The February of Few Posts

Bad blogger here... February has proven to be a busy month for the Roughens and has left little time for me to report in for regular posts, and for that, I am sorry.  I know you are on the edge of your seat awaiting the next info-packed update... right.

so.... Here are 3 random photos... with accompanying headlines.

Circus!
We were so excited to be invited to spend time with the Horn family, Danny, Emily and sweet Madeleine at the Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus.  Fortunately, we were able to view the circus from the comfort of one of the cool suites at Philips Arena, so that was nice.  Unfortunately, this was the only photo that we captured, but it's a good one of dads and kiddos.  Tripp love the elephants, motorcycles, horses, and tigers.  We somehow got out of the circus without buying a light-up toy... maybe next time.... er... maybe not.

Danny & Madeleine Horn (19 mos)
Tripp (20 mos) & Matt Roughen

Pops & Grammy Roughen Visit!
The next photo is from a recent weekend visit from Pops and Grammy Roughen.  Tripp was practicing driving Pops's truck while sportin' some pretty rockin' shades.  You know, because his future is so bright...

Still a Baby!
And finally, just in case you thought Tripp was growing up too fast, rest assured that he still relies on a pacifier every now and then to soothe... so, may I present a baby in a box.

Enjoy your week!
Meg

20 Months Old!

There are so many funny/cute/interesting things that Tripp is doing now that I want to be sure to remember in 6 months, 3 years, or 10 years.  Below are some that I know will make me laugh later, and might make you laugh now!  Join me on a walk down recent memory lane...

• Every morning when he wakes up, there's very little crying.  Instead, he stands up in his crib and very politely says, "MaMa, DaDa, WaWa, Please" --- asking us to bring him "wawa" (anything in a cup - milk or water)
• They sing lots of songs at school, so it is no surprise if he busts out a bold rendition of any of the following songs/poems while playing or riding in the car:
• ABCs
• Rain Rain Go Away
• Old McDonald (with a puppy, cow, or boy on his farm.. or occasionally, a pig)
• Five little monkeys (jumping on the bed)
• Five little ducks
• It's Raining, it's Pouring
• ... and more!
• He's starting to put together phrases and sentences.  I was surprised the other day when he heard a sound from another part of the house and looked me, raised his eyebrows, and said, "What was that, mama?"  Whoa. 
• He loves "Monkey George" (i.e. Curious George) and "Elmo" --- constantly wants to watch one of them on TV when we're at home, and we usually have to tell him that they're night-night so he'll drop it and find something else to do.  We aren't necessarily anti-TV in our house, but when you get the Abby's Flying Fairy School theme song stuck in your head for an entire 24 hours, you know it's time to take a TV-break, for everyone's sake.
• He LOVES his daycare and all of his friends & teachers there.  He talks about them every day on the way to "school" -- Miss Ash-ey (our favorite teacher, Ashley, pictured below), Mimi (Mila), Ari, Day-Day (Davis), Av-ey (Avery), Mako (Miss Jamaico), Vonka (Miss Veronica), and others.  but those are his favorites.
• Lately, he's been wanting to check to make sure everyone's "OK".  He'll sit at the dinner or breakfast table and the following conversation ensues.
• Tripp:  Mama, ok?
• Mama:  I'm ok, Tripp.
• Tripp:  Dada, ok?
• Dada:  I'm ok.
• Tripp:  Tripp ok.  ok. <continues eating>
• We've taught him to (sort of) spell his name.  Usually, it's T-R-I-P.   Who needs that last P anyway?
• He loves trucks of any shape, size, or kind.  He points out fire trucks, dump trucks, tow trucks (though I'm pretty sure he thinks they're "toe" trucks, since he usually points to his feet) and pick-up trucks.  Also loves a "bool" bus and choo-choo train.
• The airplane fascination is growing by the day.  There's this little airport near by (Peachtree Dekalb) that has a playground next to the runway... nothing beats an outing to see the airplanes go "up up up up" and "down."
• ... i'm sure there are more.  I'll post them later, because this is as far as my brain is going today!

And some daycare photos:

Reading one of many "Llama Llama" books

Music with our favorite teacher (and frequent babysitter), Miss Ashley

Pushing our friend (not sure of this boy's name). 
Note the marker all over Tripp's shirt, pants, shoes.
Pretty typical for him to come home covered in marker,
which USUALLY comes out of his clothes.

Happy Hump Day!
Meg

Ready to Ride, Ready to Ride

On a recent trip to Toys R' Us, Tripp got to test drive some pretty sweet rides.

Methinks this one is too small.

That's more like it, Boss.

The Mini-Cooper is not my speed...
though the pink grocery cart is quite becoming...

Yellow IS my favorite color...

... but we finally settled on this red Radio Flyer trike!

 TGIF!
Meg

"Cheating the Chill" at Zoo Atlanta

Since we neglected to visit the zoo, aquarium, or otherwise like Tripp's 2012 resolutions stated, we took the opportunity on this chilly (high of 40) January weekend to make good on our 2012 promise, restated in 2013's list.  We bundled up and visited Zoo Atlanta.  When we reached the gate, we learned that we could "cheat the chill" and get in for half price!  what a steal!

The only downside to visiting during the off season was that many of the animals were on winter hiatus, and therefore not out for viewing by the 30 or so people that were in the zoo along with us.  It was fun, though, to see Tripp in awe of the size of some of the animals that we had only otherwise seen in pictures or drawings in his books.  Pretty neat!

Below are some photos from our frosty, yet fun adventure.

Checking out the Flamingos

Learning about the flamingos from Dad

The Elephant, who was eating bamboo

The rhinoceros, also eating

A little lion cub

With Dad & Willie B, a "famous" Atlantan

... with one of the "baby" panda bears

A Sweet Boy, All Bundled Up

The "Red Panda"

The Choo-Choo Train 

Riding the Train with Mom

Now back to the grind -- Happy Monday!
Meg

Tripp, the triplets, and friends.

