CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, we did. Yes the fat man came to our house. And we were all jolly about it.

Christmas comes way too early for my bones...

but as you can see the kids were stoked to say the least

Woot woot! Kinney got some juice Every child got a pillow pet. Madison got a dolphin, Carter got a dog, and Kinney got a ladybug Checking out what we got

Carter was pretty excited, even though he doesn't do mornings either!

Yeah a baby! Kinney loves babies Check out her cool "Minnie" winter hat Carter got a tag, to play and read! So did Madison OH MY GOODNESS!!! *SCREAM!*

Yes, Santa brought Madison an "I-pod" (actually an mp3 player)

Can you tell she was a *little* bit excited Carter got a cool remote control monster truck and a skateboard I think he's pleased... Check out Kinney's "Minnie" baby....she loves Minnie and babies! Check out Madison's moves! Shake that thang! Oh yeah! Uh-huh! Boogie on down! I think Christmas was a huge success at our house! Thanks Santa!

Hope you had a merry Christmas as we did

Until the next post....

Temple Square

I think every Utah LDS family has a tradition of going to Temple Square to see the lights. This year we chose a good night. It wasn't very busy considering. And miracle of miracles it wasn't the coldest night of the year. Every other year it seems that we decide to go and it turns out to be the coldest night of the year and we freeze!

Madison wanted to take a picture of one of the nativities

Carter wanted to take a picture of the lights I love the bright red tree And here's the three in front of the Temple

I hope you enjoy your time at Temple Square, we did

Happy Holidays

Until the next post....

St. Nicholas

Every year on the first weekend in December St. Nicholas comes and visits our house if we've been good. I don't know how good we were, but he came anyway.

Hope your holidays are bright and merry this year

Until the fat man comes, oops I mean Santa...

BOO!

It's that time of year again. My favorite time. Except this year and the last few weeks has been so crazy and sad and insane that I didn't have time or money to get me a costume so I was kind of a Bah Hum Bug for Halloween.

I know, I know stop your beating heart that I wasn't excited about Halloween.

Oh well there's always next year.

This year we had a very scary witch, a creepy glowing skeleton and a cute dancing ladybug!

Madison was our witch..complete with fake purple eyelashes! Then our cute little ladybug, complete with matching tu-tu and wings

And then our scary Skeleton and it had to be the green skeleton because then he would glow in the dark...very important for my boy!

McKinley was terrified of Carter, that's why she's crying, yet she wasn't scared of Madison.

Hope you all have a

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Love the Tate Spooks!

Until the next spooktacular post...

Mother's Day

It's that day in May that we like to celebrate...

No not Cinco de Mayo, but who doesn't like a little part-ay?

It's Mother's Day!
A day we honour our mother's
Of course there is my own mother who has gone through A-LOT with her 2 sons and 3 daughters, and yes I did give my mother some (very little) grief while growing up...but I can say I am not the one who gave her the most grey hairs!

But I am very thankful for her in my life and the love and support she gives to me and my family. Now that I have my own growing brood of children I respect and love her even more for what she had to go through. (My troubles have only just begun...) I am glad to call her my friend. (I Love you MOM!)

Then there is my mother-in-law, who has given me her son and has accepted me into her family. I know I felt it took a while to become comfortable at their home and to feel like she accepted me, but those are my own feelings and misgivings. I am very grateful for her love and support and for her talent in raising a worthy priesthood holder in her son. Every day (Sunday especially) I feel like we grow closer and I'm glad to be a part of her home.

And certainly not to forget those FAB-ulous grandmothers...
Grandma Beck and her insatiable giggle and the way she can tickle Daniel into a fit of laughter! And how she gets frustrated when playing games. And cries over presents...which is so sweet!
and
Grandma B because she is ...how you say?...PERFECT! She is one who can fix anything and EVERYTHING! (don't believe me ask my kids...oh no it's torn...mom, we need to take this to "B" to fix) She always has a listening ear and at almost 90 still watches her great-grandkids and goes on excursions across the country and out. When I grow up I want to be like her!

Anyways after my tribute to the mothers in my life ...we gave for Mother's day a photo album to the kids grandma's (our mom's) it was full of pictures of them...of course! what else would it be full of?...(if left up to Daniel it would be the pictures that come in them already...tee-hee)

So here are a few pics (ha do I ever do a few???) of our Mother's Day Photo shoot:

Of course here's the 3 little angels

Carter and running, jumping and basically just being a boy!

100% BOY and one Grandma in particular just can't say no to that face!
playin' on the tracks
McKinley OBVIOUSLY wanted to get down and was so happy to be there!...the stink!
check out the tongue...don't know where she gets that (wink-wink)
Trouble with a capitol T!


That little lock of bangs kept falling into her eyes and face it drove me nuts! where was my hairspray?!

Mom! I want to get on the train like the big kids!...lift me up!
See now I'm a happy girl!

A flare for the dramatic
and of course Carter had to do it too

Then we went and played in my parents yard. McKinley LOVES this slide and wants to do it over and over and over and over...well you get the point. Even though in the pictures she looks like she's terrified, she's loving every minute of it!

The girls
Life with boys!
Of course we had to get one of their feet...this is especially for Marla :)
and this one is my FAVORITE, and Daniel has it as his wallpaper on his phone. So sweet...
and just as she's waving goodbye....until the next post....