually replies with, "Huh" indicating he's still outside the door and not getting into trouble. For three days in a row he proceeded to take the sand out of his sandbox, put it in a dump truck and dump it all over the patio. What was he doing? He was making a road, with his construction hat and all on. He and I got most of the sand back into the sandbox the other night when I was out grilling our dinner. Do you know where most of the sand is at now? All over the patio...

(pictures below are from the other day, but you get the idea!)

Last week Austin went out to play. I was in the living room folding their clothes when I didn't hear him.

I called his name, no answer.

I called his name again, no answer.

I jumped up, and ran to the door, no Austin in sight.

I called his name again, nothing.

I could hear the water running somewhere, but didn't know where. Usually he'll turn on the hose on the side of the garage to wash his tractor or play in.

I ran around the house calling his name, nothing. He was no where in sight.

I ran inside. I checked the living room, I checked the kitchen, I checked Abigail's room, I checked Austin's room, I checked Austin's bathroom, I checked our bedroom, still no Austin.

The whole time I was checking in the house I was calling his name, no response.

I ran into the living room and told Michael I couldn't find him anywhere. We both jumped up. The only thing I thought he could be doing is going around the block on one of his bikes. I didn't know where he was at.

Then I remembered hearing water again. I ran back to our bathroom... and there he was, shaving...

He's had to take a time out for spitting.

He's had to take a time out for spilling water all over the kitchen table and floor, on purpose.

He's had to take a time out for roughing his sister up.

He carried his dinner plate to the garbage the other night like a waiter. One hand, plate half full of spaghetti... got the picture yet?

Please let the fours be easier than the threes...