Happy Birthday, Cokey! (a.k.a. The Queen)

As promised, below are some pictures from "The Queen's" 80th Birthday party held at The Club on Labor Day weekend.  Her actual birthday is today, September 15th.  So.... Happy 80th Birthday G-L-O-R-I-A! 

The party was a blast.  Anne, Terri (Shug), and SuSu did a great job planning and executing such a special event.  All grandkids, both biological and "adopted," gave a toast to the Q, and shared a special memory with the group.  It was a great gathering that we will all remember for a long time to come.  Thanks to everyone who helped plan!  (P.S.  The story of the nametags is a long one)

Here are a few snapshots.

 The Roughen Family

Tripp (3 months), Matt, and Meg

Cokey with her Grandchildren & Great-Grandchildren

Front Row: Meg & Tripp Roughen (3 months), Cokey Kurtts, Gil & Ann Fulton Ferguson (1 year)

Back Row:  Mary Catherine Ferguson, Anne Hopton-Jones, Bailey & Walt Johnson, Matt Roughen, Trey Hopton-Jones

 Terri (Shug) Ferguson & Tripp Roughen

 Cokey & Her Children

Susan, Terri, Cokey & Gilbert

Cousins 

Meg, Tripp, Ann Fulton, and Gil

Tripp, getting the royal treatment from the Queen & Aunt Anne

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Stay tuned for pictures from Colonel Albert Hugh Roughen, Sr's (Tripp's namesake) 80th Birthday Party that was held this past weekend in Thunderbolt, Georgia. Hooray for the 80th birthday party circuit!

Meg

Happy Hump Day!

Surprise! Check out my chunky thighs!

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Where were you?

It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years since that September day that changed our world as we knew it.  It is even more daunting to think that baby Tripp will never know a world without constant threats on our national security.  The details of my life on September 11, 2001 are inconsequential and mundane, but like the moment when Jack Kennedy was shot or Pearl Harbor was attacked to the previous generation, this was to be our day that would live in infamy.  This became very apparent as I watched friends and classmates desparately trying to contact their own parents, siblings, and friends who worked in lower Manhattan 10 years ago today.

This post-9/11 world can be a scary place, but it is comforting knowing that we have very brave men and women fighting on foreign soil so that at home, we can continue to enjoy the very freedoms that make this country the best in the world.  Thanks to those of you who are fighting for us, for our children, and for the United States of America!  We very much appreciate the sacrifice and wish you a very safe return to your families and friends.

God Bless America!
Meg

Our Little Budding Artist!

Almost Friday...

All is well in Tripp's world!  He has learned to roll over, among many other things in daycare.  Below are some pictures from this week's activity -- finger painting!  (... with what his teacher's assured me was non-toxic paint)

I am not sure that painting was one of his favorite activities.  Maybe next week's activity will be better received.  Stay tuned...

Meg

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!  War Eagle, Wahoowa, and Go Jackets!  It was a happy, winning weekend of football for the Roughen household.  Weekends during which all teams win are few and far between, I'm afraid, usually due to the less-than-mediocre Cavaliers... so we must celebrate them as they come.

Our weekend was jam-packed with fun events and new friends.  On Friday, September 2nd, we celebrated Tripp's great-grandmother's 80th Birthday.  Cokey was joined by all of her friends and family at The Club, overlooking Birmingham, to share memories, a breath-taking view, yummy food, and strong drinks.  Pictures to come from that party... It was fun!

Then, we headed to the lake for college football (finally!), more yummy food, cold beer, and the meeting of the cousins.  Ann Fulton (1 year old) and Tripp (3 months old) had a chance to check each other out.  Below are some pictures from the first of many cousin photo sessions.

Checking Each Other Out...  

Tripp's Reaction:  Ew.  Girls Have Cooties!

Ann Fulton's Reaction:  Why is he so loud?

After a few minutes, the two cousins warmed up and played together well. 

... and by the end, they were fast friends.  Looking forward to the next meeting already!

... and now we are back in Atlanta, safe and sound, despite the severe weather due to Tropical Storm Lee.  Hope everyone had a great weekend and is ready for the (short!) week of work!

Meg

Let The Games Begin!

Happy first day of football season!

War Eagle, Go Jackets & Wahoowa!

Meg

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Sweet Baby Boy

Happy Hump Day!

Meg

Daycare: Week 1 Summary

Week 1 of daycare went very well!  Tripp is meeting lots of new friends and learning his way around the classroom and his new crib.  He has learned to sleep in a sleep-sack, rather than being all swaddled up, which is exciting news - One step closer to independence (and mobility... scary)

We have been pleased with the teachers and the updates that they've been giving us each day.   Three days a week, they do a program called "The World At Their Fingertips" which allows the infants to explore the world around them and learn about lots of new things.  Who knew they had such a rigorous curriculum for infants?

Lucky for you, they also take lots of photos and upload them to a online album that parents can access... I saved off a few photos they took from his first few activities, and thought I would share them with all of you.

Enjoy!

Tummy Time with Nemo (?)

Coloring 

Learning about Summer ...

... and Winter.

A photo from the "nature walk" around the daycare grounds, during which Tripp got to experience his first pine cone, flowers, and leaves.

In contrast to the busy week, the weekend was quiet and uneventful.  Breakfast at the Flying Biscuit (yum!) on Saturday, and lots of lounging around and strolling.  We have some travel coming up (to visit some of you who are reading this!) in September, so we were glad to lay low this weekend and enjoy some R&R.  

Hope everyone had a good weekend!  Have a great week!

Meg

Daycare Begins!

Just a quick post to fill everyone in on the update we got from Tripp's first day of daycare, which was Monday, August 22.  Here's the summary that Joann, his teacher, sent us:

Tripp spent the day getting to know his friends and teachers.  He looked at the bright pages of a book.  He reached for objects hanging close to him.  He sat up in the boopie [sic] and watched his friends crawl around the room.  He worked on strengthening his upper body by doing tummy time.  He had a great first day!!

Along with some photos (that I cannot figure out how to post yet).  More to come!  Have a great week!

Meg

Sunday In The Bumbo

... watching golf, again.

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