McKinley's 9-months and Family Pics

Well today we took McKinley in for her 9 month check up and she's an average cute little girl. She ways 18.25 lbs and is 27 1/2 inches long. She's growing and is a pleasant little girl unless you put her down, or is hungry. Let me explain... McKinley cries when you put her down but as soon as you pick her up she is quiet and completely content and sometimes (most times) is pleasant in your arms. When Carter was this age he would cry whether you were holding him or not. So since she's so good in your arms it's hard to put her down. When she's hungry she growls at you if you don't feed her fast enough...especially mash potatoes, you don't get to have a bite in between hers, you can only feed her. This is how pleasant she is... today while we were at the Dr.'s she didn't have to have any immunization shots however she is in the high risk group for flu so they suggested, recommended she get the flu shot...so we said definitely give our girl the shot! So the Dr comes in and checks her over, then he lets the nurse come in to do the dirty work. They lay her on the table and the nurse stabs her....I would be in tears, but all McKinley did was whimper a little sigh and THAT WAS IT! No sucking in and crying huge crocodile tears, no screaming or gnashing of teeth....just a little whimper and we went on with our day.

Also today is Rodney's birthday...so a happy birthday wish goes out to him, he turns 20 today so he will be no longer labeled as a teenager. However he doesn't get a birthday bash, party, cake or any well wishes. He's in basic training at Lakland Air Force Base. We all miss him but hope all is well there. It's been hard for our family to see him go, but he left very excited to be going on such a grand adventure. He's at basic for 8 weeks and then goes to Maryland for 15 weeks. I had a hard time seeing him go, he would take Madison swimming about once a week, and she loved it. That was one reason why it was so hard to see him go, that and it's always hard to see family leave. It was the same when Daniels sister and her little family left. I love our family and hope all of them know that...

Anyway enough emotion...here's some pic's we took before he left...

The whole family


Mom and Dad with their kids


The boys

All the boys


Just the girls


Mom and her girls

Mom and her boys...

The grandparents with their grandkids

Aaahhhh how tender...


my cute brood


McKinley not handling any more pictures...possessed baby...I love that Carter is huddled in the corner as if saying save me from Kiney...and Madison's expression is priceless...



Anyway enough for now, until the next post...

We WON!!!

Go Northridge! We won, it was a great game full of excitement, running, screaming and I'm not just talking about my kids...hey who am I kidding both Carter and Madison were out cold by the end of the first quarter. Carter did end up waking up during the last quarter but Madison as we speak (or type) is still out cold but at least now she's in her nice warm bed instead of an ice cold metal bleacher. Take notice that McKinley was not asleep (she did sleep through the third quarter but was awake for the excitement of the fourth) she bounced on my lap as she always does, I figure that it's her inner cheerleader, cheering on Austin, or maybe she bounces from all the excitement and being outside. Anyway...It was exciting, I got there late (I had a class to attend) and when I got there the score was 14-7 Northridge leading. There were some great plays, however there were some interceptions...tsk tsk. But we still ended up winning 49 to 21 however this game has a HUGE moment to one player in particular. Austin scored the last touchdown of the game which was his first touchdown for Northridge! We screamed, we yelled, we cheered, we cried...no wait there's no crying in football! We were ecstatic for #28 and I am glad we were there to see it, I wish we had video of it, maybe we can score some team footage from one of the coach's or maybe they don't have that in high school, I don't know these things, but I do know we are thrilled and excited for Austin! I just had to post this once we got home and the kids warmed up. We are all very fired up over this, Brian was practically giddy walking away from the car after dropping off an asleep Madison. Well goodnight all and one more for the road...
GO NORTHRIDGE!
..28...28...GOOOO TATE!!!

Northridge Football

Okay so Austin (Daniels brother) is playing on Northridge Varsity football team. We couldn't be more proud...well we had a lot to do with it :) anyway Daniel is all about supporting his brother which I completely agree with so we go to as many games as possible within our range and it nearly kills him when we're late and if we have to miss one...I mean for heavens sake he's only a sophomore and more than likely he will be on the team when he's a junior and a senior there will be plenty of more games to see. However we support the Tate team and can I say how proud I am of myself for making something for football to cheer on the team... and if I don't say so myself looks dang cute! Marla and Brian bought the 2 kids t-shirts that say Friday Knight Lights...well I thought McKinley was left out (not really...they just don't sell support the team onesies at the football games or I'm sure Grandma would have bought one) So I took it upon myself to have McKinley included. I made her a cheerleader. We had to search everywhere for a black onesie....hello can't anyone sell a plain black onesie? No of course not that would make this undertaking a whole lot easier. Finally I found one at quilted bear. I have some iron-on material that I can print the image from my computer, and got going. On the front of the onesie is the Northridge emblem, on the back it says TATE with a football with-in the words. I then made a tu-tu and a matching headband.
The front:


