Peas in a White, Navy & Old Gold Pod

Tripp & Daddy with their matching GT helmets.
Peas in a Pod.  Go Jackets!

Meg

Our Kid-Friendly New Year's Eve Shindig

This year, since Hill is so young, we decided to invite some of our friends with kids over to enjoy the magic that is New Year's Eve.  The party started around 5 pm and ran until around 9 pm, at which point I am beginning to turn into a pumpkin these days anyway.  The Avants, Clarks, and Woolleys joined us for some yummy food and play.  Below are some cute pics that we snapped of all the kiddos (minus the babies - Betsy Avant and Hill Roughen, who were both nestled all snug in their infant carrier car seats).

The crew & decorations
L to R:  Harris Clark (5 yrs), Ryder (3) and Lily Brooks (5) Woolley,
Hudson Clark (2.5), Tripp Roughen (2.5) and Richard Avant (3)

Not Pictured, but present:  Betsy Avant (5 mos) and Hill Roughen (8 wks)

The "Big Kids" Lily Brooks and Harris eating dinner

The Little Boys eating dinner

Boys will be Boys.
Hudson, Tripp & Richard

Hope you had a great New Year's eve, regardless of how kid-friendly your evening was.  Here's to 2014 and many more!

Meg

Ole' St. Nick Visited Us Again!

Believe it or not, Tripp and Hill were both on the "nice" list, and earned a visit from Santa Claus again this year.  Tripp had requested a football helmet, cars & trucks, and a fish.  Hill wasn't too demanding, but still got some loot from the jolly ole' guy.  Below are some photos from our Christmas morning reveal.

A few shots from our Christmas Eve.  

The note to Santa, and what remained of the cookies and milk that we left him.  We also left him Tripp's pacifier, which was, until Christmas Eve, still used for naps and bedtime.  Tripp has done very well without it so far!  He asked that Santa take it and share it with his elves.

Baby Hill's Loot

Tripp's Loot, including:
A basketball goal, football goal post, balance bike,
GT football uniform complete with child sized helmet, and a few other items.

Our awesome tree topper this year

Santa's Work Here is Done, and he helped himself to one of our craft brews, apparently.

 Christmas morning came, and Tripp loved making the discoveries of what Santa had left.

Tripp discovering the goods.  Note that it is still VERY dark outside.
Our early riser didn't disappoint.

Tripp wearing his GT uniform, checking out his stocking.

We hope that St. Nick was good to you this year!  Tripp knows that he's watching all year long, so hopefully that will lead to good behavior.  Until next year, ya' jolly ole' elf.

Meg

Post-Christmas Celebration with the Extended Ferguson Family

After Christmas day had come and gone, we ventured west on I-20 to Pell City to join the extended Ferguson and Johnson families for a Christmas celebration.  Cousins from Birmingham and Houston joined us for a fun-filled day, a yummy brunch, and more presents!  Tripp and Hill are blessed to have such amazing relatives in their lives.  Below are some photos from the weekend.

Papa & Shug and their 5 grandkids in matching PJs, a gift from Shug.
Walker (1 yr), Tripp (2.5 yrs), Hill (6 wks), Ann Fulton (3.5 yrs), and Hamp (1 yr)

The "Big Cousins" with the littlest.

The glowing race track that was a big hit this year.

All the Ferguson Cousins

Shug discussing life with an awestruck Hill

Merry Merry, once again!

Meg

Christmas Day with the Extended Roughen Family

This year, on Christmas Day, we were joined by lots of the extended Roughen Family.  Grammy and Pops came over from Eatonton, and Uncle John, Uncle Daniel, and Aunt Whitney also joined us.  We had some surprise visitors - Matt's Aunt Mary, her partner, Dawn, and two cousins, Riley & Eli.  We enjoyed a big lunch and lots of present opening.  Below are some pictures from this fun-filled special day.

The Whole Roughen Gang
Front:  Tripp (2.5 years), Pops, Grammy with Hill (6 wks), John
Back:  Matt & Meg, Daniel & Whitney

Roughen Boys with their parents

A very happy Grammy & Pops with their two grandsons

Uncle John and Hill

Merry, Merry!

Meg

Resolving in 2014

Just like in years past, I've compiled a list of things that Tripp, and now also Hill, hope to accomplish in the coming year.  If nothing else, it gives me topics for posts for this blog, which is helpful during times of unfortunate writer's (or blogger's) block.

In 2012, Tripp was rather ambitious, yet still accomplished all except for one of his resolutions.  In 2013, he didn't do as well, because he left off several from the list.  So I'm cheating slightly and those leftovers will be included in this year's list (again...).

Hill's list is rather ambitious as well, but we'll see how we do!

