Our New Baby Calf

Cole is so proud of his Daddy's new calf. It is our first for the season and Dax happened to be present when the mama was having him. He came home and told Cole about it and Cole has told everyone since, "My Daddy has a new baby calf and he is tiiiiiny!" We took the boys over to feed the cows some hay the other night which Cole always loves. Owen didn't care too much for it but enjoyed being warm in the truck!

Christmas in Pictures

We had a good Christmas and are blessed that our Father gave us Jesus as baby in the manger to fulfill his plan and take Him to the cross as a man. We spent Christmas with family; leaving our house on Christmas Eve at 7:30 that morning only to return at 7:30 that night. Breakfast was with my dad's mom - Grandma. This use to be a tradition but went away for awhile so we decided to do it again. I have always enjoyed breakfast at her house. It brings back childhood memories of grits and eggs with a baby fork, sitting on pillows at her bar. We then headed to the Pollard's for lunch with Dax's mom's side of the family. Dax's oldest cousin has a son and daughter - we loved the fact that Cole and Owen played so well with them. Our traditional family photo from there house is below. Cole got a John Deere puzzle that he loved and Owen got some great blocks. Both boys received something for savings! We are grateful. We left there and head to my Granny's - mom's mom for presents, church and dinner. Neither of the boys had naps and it began to show. Cole fell asleep in church with some pretty loud snoring while Owen played and laughed. It was nice to be in Church as a family as always. The boys both got an outfit from Granny - pants and cute sweaters. We ate dinner and headed for home so the boys could get to bed but we did open a few presents at our house. Dax and I have always exchanged gifts on Christmas Eve and we opted for no difference this year. The boys opened their gift from Angela - the sitter and husband and I opened ours from each other. Husband did very good getting me a great purse while he received a peacoat. I am sure he was real pleased :) We headed for bed so Santa could visit our sleeping children while Mom and Dad prepared for the next day. We woke our sleeping children with a Merry Christmas followed by Cole's response, "Did Santa come?" They were happy to see their new things, played a bit and called for Honey and Monts to come see. The Pughs came for breakfast and gift exchanging then we headed to Nana and Pops'. Honey and Monts were good to the boys. Cole received new Johnny Poppers (boots), a tractor, a bush hog, a basketball, and a jacket. Owen got his own barn, a jacket, a book, and a basketball. Clint and Brittany gave Cole a Melissa and Doug ice cream set and pizza set and Owen a Megablock dump truck. Ty gave Cole a spreader and Owen some clothes. The boys really racked up. The cousins played while waiting on Aunt Joy and her crowd to arrive and then we all exchanged gifts. Cole received a football uniform with helmet from Nana and Pops and Owen got a Megablock table. Both the boys loved them. After lunch we headed home for much needed naps since we had dinner at the Pughs that night. I had my family over for chili on Saturday and we ended our Christmas celebration with a photo of all the grands - 7 and counting.Uncle D and Graham Cousins minus Ella Joy and Maggie Kate - they were down yet
Owen having a go at the puzzle
Cole loving his John Deere tractor puzzle

Annual Pugh photo LtoR - Tyson, Brittany, Clint, Monts, Honey, Cole, Me, Owen and Dax
Graham checking out what Cole got

Owen taking a peek
My Cuties
Opening gifts from Angela

We always take a photo before bed on Christmas Eve. Self-timer issues made this one not so great.

The boys Santa

Cole - microphone, guitar, duffel bag, football, football gloves, water boots, clothes

Owen - v-tech giraffe, doodle pro, soccer ball, duffel bag, puzzles, clothes, clipo blocks and both boys got the table and chairs

Honey and Monts with their boys
Owen with his Pops - they are so much a like

Cole sporting his gear
Aliee (7), Maggie Kate (2 months), Addison (2), Ella Joy (2), Cole (2), Graham (5), and Owen (1)

Round 2 with Santa

Our local bank in Brundidge where I work offered visits and photos with Santa. (had I known we wouldn't have ventured to Prattville in the pouring rain a few weeks ago) Anyway, Cole was extremely hesitant but after much persuasion with his lovey he gave in. Owen, however, wasn't giving in to anything. He screamed his little head off but I was successful in getting a great picture with Santa - minus me!