The back:

So the we have all enjoyed going to the football games...Madison usually ends up falling asleep, but hey that's Madison, McKinley usually falls asleep as well, but hey that's a babies life, and then there's Carter who absolutely loves it. So Last Friday (yes this post is a week late) was the homecoming game...so we all got dolled up in Northridge colors to cheer on the team who played against Roy High and we WON! 36-0 this is huge since it's been a while since we've won, but that's best left to the rantings of the parents of the players. Anyway we have a cheer for Austin... he is number 28 so we say..."28, 28, gooooo Tate!" Yes I know it's simple but the kids LoVe it, they sit and watch for Austin and have a blast here's our Tate team photo:


Tonight is the game against Clearfield and I have an inside tip actually it's from Clearfields coach that he had to suspend some of his starters...so he's pretty sure they are going to lose so Yeah another win for us...knock on wood. Don't want to jinx it. Well wish us luck against the Falcons tonight and I'll post tomorrow about our long week. Till tomorrow...

The toothless wonder.

Okay so it's been a really long time since I have taken the opportunity to post something on our blog. But something happened last night...but let me back up.

About 2 months ago we were having dinner with the Julanders. It was a proud and defining moment for the father of the house. He had attempted many times (without success) to grow corn suffecient for eating and grow enough to make it worth while. Well he had finally succeeded and we were celebrating the moment with dinner and enough corn to feed the whole family. We were all sitting around and enjoying our meal when Madison exclaimed loudly, "OUCH!!!" With great concern we looked over at her, mid-bite into her corn on the cob, she had stopped suddenly. "My tooth hurts!" At this point she was crying as though she had just taken one of Carter's well placed right hooks. I leaned over and examined her tooth and sure enough there one of her bottom teeth had shaken itself loose. Everybody told her that it was normal and that she would lose the tooth soon. Yet despite all attempts to soothe her, she was not convinced.


For the next few weeks we instructed her to continue wiggling her tooth and it would be ready to come out. Still Madison was not convinced, in fact she refused to wiggle the tooth at all. Well for those who don't remember (I sure had forgotten) a tooth that doesn't get wiggled doesn't make much progress with regards to coming out.

After several weeks more, the permanent tooth underneath had finally lost it's patience and the tooth finally started to make some progress. She could almost turn the tooth completley on its side. I finally convinced Madison that she could let us try. Jennifer and I discussed, quietly, the many options for removing a tooth, some of which are kind of funny, but finally decided that the least invasive and concerning would be just a simple yank.

I pulled Madison into the bathroom and got some toilet paper to get a good grip. I looked into her worried eyes and told her I would be pulling on the count of three. 1....her hands gripped my legs as she prepared for the worst. 2...I pulled at the same time she took a deep breath to gather her strength and courage for the next number. She looked at me as if she had just been clubbed, but the look of shock and even outrage quickly turned to amazement as her toungue identified the gaping hole that was now there in place of a tooth. She asked, "Is it out?" As I turned over my hand to reveal the precious tooth, her grin came in earnest. She rushed out quickly to share the news with Mom, who was just as excited as her. After a little bleeding the ordeal of pulling a tooth was all over however the ordeal of losing a tooth was about to begin.

Madison shared her newest treasure with her brother, who later came and asked me, 'I want to try!' We were already getting ready to go and visit Tallest Grandpa and we instructed the kids to jump in the car. By the time I finished my request Madison was strapped in and honking the horn for us to get going. We started driving away and Madison called Grandma Tate who is visiting Megan in Texas, she told Grandma, Kaitlin, Megan and Greg and probably would have told Macy if she had thought about it. We instructed Madison that when we got to Grandpa's that she shouldn't tell him, just give him a big smile and see if he notices. Well we got there...she rushed in jumped into Grandpa's arms and smiled as big as I have ever seen...right in his face. Amazingly, he noticed...though i am not sure how. We spent about 10 minutes at Grandpa's house and she was ready to go and show the other set. We called B on the way and told her, and called Rollan and Sam so they were aware.

At Grandma and Grandpa Julander's there was even less restraint. She walked through the door and announced to all present...I LOST A TOOTH! Rodney was the next to get a call and then the night was over. She was excited to get a visit from the tooth fairy...so excited that when she woke up at 1 AM she felt it necessary to wake up mom and dad and let us know.

Jennifer staged a visit from the fairy by sprinkling glitter on Madison's bed and even put some on her lips as if the fairy had checked her mouth to verify facts. Below are some pictures of her and the missing tooth.