It's My First Christmas...

said Ashton in the middle of opening his gifts!He kept hearing us say that to Collinand it was his first memorable Christmas. We loved sharing it with him and Collin! Christmas Eve my parents and brother came over to spend the day with us which was so nice and then that night we went to church just the four of us which was special because the boys were in the service with us. During a lady's solo Ashton asked me, "Mommy, is that Mary?" It was so sweet. Then we came home and put out cookies and ricemilk for Santa before bed!

Here are several of my favorite pics from the weekend...

Christmas was truly a "Thomas" Christmas. Wes and I gave Ashton the "up and away" expansion to his train track so now it officially takes up the entire living room complete with the engine wash from my parents. He got several other Thomas things from relatives to go with it. Then Santa brought him a hot wheels garage which was a hit! One of my favorite moments was watching my brother and 86 year old grandfather play with it after Ashton was in bed Christmas night!

Since it snowed, we didn't get to go to my aunt's house Christmas night and my grandparents, parents and brother came over to our house. This was our first Christmas to spend at home and it only took 8 years of marriage, 2 babies and some snow! we loved having everyone come to us! We were thankful to have a huge pork tenderloin in the fridge we made and were happy to celebrate my grandmother's 80th birthday here as well that day!

Haley has a hard time finding a place to sit lately.

Here are my boys Christmas night and Wes and my grandfather playing with Ashton's new doctor set from mommy! Wes and I are in a battle for his career choice.

Ashton and Uncle P entertaining themselves at dinner

You can see what Ashton means when he says, "I think Collin wants to watch me open his presents."








Haley again curling up wherever she can and here is the loot Santa brought us. Now to find space for everything...

Here are the boys with daddy Christmas eve. I had bought matching pajamas and was worried Collin might spit up or have a leaky diaper for the next morning when of course...Ashton is the one who had the leaky diaper. You just can't plan cuteness and someday I will learn that!

A little boy and his ball starting out early. This was his fav gift and he held on tight! What a sweetie!

Ashton's laptop. This cracks me up.

UGA sock monkey from my aunt and uncle was a hit with Collin!

This shows you can do what you want at 80! My grandmother talking on her cell through dinner. HAHA!

The next day we kept Audrey which was so fun. The kids had a ball and we enjoyed watching them play. Ashton told Meg and Jeff when they dropped Audrey off, "umm... you forgot Audrey!" Audrey would say, "where's mommy Ashton" and Ashton would answer, "They went to a restaurant. They'll be back soon."

Who needs Oriental rugs...

when the whole family is loving our new Tonka rug? That's Ashton's first Christmas present from the daycare Christmas party yesterday! We played on it today since I got the day off thanks to the icy roads.

It was a glow necklace kind of day as well since my little buddy #1 loves them. He also loves laying under this toy with Collin lately. I love seeing the brothers play together. Wes just told me during their bedtime prayer that Ashton was trying to make Collin giggle! Collin is now rolling over!

The last photo is Ashton earning his keep. He is loving helping me with laundry lately and I am trying to make it super fun because I need the help! The piles never end!!

Couple more funny Ashton quotes this week- Monday I stayed home with the sick boys and he woke up telling me, "Sweetie, I don't want a diaper change!"Also he has spotted a toy under the tree we got to give to a charity. I explained that it was for a boy who didn't have many toys and we were giving it to him for Christmas. Later, he brought it up again and repeated what I had told him about the toy and then thought and said,"mommy, I don't want to go to his house." I guess a house without toys doesn't sound too fun but he's been really sweet about not wanting to open the toy anymore!

Who's That Coughing?

oh...of course! It's a York! We have all been sick this week and are sick of it! I dealt with it at work with super long days and then poor Ashton was sick last week with a cold and then Collin got croup and ear infections and now of course Wes and I caught it. But, the boys wore their "Christmas plaid" even though we were stuck inside and Ashton and I made gingerbread men, or as he called it"man toast" yesterday. Then last night we all got in the car to look at Christmas lights. Unfortunately, the wealthy houses off Briarcliff didn't have any gaudy decorations like we were hoping for until we found this one house that had a ton of stuff in the yard. I was so excited and we parked and were pointing out everything for Ashton until he finally said, "That's enough" Unsure of what I heard, I said, "What do you mean?" He says, "That's enough snowmen, that's enough Santas and that's enough Christmas trees...ok?" Wes and I were crying we were laughing so hard-this boy is way beyond his years. I mean, what 2 year old wouldn't like a tacky house decorated for Christmas?

