Christmas has come and gone

Christmas this year was great! We had a wonderful time with family as well as each other. Pictures are in descending order of how they happened but I would rather tell you that than try to rearrange them. Everyone was home for Christmas which is something to be thankful for. We enjoy getting to see them every time we get a chance. Being at home has its advantages since we don't have to travel far distances but I am telling you...you get worn out trying to go and do as much as possible. We celebrate with The Pollards Christmas Eve lunch, then to Granny's for presents, church and supper, then home to get in bed for Santa Claus. We wake up early Christmas morning to see what Santa left, then to the Pugh's to celebrate with them and enjoy breakfast, then to my parent's to enjoy a second breakfast. We were home by 1:00 for some much needed naps due to Cole's throwing up Christmas Eve night while Santa was visiting I might add. We stripped the sheets, tried our best to keep him in his room and finally got him back asleep around 11:00. Christmas night we headed back to the Pugh's for dinner and then home. Joy, Trey and Ella Joy couldn't make it until Friday afternoon so we went back Friday for Christmas with my family. 6 grandchildren 6 and under makes for complete chaos but so much fun!

Nana and Pops with the 6 grandchildren all in their matching PJs.

All 6 lined up...from L to R...Ella Joy (22 months), Addison (22 months), Graham (4), Cole (23 months), Aliee (6), and Owen (4 1/2 months)

Sisters with children minus Owen (he was sleeping)

Dax trying to get Cole to agree to put this shirt on. Cole quickly told him NO!

Roll Tide Dax...Roll Tide!

Cole trying to get inside his barn. It is big but not quite that big!

Owen posing for mom. He had a great Christmas! Of course, he didn't know a thing and I probably could have told Santa not to worry about him this year but I just couldn't do it!

Cole's Christmas from Santa. He got a basketball goal, tool bench, a book, a Bible, some movies, doodle pad, a barn and a tractor just like his daddy use to play with.

Owen's gifts from Santa...a high chair since we never had one with Cole, an ocean wonder for the crib which he already loves, some bath toys, a teether, a new lovey and blanket and a couple of movies.

The Pughs' annual picture at Pop and Grandmama's . We added Brittany and Owen this year! Pretty soon the couch won't fit us.

As you can see we had a great Christmas and are extremely blessed. I was making a list of what all the boys received this year for their baby books and it was ridiculous. We are so grateful for those that we got to see and enjoyed our time with each of you. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and kindness. We couldn't ask for more. The Lord blesses us when we are so undeserving! May the Lord our God be with each of you throughout this new year.

Cole will soon be 2 and he is acting just as a 2 year old does; whiny and intolerable one minute and then sweet as can be the next. Dax and I are definitely learning as parents and don't have it down pat and frankly I don't know that we ever will. All I know is that we try our best to raise our boys right according to God's word. These were taken this morning before I left for work. Honey and Monts picked up Angela since it was 25 degrees outside and Cole went with them to play with his cousin Carson. You can see in the picture below that he can really cheese it up. I love him so much and love his sweet personality...ALL BOY!

Family Photo...One of the only ones we have

A little photo time after church yesterday. My boys are so cute! I know I am bias but aren't they??? Thanks Aunt Hope for picking up the boys outfits. Of course, Cole's is a little big and Owen's is just right (6 month for a 4 month old). Cole and Owen are so different; their appearance, their size, they personality. It is crazy!

Owen had is 4 month check-up last week weighing in at a whopping 15 pounds and 5 oz. He measured 25 1/2 inches. Can we say much bigger than Cole. He has started cereal and we had peas last night. He loved them! Big News in our house...HE SLEPT UNTIL 6:30. Owen has yet to sleep through the night until last night. I know, I know...it has nothing to do with getting cereal and peas. I don't really care what it has to do with, I am just thankful that Dax and I received a full night of sleep for the first time in 4 and a half months. Well, longer than that for me if you count the sleepless nights at the end of the pregnancy.

We are looking forward to spending Christmas together as a family and sharing it with others. Mrs. Eloise Kirk, a sweet lady at church, gave Cole a book about the birth of Jesus. He loves it. We read it multiple times a day and he constantly is saying Where's Baby Jesus? Dax and I look forward to Cole and Owen knowing the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate our Savior's birth, life, death and resurrection. It is my heart's desire that my children will know our Lord Jesus and live their lives accordingly. We hope all of you have a Merry Christmas filled with Joy and Hope knowing that one day we will see our Father.

