a bit more...

Here's some pictures and a bit more about Athen...



He's learning his letter very well... "A for Athen" "D for Diezel" "M for Momma" "N for Aunt Ninnie (Nikki)" "S for Susan" "P for papa" "G for Grammie"....


He can also now fully do his ABC puzzle. I am very proud, its kinda hard cause the shapes are just as the letter are.

Athen also knows some of his colors and numbers.


Here's a picture of his hair cut, pardon the dirty face, he was eating at the time...



((Sorry he has a mouth full...))
Saying "CHEESE" just for you Aunt Ninnie!!

A day late and a dollar short....

Yeah well I am a day late with Athen's 27 month birthday update, chalk it up to me being a working mom...

Here are just some random comments and "conversations" we have had...

Athen: "Want sum, momma?" "Pice (pacie) mouth momma"
Me: "No, I don't want your pacie in my mouth, pacies are for babies. Are you a baby?"
Athen: "No"
Me: "are you a big boy?"
Athen: "No, I Athen!"

That kid makes me laugh...

He likes to say "No, Athen do it" , "What you do'n?", "diezel, come here diezel"
"Athen need medicine" "I want some" "Cup needs ice" "Put da in bag" "Watch movie, ddd (dvd)", "I wanna cooey (cookie)"

I will try and post a new picture, Athen got his hair cut yesterday... =)

Yep, one of THOSE mom's....

Yes, I was the soon-to-be mom that said " I wont' let a TV babysit my kid" "I will spend time with them, read to them, teach them all kinds of things..."

Well you know what happened? L-I-F-E. This is the only way I get anything done ie: supper cooked, dishes done, laundry done...

So, yeah I am one of those mom's that lets the tv babysit their child... Does it count that I try and only let him watch educational things...? I am sure it counts for something, ok maybe not as much as me sitting down with him.... but still.

Know what else, I even let him have a snack when we get home so he will sit and watch his dvd, I know... call DFCS. Does it count is a "healthy" snack? ((that would be 100% fruit and veggie juice in that cup- not yoohoo, NANA))

So, they say confession is good for the soul.... so there ya have it...

And for your viewing pleasure....lyle lovett

Look out Billy-Ray!!!

Business in the front.... P-A-R-T-A in the back!

a bit out of it....

I find myself complaining (to myself) when people do not update their blogs. Most of which is only cause I like to keep up with folks. Then it occurred to me, I do not keep up with my own. I know, shame on me... something about a speck and a plank, I know.

With that said, here's a small update on the fam....

Athen is doing just fine, he's learning all kinds of new things... he's working on numbers, colors, and letters... He's sentences are getting longer and you can understand more of what he is saying. He's still really into MMCH and Handy Manny.

Now to Kevin, well............. he's not doing so well. He has a herniated disc. Its pretty bad. All the doctors are saying surgery... He is trying Physical Therapy right now and has an appointment with a pain management doctor in March.

this is actual MRI of his back... ((don't ask me what it is, but it looks bad...))

So, that's pretty much all that's been going on at our house. We are to be on our cruise right now, but due to Kevin's back we couldn't go.... such is life.

Hope all is doing well and be looking for an Athen update around the end of next week, say sometime around the 27th =)

In the spirit of blogging...

For those non-check writers out there, today is January 27. Marking 26 months ago the little man made his GRAND entrance…. In keeping with the spirit of blogging I am going to list Athen’s new things… However, at some point you have to stop counting the months…. With that said, I am just going to list random things that he is saying and doing at his 26 month old mark…