Another funny Night

We (Dax) has to entertain Owen so that I can clip his fingernails all the time. He hates it so much that Dax tries to distract him while I am doing it. This was the result last night. Daddy's are so funny.

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!

Well, after all the talk with Cole about visiting Santa and being a "big boy" we ventured out in the torrential down pour to Bass Pro Shops in Prattville. Dax and I have been wanting to take the boys for a while because we knew they would love it so this gave us the opportunity. Cole kept telling us that he wanted to see a big ole' turtle in the fish tank. We told him we didn't know if there would be a turtle but that there would be plenty of fish to see and there were. He loved it! He has talked about the water fall that came down into the tank with fish. He is still so animated and uses his facial expressions to get his point across. Back to Santa, we had talked about it with Cole because he has cried the past 2 years so we wanted him to be prepared this year. He would tell me each week that he wouldn't cry next week so when Saturday came and he found out we were going he said he didn't want to. I guess Dax and I didn't think about Owen pitching a fit. We get there, I beeline for the line to see Santa and allow Dax to walk around with the boys. The wait wasn't terrible (30 minutes) but it was moving quickly because the printer was messed up so you couldn't get your pictures that night but could email the store and they would mail them to you. Cole has a hold on Grits - our family elf and Dax is holding Owen. I place Cole in Santa's lap and to my surprise he did it! He actually sat there without CRYING! This is huge! Well, Dax looked at me and asked what to do with Owen. I said put him on the other knee. Not going to happen. Owen starting wailing and Santa wouldn't hold him so if I wanted a picture with boy boys for us to have for their baby books that meant I was getting in the picture. I haven't gotten mine in for the store but you can see from here what they will look like. I guess we will work on Owen next year!

Meet Grits...the Pugh Family elf. He came from Santa's workshop to watch my two little boys. Cole was scared at first but has warmed up to him as long as Grits doesn't talk to him. ;) I have explained to Cole that Grits is solely watching him and only talking to Santa. Let's hope he helps with our behavior.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

I love this time of year when we celebrate our dear Savior's birth, the journey of Mary and Joseph, the angel, the wisemen. It is a beautiful time of year. Some of you know that I co-teach our two year olds Mission Friend class at church. Last night we focused on the holy family and how special they are. I tried to instill in them who Jesus is, who His mother and earthly father was in the short time we had. They would repeat and then I would ask again. I find it soooo important for our children, as well as us, to know the true meaning of Christmas. My family has always experienced Santa Claus but we have always been taught the true meaning as well. We are looking forward to spending time with our family and friends, being blessed each day and celebrating Christmas with those who we love. We hope that you know the holy family, our Lord and Savior and what they went through for us.I love my Willow Tree Nativity set that my sweet in-laws gave me last year. It is so special to me. We enjoy discussing it with the boys and hearing the questions they come up with.Cole and Owen both get as close to the tree as they can without seeing punishment. Cole loves to turn the lights on and check to see if it needs water. I have tried to explain that is a Daddy job but he insists! My cuties who have stolen my heart! I love them both so much (even when they are driving me crazy)! Two clean boys watching Mickey Mouse Christmas - they are obsessed with it which is great for Mom while trying to cook dinner.

A Glimpse of Us in the Mornings

This is what my crew looks like in the mornings...pjs, messed up hair, hungry, thirsty...Excuse the wide angle and the awfully dirty dishwasher. I need to clean all those prints off only for them to put them right back on it right?!

Cole never wants to pose and Owen sits to say cheese...literally. He thinks he will get a piece of cheese probably ;)

Many, many thanks to Pops for the camera. I am loving it and will figure out how to really use it one day.

