Nice kicks kid!

The big obsession in our home lately has been trying on big people shoes.  My shoes, Daddy's shoes, Nana's, Grandmas's, tennies, clogs, boots, slippers. . . this kid doesn't discriminate.  Please see sample below.  This week following Christmas has been messy and busy at our home, so we're not taking pictures, posting pictures and barely getting anything else done either.  Maybe 2012 will bring me more ambition and energy. 

(Sorry you look like a rag muffin in this pic, Tate)

Pinterest

I have found the joy of Pinterest, which has distracted me greatly from blog world. So sorry, I will work on getting some Christmas pics posted very soon. Meanwhile... Go to www.pinterest.com but not right before bedtime, because then you'll find yourself up til midnight and grouchy in the am, like this girl will be tomorrow. Sorry to my coworkers and family.

Wordless Wednesday

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Chad and Brittni.  The two love birds got engaged Friday night, the 16th, and we couldn't be more excited.  Aaron and I were aware he'd purchased the ring and knew it would be happening soon, but we were so excited to get the phone call Friday night from them.  Chad surprised her after work with Christmas lights decorating their patio and a sparkly ring.  Well done :) 

Congrats to the newly engaged, can't wait for the big day.

Happy Birthday to My Hubs

      Today, December 14th, my main squeeze celebrates his birthday, whether he likes it or not.  As a gift to him, I will not post any pictures of him.  I'll just say this. 

     

Happy Birthday Aaron-

    Thank you for all you do for our family.  You're a great husband, father and provider for our family of three.  I may not say it often enough, but I appreciate all the work you do day after day.  I am so thankful Tate has a loving father he adores and I love that you two have your "morning time" everyday before going to daycare.  Thank you for those days you're home and shift into sonic mode to do all the things on the list I hate to do.  Thank you for being you, for giving me a son, for providing for us and for always being "fresh" :)  I love you.  And so does Tate.

Hope all your birthday wishes come true old man :) 



Christmas shopping

I've taken Tate shopping a few times in his life, he does pretty well in the stroller for the first hour or so. . .

and then he escapes and all you see is a blur (as seen above:).  This past weekend Tate went with me to Jordan Creek to meet some of my girlfriends.  While I was returning an item, I look down to see this child face down in his stroller, wiggling his way out of the bottom.  Little booger!  One of my gals put this hat on Tate, the poof on the top of the hat was almost as big as his head, but he really loved wearing it.

O' Christmas Tree

 Here's our family Christmas tree on cut-down day, which also happened to be the coldest day of the fall/winter so far, at least in my opinion.  The angle of this picture makes the tree look really short, but my guess, it's at least 7 ft tall.  Here's the before pic. . .

And later I'll give you an after shot...

Chewy

Meet Chewy.  Chewy is my brother's girlfriend's dog and the two of them have a pretty good time together.  Especially when Chewy is on a leash so he can't escape Tate's grasp.  Tate's gotten pretty good at the "open mouth" baby kiss, and as you can see below, he's sharing a baby kiss with Chewy.

Lately, Tate's been very into stacking, sorting and messy eating.  I think that I have at least 100 photos of him with food all over his face.  Maybe because it happens often or maybe because he's sitting still and easy to capture pics.



Carefully. . .

Mac n' cheese

Concentrating

And lasagna



     Seems like we've had a busy week around our home, but really if you asked me all that we got done, it doesn't seem to add up to much.  Thanksgiving with our families, birthday celebration for my brother and a little midnight black Friday shopping. 
    Since last time we talked, we had the Handeland Thanksgiving on Thursday in Story City at my grandparent's home to give thanks, we were there a little over an hour before it was time for Tate's nap, so I toted him home for a nap, then swapped places with Aaron so I could have a little extended family time.
    We also celebrated my brother, Chad, turning 25 on the 24th at our house that evening with cake and Black Friday shopping.  Chad and I went to Best Buy and stood in line for an hour and 45 minutes to get free smart phones and a few other great deals.  It was amazing to see how many people were there, some had been in line since early Thanksgiving morning.  I could have shopped all night, but sadly had to work the next morning at 6:45, so we headed home by 2am. 
     Friday was a work day for me, so Aaron and Tate were on their own to cheer on the Hawkeyes. . . unfortunately, it was all in vain.  Saturday was a relaxing day at home, then Aaron and I went out with the adults for an extension of Chad's birthday.
    Sunday we headed up to Iowa Falls for the Stensland Thanksgiving.  Tate hasn't become a big turkey fan yet, but he ate the heck out of broccoli rice casserole and corn.  We had a good time with family, Papa Mike kept Tate busy for most of the afternoon up in the loft with the big kids.  Then we took off for Roland to get a Christmas tree.  Tate really wasn't too interested in the tree picking, but more so with the family that had brought their puppy along, but I snapped a quick photo in front of the tree and got the heck out of the wind.
    So, that's what we've been up to lately. . . hopefully things will slow down a bit before Christmas so I can get updated with pictures.

