Monday, June 29, 2009

If it's not one thing it's another!

Oh my goodness! So our rabbit is surviving, and our turtle is still alive, so since we can't kill our own pets animals we've decided to kill wild animals instead! Not on purpose of course but for heavens sakes you would think birds would find a better place to put a nest other than a tree! Well in between all of the latest rain storms I mowed the lawn and did work around the yard. Well where we live we have a cherry tree that has grown completely out of control (previous owners lack of tree maintenance) well it's completely shutting out the lilac bush which is trying to grow so we decided to cut the lower branches of the cherry tree off so that the lilac could get some light. Well there's also a decorative pine tree that is growing in the backyard next to it that's out of control so with that one we cut the top off to level it out and hopefully get it under control. So I take charge of these outdoor projects and get the ladder and start sawing the top of this pine tree off. Well I get the top chopped off and go to throw the top onto the ground and as it hits the ground this baby bird plops out of this mound of tree top. I'm thinking oh &*^%. Because as I was sawing I checked the tree and there was no nest that I saw, well the nest was tucked right up against the trunk and on the side away from me. So I run in the house and get a shoe box and put the baby bird in and call Daniel and tell him what happened...I feel horrible! Well Lindsay shows up at this time and comes in the backyard with me and I say "at least it's only one" and she says "are you sure?" And at that moment I look where she is looking at there is another baby bird, I pick it up and see another one flopping around...CRAP there's now 3 baby birds, that are more than likely going to die because I chopped their house down and now the mom's not going to come back and I'm feeling totally guilty. I call Daniel and all he can do is laugh and offer condolences but thinks it's funny. I'm trying not to let the kids know so they won't be traumatized in any way because their mother is a BABY bird killer. Well the one Lindsay saw was dead, snapped neck or something but he was definitely not alive. The second one I found was more than likely not going to make it because it wasn't using it's one leg ( I think it was broken) so I knew he wasn't going to make it. So the first one I found was the only one who might possibly make it out alive. Well about 5 hours later the broken leg bird was dead. Now it's getting late and starting to sprinkle what was I going to do about this baby bird. I don't have a heat lamp to keep it warm. I am NoT chewing up worms and regurgitating them into his mouth so he was either going to freeze or starve to death, that or the neighborhood cats were going to eat him for dinner. Well Daniel said to leave him outside in the box and maybe (ha) his mother would come and get him. So I was consigned to leave him out in the rain in a box for the fates to decide what would happen to him. Well either his mom came and got him or he was eaten because the next morning I went to check on him and he was gone! no trace to be found of the baby bird. I felt awful about what happened I kept telling Daniel that I needed to talk to the bishop because I was a Baby Bird Killer. He tried to make me feel better by telling me they were just robins and that robins are a dime a dozen. but still I felt pretty bad.

Then to continue our saga Thursday afternoon we had a wind burst, that actually knocked down our neighbors(a few blocks away) three story tree. It was awesome. Well it blew and we had the kids come in. Well when Daniel went back outside to assess any damage that the wind had done he found splattered all over our driveway...Four robin eggs. So then he had to get the hose out and clean up that mess before the kids came back out to play and became traumatized over the eggs. We're not all that concerned about Carter's reaction- he's a boy, he's tuff, while Madison on the other hand is very dramatic to say the least and would probably cried over the loss of the eggs. So now watch out wild life here come the Tate's to destroy anything peaceful that you have.

Can anyone tell me why and when do kids start to lie. I just don't understand it. Last week Madison told a lie and she was grounded. So for Family Home Evening we talked about telling the truth and being honest and that lying was following Satan. (that's how Madison describes it...you're either following Satan or following Jesus) We thought she understood and had grasped the concept that we do NoT lie, and that you will get into more trouble if you lie. Well today she lied again, and of course got caught but what do I do. We've already talked about this. We thought she understood. We did a family home evening lesson from the church website and everything so that we thought even Carter would understand. Any advice would be great. I just keep asking why? Anyway off of the Tate house troubles.

I can NoT wait for this weekend I know it's only Monday but, it's the Fourth of July I love this holiday. We spend time away from all the hubbub and chaos, and go up to the cabin for a few days and go to the Oakley Rodeo! Love it! Our family is a huge fan we've gone every year for the past 15 years. We absolutely LoVe the bull riding! it's fabulous! then we will be coming back to watch the best fireworks (Clearfield) ever, the kids just think it's great and Madison is so funny because she's our child who rises and falls with the sun. Well keeping her awake for the fireworks is so hard and yet if (what do I mean if I mean when) she does fall asleep she sleeps right through the fireworks. She's like her mother can sleep through anything. We will definitely post pics of the weekend. And I also love singing the Star Spangled Banner, which sometimes it's a disappointment because we don't always sing it in church on the Sunday closest to the fourth. Well our ward will be singing it because I'm the chorister and I get to choose the songs.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Carter