Annual Thanksgiving Hunt

Aunt Meg with her boys.Owen is still drooling like no other - can't you tell? and Cole is rotten!

What a wonderful thanksgiving we had. We have so much to be thankful for; not just this time of year but all year long. One thing I am thankful for is family and leaving in the same town. Because we live in the same town as our parents and grandparents we get to see them more often and do things we might not do if we lived elsewhere. We are fortunate enough to get to see everyone during the holidays and not feel overwhelmed with traveling.

My father has gone squirrel hunting every Thanksgiving morning with some of his cousins, uncles and my Granddaddy. I have ventured to go once and knew that once was good enough for me. This year Dax took a reluctant Cole but when I called to check on him Dax said he was doing great! Several of the men meet up, shake vines, holler a little and shoot down squirrels...if they are lucky. Uncle Rayvon, Uncle Thomas, Cole and the dead squirrel

Cole holding one of the squirrels for Pops to snap a quick pic.

My Little Pumpkins

Since I didn't get to take photos at the pumpkin patch of the boys in their pumpkin shirts we decided to take a few at home. One of Hope's friends in Tuscumbia did them for me and I couldn't be happier with how they turned out; so so cute! The boys are super silly and love each other so much. Owen has definitely started following Cole around and copying everything he does.
This makes me smile. They got so tickled at each other.

Family Day at Dream Field Farms

Last Saturday we loaded the boys up and headed to Dream Field Farms for an exciting fall day. Yes, it was freezing but Dax and I both agreed that it was better than it being hot. It actually was warmer at 9 when we got there than it was at 11:30 when we left. We caravaned with the Vaughans and Booths behind us to enjoy a day at the Pumpkin Patch with 6 kids in tow. The night before we told Cole that if he went to sleep when he woke up we would go; that being said, he headed off to bed to awake in the morning all excited and ready to go. We had yet to take Cole to a pumpkin patch in prior years just because - bad parents, I know. He had a great time at this one. They had a bounce house, huge slide and obstacle course, corn maze, hay maze, cow train, pig races, feathered friends, Maybell the milk cow, goats, donkeys, hayrides and pumpkins. Both the boys enjoyed it and all the running around they could do. You can tell from my previous post that Cole loves anything to do with farming so you know that the first thing out of his mouth when he saw the tractors was, "I need to drive that tractor." I told him he couldn't so he said, "I need Daddy to drive it!" He truly believes that all farm equipment belongs to him. Karri made the comment when we were on the hayride that it is funny to think that some of the people there had never been on hay before or weren't accustomed to the "farm life." I told her that it is different to think about people that aren't use to it, especially since it is something that we are so use to. We loved spending the morning as a family and having our friends there as well. We headed home around lunch since Daddy was leaving for the Auburn game that afternoon. Enjoy the photos!Family trying to stay warm. The wind was blowing and the sun wasn't in sight.Owen liked the squealing pigs...He kept calling them pup pup. Nope buddy, definitely not a pup pup.Coleman had to check out the pumpkin patch...I will give it to them; they planted pumpkins and had the vines but Daddy told us that they bought all the pumpkins and put them out. He had wondered what it would be like since he knows from experience that pumpkins are hard to grow in these parts. To the naked eye (mine) you wouldn't know the difference.Jackson and Cole enjoying the huge hay bales.Cole wouldn't go down with out Dax!Daddy joined in on the fun taking the boys down the slide. Owen loved falling down in the bounce house.Cole took a second to give me a smile. It is funny because he is not extremely fond of bounce houses unless he is the only one in them.Jackson Booth (3), Owen (1), Cole (2) and Pruitt Vaughan (2) - Allie was in her stroller all bundled up and Tucker didn't want to pose for us.

I think they are so cute! They had pumpkin shirts on but it was too cold to take their hoodies off :(

Updates

It has been a while since I posted any updates on the boys and since I am terrible at doing their baby books I thought I should post on the blog.

