Big #2

Tate turned two on Saturday. It's still unreal to me how big he has gotten and how fast it all goes by. He has impacted our lives in such a way that is indescribable. We love you Tate.

Eggs for his birthday breakfast! His favorite. Sitting at the table he looked out the window and saw the top of the umbrella below. (His sand and water table.) He was so excited and immediately wanted to go outside, where he would spend the next few hours...

Presents...

Party...

Thanks to everyone for coming and celebrating this big day with us! Tate loves you all and is especially happy to have you as friends!

Strawberry Jam

Tate was over at grandma Tuttle's and they decided to do a fun little project. They decided to make strawberry jam.

This is the apron that Jessie and her brothers and sister would wear when they were little. Tate had so much fun, he loves to help cook. Grandma Tuttle gave Tate a plastic knife and he cut the tops off of the strawberry's.

After cutting the tops off he would rinse the strawberry's and give them to his grandma. He did a great job, the jam tastes great. We have plenty of containers because they made a ton.
YUM...

All Wrapped Up

I am always impressed with Cole and how good of a dad he is. It's not unsual for him to come up with fun creative ways to play with Tate.

The other day I left some wrapping paper out and Cole found it. I came in to find Tate all dressed up in his new clothes that Cole had made for him from the paper.

The long awaited "Big Bash"

Cole's Grandpa Mckinnis just celebrated his 80th birthday this last weekend. For the last year we have been planning on going to Washington to be there for the "Big Bash". It was a fun filled weekend of constant going! Luckily Tate was awesome considering the lack of sleep he received.

We rode up with Grammy in her car, and caravaned with Alan and Ashley. We stayed in Idaho to break up the drive, which was the best idea ever! Here is Tate on the car ride up. He was so good. I was impressed with his happy attitude in the car. Cole needed to stay for school, so he flew out on Thursday evening, meeting us there around the same time we arrived.

Our first night there we watched a movie on the big screen outside.

The next day we relaxed in the morning, and gave the kids naps. Then some people went swimming, and the other half went boating. Here we are at Mud Hole on the boat dock throwing rocks. They boat on the rivers because they are so wide.

Tate didn't want to leave the
river. It's always hard for him to stop throwing rocks.

We finally made it over to Grandma and Grandpas to swim. Tate had the funniest facial expressions, as usual!

Everytime we went down the slide he would open his mouth so wide in excitement! He also made this face anytime he thought something was cool! He was a show off the entire weekend, and loved the attention. It was fun to watch because he is usually so reserved!












At first I tried to keep Tate from constantly filling up his cup. Then I showed him which one was water, and just let him have fun. He kept bringing Cole and me drinks, what a little helper!

I love this picture of Tate and Olivia. They were sitting by the pool and the next thing we knew, they were in. For a little while they were both running around in their diapers while their clothes were in the drier. We got them dressed just as the people started to arrive for the party, for them only to end up getting wet again.

It was a beautiful evening.

Ellen and Chyrl decorated the tables. The party was put together with a cowboy theme, and it all fit together so perfectly!











There was a short program with singing, and tributes to Grandpa Stu. I especially loved the song put on by all the kids. They sang a nose is a nose. (shown below)

Here is Tate sporting the old family nose!

During the program I had to take Tate away because he just wasn't being quiet enough. Cole managed to snap a shot of me in my frustrations.









Alan has some pretty sweet karaoke skills!

We stayed in Pasco, about 15 min. away from Kennewick, where all the parties were held. It was beautiful and relaxing out in the country. Tate found a potato in the fields that surrounded the house that we stayed in. (Many thanks to the Inglimas!)

On the news

I took this picture at the Balloon Festival on the 4th of July. We submitted it to are favorite weather man Kevin Eubanks. Rachel called me on Friday telling me that she just saw a picture we took on the news! Thanks for spotting it and letting us know! We went over and watched it, and it was fun to see our names on the news, and it made me feel good that they posted my picture because there were so many incredibly pretty pictures! It can be seen on KSL pictureline (<-Click here)representing the month of July.

This is what our house tends to look like more often than not! Tate loves to take the cushion off the couch and jump on the springs. Today he decided that he would pull his basket of cars from his room into the family room to play. He is always lining things up: toys, food, rocks... it's a little quirk of his!

Close Eye

Tate has been VERY helpful to us lately. When ever he has a poopy diaper he feels the need to take it off and get himself changed. I went to get him out of bed the other morning and he had taken off his PJs and was starting to unstrap his diaper!! I got there just in time to save myself from the disaster that awaited. Without fail - after nature has called, he will go into his room to get a new diaper. Then he walks out into the family room, takes off his pants, lays down, and unstraps his diaper. He only undoes it on one side so then he is left triing to pull his other leg out through the mess! I will usually hear the sound of the diaper as it's being unleashed and get there in time to help. Today I was too late. He successfully got it off on his own. The sad thing is that he's not ready to be potty trained yet. He will occasionally inform me that it's time to go, and take care of it in the bathroom. But I don't think he knows the concept of "wetting his diaper" and would therefore lead to too many changes of pants or pull ups for that matter! For me this means always keeping a close eye on him!

It's Independence Day

I am proud to be an American

July fourth
A time to Celebrate our independence

This years Independence Day was especially fun. It started bright and early; we went to see the hot air balloons in Provo. This is the first time I've done this since I was younger. It was fun to be doing it now as the mom, with my own child to watch in enjoyment!





Tate was a little apprehensive at first when they lit the balloons up for lift off. He wanted to sit in his stroller for a good portion of the morning. Then he decided he wanted Uncle Trev to hold him, and nobody else! Trevor was Tate's buddy for the rest of the day - Thanks Trev

Carterville on Fire
For the past 3 years now, my Aunt Karen puts on the best party ever! - Thank you!!

This year, before all the good food and fireworks started, my Aunt had a water party to kick it all off!

I had so much fun watching Tate run. He was having such a good time.

She had a "HUGE" water slide, and some fun little pools for the kids to play in. Tate wasn't too thrilled about going down the slide. Tates criing upset Mason, (who was the king of the water slide, and a child who has no fear) so here they both are in tears. Tate ended up going down and was ok with it, but didn't want to do it again.

I just love the Fourth of July... I love the temperature, the festivities, the American pride, the fireworks, and getting together with family! I also love getting pictures of Tate dressed up in his patriotic outfit.

Let the fireworks begin!!!
Caterville on Fire is MC'd by my cousin Jordan - and it is a blast! He gets his firework supply from somewhere across the border,=) and sets them off with some rockin tunes playing - to dance to.

Such great entertainment! We would all get up and dance at different times. Even my grandma Tuttle was up jumping around! Tate would get up to dance, and the second a firework went off, he would come sprinting back to us. Tate was so thrilled when Jordan played the "Cars song". I think thats what got him up and dancing. This may be the most fun Tates had so far in his young life! My favorite moment beside watching Tate was dancing to Vanilla Ice! Greg - You've got the moves!

Fireworks

Celebrating our Independence
Fireworks

Tate's mad about fireworks! They are his new found joy.
He's been asking for them relentlessly, so we picked some up and headed over to Grammmy's house.

Throwing Snaps.
Also a new found favorite!

With a little help from Grammy...

We went to Jamba Juice for drinks.
This helped to satisfy us until it got dark enough to actually light the fireworks!