Happy Thanksgiving!

Nonee never has been able to keep her hands of sweet chubby babies


everyone enjoying the music and puppet show for the kids


Ben was a doll to sit down on the floor and watch puppets with all the little kids....love that boy!


the happy host and hostess

Abigail attempting to play the instrument






Amy and mom did a great job making all the tables just beautiful

Love it, the "kids table"


love this picture!!







Nonee using the only tool she had with in reach to play with the baby.....her walker, it was a riot and Chloe loved it

right on cue Chloe brought out her new thanksgiving book for me to read that week!

buddy and neighbor Amelia

These girls swarming Chloe...again!





Had a wonderful turkey season this year. We kicked off the holidays in true preschool sweet style. Abigail's program was adorable. They donned Indian head dress and pilgram hats at sang out in style. Chloe and I really enjoyed watching the Bit do her thing w/ all her buddies. One thing I have to write about that was so special, something Abigail did that I've never heard before. After we all snack after these preschool programs the kids always head out into the gym and run like wild fire all over the room as the sugar kicks in. Chloe and I have sat and watched this ritual countless times. Well the little Muffin was just itching to get in on the action this time. So I let her weeble wobble out into the middle of the room to participate. Those kids know Chloe and so they swarmed to her wanting to play with her. Abigail not having a jealous bone in her body got all proud and protective and kept announcing over and over, " she's my sister guys...be careful with her". She just hovered over her as Chloe tripped and giggled her way through the mass. She never left her side while I watched on proudly at the two of them. I've never heard Abigail take such a protective vibe with her sister. She could have lost interest and taken off to play with the other kids in the room but she never did. She stayed close and made sure everyone not only was careful of Chloe but knew that it was HER baby sister they were messing with.
For Thanksgiving day we headed to Amy and Shannons for the day. We struggled w/ some scary news that kind of bummed us out and threatened to ruin our day. We discovered early Thanksgiving morning that we neglected to obtain a copy of Chloe's birth certificate for our upcoming Disney trip and it being a holiday weekend every government agency was closed including Disney. We could do absolutely nothing to help our dilemma. We sucked up our pouty lips and went to celebrate anyway not knowing if we were going to have to cancel our trip in 2 days and loose money. :( If anyone can help you forget your woes the Tates can do it. We stuffed our faces with pumpkin muffins and mashed potatoes, we listened to a concert by Shannon's mom and aunts and laughed ourselves silly at the kids all dancing to the polka music! My best memory of the day was seeing my sweet grandmother Nonee enjoying herself so much and watching all those kids. At one point she had Chloe belly laughing cause she kept taunting her with her walker to make her laugh. For a day I think she forgot she was almost 90 yrs old. God is so good to give us such wonderful memories with our family. I love the memories and the pictures of my kids surrounded my so many generations of love. What a blessing! It was a crazy wonderful day.

one warm November!

p
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Today I let Abigail brave my big camera.....it took a while to get it back. :)


"finish your apples dear then you can get up and play"







We are thoroughly enjoying these warm days. Finally there is an absence of mosquitoes in the back yard and me and my warm little girls are living it up in the autumn goodness. God's creation is just alive and beautiful with the color palate of the season. I don't even mind (yet) that my lawn is covered in the fallen leaves because it's just so pretty. The girls are getting closer and closer in how they play together. Chloe is holding her own in keeping up with Abigail as best she can. They love that red car and fit in it quite nicely with those tiny little bottoms. They communicate in a precious language that doesn't require any words yet they seem to understand each other so wonderfully. It's adorable really. Although I think we can say officially that Chloe's 3rd word is an adorable version of Abigail. It comes out "AhhBuh gah" but we've all heard it and she's done it multiple times. So sweet!
Brian and I are doing good. We treasure more then ever the 'after bedtime' hours. They are our strength and renewal as a couple. Last night we giggled in amazement that we were up until 11pm. It was a praised accomplishment for the pass out at 8 pm kind of people we so often are. It was such a nice evening cuddled up with the windows open and watching Parenthood, my favorite show, on TV. It's the closest thing to dating that we get to do these days. But the time together is both a treasure and blessing in this busy time in our life. Wouldn't take anything for it, and we both agree on that!!!
I'm LOVING now that I'm only working 1 day a week. Time with these girls is fleeting and precious and I am so grateful for a God who's providing a way for me to spend so much time with them and a wonderful husband who sees the importance of it too. Each day is a blessing as they bring me new challenges. Abigail is all over me with her sweet clingyness. She begs and squeals with a game of chase before dinner but then jumps and cries when it gets to loud and then it scares her into tears. I love the complexity of her nature. She follows me from room to room, with out fail wanting to talk. The conversation often doesn't reach depths more then "mommy, are their fairies in our city?" but that's ok, the times she does show her maturity are when she asks me again about Heaven. Her mind is a sponge and so thirsty for information. It's a big responsibility that she's looking to me and Brian right now to fill her. Now little miss Chloe is....well look out cause the family motto is that it takes 0.6 seconds for her to find and get knee deep into trouble! The scary thing is she's sooooo cute at it I am going to have to pray for strength to discipline her despite those big baby blues looking at me. I'm sure I'll find it in me when she starts to get into more then my magazines, Abigail's toys and the electrical sockets. We took her today to get her 1 yr portraits done. She was a good sport. A little fearful for the camera at times. She doesn't seem to have the fearless love of attention that her sister does. Noises, newness and not being held are not a good combo for Chloe. But a good dose of sissy giggles got some good sweet smiles out of her for the occasion. We finished with a Daddy date at CiCi's Pizza for lunch. We even made it home with out anyone falling asleep so no naps ruined! It took windows down and loudly singing head shoulders knees and toes but we made it and all 3 napped when we got home. It was a great random Thursday as a family. Again, so thankful for the good times. The ups that God gives me. I'm both humbled and grateful when He's so good to me. Our life has not been devoid of the valleys but I'm thankful for the times He places us on the mountain tops. I praise His wonderful name!!