Tripp Roughen's 14 Resolutions in 2014

The 3 leftover from the 2013 list
1.  Attend his first Braves game
2.  Visit the Chattanooga Choo-Choo
3.  Complete a 5K with Mom (this one got slightly sidetracked by... well, pregnancy)

... and 11 new ones for this year:

4.  Ditch the pacifier, which we still use at night and weekend nap times.  Actually, Santa Claus is expected to take this from Tripp, so it will technically be in 2013, but we'll add it to the list.
5.  Learn to actually use the pedals on his stylin' red tricycle.  Up until this point, he does things Fred Flintstone style and uses his feet.
6.  Attend his first Georgia Tech basketball game.  Hopefully they'll be more successful in hoops than they were in pigskin this past year.
7.  Attack this potty training thing head-on.  We have been dabbling in it thus far, but will need to be more aggressive in the coming year.  I promise not to include any photos of poop or a toddler on a toilet.  Gross.
8.  Write his name (I know, I know... a rather lofty goal, but we are working on recognizing letters, so it's not that far fetched that he should be able to write a few of them in the next 12 months, no?)
9.  Go camping with Dad.  We may start in our own front yard, but camping is camping.
10.  Celebrate his 3rd birthday.
11.  Spend lots of time at the pool, and improve his swimming skills through lessons of some sort.
12.  Go fishing at the lake with daddy.

13.  Move to the preschool class at school.  

14.  Witness (or more likely, sleep through) the Auburn Tigers national championship try for the second time in recent memory.


Hill Roughen's 14 Resolutions in 2014

1.  Start School (read: daycare near mom's office)
2.  Visit the Chattanooga Choo-Choo.  He'll likely be dragged here with Tripp, so we'll document it.
3.  Make his maiden voyage to Lake Logan Martin for some family time and likely first boat ride.
4.  Celebrate his very first birthday while surrounded by family and friends.
5.  Eat a banana, one of his older brother's favorite foods.
6.  Start Walking.  Big brother Tripp wasn't steadily walking until he was 14 months old, but I have high hopes for Hill, who will likely be influenced by his big bro to become mobile before the year is up, at which time he'll be about 13 months old.
7.  Visit the beach for the very first time... maybe more than once!
8.  Meet and play with aunts and uncles on both sides of the family --- John, Whitney & Daniel on the Roughen side and Gil & Mary Catherine on the Ferguson side.
9.  Utter his first discernible word (or two).
10.  Attend second cousin Trey Hopton-Jones' wedding in Pell City on the shores of Lake Logan Martin
11.  Be Christened.
12.  Help celebrate his twin cousins' - Hamp & Walker Ferguson - 2nd birthday.
13.  Visit the awesome Ansley baby pool.
14.  Attend his first college football tailgate (and maybe game, too)

Happy New Year to you and yours!
Meg

Merry, Merry and a Happy New Year!

Hoping that you and yours are having a lovely holiday!

Meg, Matt, Tripp (2.5 yrs) and Hill (6 wks)

Trick or Treating

For Halloween this year, Tripp got to do some real Trick or Treating in our neighborhood.  This was one of his 2013 resolutions, so we knocked it out!

He was joined by Matt and we invited Sewell & Richard Avant to join us as well.  They visited a hand full of houses and collected some serious loot!  

Happy belated Halloween!

Meg

Decking the Roughen Halls in 2013

This past weekend, we made lots of progress towards decking the Roughen halls on Norwich Circle.  

We visited Home Depot and picked out the perfect tree and wreaths.  Then, we trimmed said tree with shiny ornaments and anything else that Tripp could get to stick to it -- rope, string, gift tags, etc.  Finally, we (and by "we" I mean Matt) strung lights in our yard.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  

And a few pictures...

The finished product:

Hope your halls are decked & that you are ready for the holiday season!

Meg

Ho Ho Ho

Our first visit to see Santa Claus with both boys was a success.  We took advantage of a cold day to visit a Santa who was camped out in the great outdoors of the Atlanta Food Truck Park off of Howell Mill Road.  Not surprisingly, there was no line and no waiting, so Tripp had a chance to warm up to the jolly guy before having to get in a photo with him.  He wouldn't go as far as to get in Santa's lap, but he did stand still and smile, which is an improvement over years past.  Also not surprisingly, Baby Hill was unphased by the whole ordeal and cooperated beautifully.

As for Tripp's gift requests, he asked Santa for a truck, a football helmet, and a fish like Elmo's friend Dorothy.  

We also told Santa that we would be leaving Tripp's pacifier out to trade for his gifts.  Santa said that was a good trade and agreed to take the pacifier and let one of his elves use it.  I consider it Tripp's first of many charitable donations.