Cole is fastly approaching 3 which is so hard to believe. We look back over the past 2 1/2 years and are amazed at how incredibly blessed we are. The Lord is truely amazing. Cole is still attending Mothers Day Out at FBC on Tuesday and Thursday mornings until lunch. Nana graciously picks him up each week for me to take him home to stay with Angela. We still pick Angela up each morning to stay at the house with the boys and then take her home each afternoon. Cole is very knowledgeable as to where Angela lives, when she is coming and when she is going home. Cole loves anything and everything that has to do with farming. He has a tractor, a hay baler, a wagon and has even managed to let Honey allow him to bring home Uncle Tyson's plow. He plays with these toys daily; it is great to see his imagination sore. I love listening to him in his room talk of baling his hay or feeding his cows because it reminds me of how vulnerable he is to learning. He picks up on stuff that I never thought he would. He thoroughly enjoys playing football with his Daddy; while Dax is looking forward to the day when Cole can actually catch. Dax works with him each day on keeping his eye on the ball and catching it. He is getting better. He has learned to "spike" it after scoring and is the cutest thing you have ever seen running the ball and warming up. He has been to "big" church twice this past month on Sunday nights and has done fairly well only getting up once for the potty. Fortunately, Brother Luke has small children so he doesn't hold it against us. The other night in church Cole was coloring when he drew a circle and whispered to me that he made a circle. I was so shocked. I didn't even know he knew how to do that. I was so proud of him! I look forward to him learning lots and remembering things.

Owen is still our little red head. He gets in to anything and everything. He loves his pappy and blankies. When I go in his room to get him up in the mornings he flops around in the bed and then proceeds to pick up all his blankets waiting for me to pick him up. We, Cole and I, love opening his door and singing to him each morning. We always sing "Good Morning to You" and "This is the Day." Owen smiles so big at Cole each morning it melts my heart. He really loves his big brother and misses him each day that he is gone. I love that they will grow closer the older they get and that they will always be best of friends. When Owen turned one we had him down to one bottle a day; at night. He has now been off the bottle and formula for a couple of weeks and seems to be fine; however, this little stinker will not drink milk. It is the craziest thing I have ever seen, especially since Cole loves milk. I still attempt milk every once in awhile but he usually takes one sip and then hands the cup back to me. Last week I purchased chocolate milk thinking he would drink it...nope, notta. Took one sip and handed it back. We give him cheese, yogurt and orange juice with calcium and vitamin d to supplement what he is missing in milk. I know he will be fine I just wish he would drink milk for my sanity. Owen loves, loves loves Angela. She and his Daddy are his two favorite people. He says "hey" immediately after Angela opens the door to her house to leave each morning all the while smiling and talking until she gets in the car. I am so glad that my boys like Angela and that she is good to them. We have really been blessed with her.Owen still loves any kind of ball. He enjoys playing outside with Daddy and Cole trying to act as big as Cole. Both the boys thrive outside! Owen has really started saying more words lately. He loves to say Georgia and will repeat it over and over again if she is sitting at the front door looking in. He wants us to acknowledge that she is there and that he knows it. He can say kitty cat, thank you, amen (he is so cute saying his blessing before eating), dog, ball, juice, cup, and pappy. He has a mouth full of teeth - so many that I told Dax about a month ago that I thought he must be cutting more teeth. I stuck my finger in to feel him gums, when I looked at Dax and said he already has them on both sides. It happened so fast I guess I completely missed them coming in. He is growing so fast.

