he collects nutcrackers....

...it all started in a drugstore about 4 years ago. it was shortly after christmas and there were some clearanced priced christmas decorations on a shelf. he spotted a small nutcracker and just had to have it. since it was on clearance for a dollar, i got it for him. that was just the beginning of this obsession collection for him. he loves them.
it's fun to go shopping with austen when the holidays start because he is on a mission for more nutcrackers. he has one very strict rule though, they have to have weapons. each one has a knife, sword or gun "because they are soldiers, mom"
he has an army and a marine and is now looking for a navy and an air force nutcracker. they range in size from a few inches to 3 feet tall. we scan the shelves at tj maxx and target during the christmas season and i usually let him pick out a couple of them. santa usually brings a couple more every year.

he even has a nutcracker who has his own nutcrackers. daddy built him some shelves in his room and he keeps them lined up and in tip top shape. he knows when someone has rearranged them, and he doesn't like any of his friends to play with them. many of them have gone to school for show and tell over the years. he will tell anyone who asks that he has 44 of them now. pretty cool kid.....