Doggie PJs tonight

Reading our Rhyme Bible Storybook tonight, Ashton noticed that the disciples were barefoot, "Look! They can't find their shoes and socks" he said.

My Date with Ashton

I am ashamed to say that today was the first time Ashton and I have done anything by ourselves since Collin was born...almost 6 mos ago! Wes has been the one who would take Ashton outside by himself and I have had special times with him at home while Collin was sleeping but it was fun today to get out together. Wes was out of town so my mom came down to keep Collin (thank you!!) so Ashton and I could play at Monkey Joe's. He had been this summer with Wes but this was my first Monkey Joe's experience. Ashton seems so very grown up that I forget how little he still is sometimes and what a cautious, calculating child he is until we are around a bunch of other kids! He was pretty timid there today and kept his eyes on me while he was on the huge blow up things with big kids pushing and jumping all around him. It was hard not to tear up while I watched and tried to encourage him to jump too! Finally he warmed up to the idea and as I told my mom, he looked like a really white person trying to dance at first. Then by the end, he had a ball and was doing somersaults off a little alligator. Today was a huge lesson for me in reminding me how important it is to do stuff individually with the boys but also how important it is to keep our eyes on God when we are stepping out in faith. It's amazing how many parenting moments parallel with our relationship with God. Even tonight when Ashton told me, "Mommy, I liked going to Monkey Joe's with you" reminded me to thank God for every little thing He does with us and how much He must love to hear it. To end with a laugh, Ashton also told me tonight that "our church needs to buy some tractor and truck puzzles." He seemed very concerned about that before bed. That boy loves his puzzles! (we are now up to 25 piece ones and Wes is shooting for a 50 piece and wants to start timing Ashton)

Also here is a very blurry picture from New Year's day in Augusta when Ashton ran out in his new cookie monster towel (and nothing else) to the living room after bath with it flying behind like a cape saying "Crazy!"

Better Late than Never...

Few more Christmas photos from our trip to Augusta...

To Tyrone to visit my grandparents who gave Collin the #1 with the Ladies outift and Ashton the awesome steam engine train!

And celebrating my Grandmother Jo's 80th birthday...

Story behind the helmet...my mom explained to Ashton that they got that for him to protect his nose and then he was freaked out thinking the helmet was going to hurt his nose which is why he covers his face whenever he sees it!

Look at sweet Maddie!

And Last but not least, our boys with Santa!! At least it has been less than a month and I got the post in!

Snow Days

Things I have liked about having the week off with my three boys (in no particular order)...

1. Making oatmeal cookies with Ashton

2. Hearing Collin giggle at peek-a-boo

3. We have been really trying to focus on potty training without much success. Ashton likes to say, " Oh, I sat on the potty yesterday" and, "Oh, I tried." We try to tell him about it when we go which makes for interesting conversation. Tonight I said, "I'm going to go potty Ashton" and he said, "Be careful mommy!" Not sure where that came from!

4. Agreeing with Wes that the Rotel Velveeta dip he made was better than the cheese fondue we ate at Dante's last weekend (when Wes got burned by the fondue pot and we ended up at a drugstore which was the second date in a row that we ended up at a drugstore for Wes...New Year's Eve he discovered a newfound seafood allergy and we made a mad dash for Benadryl)

5. Snuggling on the couch to all watch Sesame Street ESSN (Ernie's sports show network)

6. Sledding down a hill on a cookie sheet and then hearing that my almost 80 year old grandfather had gone sledding down his driveway as well because he said "when I went outside and saw it was perfect snow for sledding, I just had to do it." Ashton by the way did not like the snow as you can see from the picture! I forced him to sled down with me anyway.

7. CLEANING out and taking pictures of our condo to put back on the market

8. Ashton told me today, "I know all about snow mommy"

9. Wes teaching Ashton to sing. "Who let the dogs out"

10. Hearing Wes and his teacher buddies texting all day long to make predictions about having yet another day off!!!

A Semi successful #2 in the potty...

was the cause of a TON of praise and a (soy) ice cream sandwich in our house tonight which explains why as I tucked him in Ashton said, "eewwwwww, I almost want to go poop again!"

Wes also died laughing when Ashton finished the ice cream and I said, "Guess what? Next time you go, you can have a sticker!" I didn't want him thinking he can have an ice cream sandwich every time he goes but he just kind of stared at me thinking about how he could get around the sticker to the ice cream again. ahhhhh. So much for that nutrition degree I have...

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!