Presenting Mr. Tate in 2009

Yep, that's Tate!

We stopped by the Visitor's Center at the Mesa AZ Temple today (just because we were in the area) and decided to stop and watch a short movie. And just because it was beautiful outside and I had my camera with me, I took some pictures of Tate... just being Tate.

Snuggle Bugs

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (Made with Honey and Whole Wheat)

I got this recipe from my Mom (I'm not sure if she made it up or got it from somewhere else). I tweaked it a little. For having no sugar or white flour, I'd say they're pretty good. Actually, I'd say they were yummy even if they had sugar!

In bosch mixer combine:

2 Sticks Butter
3/4 C. Honey

Beat for approx. 8 minutes.

2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla

Mix approx. 2 minutes.

1/2 tsp. Salt
1 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Sweet Spice Blend (I bought it at Shar's Kitchen)

Mix just until combined.

3 C. Old Fashioned Oats (not quick oats)
1 1/2 C. Freshly Ground Whole Wheat Flour
3/4 C. Raisins

Mix shortly again. Plop by small spoon fulls onto baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes.

Remote Control Truck

Tate's favorite Christmas gift was from Uncle Tyler!

Proof that Santa Came to Our House...

I got the BIKE I wanted.

Bryan got the MUMMY SLEEPING BAG he wanted.

And Tate got the STAR WARS MOVIES he wanted.

Mr. Tate's Annual Sleigh Picture

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Presents.

I finally finished with gifts on Christmas Eve! Yes, I'm the BIGGEST procrastinator with shopping-always waiting until the very last few days... Why do I do this to myself?

New Work Truck

You're looking at a really quick snapshot of Bryan's new work truck.

So Bryan came to me 2 days before Christmas and told me that he needed to buy a second truck for Sunkiss Pools and that he had found one off of Craigslist for a great price.

Now just a fact (and a great quality) about Bryan is that he very RARELY asks for anything and he NEVER asks for something that he doesn't need, so when he DOES ask for something I know that he is very serious about it and has thought it through A LOT. This makes him SUPER convincing:)

Needless to say, we now have 3 vehicles. My car Jim, Bryan's truck Cindy, and Bryan's newest truck Golly (Tate named him).

Fun Monday

Tate's friend Tyler had a gingerbread house making party this morning. Can you imagine... 18 kids frosting and decorating houses!?! Amazingly it went really smoothly.

Tate had a blast!

After the party, we stopped by Grandpa Larry's house to get his help with the gift Tate's giving to Bryan. See HERE. They turned out AWESOME (we made three of them) and were super easy to make not to mention inexpensive.

Tate also enjoyed hiding in the leaves at my parent's house. I LOVE how it's finally fall time here:)

And tonight, we went with our friends (Emily, Beej, Liam, and McKenna) to see the Temple lights. It was CRAZY busy, but I'm glad we went. I forgot my tripod, so the picture is blurry... Oh well!

Primary Class

I'm going to miss these cute/crazy kids. One more Sunday and they are moving up!

Ice Skating Lessons +Two More Family Parties=A very BUSY Saturday

I had signed Tate up for a couple of free ice skating lessons (forever ago) and he finally had them yesterday and the Saturday before that. It was awesome because two of his friends (Logan and Liam) as well as his cousins (Rebecca and Anson) were there too.

We also had 2 family parties yesterday. Both were fun as you can see from the hayride and the trampoline picture below.

I LOVE this time of year!

Kinder Sing & Bryan's Family Chistmas Party

Friday morning Tate had his Kinder Sing at school. All of the parents and grandparents crammed into the school cafeteria to watch the Kindergartners sing "Must Be Santa, The Very Best Part of Christmas Time, We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and a few more. It was so cute! After the performance I signed Tate out of school. So now he's done until next year.

That night was Bryan's family Christmas party. It was so cute decorated with Nutcrackers from Uncle Jon's collection. The food was THE BEST EVER, especially the ham and potatoes! As always, I should have gotten more pictures, but I think I'm paranoid about taking too many pics of extended family. I don't want to come across as annoying... Does that make any sense? But I figured Matt wouldn't mind (anyone who takes the opportunity to throw Tate into the air for a fun time just might show up here on the blog:) Ha/Ha. He loved it Matt!

And I know the little kids don't care about pictures, so I got a few of them cleaning up. They were so cute taking turns vaccuming.

And here's Melanie (she is the most adorable little girl ever) just smiling away for the camera.

And then making faces-so cute!

No Secrets Around Here!

{Picture from Dinner tonight}

Bryan & Tate went Christmas shopping (for me) this afternoon...

When they came home, Tate was SUPER giddy (jumping around me and beaming from head to toe!) I could tell he was just DYING to tell me all of my presents. So I reminded him NOT to tell me and that I would just have to wait.

About 15 minutes later Tate said, "Mom one of your presents is really really pretty! It might be jewelry".

Might be Jewelry!!! For reals? How can that comment not get me going? "Maybe it's a ring", I pondered out loud. "No Mom, it's not a ring but it OPENS up that's your clue!"

Hmmm. Jewelry that opens up... I wonder what that might be? Ha/Ha.

Then less than five minutes later Tate said, "Mom, Dad told me we couldn't get you the movie Sword in the Stone. He wanted to get you another movie called Har..." He caught himself then began talking again "Oops I'm NOT going to tell you. I've never even seen the movie, well at least this one. I've seen some of the other ones".

Another Hmmm. Could he possibly be referring to Harry Potter?

What can I say? Christmas is AWESOME with a five year old!

Asleep.

Watching Tate sleep makes me LOVE him even more... Crazy how that's even possible!

Mr. Santa

Tate had lots of fun pretending to be Santa in the bath tub tonight. HO HO HO!



And here's with a "Photoshopped" hat!

"It's Working!!!"

I just wanted to thank each and every one of you who have bought a picture from Tate to help him help Grandma Margaret to be able to buy her cancer medication. So far he's made 41 dollars and let me tell you, he couldn't be happier!

This morning Tate SNUCK into our bedroom (really early) and asked if he could wake up and color more pictures to sell. I told him he could...

Later (when I woke up) I went into his bedroom to check on him. The first thing out of his mouth was, "Mom!!! It's working, it really is. I'm earning money for Grandma Margaret!!!!!" And then later he said, "41 dollars is A LOT of money Mom".

Tate is thrilled to be able to help...

Sentimental Ornaments

My very favorite ornaments are far from fancy...
But I LOVE them, and each one has a special meaning to me.

I made this one in 6th grade. It's not very pretty, but I still remember making it and thinking that it was the GREATEST thing ever!

This snowman ornament is from Peru and was given to me from my parents. (They have a tradition of giving each of their children a new ornament every year)

This sweet angel is one of my very first (if not THE very first) ornament that I ever received.

When Grandma O. passed away, her ornaments were divided among the grand kids. They are probably my VERY favorite ornaments!!! I LOVE their simpleness.

This is Tate's first ornament which was given to him by Grandma S.

And here is our MOST RECENT ornament. This Santa was made by Tate (with some help from me). I LOVE that it's not perfect and that there are little fingerprints all over it.

Here's the back side with Tate's signature. I LOVE that he signed MOM too!