Dax and I love our boys so deeply. We wonder at times what we did when we didn't have them. We have trying times with both of them; times of frustration because they don't listen and times of anger because they pitch a fit but despite those "hard" times there are so so many great times. They make us laugh and smile each day. I have had a conviction lately that I am not instilling God's word in Cole well. I am failing at living it out day to day and having constant conversation with him about what our Father did for us as well as Jesus's love for him. I have looked at a couple of websites lately that have memory verses coordinating with the alphabet. It is my goal to start it with Cole not for the satisfactory feeling that he will recognize his ABC's or that he can recite a verse but with hope that he will hide these words in his heart and remember them when he is older. We are in church constantly yet I don't want Cole to always have the "sunday school" answer. It is so easy to spit out what you know is right but not the truth. I feel that if Cole learns this at an early age it will only help him when is older. I really want Cole and Owen to grow to be men of God just as their father is with a heart for the Lord.

Potty Trained!!!!

This little guy has grown up so fast! I picked him up from school the week before we left for the beach and Miss Kelly informed me that he had been in the same pull up all day! We have "worked" on potty training for a few months now but not strenuously. Cole would use the potty when he wanted to and wouldn't when he didn't want to. (He is very stubborn) That week he wore his "big boys" during the day with only 1 accident. I had been saying that if I could spend a few days with him (longer than the weekend) I thought he would get it. Well, he got it! He wore them the whole time at the beach and even became "fully" potty trained while there. I thought it would take for ever for him to poop on the potty but he did it once and we haven't had any trouble since! I am so proud of him. He lights up my life and brings so much joy to me. What a blessing he is from the Lord.

How grown up does he look in the picture above? He was talking to his cousin Ella Joy and I had to beg for him to give me the phone!

The Pugh, Vaughan & Warren Annual Beach Trip

For the fourth year now we have traveled to Florida for family vacation with The Vaughans and Warrens. We started our annual beach trip without children which has now led to a total of 6 boys 2 and under. We normally go in April or May but due to Miles Warren's arrival date we pushes our trip back to September and stayed the whole week. It was beautiful despite the forecast for rain everyday; allowing us to enjoy outside time on the beach, by the pool and at Pier Park. We had a great time with everyone and I think the boys enjoyed it. After returning home Cole said he wanted to go back to the beach house.We made it to church on Sunday to realize that we tripled their normal nursery attendance. Although there was hesitation by the parents on how they would do, they do great! However, the picture before was another story. Apparently Cole didn't want his picture taken but none the less...they are in order by birth. Cole (2), Pruitt Vaughan (2), Clark Warren (2), Tucker Vaughan (1), Owen (1), and Miles Warren (5 months)The boys had a great time together...even if they did fight over toys! Can you see the beautiful water behind them? It was perfect and not too cold. We loved going this time of year.Owen and Daddy ready for the beach. We spent a lot of time lubing up; we didn't want this redhead to burn :)This little stinker wouldn't put a float on to save his life. So what did he do? Played on the steps!A little Mom and Owen time is rare unless Dax isn't around. I am sure he is trying to get out of my arms to get to Dax here.We had dinner at Crab Trap after an afternoon of shopping. The food was delicious and the scenery was spectacular.Obviously, Owen had no problem with the sand. The only problem had was by Dax and me trying to keep it out of his eyes and mouth. We weren't always so successful.Owen did a lot of this...EATING that is. This boy can eat; whether we were at the pool, beach or house he wanted to eat.We did A LOT of this. The house we rented came with four bikes so every day Dax took Cole for multiple bike rides. Owen even tested the waters with a couple. Both the boys absolutely loved it.Can you tell Cole didn't want to get down? He held on to our shirts for dear life. However, he still talks about "those crabs going in the holes."The boys had a blast crab hunting the last night. Owen was so tired he just had to go on to sleep. You should have seen Dax trying to catch crabs with Owen in his arms.

A great time was had by all. Dax and I are quick to tell people that it was no vacation with all the boys. We spent few hours outside since they needed to nap. We know that trips will get easier however, the older they get. Right now mine can't go napless but I know when they are older we will be able to let them play for hours and not worry what time it is. We loved where we stayed (Seacrest Beach) and loved the house we were in (only about 20 feet from the pool).