Benson & Sadie



Sit please. . .

       A few more shots from putting up snow fence with Tate and the dogs.  Tate got a lot of wet kisses from Benson, and Sadie would love to do the same, but she's too short and chubby to get up that high.  Everytime Benson got a smooch, Tate would just smile and giggle.
 

and smooch!

That makes things easier

And Sadie...just checking in

Helping on the Farm

Saturday Aaron went to my parents to help put up snow fence after the Hawkeye win, and of course we tagged along to "help".  Tate and I were as much help as the Benson & Sadie (the dogs).  And it was freakin' cold out there, but we layered up and went out for a few minutes.  Anytime this child can get outside, he's happy, even though it was freezing outside, he still wanted to be out there in the wind.  This kid's already tougher than his Mom.  

He liked being in the loader

What a nice backdrop

Daddy & Tate

Benson had just given Tate a "kiss" but I was too slow

Wordless Wednesday

one...

two...

three!

Lately. . .

Saturday morning we tried on these overalls to see if they still fit, sadly they were a bit snug and short.  But Tate played in them for awhile.  And his latest favorite thing to do is to get himself into the bumbo and just hang out.

Jumping

     Grandma Lori taught Tate how to "jump" a few weeks ago.  We don't get off the ground, more so just an up/down motion, but Tate's always very proud of himself and claps for himself.

The jump . . .

. . . and the result sometimes.

Wordless Wednesday



Sink bath with Great Grandma Kathy



Speaking of tractors

      We celebrated some fall birthdays weekend before last with the Handeland's up in Williams.  We had a good time spending the evening with family, watching the puppies outside and greeting the trick or treaters that came to the house.  Great Grandpa and Grandma got Tate his first big kid tractor with a blade!  Cousin Zach helped him open it and get it out of the box, which was a task!  And cousin Levi helped put the blade on so he can move snow and blocks. :)
      The only issue we had was, one of the halloween kids came into the house to show off his costume: an all black robe and mask with glowing red eyes.  Tate would have been freaked out regardless, but the big bawl fest occurred when the robed child didn't see Tate standing in the doorway and bumped him over.  Poor child had a red eyed robed monster looming over him and he's too petrified to move that he gets bowled over.  Ay-yi-yi!!  A few tears, but all was better with some hugs and sucks from the paci.

Thanks for the help Zach!

The Grandma's watching in the background

Levi working on the blade, thanks!



Working on the engine



Farming with Chad

        A couple weekends ago Chad came back to help with harvest, so Tate and I took the opportunity to go ride in the tractor and combine with Chad and Great Grandpa Loren.  Tate liked to drive, watch the corn go into the combine and eat oatmeal cream pies from Great Grandpa.  Tate- my dear- you are one lucky kid!    

Chad & Tate farming

This kid loves tractors

Helping Great Grandpa Loren drive the combine



Chad, Tate & Grandpa



Thanks for the hat Klemme!

Issues. . .

    I'm not sure what's wrong with my brain this week, but obviously since I posted pics of "Wordless Wednesday" on a Thursday, a wire has come loose.  I've also encountered a few other issues this week.  I have a big scratch down the middle of my nose- no idea how it got there.  I had to ask a co-worker 6 or 7 times what instrument set we were looking for within a 10 minute time frame, for some reason I could not keep the name, Spectrum, in my head.  And then tonight, this happened...

 





May our tablespoon rest in peace, as it was killed tonight by the garbage disposal.  Do you like the countertop shot?  I wish our disposal would kill it too!

And here a few more shots of my cowboy and some friends at daycare.



  

Noah, Tristan, Lauren, Tate and Isabelle



Cute buns in some cute denim!





Wordless Wednesday

My Halloween Cowboy

Fall Fun with Aunt Cami

       Last Friday Aunt Cami was home for the weekend.  She raked up a pile of leaves for Tate to "jump" in with some assistance.  He doesn't really understand the whole concept of jumping and playing in the leaves this year, but he still enjoyed crunching the leaves and "flying" through the pile.