We have cabinets!

Our cabinets were put in Friday and I was able to see them Saturday morning. We love them! This first picture is the sink...the dishwasher will be the the left of it. The second picture is the oven and stove side. The other side of the kitchen is the refrigerator and pantry. All the cabinets are missing is the hardware but that is ordered. We are so excited and can't wait for it to be finished. When your husband is trying to trim it out himself it takes a little longer but I am thankful and blessed that I have a husband that knows how to do it. We will really appreciate it when we actually move in. Cole is so funny. He knows which one is his room now. I can say,
"Cole let's go see your room and he will walk
straight to it. Saturday he asked where his bed
was? Cabinets were also put in the laundry room and both bathrooms but I didn't take pictures of those. They look almost identical to these. We will get the counter tops and tile in next.

Thanksgiving Recap

Everyone was home for Thanksgiving this year and it was great. I was off Thursday and Friday so I got to enjoy some time with my family. Other than Dax having the stomach virus (yuck!!!) we had a great Thanksgiving. It is a special time of year that helps remind us of our many blessings. We have so much to be thankful for. The Lord is so gracious and showers us daily with blessings that we don't deserve. In Mission Friends last Wednesday I had the children (4 year olds) go around and tell me something they were thankful for. It is so sweet to hear their heartfelt comments. You would expect the "Sunday school" answer that I get for every question I ask but this time they were honest. I try hard to instill the Word in to them every Wednesday and I pray that if they happen not to hear it at home that they will hear it at Church. We began Thanksgiving at the Pugh's (minus Dax) on Wednesday night for a delicious meal. The dressing was amazing (I will only eat Mrs. Kathy's - I should probably get her to teach me how to make it!) We then went to Granny's for lunch on Thursday (minus Dax). It was a great lunch and great fellowship. We missed Granddaddy but all agreed that he was sitting in the best place (looking down on us and thanking God that he didn't have to help get ALL of Granny's Christmas decorations out) For those that have seen Granny's at Christmas you know it is beautiful but excessive! There is a whole little storage shed in her backyard strictly for Christmas! Granny is great at decorating. Dax managed to make it to his parent's Thursday night to see Mrs. Kathy's brother, Larry. Friday, Dax spent the afternoon painting the house while I was at Mom and Dad's with the boys. Saturday, Dax painted all day...while we watched Bama beat down the Tigers! ROLL TIDE ROLL! Funny story...Dax wanted Cole to say War Eagle that morning and Cole said no...I responded with Roll Tide and Cole repeated. My family has already gotten to him. :) Sunday was Owen's baby dedication at Church. It was so special to have everyone there (minus Pop, he was a little under the weather too). I managed to take some photos for Christmas cards...a little hard to get a four month old and a 2 year old to cooperate at the same time but we got some good ones. These are three little monkeys in the bath one night. With 6 grandchildren we tried to double up on bath time. Graham and Addison belong to Hope and Cole is mine in the back.

Cole smiling big for Aunt Joy and Owen wondering what in the world is going on!

Owen is such a good baby. At four months he is laughing and talking all the time. He has rolled over, although I haven't seen it and has found his thumb! Dax and I were both thumb suckers so we were extremely surprised when Cole didn't suck his. I don't know if Owen will be a consistent thumb sucker or not because he still loves his "pappy."

This is so cheesy of Cole because it looks like he was posing but really he just wasn't paying me any attention...which is what he does most of the time.

Say Cheese!

The boys are growing so fast! Cole is talking more and more every day and now saying some sentences. His current favorite is, "I didn't mean to!" He is loving bubble baths (thanks Nana) and no longer cries when dropped off at school. He is full fledged boy!!! Loves tackling, throwing everything (we are working on him understanding that we only throw balls) and of course is still obsessed with his daddy's cows. We have to see them regularly and he has now moved up to riding the tractor to feed the cows hay. He tells me all about it when he gets back in the truck. Owen will soon be four months and talks all the time. He has rolled over from his stomach to his back, began sitting in the bumbo seat, enjoys watching baby einstein and of course loves his brother; although he looks at him funny because he is so LOUD. We will begin feeding him cereal soon. He is better about sleeping. He normally wakes up once around 2:30 or 3:00 for a feeding and then I nurse around 7:00. We are having his dedication service at church this coming up Sunday so I will post next week.

