Merry Christmas!

Just thought I'd post the Christmas Picture and Card that we sent out this year. I didn't have everyone's addresses, so we sent them mostly to family. Anyways, here's a brief expanation of what's been happening with our family this past year...

Hi Family and Friends,
We’ve been married almost 7 years now and I have to admit; this is our first official Christmas card that we’ve sent out! I thought that I’d give you all an update on what’s happening in our little family…
We are currently living in Gold Canyon, AZ. We’ve actually been out here for 5 years now-it’s amazing how fast time flies! Anyhow we love it here, just a little way out of the city. Our house backs right up to the Superstition Mountains. The good thing about living here is that we get to see the sun rise over the mountain every morning. The down side is the jumping cactus (thankfully Tate’s only got poked twice) and the rattlesnakes (we’ve had some pretty close calls-like the time I almost stepped on one in our backyard). But, I’d say we’ve been pretty lucky for the most part. We really do think that this is the BEST place to live!
Bryan keeps busy with his two jobs. He’s working as an inspector for a company called Protex doing drainage, post tension and other inspections. Also, he’s had a pretty successful year with his new pool company called “SUNKISS POOLS” that he started over a year ago. He finds lots of satisfaction in building swimming pools and spas. Hopefully soon he will be able to quit Protex and build pools full-time. Bryan is currently the 1st counselor in the Elder’s Quorum. He enjoys his calling and keeps very busy with visiting, teaching, and attending meetings. Bryan is also a member of our ward choir. He has a beautiful tenor voice and enjoys participating. His hobbies include hiking, mountain biking and most other outdoor activities.
As for me, I’m very fortunate to be a stay at home Mom. Even though it’s not always easy keeping up with the house and entertaining Tate all day, I do really enjoy it. I also enjoy cooking, digital scrap booking, anything in Photoshop, family history, gardening, and making crafts. So, I guess you can say that I just play house all day! Life is wonderful for me! I’m also serving in the Young Women’s program and I’m totally enjoying it. Basically my calling is to teach the young women music (it is an actual calling in the church handbook-I get asked that a lot).
Mr. Tate turned 3 in August. He is such a joy to have around! Tate is bursting with energy and he keeps us busy and active. Tate has had quite a few milestones this year. He learned how to swim just before his third birthday. His favorite thing during the summer time was to jump off the waterfall and then swim to the bench on the other side of the pool. He also became potty trained just in time for Preschool that began in September. Tate really likes the social interaction that he gets from going to Preschool, and I enjoy the break and “me time” as I call it. Tate is so excited for Christmas! This is the first year that he’s really into it. He’s asking Santa for a scooter, gum ball machine, and for the movie “Meet the Robinsons”. Sounds do-able if you ask me!
Well, we hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas season!

Love,
Bryan, Maria, and Tate

Hair-Cut

I decided to TRIM Tate's hair today (Not a lot-just a tiny bit in the back). Shortly after starting the trim, I had to run out of the room for a minute. When I came back, Tate had found the scissors and had cut his hair a lot on the top! So, I ended up having to buzz the whole thing to hide it. Oh Well, he's cute no matter what... And luckily his hair grows really fast.

Nap or Work-Your Choice!

Tate learned something very IMPORTANT today... He learned that if he doesn't take a nap, then he gets to work throughout his entire nap time!
I learned something really important too. Don't UNDERESTIMATE your kids and the amount of household chores they can do.

Tate's almost better at doing laundry and dishes then I am, and our house looks great!

Tate's 4th Christmas

Every Christmas I take a picture of Tate in this little red sleigh... He's getting so big, that he hardly fits anymore! I can't believe how fast my baby's growing up.

A Christmas Carol

Bryan and I went to his work Christmas Party last Saturday. I totally look forward to the "Protex" party every year. They have a tradition of renting out the "Hale Theatre" in Gilbert, and watching "The Christmas Carol". I could seriously watch this play over and over again and NEVER get tired of it! Have you all seen it? You know-the "Scrooge" play. Well, if you've never seen it at the Hale Theatre, I totally recommend going. This year was our third time, and I look forward to attending every year.

Favored Nation Band

My brother Thomas and his band "Favored Nation" recorded their first CD last Saturday! I think that Thomas is so talented, and I can only wish that I had half of the talent he has. Thomas wrote all of the songs, and he is the lead singer. I guess I'm just a proud sister! But, I think they sound AWESOME, especially for still being in High School.

I couldn't figure out how to put music in a blog post, so I just made the songs into video form with a picture and then uploaded them as a video.

Written in the Stars

Let Me Go

Wonderful World Of Harold

Rising Up

I'd love to hear what you think of Thomas' music. I totally love all his songs, but then again maybe I'm just biased.

To visit the "Favored Nation" website go HERE.

Mary Did You Know-Clay Aiken

This is a good reminder of what Christmas is all about!

Cousin Nativity

We went over to Grandma Margaret's house the other day, and the kids played dress-up and acted out the nativity. I thought that these pics were just too precious, and so I had to post them...

Lily and Emma took turns being Mary.


Tate made an adorable Joseph!

He was pretending to fight off the wolves with a staff to protect Baby Jesus!

Old Fashioned Pics

One of my friends belongs to a group called MOPS (Mother's Of Preschool Students). Anyways, MOPS recently held a fundraiser for Old Fashioned Pictures. They charged a small fee of $10 for a 10" x 13" pic. Fortunately, I was able to get this one FREE because they had some extra openings. Yeah!!!

When I went in to pick up my 10" x13", they had printed up 12 different 8"x10" pics of Tate in several different poses. They were ALL adorable! But, the package prices ran from $120 to over $300! Seriously, who pays that much for pictures? I almost asked them which dumpster they throw them in!

At least we got this one. And at least I was able to scan it into the computer without cutting any of him off.

A Baby for Christmas...

Tate woke up this morning and asked me "Mom, why you don't have a baby?" I told him that we will just have to pray harder. He said, "Not softly?" I told him that we have to pray like we mean it. He said, "Let's pray". We went into the Family Room and knelt down. He wanted to say the prayer and began, "Heavenly Father, I really really really want a baby", then he told him all the reasons why he wants one. When he finished, I asked him, "Is Heavenly Father going to give us a baby". He replied, "Yes". I said, "When?" He said confidently, "On the 25th". Then he started talking about a baby on the scooter that he's been asking for... and Santa bringing Mommy a baby for Christmas...

Seriously, how do you explain God's timing to a 3 year old? And then, how do you explain that when it does happen, it takes nine months. I love Tate's innocence and honesty! He's so special and I can totally learn from his Faith and confidence in what he asks for. Maybe he's right "we just need to pray a little harder-not softly".

Tate the Red Nosed Goof-Ball

This is Tate playing Rudolph.
I turned around and he had dipped his hotdog in the ketchup and put it one his nose like a stamp! He thought it was too cool.