Over the Christmas holidays, we got to spend some time with friends in Birmingham.  On Christmas Eve, we went over to Sage's house to visit with her crew, and were joined by Julian, his wife Jillian, and their son, Mason, who has been featured on our blog before when Mason & Tripp were just 4 and 5 months old, respectively.

The kiddos had a great time exploring together and learning new skills from one another.  Below are some photos that we snapped.  It is definitely difficult to get this many kids to cooperate at the same time, so we did not get a good one of everyone all together, but certainly not for lack of trying...

Brooks, Anna, Tripp & Irene
Triplets: 1 year, Tripp: 18 mos

The triplets, Tripp, and Mason,
who is about 6 weeks younger than Tripp

Triplets, Frances (cousin of triplets, 22 mos) and Tripp.

Tripp & the window
(sorry to whoever had to clean that after we left!)

Looking forward to many more visits with all of these cuties!

Meg

One Last Holiday Photo...

Thanks for a fantastic holiday season.  'Til next year, Santa...

A Pink Pig Christmas!

If you have been to Atlanta around Christmas time, you have probably heard about (or seen, or perhaps even experienced) the Macy's "Pink Pig" ride.  Sponsored by Macy's and sitting under a huuuuuge tent outside Lenox Mall in Buckhead, the Pig is a little choo-choo train that draws kids and their parents from all over Georgia year in and year out.

After the excitement of Christmas slowed down, we decided to go check it out.  Below are photos from Tripp's first (and maybe his last) visit to ride the famous Pink Pig...  featuring a little too much pink for his liking, but a "must-do" attraction for any lil' Atlantan.

Anticipation...

Standing in line, under the many strings of festive pink lights

On the Train! 

We made it!

the Proof!

With Dad, outside the big choo-choo tent
(Yes, that is a huge inflated pig in a poodle skirt.)

After 2 laps around the tent, Tripp and I were both ready to go, as we had gotten our fill.  Dad didn't ride this time, but served as our own personal photographer.  Was a fun way to pass the time on a rainy, yucky afternoon!

Oink oink!

Meg

Christmas Morning in Atlanta

He came!  Santa came to our new house in Atlanta to bring Tripp all kinds of goodies.

The Loot!
featuring lots of Elmo, a lawn mower, a balance bike (that's too big),
a Tripp-sized table, a circus tent, and many many books!

Loving Elmo! 

Mom and Dad were slightly "Over-Elmoed"
That guy gets around...

Tripp's New Tent

Reading in the tent with a very excited mama

Christmas Morning Stare

All in all, Christmas was a joy this year.  Tripp was very excited about all his gifts and spending time with all of his family.  Looking forward to next year already...

Merry Merry to you and yours, and all the best in 2013.
Meg

Christmas Eve Eve with the Fergusons

I wanted to share just a few photos from the Ferguson/Johnson/Hopton-Jones Christmas gathering on Christmas Eve Eve.  We got started around 9:30 am and didn't stop until well after 3:30 with multiple waves of guests showing up to share in the holiday spirit.  Gil, Mary Catherine, Ann Fulton & the Twins came by early to share in the joy.  Trey and his fiance, Sarah, were in town from San Diego.  Anne was here from Houston and the Johnson family (Walt, Bailey & their parents) joined us for a fun-filled day.  Unfortunately, I didn't get photos of everyone, but wanted to share the ones that we did snap. 



The Roughens, decked out in their HoHo hats
Matt, Tripp & Meg



Shug in her famous holiday headgear




Hampton Rollins Ferguson
"Hamp"

Walker Hill Ferguson
"Walker"

SuSu and her pupils, reading
Llama Llama Holiday Drama

Papa, Shug & their crew of kiddos
Tripp (18 mos), Walker & Hamp (6 wks), and Ann Fulton (27 mos)
Surprisingly, the twins were the most cooperative during this photo shoot.

Rockin' Cousins!
Gil, Meg, Trey, Anne, Walt & Bailey all wore these Christmas outfits
... and now a new generation can enjoy these cute & festive duds.

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas ... Happy New Year, too! 
Meg

Resolving in 2013!

Thank God the Mayans were wrong and we're still here to usher in 2013 with style & grace.  If they could only see us now...

Since Tripp knocked off almost all of his 2012 resolutions, we decided to make another even more ambitious list for him in 2013.  Below are the 13 things that Tripp plans to accomplish in the coming year.  Stay tuned, again, for blog posts about each resolution throughout the year.

A holdover from 2012: Visit the animals at either Zoo Atlanta or the Georgia Aquarium.

1. Celebrate St Patty's Day in Savannah, Georgia with lots of Roughens, old and young (with his fancy green tennis shoes)
2. Attend his first Braves game.
3. Teach his new twin boy cousins, Hamp &Walker Ferguson, a thing or two
4. Celebrate his 2nd Birthday, surrounded by family & friends
5. Swing his first golf club.
6. Meet & play with Byrdie & Gracie, twin daughters of his godfather, Chris Epps
7. Shake this Elmo obsession (and replace with ... something else? anything else?)
8. Visit the Chattanooga Choo-Choo.
9. Return to the Sample House in Panama City Beach, Florida for 2nd annual the Roughen-Moon vacation.
10. Accompany his mom while she run/walks a 5k (more mom's resolution than Tripp's)
11. Spend a few lazy days at the lake this summer.
12. Move into a big-boy bed in his big-boy room, maybe...
13. Do some "real" trick or treating this year in our new neighborhood!

Tripp & mom

Happy New Year from Tripp & his 'rents!

XOXO