Teddy T. Bear

Teddy & the tractor

Teddy & the 4-wheeler

Teddy & the patrol car

Garrison holding Teddy...Keyton holding Faixy

Snuggled up with Teddy T. Bear

Keyton brought home a friend from school today! His name is Teddy T. Bear! Our school is gearing up for Teddy Bear Days. We don't have many details on it yet, as it is to be a surprise. However, I am sure with Ms. Alice and Ms. Delilah organizing it, we can prepare for bunches of fun! Keyton was the lucky one in his room to be chosen to bring Teddy home first! His mission was to show Teddy around and have some adventures with him. We were to take pictures of the things he saw and then Keyton had to write about it in a journal and take it back to school for the next lucky student! We had fun showing Teddy around the farm! Garrison thought Teddy was very sweet. He kissed him and told him he loved him and was going to miss him! This is what Keyton wrote in the journal:

I showed Teddy T. Bear 3 of my favorite vehicles on my farm.

1. tractor

2. 4-wheeler

3. patrol car

Then he rocked in a chair with me and my little brother Garrison and our new puppy Faixy.

He slept with us. We will miss him!

Keyton Dowdy 1st Grade 8/25/08

How Handsome!

My sweet little boys and their dog!

My Handsome Keyton

My Handsome Garrison

Today after we got ready for church, I thought my little men looked ESPECIALLY handsome in their new matching shirts and jeans. They always look cute to me, but there was just something so special about them today. They looked like little men. Their daddy was very proud of them as well. Keyton kept telling Garrison how handsome he was and Garrison was telling Keyton how handsome he looked! They each thought the other looked better. They were so sweet. "Aggie" was equally as impressed when she saw them at church. I, of course, couldn't resist a few pictures! (SHOCK!) We think our little boys are so cute! (We may be biased, but even biased parents can be accurate, right?) :-) Look out girls...prepare to have your hearts broken! :-)

A boy needs a dog...

My boys and their puppy!

My dirty...sweet...Keyton! (Especially that cap!)

My dirty... sweet...Garrison! (Notice the dirt necklace!)

Faixy relaxing on the trampoline!

( She had to have help getting down!)

Everyone keeps telling me how much my boys need a dog. Well, I have tried to let them have one several times, but something always goes wrong. I will admit a great deal of it is my fault because I have a TERRIBLE fear of them stemming way back from my childhood. I am terrified of even the smallest house dog if it jumps on me the least little bit. I hate this about myself and am trying to be better. So, we have a dog now that has not yet frightened me or gotten on my nerves. They really love it so far and I am trying to love it too. It is a very small puppy and I am hoping it does not get very big. They have named her Faixy (pronounced FAX-EE) Trouble Dowdy. She is very happy to run around and play with them. She follows them everywhere and even helped them run the goats back in their pen today. They said that made her a good farm dog! I hope that we finally have a good dog that EVERYONE (read:ME) can love!

FIRST day of FIRST grade!!!

My big first grader!

Look how tall he is!!!

Garrison is already getting sad...

Keyton waiting in my classroom...

Keyton with his new teacher!

A glimpse of his 1st day...

(Thanks to Keyton's photographer, Delilah!)

Yesterday was the first day of school.....I cannot believe Keyton is already in FIRST GRADE!!! It seems only yesterday I was holding him in my arms as a newborn. I am so proud of him. He is such a sweet-hearted little guy. He is also soooo inquisitive!!! He wants to know EVERYTHING! He never stops asking questions! He wasn't a bit nervous to start back to school, which surprised me very much. I thought he would be very nervous. I was very relieved! He walked right in and sat beside his new teacher. He acted so mature. I was so proud. I followed him down to his new room and helped him get settled and he didn't care a bit to stay. I have to admit I had a few tears as I left the room. He is growing up so fast that it makes me sad! His teacher was so sweet and called me a little later in the morning just to tell me that he was doing great. I was very relieved and also thankful for her letting me know. As we were going to sleep last night, Keyton said, "Mommy, I think I am going to really like first grade!" I am so glad he does!

About Garrison...he had a rough time staying without his mommy and his big brother! I guess he had gotten very attached to us over the summer! He cried and cried as we drove away from my mom's house. He had to have his Daddy come over and get him for a little farming trip to calm him down. He was so glad to see us when we got there to get him. He and Keyton just hugged and kissed over and over! I hope he doesn't get this upset very many days! I hate leaving him crying for me! He thinks since he has gotten potty trained that he is big enough to go to school as well! He IS a very big boy and I know that before I know it...he will be in FIRST GRADE!

I love these two boys to pieces!!! I am the luckiest Mommy in the whole wide world!!!

Costumes, Costumes, Costumes!!!

Keyton in police emergency gear!

Garrison with cowboy hat and loaded backpack!

Keyton with Daddy's gun belt!

Garrison with police vest and Mommy's Crocs!

My boys have always loved trying on different things. There is nothing they love more than to put on their daddy's stuff or stuff that looks like their daddy would wear. Occasionally they like to put a few of my things on too. (Especially me shoes!) I usually try to take pictures of these occasions because they are so precious. The other day they were really changing costumes quite often and I managed to get a few quick photos. I love my dramatic boys! (Dana says they get it all from me!)

One of my very own!!!

My little men "pretend driving!"

Fun times ahead!

Well, I have one now...a 4 Wheeler! Yay! After much online shopping, many phone calls, heavy bargaining, and a great deal of consideration, we bought one! Tammy, Christopher & I loaded up, headed to Chattanooga and brought me one home! I got a Honda Rancher 420. I even got to get the extra scratch resistant camo color because they were out of the color they quoted me. They let me have it for the same price! I got a real deal down there. I let Dana's family try it out a little this evening. I got to drive it just a little. I will get to ride more next week when Dana is off. I am happy and the boys are super excited! They had fun "pretend driving" it. I am so grateful to Tammy and Christopher for always being willing to go on any adventure with me when I need them. Dana is a good husband to get me something I have wanted my whole life. I love my family so much and look forward to many fun times with them on OUR new 4 wheeler! (Dana says it is all mine... but I will share!)

