Halloween Fun 2011

Its become a tradition to get together with my sister Beth and her family on Halloween along with their friends and go on a hayride and trick or treating in their neighborhood.  Its always a lot of fun and this year Tate wore himself (and his Aunt Beth) out trying to make it to every house possible to maximize his candy haul.  He looked pretty focused like a man on a mission as he hurried his Aunt Beth to haul him to the next house.  Here are a few pictures that we took along the way.





 Tate sporting his festive Pajamas

 The biggest reddest dog in town...Clifford!

 

On the Hayride out to go trick or treating thanks to Uncle G.

 Action shot...notice who is in front.

Mary Grace the ghost and her cousins and friends.

Katie the Cave girl and her cave cat Smokey James wearing the costumes she made.

Tate and his cousin Claudia (Repunzel minus the long wig she wouldn't wear.

Tate and his cousins along with their friend known as Big Claudia.



Tate checking out his haul of candy.



Thanks to Aunt Beth and Uncle Greg for hosting us agian for another Trick or Treat.  We had a great time as usual!



Family Fun

Last week my sister Cathy and neice Ansley made a visit from California to visit colleges and we had a great time getting to see them while they were here.  The last day they were here they didn't have any activities planned so we decided to make a trip out to Oak Mountain to take the kids to the petting zoo and go hiking. 

Tate and Aunt Beth visiting the sheep.  Take note of the sheep for they will come into play later.

 

Everyone seeing the pigs.  The one in the middle became known as "grumpy pig".

 

Tate checking out the horse.

 

 

Tate was excited about the horse until it got a little too close he wasn't sure about that.

Ansley with the boys.

Which one is the goat?  (they all smell the same) :)

And then...

There are times in life where you can't totally explain why something happened but it did.  At one point, Aunt Cathy decided that the sheep needed to come out of their stall so the children could see them better. If you know my sisters, they are quite determined people and they wouldn't let it go.  Finally they went into full hearding mode which apparently at the petting zoo if frowned upon and Aunt Beth was ejected from the petting zoo by the park ranger.

 

This was scene posted around the park.

When reviewing security footage, it was revealed that the instigator was really the "girl in the black shirt" AKA Aunt Cathy.  Notice the tow out front fleeing the scene.

Tates cousins all took their shoes off and were walking through the river at the bottom of the falls and of course Tate had to as well.

Here he is with his helpers, Katie and Sam with his walking stick.  You go mountain man.

Overall we had a great visit with Cathy and Ansley while they were here.  We hope to see them back in a couple years if Ansley decides to go to college around here!

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Fall is coming and we took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch and here are a few photos we took on the trip.

Tate in the pumpkin patch sporting his festive shirt.

Tate and our prized pumpkin.

Fun in the sand box.  Those if you that know his history with sand will be shocked by this one. :)

Happy 3rd Birthday Tate!

I can't believe its been 3 years since we welcomed Tate into the world.  At 10:47am on a Wednesday he changed our lives forever.  He just sat there and looked up at the world like he had been here all along.  He was so quiet, he didn't cry at all and was so content it was almost funny.  

We praise God for the 3 years that our lives have been blessed with Tate and can't wait to see what he has in store for this little guy as he grows up.  In his 3 years, he has brought endless smiles and laughs to our household and is truly a joy to have in our lives. 

Right now he can't get enough of anything to do with trains. He also loves playing with cars and just about any other kind of vehicle.  He is a great helper to wash the car or help me in the workshop as long as he has the ear protection on (because he doesn't like loud noises).  He has the best little personality and loves being silly and laughs a lot.  He loves going to see his Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins and is always asking when he will see them again.  We are so proud of him and thought we would chronicle his birthday events with these pictures.

We started off with a trip to Lowes to build a police car in their "build and grow" class. 
He is getting a little better at swinging a hammer now, but you still better watch your fingers. :)

We also had to keep our tradition of "riding the tractors' while there.

 

Giving Mom a "Big Hug".  Always an important part of your birthday.

Of course he helped me set up for his party (and got a little wet in the process)

Opening some presents from Mom and Dad before the party.

Taking some pictures with his new toy camera.

Mom's hard work making it a great "Monster Bus" party complete with buses everywhere.

The Monster Bus cake his Mom decorated.  He had a real hard time not taking the bus off the cake all day.

The water slide our friends were nice enough to loan us.   (before the children attacked me with water guns)
  

Once the sun went down it got a little cool so you saw lots of cold little children.

Tate and Dad in the sun warming up.

Tate wanted his cousin Katie to "hold him like a baby".  He is a heavy baby!

Tate's couson Katie made a special treat with pretzels and marshmallows that everyone gobbled up.

Tate and his friend Gracyn warming up in the sunshine enjoying a juicebox.

Getting ready for candles...

Singing Happy Birthday!

And of course the children all attacked me with party favors.

Monster Bus party favors for all the kids.



Thanks to each of you that made Tate's Birthday such a special day!  He had a great time and didn't want it to end. 

Evacuation 2011

The last few years, we have made the trip over to North Carolina to go to the beach with Mandy's Dad and family known now as Tate's "Pop and MiMi".  They get a house over at Emerald Isle next to the beach and we have a great time.  It was beautiful the first 4 days and we enjoyed the usual beach activities until we started hearing weather reports of a certain Hurrican Irene headed right for the area we were in.  Then after we were notifed with the dreaded "Mandatory Evacuation" we knew our time at the beach would be cut short.  However, we ended up having a lot of fun back in Cary at Mandy's Dad's house.  Here are some pictures we took from our time there.

Tate and Dad in the pool.

Tate loves the hot tub or the "hot baf" as he calls it.

Aunt Jessica giving Tate a swimming lesson...

Tate and his MiMi having a snack by the pool.



Some of the local military servicemen kept us entertained...

These made quite an impression when they flew low (and woke Tate up from his nap a time or two)

Beach Bum

Which way to the gym?

Tate and Pop swimming

MiMi, Pop, Tate and Aunt Jessica

Tate and MiMi with matching hats

Wonder what Tate was telling Pop and Aunt Jessica here?

Tate and Momma at the pool

Yes, he put his own sunglasses on, thats one cool dude!

Quite the beach setup

 

We got out one night after dinner and walked to the end of the island and it was so peaceful and nice!

 

Family Picture (right before we left for evacuation due to Hurricane)

Tate and his MiMi and Pop

Silly Pop

Beach Trip Part II - The Land Edition

We started out by celebrating Tate's Birthday (early) before we went back home.

Blowing out the candles like a big boy.

We got a little silly with the party favors.

Then it just got out of control once the giggles got us.

Tate enjoying cake.

Opened presents...

Then dancing broke out...

Doing what he does best.

Thanks MiMi and Pop for a great week!