-Kevin has taught him to say “What’s Up?” (I am not a fan of this)
-Knows some of his colors “orange, blue, black, and white” – note he doesn’t know red, odd don’t you think?
-Can put together his color, shape, and number puzzles – not so much the ABC’s that’s a hard one…
-Says “puzzle play” when he wants to do his puzzles
-Can count to six
-Counts letters like they are numbers
-If he gets a puzzle piece wrong he says “nope”
-Likes to tell me which way to drive “ go da-a-way”
-If we are in the car we are either going to “Carolyn/Johnny’s”, “Class” (aka church), or “Grammie/Papa’s”
-Branching out on which cartoons he likes…
-Tells random people “Hey” and does so until he gets a response
-Thinks bath time is also “potty time”
-MUST have his elmo and mickey books with him while he is on the potty (thanks Nana and Grandma Becky)
-Is a bit of a copy cat
-Knows all his clothes – shoes, socks, hat, jacket, shirt, pants
-You are either at “wurk” or at “home”
-Likes to talk on the phone
-Says “You hear me?!?!”
-Puts his finger on his chin and says “hmm, lets see…”
-Can say “Wal-Mart” (although I try to take him there as little as possible)
-When its bed time he all of a sudden is “hungry, needs to eat”
-Likes a little cup of something when he goes to bed
-Has five pacies in the bed with him
-Only wants to be covered up with his George blanket
-Calls a DVD a “DDD”
-Can say “Susan”
-Calls Grandpa Buddy “Pa” – I am guess the same reason he still calls my grandma “Ma” must be the only part of the name he hears…?
-Likes to take Ms Ann things to her room DURING church
-Likes class, not so much church ( which I think he likes the treats he gets in class MOST of all, thanks Mrs Buffy)

That’s all I can come up with off the top of my head… I will add more at they come to me… and maybe a picture or two of him and his new shirt his Aunt Ninny got him…

This is as much as I could get out of him... he was yet again being SILLY!

Bed Head...

Little Helper...

Since I LOATH unloading the dishwasher, I enlisted some help.... he's for hire too!

(extra bouse points if someone can tell me what that is playing in the background...)

Kids say the darnest things....

Athen was in the bath tub when he said "Momma, teetee broke - need medicine!"

Then he said "Where'd teetee go?" "OH! there'd it is!"

He cracks me up!!!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Kristin (today) and Louisee (tomorrow)












Hope y'all enjoy your days (and the picture)!!!

splish splash...

...athen taken a bath....

I was trying to get him to talk for the camera but, of course, he wouldn't - he just wanted to be silly....

His hair TRIPS me out... lol, I swear that Will Ferrell is my baby daddy....

After his bath I blow his hair dry, this is as good as it got "straight" that is...























He's watch "Manny/tools" aka Handy Manny".
Athen says lots of things now...
The other day at church Brody (who is maybe all of 6-8 months old) leaned over the pew and pulled Athen's hair... only to hear Athen say: "da's Athens hair, BayBay..... ((some other "words")) YOU HEAR ME?!?!" and all the mean while pointing his finger... I just don't know where he would have picked that up from, I must talk to daycare ;)
Then that night at church we were the only ones in the "training" room and Athen wasn't wanting to "sit still" so his Daddy told him, "you get up again and you are getting a spanking" well, you guessed it... he got up-again. So, Kevin made good on his promise and spanked him... he cried out so load that the people in the auditorium could hear him (I could see them turning around) so I took him out and sat in a chair in the lobby. Jason just happens to come out that way and stops and speaks to Athen and Athen says "Dada pank!" yeah... he's a bit of a tattle tell...
Oh boy, what fun we have in store of us...

A New Year...

After reading other blogs where they have reflected, I thought it might be a good idea for me to do the same was well....
Last year was way better than the year before. After having Athen I had mad post pardon... which took me till August to figure out, and till October to get it all worked out...
Last year I have made an AWESOME friend, my BFF Jill, aka Susan. I am going to miss her SOOO much when she leaves for school... who ever heard of such? Higher education and all...
Last year Athen got to meet his Nana. She was able to become not only a part of our lives but her own as well...
Last year Kevin started his own business........ get back with me after this year on that one ;)
Last year our little baby grew up to be a little boy... he has learned so much and brought everyone he meets so much joy...
Last year we went to Disney World for the first time... It was a start of a journey I have decided to take, one new thing a year... last year Disney, this year a CRUISE!
Last year I learned never to say never, and that life's choices have consequences.
Last year I learned that just because you think someone has hit their rock bottom doesn't mean that they feel the same and only till then will they do something about their own lives...
Last year I learned that just because people have the same blood running thru them doesn't make them "family"
Last year my mom turned 50, and I learned that I couldn't become the woman she is in her short 50 years in my whole life time...
Last year my sister turned 30, I learned that she is much stronger than I ever gave her credit for...
and last, last year I learned how to pray again and believe in that prayer....

Here's to the next year and learning so much more....

More friends....