Birthday Fun!

The "dare devil" birthday girl took the go-kart for a spin!

Keyton played "mechanic" with his daddy's tools for a long time today!

Garrison collapsed for a short nap.

Whitney couldn't resist joining him.

One of the many times that I got emotional during play!

(I discovered that Whitney & Dana snapped shots of my every move!)

The Asberry Men in deep concentration!!!

Our Victory Dance!!!

Tammy's birthday is tomorrow. I invited her and her family over for supper. I wanted to cook for her as a small way of showing her how special she is to me. I love her like a sister. We made a whole day of it. She & Whitney came right after church while Michael & Christopher had to run to Somerset to pick up Michael's nephew. So, Tammy, Whitney, and myself went for a little walk. (4 1/2 miles) We had a great time. When we got back, I started supper. The menu was: steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, oven baked potatoes w/ onions, peppers, & bacon, green beans, salad, rolls, low-fat brownies, and chocolate yogurt. Christopher calls me Betty Crocker, but I just bought a Rachael Ray knife, so he can start calling me that instead. :-) I only wish I was a good a cook as her! After supper, we dug out the Corn Hole game! We had the best time! Tammy & I played against Michael & his nephew Jeremiah. Well, Jeremiah said he had never lost a game of corn hole before...and the challenge was on!!!We were determined to beat them and I am not very good at the game. We lost to them 4 times, the also won 3 other times against, Christopher, Cody, & Whitney. But...finally on OUR 5th try we beat them!!! I was so excited that my heart was pounding! I was concentrating very hard. We jumped up and down and did a dance to celebrate! It was a well earned victory! We had so much fun today, but we always do with the Asberry's. I think we should do this EVERY week! Happy Birthday Tammy! We love you very much!

Car Wash...Water Fight...Surprise!

Keyton loved helping wash the patrol car!

Garrison washing his vehicle before going "on duty."

Keyton getting wet!

Garrison getting wet!

Keyton soaking himself!

Garrison in action!

Right before they ganged up on him...

You better run, Dana!

Sprinkles of love!

Dana had to wash his car today because he had to go in to work to lead a funeral of a family friend. We all decided to help him out. I did the scrubbing and he rinsed. (Doesn't sound real fair, huh?) The boys loved helping because they got to get wet. Garrison decided to wash the tricycle and I thought it was really cute so I had to take some pictures. Keyton, of course wanted to stay on the task of the patrol car. I went back in the house after they were almost finished and a few minutes later, Keyton came and yelled for me to come outside. I went and saw a water fight in progress. So, I did what any good mommy would do and grabbed my camera! (They couldn't get me wet that way!) I got so many great shots of them in action. They had the best time. They really had fun when they ganged up on their daddy and soaked him! They decided they would wash the lawn mower while it was in the yard. So, I went in again to try to cook some lunch. After being in there about 15 minutes, I heard some terrible screams coming from Dana & Keyton. I thought Garrison was hurt bad because they were screaming for me. So, I headed to the door with barbecue sauce all over my hands to find a huge surprise on the porch right in front of the door... Garrison had POOPED! He is trying to be potty trained but since he was without a diaper, he just went and didn't tell his daddy in time. The look on Dana & Keyton's faces was priceless! You would have thought it was they worst thing possible to happen! Men! Needless to day, Dana had to take over the grilling of the chicken and I had to attend to the cleanup of the porch. Poor Garrison did not know what to do especially when Dana sprayed his butt off! This was like a sitcom! I wish someone had been outside and got it all on video! It would make for some good TV. So, remember this: Car washes can lead to some huge surprises!

We Love Our Whitney!

Keyton is telling them all about the animals!

Garrison keeps his eyes on those goats!

Keyton had fun chasing Whitney & Garrison and making siren noises!

Whitney looked gorgeous...as always!

The boys got a real treat Sunday after church! Whitney came over to spend the night with them! They were super excited. She came in with a bag full of candy...mostly M&M's. My boys are bribed very easily with those! They started in right away with several things for her to do with them. They took her to see the chickens and goats, played basketball, jumped on the trampoline, played Wii, played with Tinker Toys, went for a walk, played badminton, rode the go-cart, and much more! Whitney was anxious to ride the go cart so she could try to get Keyton to drive it. We got it for him last summer and he was a little too short to reach the pedals with ease. He took off really fast and got scared and hasn't wanted to ride it yet. She took him for a ride and showed him how it drove but he still didn't want to be behind the wheel just yet! The boys were very sad to see her leave and asked her to please sleep over again before school starts. She said she would! Whitney is so much fun and she loves playing with the boys. They like it because she don't care to get dirty with them and she plays anything they want. Whitney is very special to us. Tonight, she was in the beauty pageant at our fair. She competed against about 15 other girls. She received 2nd runner up. I thought she should have won! She is beautiful on the inside and on the out. We are so lucky to have her as part of our family! We love our Whitney!

Park Duty

My sliding duo!

Keyton is heading for the slide!

Garrison is getting ready to slide!

Keyton

Garrison

They wanted me to play too!

Dana is off this week but has to work one day of Park Duty at the lake. Today was his day of Park Duty, so we decided to get supper and take it down to the lake and eat with him at the picnic tables. We had a really nice time. The boys got to play on the playground and walk in the sand just a little bit. They had so much fun and hated to have to leave. We stayed until almost dark. They boys said they liked being on Park Duty with their daddy.