house update

Well, we have brick...at least some brick. I went by this past Saturday to check on things. The bricker started Friday while the sheetrockers finished Friday. We have picked out paint colors and are going to begin as soon as we can. Dax has decided that he is going to paint to save a little money. The house should be bricked completely in 2 weeks!!! We probably won't be in by Christmas but we are hopeful???
Garage side













standing in the living room, looking at the front door that needs to be stained and the dining room


standing in the breakfast room, looking at the living room and kitchen










back of the house, master bedroom window and breakfast room window

Alabama's Homecoming

We went to Tuscaloosa this past weekend for Homecoming. We had a great time at the parade. We then headed over to the Quad for some bouncing time. Aliee was a pro with Cole. I didn't think he would jump at all but Dax said she pushed him right on up into one and then he wouldn't come out. Photos are from the parade and then lunch at the AGD house (shout out to Alpha Gam...their lawn decoration looked the best I have ever seen), and then the game. Cole and Owen did great despite it being Cole's nap time and us fearful that they both would burn in the blistering sun. Cole enjoyed the dipping dots (so did Dax) but didn't enjoy Big Al. Dax was a trooper. He can't stand Alabama but didn't oppose of me taking the boys. He does like to tell everyone (especially Aliee) that I am the only Alabama fan because he and Cole and Owen go for Auburn :)

Owen update

Terrible mom at keeping up with the second child. Owen is doing great! Still not sleeping through the night but he is so sweet. He just coos at us all the time. He is on a pretty good schedule during the day. He gets two bottles while I am gone and then he is ready to nurse when I walk in the door. He is definitely going to out weigh Coleman but Cole won't let that hurt him. He is tough as nails. Here are a few photos I took.

The Cutest Little Pirate

Cole got to dress up for school today. They were having their Fall Party and trick or treating to each classroom. So Cute. I was able to snap a sweet photo before we left this morning. He is really growing up!

Our New Home...

Can I say a slow slow process! Until recently I had not been by to check on the house. It really was aggravating to go by and it look the exact same as it did 3 weeks ago; but we are moving a little quicker now. We have shingles and some windows now. Hopefully when Dax returns next week from his week long hunting trip to Iowa there will be more completed. We talked about picking out the fixtures and bath tubs before he leaves so the plumber can get to work. I would be kidding myself if I continued to say we would be in by Thanksgiving so now I have moved on to, we better be in by Christmas.

Baling Hay

This past weekend I took Cole to see Uncle Ty and Monts baling hay. He loved it! I dropped him off as I turned into the field with Tyson. He was raking the hay infront of Monts. They rode over the hill...once he topped it he saw Monts with the baler. Well, he just couldn't get to him quick enough. He rode up and down the rows baling and then opening the "gate" to release the hay bale. Mr. Monte said that he kept pushing his hand off the wheel because he wanted to drive the tractor by himself. He is a boy after his daddy's own heart. I think there is a picture of Dax sitting on the tire when he was little just like this one of Cole. I will try to find it and post it.

Much Needed Update!

I know terrible at keeping this thing up but I don't have a computer at home and I don't have much time at work when I am there. Owen will be 6 weeks tomorrow and I will be back to work full time. Cole is still going to Mother's Day out twice a week. He still cries when I drop him off but is always playing when I pick him up. Angela has started back work and will have both the boys starting next week. Say a prayer for me. I didn't care leaving Cole because he was with my mom but I am anxious about leaving Owen so young with someone who doesn't do everything they way I do. I know it will be fine though. I have added several pictures from the last few weeks including our trip to Muscle Shoals to see Aunt Hope and Uncle D and all the kids.



Cole ready to go to the CHHS game



Big Smile for mom after his bath





A little bit of love for his brother



Enjoying a doughnut at Aunt Hope's



Graham really wanted to hold Owen



Aliee already taken care of Cole. He rode this all afternoon





Addison and Cole playing on the steps



Splash ground at the Marriott in Florence. The kids loved it



Nixon & Cole at Troy's pep-rally.





Nixon came to play. They decided to watch Mickey Mouse in Mom's bed.