My friend Louisee, her hubby, Leigh (Louisee's sister) and her Boyfriend (which I think could be joining the family ;) ) came to visit me, I mean Athen... They were VERY entertained by him and all his knowledge... he's so smart and such a show out, I mean off....


HE makes me laugh!!

My boys...

... all three of them, watching some saturday morning cartoons!

Chippendales Called...

... they are missing a member!

Visit with some friends...

My friend Kristin aka "Bob" from elementary school was in town this week for the holidays to see her family. Myself, Athen and my mom had a chance to go over and visit and meet her oh so cute little girl, Kinsey... Here's a couple of pictures of the kido's watching some frosty the snow man sing and dance and what not... Athen didn't seem to mind too much me holding the "Baybay"

New Years Eve....

To "Ring in the New Year" Kevin and Eric thought it would be fun to have a camp fire and camp out...

Well, not so much camping went on other than poor ol' eric sleeping out in a tent by himself. We did however have a camp fire and cooked dinner and made smores... It was lots of work but a lot of fun. I am not sure if anyone actually made it to midnight or not... The only pictures I got was of Athen dressed to be out in 40 degree weather... He's so cute!

Will Ferrell...???

I think Boo looks like Will Ferrell with his hair like this... I am going to let it keep growing.... as long as I don't leave him alone with his Daddy or Papa. He could have hair like Sampson!!!

jump, jump, JUMP!

Here's Athen enjoying his Christmas present and the nice weather...

25 and still alive....

Athen watching "Hot Dog" aka MMCH is our bed this morning... check out that bed head!

Athen's 25 NEW things...

1. Athen can say lots of things “You need help”.
2. “You ok?”
3. “Where’d da _______ go”
4. He’s favorite is DVD is still MICKEY MOUSE CLUB HOUSE
5. He likes Barney
6. Last night one the way to town we were headed the same way we go to church he said “class momma” I told him no, we weren’t going to class and proceeded to turn – just so happens it’s the same way we go to day care… “Carolyn / Johnny momma?”
No, not going to Mrs Carolyn and Mr Johnny’s house… kept driving…. “Nana, Momma?” Can you see we travel the SAME route often!
7. He doesn’t like to say “Sorry” if you tell him to. If its his idea, he’s ok with it.
8. He really likes his trampoline or as he calls it his “Jump”
9. Athen isn’t allowed to say “mine” thus he says “Athen’s”, smart – I KNOW!
10. He can say “You hurt? Got BooBoo?”
11. First thing he says in the morning is “Where’d da moon go?” and then “Where’d da pacie go?”
12. likes to “help” with the laundry
13. Is very particular theses days about who does what for him… “No, momma do” or “No, papa do” even down to changing his dirty diapers… which HEY I’m not complaining there!
14. He has to be the one the throw the dirty diapers in the trash
15. He asks to go to the potty AFTER his toot toot’d and you are changing him…it’s a start I guess…
16. When he sees a McDonald’s sign he says “EAT” which is odd, cause we don’t eat there… we really don’t take him out to eat like that often and when we do its not McDonald’s… I guess he just KNOWS….
17. He’s a terrible sleeping partner…. Every ONCE and a while Kevin will put him in the bed with us if he wakes up in the middle of the night, its not long before his right back in his bed…
18. Still calls my Grandma “Maw”
19. Athen is very strong will, wonder where he gets that from….?
20. I HEAR that he really enjoys a chocolate frosty with Papa
21. He really enjoyed all the Christmas lights and would say “More lights, momma – MORE”
22. If you pray to long at dinner, he will end it for you… “AMEN!!!! “
23. knows lots of his animals… we are going to start working on letters and colors… I know, we are behind…
24. Starting to stutter, drives me CRAZY
25. Will tell on you if you spank him… “Momma pank!”

Merry Christmas!

Well christmas has come and gone, a good time was had by all.....
Athen's "big" gift from us was a trampoline, I will have to get pictures of the "Jump" as Athen calls it tomorrow cause my camera DIED before I got any pictures of him on it... =(




Athen's gift from "Santa" aka Grammie and Papa (note the seat belts!)












Jett and his dress up clothes

(that's Athen's GIANT mickey behind Jett)





















Mouse!!!























Grammie and the boys...
(night and day)






















Aunt Ninnie























Uncle Errrr





















Aunt Sherrr smiling at Athen

Papa and his BooBoo

Papa, very photogenic