Ho Ho Ho!

Meg

Baker, Baker Holiday Cookie Maker

Just as the sun was setting on this year's Turkey Day, we moved into the Christmas season and did some holiday baking.  It was fun to watch Tripp mixing the batter, watching the cookies rise in the oven, and decorating them with such creativity (and help from mom and dad).  Below are a few pictures of the fun afternoon.

... And the final product!

Hoping that your holiday season is off to a festive start!

Meg

Belated Gobble!

Hoping that you and yours had a great Thanksgiving.  Lots to be thankful for this year and always!

Especially this...

Happy belated Turkey Day!

Meg

Welcoming Baby Hill!

On November 8th at 8:04 am we welcomed the newest member of our family.  Named after my great grandfather, Hill Ferguson Roughen came into the world weighing in at 9 lbs, 7 oz and measuring 20 inches long.  We are overjoyed about his arrival and big brother Tripp has enjoyed teaching him the ropes already.  Below are some photos from Hill's first week with us.

In the recovery room with Mom, just an hour or so after birth.

Roughen, party of 4, in the hospital room.

Meeting the Grandparents

We want to thank our parents, Tripp & Hill's grandparents, for helping us during Hill's birth, hospital stay, and the first week at home.  We are lucky to have such loving, caring, and willing-to-help family.  These boys will feel the love of these special folks for their entire lives.  Thanks, grandparents & Aunt SuSu, too!

Meeting Pops Roughen

Meeting Grammy Roughen

Meeting Papa and Shug Ferguson, and big brother Tripp (2.5 years)

If you look close enough, you can see Shug's cast on her left arm.
She broke her wrist 2 weeks before Hill's birth and is still healing.  

Sweet Baby Hill

Such a good baby so far!

A little peanut

Helpful & Excited Big Brother Tripp

Big Brother Tripp, with the crane truck that Baby Hill picked out just for him...
and a big brother upgrade captain's hat from godfather Chris Epps.

We are delighted that Hill is here and cannot wait to introduce him to all of you!

Meg, Matt, and Big Brother Tripp

Happy Halloween!

... from our little Waffle House Cook!

Hope you get more Treats than Tricks!
Meg

"Accuse me while I kiss this guy" and other mis-heard lyrics, words & phrases

Just like many misinterpret the famous Jimi Hendrix lyrics "Excuse me while I Kiss the Sky," we have our own little lyric-mis-interpreter.  He loves to sing, so many of them are actual mis-heard lyrics to your classic children's songs, while others are just mispronunciations of everyday words.  I'm capturing them here because I surely do not want to forget them in months or years after this phase has passed us by.

Below are some of the classics that Tripp has repeated incorrectly, much to the delight & entertainment of his parents.  Hope you enjoy, I know I will!

• "Mama, may I be accused?":  Often said when he'd like to be excused from the table after a meal, a valiant attempt at being polite has me giggling every time.
• "Dot Dogs & Hangburgers":  What daddy cooks on the gree-ul (2 syllable of the word 'grill') on the weekends.
• "... Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse super sleigh":  The lyrics to the classic Jingle Bells tune that is sung year-round in the Roughen household.
• "A,B,C,D... W,X,Y and Z.  Now I mom, ABCs.  Won't you come and sing with me":  Mis-heard classic alphabet ender.
• "Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any... I'm sorry, goonk":  This sometimes comes out in the middle of any song.  Not sure what 'goonk' is, nor why he's apologizing for singing a cute song, but it's funny nonetheless.
• "Lellow Taxi":  Just like the color of all taxis.
• "Chick A Lay":  you know, the yummy fast food restaurant

That's all I have for now... more to come, I'm sure.  Happy Hump Day!

Meg

Resolution #9: The Roughen-Moon vacay, Panama City Style...

As a book-end to our summer this year, and for Tripp's Resolution #9 for 2013, we embarked upon the 2nd annual Roughen-Moon summer beach trip to the Sample house, just outside of Panama City Beach, Florida.  You may remember this house from last year's post.  We had a ball watching Tripp and Caroline play together and ringing in football season.  It is amazing to see how much they have grown since the last time we were there... hard to believe Tripp had just learned to walk and now he's such a big boy.  Time flies!

Below are some snapshots from our fun time.

 

Lunching with Caroline (2.5 yrs)

Beaching with Caroline

 A boy and his beach

There's not much better than a gulf coast sunset... ahhhhh...

As an added bonus, my New Orleans native college friend, Betsy, and
her family were staying just a few minutes away from us, so we got to
catch up and I got to see her 3 cute boys for the first time!

Here, Tripp and I are pictured with Betsy and her youngest, Liam, who is 15 mos.

Fun week!
Meg