3 Carter is now the big 3. Although he likes to tell anyone who asks how old he is that he is 14 and that next year he will be 16. I think it's cute that he can't put his thumb and pinky together to hold up three fingers so he uses his other hand to put them together to hold up that he is three. His birthday was spread out because it fell on a Sunday and that it was Father's Day so on Saturday he went to the primary quarterly activity and then we went to a family reunion that got rained out...(actually winded out or blown out) and we were going to go to the stake swim party that night for his birthday but because of the weather that was cancelled. What a great birthday...Not...we then deciede to go see Disney's UP which is soooo cute! Loved it! However poor Carter fell asleep about half way through and woke up at the end. Daniel asked him if he fell asleep and after a big yawn replied...nope. So Daniel asked him if he liked the movie and after a stretch of the arms replied...yep. We had spaghetti for dinner (his favorite). In the morning we had him open presents. The best was that we got him a bike. He was so excited that rain nor wind would stop him from riding his new bike. However I still think he is amazing on his scooter...only time will tell how he fares on his bike. Even though he slept through it UP was hilarious, I know it will be bought the day it comes out. It even has a pretty good story line so parents aren't looking at their watch going when will this movie be over. And you don't see all the best parts in the preview. I particularly SQUIRREL, liked the cone of shame. Anyway Carter had a fun day he got a basketball cake ( I cheated and bought one from Target) which he absolutely LOVED the frosting. From his grandparents he got a teeter totter that also spins 360 degrees and a Thomas the Train set. No he doesn't know who Thomas is all he cares is that it's a train. Here's a great quote:

A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm. ~Bill Vaughan

SO TRUE! however he does enjoy his bike. But one of his most favorite things to do when I go to my parents house is go do "Man Stuff" with my dad. they go feed the dogs, and the pheasants and look at all the cool things nature has to offer. However with all this rain their favorite thing to do (even Madison gets in on this) is Snail Hunting. They find tons of snails up at my parents house and they carry around a bowl full of salt to sprinkle/pour onto the unsuspecting snail and watch (as Madison puts it) the TORTURE!!! It's disgusting and disturbing but hey we don't like or need snails in the flower beds.


So those of you who know us many people say Carter looks like Daniel. My cousin says he's a mini white Daniel. But how little do you know that Carter is a True Tate boy. Sports is his favorite game whether it be basketball, football, baseball, or soccer they have a natural athletic ability. But Daniels little brother Austin (16 in Sept) will be starting highschool on the varsity football team as a sophomore. Last year (freshman) he played JV, not only did he dress but he played all the time. He has amazing talent and dedication (we are not biased at all). But we found a picture of him when he was 3. And Oh my gosh Carter and Austin are twins!!! Creepy Huh? They look so much alike. and cute too! Madison and McKinley also look alike. We have a cute picture of Madison at about 4 months old and I love it because it looks somewhat vintage, well I wanted one of McKinley like it but facing the opposite way. You can totally see their personality's in these pictures. There's Madison who poses for the camera and was quite the content/mellow baby and then there's McKinley who is full of smiles and we could not get her to look at the camera, but look at that smile! Well for Mother's day I received a gift card to Kiddie Kandids to do pictures so we finally did them for Father's Day...so here's an update of our family and our littlest angel. Here's some cute quotes about kids that particularly ring true to our family....




Watching your daughter being collected by her date feels like handing over a million dollar Stradivarius to a gorilla. ~Jim Bishop




The father of a daughter is nothing but a high-class hostage. A father turns a stony face to his sons, berates them, shakes his antlers, paws the ground, snorts, runs them off into the underbrush, but when his daughter puts her arm over his shoulder and says, "Daddy, I need to ask you something," he is a pat of butter in a hot frying pan. ~Garrison Keillor




You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance. ~Franklin P. Jones.....CARTER!




Even when freshly washed and relieved of all obvious confections, children tend to be sticky. ~Fran Lebowitz.....CARTER




Like fruit, children are sweetest just before they turn bad. ~Dena Groquet....Carter's sweet after he's been bad.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Update of Life


I just thought I would update you on the things we have done lately. Memorial weekend was a blast. Saturday morning Madison went fishing with her Dad, Grandpa and Uncle and out fished them all! she caught the longest fish and one that was shorter but was the fattest fish! They ended up only keeping three but she caught around 7 or 8 fish. Way to go! It was a wonderful weekend getaway, so peaceful and serene. It rained most of Sunday and it smelled so fresh and new I love it when it rains in the mountains. Anyway McKinley turned four months on Memorial Monday so she had her first four-wheeler ride. Daniel took her (I'm like a fish to water with a snowmobile but for some reason 4-wheelers make me a bit nervous) and we put the sling on him and put her in. She rode with her hand out feeling the wind the entire time. Also as is McKinley she rode with her tongue out almost the entire time tasting the different air and this new sensation. The kids enjoyed it and spent most of their time exploring and riding 4-wheelers or fishing. When we got home Monday night they were beat! Which was great because then Daniel and I got a decent night's sleep.