Later, Ashton said his first prayer! We usually ask if he wants to say prayers at bedtime and before meals and he says no but last night, he just started praying, "Thank you God for our food and thank you for our day and Keep us safe!" It was so sweet!

The next pictures are a few weeks ago when we rode the pink pig with Patrick. Of course, Ashton LOVED it-just like Thomas...but a pig!

Here are some pictures from last week when we went to Bethlehem Morning at church which is a Christmas day for the kids they have every year with "Bethlehem" animals and arts and crafts. AShton had a ball and my parents came with us this year. Collin was a trooper the whole time. He's always along for a ride!

And finally, I have posted some pictures from out little cousin Maddie's Baptism last month. We weren't going to be able to go because it was the day of Collin's dedication at our church but again...Wes was sick so we had to cancel Collin's and the boys and I went to Maddie's and Collin still got to wear his outfit. My mom rode with us and we were running a little late as usual because I have a hard time getting out the door with these two. We parked at the church and literally ran inside lugging the two babies and all the junk that goes with them. The church looked different to me than what I had remembered but I didn't think too much of it until we got into the sanctuary and I checked the bulletin...it said Alpharetta Baptist and we were headed to Alpharetta Pres! I looked back at my mom and said," We're at the wrong church!!!" Thinking we were just at a different service at the right church she asks the usher, Where's the church where they are baptizing the babies??!! It was hilarious! The usher looked at her like she was crazy. I jumped in and said, "um...where's the Presbyterian church?" It was down the street. So we run back carrying all the junk and drive down the road. We did make it though and got to see the service. Ashton was great since he usually doesn't sit through church services being in the nursery. He got really thirsty though when they poured Maddie's water for the Baptism and said, "I want some water" I guess he thought we were all getting some!

Thanksgiving Turkey Twins

Here are our babies! Can you tell them apart? The first is Collin this Thanksgiving and the second is Ashton 2 years ago in the same shirt! Next is Ashton again and then Collin! I love putting their pictures side by side!

Our Thanksgiving Day
was so fun! We got to spend it at home which was a first for us. Wes' parents came and Ashton had a blast watching the parade and waving at Snoopy and Spongebob on tv. Then we played outside and ate our lunch. After nap, we all went to my parents and got to meet our new cousin baby Grayson for the first time! He and Collin are about 2 mos apart and I can't wait to see them play together soon!

Conversation with Ashton while coloring the other night...

me: "How's it going coloring?"

A: "it's not going well"

"Mommy, you gotta help these crayons" as he holds a broken one up.

"I can't get down because I'm busy", he says to Wes later.

Ashton is loving Christmas this year! He had fun helping me with the tree and

Every morning: "Mommy, is there a Christmas tree in the house?" I think he thinks it might go away while he sleeps. We are trying hard to teach him the real meaning of Christmas. So far, he seems to enjoy the wisemen bringing presents to Jesus. Yesterday he said, "and then Jesus gets to open presents!" He is so sweet playing with his Little People Nativity set!

Friday we were in Target shopping for his friends at daycare and a classic carol came on the radio. I can't remember if it was Bing Crosby or Burl Ives but he said, "Mommy, it's Burt singing!" haha It did sound like Burt!

Ashton picks up on EVERYTHING we say! Wes has been teasing me for changing Ashton on the ground on a blanket or rug because I think he is too big for the changing table. Wes says it is treating him "like a beast." This morning Ashton was waiting his turn for a diaper change while I was changing Collin. Finally he said, "Daddy, I want you to change me on the blanket... like a beast" He has no idea how funny that was!!!