Then that following Thursday Madison graduated from preschool. It was a great day. They had the cutest program and I absolutely loved the scrapbook to see how much she had learned and how mush she had grown this past year! And pretty soon (July 20) she will be starting kindergarten. I'm sad...she's excited and nervous, she says she will miss her best friend, Kaelyn from preschool. They have gone to preschool together for the past 2 years and now Madison will go to Lincoln and Kaelyn will go to Adams. Madison is so worried about not having friends in kindergarten, because all her friends in the neighborhood and ward started school last year, but she's cute and outgoing and I'm sure she will have no problem making friends with about everybody in her class.


McKinley also had her 4 month check up she now weighs 13lbs 6oz and is 24 1/4 inches long. She is doing great other than when her mother eats dairy products then she's cranky for the next couple of days. She's rolling over front to back and back to front and wants to sit up so badly and be big. She tries to sit up in her car seat and holds her head up until Carter slams it back and tells her "No Kinny! Down!"


The Saturday following Memorial Day we had a yard sale. They are huge productions I never realized the time and effort put into them until we had ours. It was a long hot day. And we are going to have another one at my grandma's in Clearfield on Saturday...so not looking forward to it, but hey every little bit of extra cash helps and it cleans out your house of un-used items.


Everyone in our family has been sick with the 24 hour flu that is going around and no it's not swine flu, but if I were you I would take any necessary precaution not to get it. It's nasty. However we now all have currently a clean bill of health.


Off that pleasant subject...we had book club at our house. In May we read the Candy Shop Wars by Brandon Mull (author of Fablehaven) It was a good book, I prefer Fablehaven, but it was a good read and easy. I'm all about easy with 3 kids it's hard to find time to read so it needs to be easier so I can get through it in the short quiet moments that I get. Although Carter and Madison did not attend book club they did get to enjoy the left over treats. (I got the treats out of the book and labeled them with their corresponding title and/or power from the book).


Saturday was fun because of Hill's Air Show. We didn't go on base (maybe another year) there were way too many people but we did climb on the roof and watch the thunderbirds fly. Carter was really nervous on the roof he kept telling us that he was done and wanted to get down. But when they saw the planes flying over they were so excited. It was so cool they flew right over us and everyone had to cover their ears they were so loud! so everyone got a little sun and had a pretty good day.



We also had a scare our little niece, (and cousin) had to go in for emergency surgery. She is 7months old. She had an incarcerated hernia, which ended up killing one of her ovaries. We were all a nervous wreck that day. Normally as a family we would all be at the hospital giving our support to Daniel's sister and husband as they went through this terrifying experience. However this was I would say more difficult because they now live in Texas (the only sibling on both sides of our family to move out of state) so this is our only niece/cousin and we couldn't be there. We had to sit and wait and cry until we got the phone call that she was out of surgery and then wait for the call to hear what the doctors had to say and it was awful. I can't even imagine what her parents were going through and to have to go through it alone. Our thought and prayers were with them. We (the kids and I) were at the zoo when we found out. I told the kids what had happened to Macy and Madison piped up and said we should say a prayer for Jesus to help her and make her better. So in the middle of the zoo we stopped and prayed for Macy. Everything went fine and she is doing wonderfully. I'm not saying that it's all because Madison prayed, but what a great example to me that we can stop and pray anywhere and what faith this little girl has. I feel so unworthy to be her mom.



On to an even sadder note this last week I attended a funeral for an 11 month old little girl. My dad's best friend growing up is Ralph Tasker. His daughter Teresa has Lupus. This has caused issues with her pregnancies. She has one little boy Hunter who is about 2. She then had a little girl last June who was born 3 months early weighing in at 1lb 7oz. They knew she was going to have a hard battle to fight to even survive. Well she pushed through and has had problems, physically and mentally but has fought and done well considering. Well Piper Raelynn Quist passed away Saturday night May 31. They thought they were through all the hard stuff, but I guess it was here time to go. (Her great grandma passed away a few months ago...I believe she came to get Piper so she wouldn't have to struggle anymore). It was a beautiful service. But I cried so much. It makes you realize how precious life is and to hold your children longer and not to scold them quite as often, to relish in the moment that you have them here with you. Teresa and her husband must be very strong because I know that I would not be able to handle something like what has happened to them and their little family. My thoughts and prayers are with them at this time. To lose anyone in your life makes you look inward and re-evaluate your priorities. I know my time is limited with my Grandmothers so I need to have my kids spend more time with them, learn from them and have them teach me all their laundry secrets.



What a way to end a blog post...major downer there....sorry guys! I was taking time to reflect, hope you will do the same. I love my kids and I love you guys here's a cyber love from me...hope it's not the last one I give or you receive but enjoy each love you give/get. :)






Monday, June 8, 2009

More pictures


Carter...Moo?
Okay so we are getting more pictures taken some time this week (hopefully). So more will come.




Just a bunch of pics








McKinley Moo








Madison Moo