Neighborhood Halloween Party

Our neighborhood has an annual Halloween party each year at Ski Shores and this year mommy was the chair of the event. We had lots of pizza, pinatas, costume contests and hayrides up and down Manana Street to trick or treat. Eden was in town and joined us along with Miller and Emmylou. It was a great turn out and lots of fun.

The costume contest - I won 2nd place!
Checking out our stash

Always a fun look

an even better look

Happy Halloween!

Carving Pumpkins

An always fun annual (and messy) tradition with daddy.

Run for the Water 2010

Mommy's company (Keller Williams Realty) sponsors the 'Run for the Water' event each year and last year I ran the 1k. For each person who registered, it provides a person in Burundi water for LIFE! Mommy ran it with me but this year, Miss Becca and Miss Jen convinced her to run the 5k. Now, keep in mind mommy is out of shape and has never run a mile, much less a 5k. But, she agreed way back when and now she was committed. She actually did much better than she thought she would and was especially glad she didn't come in last! Afterwards, we ran the Kids 1k with Charlie and Emmylou. Miss Connie, the Kings, and the Andersons were there too - and we thank you for your support and participation!

Do you see me? I'm running to the finish line!

We did it!

Charlie & Kate's Halloween Party

It's the weekend of parties and to kick things off, we headed over to Charlie and Kate's for a little Halloween Bash. We had a spooky dinner followed by bobbing for apples and WAY too much sugar. Get used to it, Mom. That's what this weekend is all about and thanks for a super fun party!

Tate and Kate er I mean Minnie and Dorothy

Finally! A picture of the mommies together.

Halloween Parade

Our Halloween parade was today and we got to dress in our costumes and 'perform' for our parents. It was so much fun and I kept telling mommy that I didn't think anyone recognized me because I was in camo. I wish I could dress up all of the time!! Tate is really Minnie Mouse for Halloween but wanted to be a pumpkin today for school. Afterwards, we had a pizza party to celebrate.

The Green Army Man from "Toy Story" and Belle from "Beauty and the Beast"
Mommy's little pumpkin

Tripp's Pizza Party

Tate's Halloween Party

Kid's Cook

We had some time to kill before soccer practice so we went to Kid's Cook to make a tasty treat. Kid's Cook is a cool little cooking store for kids and they also have a sweet treat or healthy treat each week that you can make. When we got there, we first had to decorate our aprons before decorating our sweet treat. We made jack-o-lantern ice cream sandwiches. Yum!

Perfectly added frosting
Tate ate most of the chocolate chips but some made it on the cookie

Delicious?

Yes, delicious!

Happy Birthday, Ellie!

Ellie had her 5th birthday at the oh so fun and popular Kiddie Acres. She LOVES Star Wars and so her mommy made sure she had a Star Wars cake. How cool is that? We had a fun time helping her celebrate while riding rides and riding ponies. Happy Birthday to our sweet friend.

Sammy's House

Gaby's parents are involved in an organization here in Austin called Sammy's House and mommy and daddy went to their annual costume ball fundraiser with some Aggie friends. Sammy’s House is a non-profit organization that provides services for children who are medically fragile and/or developmentally delayed. Miss Angie was on the fundraising committee and Mr. Byron's practice was one of the main sponsors. It was a fantastic event - complete with a Mexican buffet, costume contest, silent and live auctions (which mommy LOVES) and one of the best 80's bands around. They had a really good time supporting a really good cause. Nice work, Holts!

Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

All of the 4 year olds at my school had a fun treat today - we got to go to the Pumpkin Patch for a field trip! When we were there, we played in the pumpkins for a bit before having our snack and hearing Miss Jodi read a Halloween story for us all. After the story, we had a scavenger hunt and had to find the ghosts and bats hiding in the pumpkins! Before we left, we each picked out our very own pumpkin to take home with us. It was a great day and so much fun in the pumpkin patch.

I present to you the Blue Room 2010 - 2011
With my best buddy

Mom, can I bring this one home?

Success! I found a hiding ghost.

Three Little Pigs

Today we put on a play especially for our parents. It was the "Three Little Pigs" and we all worked together on the props and our lines. Because there are 12 of us in class and we all needed to take turns, we acted out the play 3 different times with 3 different groups of characters. In the first play, I was the Big Bad Wolf and then later on, I got to play the pig who built the house of bricks. We did a great job and our parents were so proud of us!

Little Pigs, Little Pigs, Let me come in!

Waiting for 'Action'

I'm the little pig who made his house of bricks

Singing "we're not afraid of the big bad wolf"

Letter to Tate

Baby Girl,

We made it! There were times when I wondered if this day would come but it has and we're not too bad off. It's hard to believe how 2 years has flown by and how many amazing memories we've created with you. Each of us would have a void without you in our lives - you add more laughs (and tears) than I could have ever imagined.

You've definitely experienced a vocabulary explosion in the last few weeks. You talk all of the time - even when you climb in our bed (way too early I might add) and just talk to yourself . Cute for sure but I'd appreciate it if you could wait until at least the sun is peaking up.....even just a little bit. Singing is a favorite too and you love singing "ABCs" and "Jesus Loves Me". Most recently, you've been singing the "Now it's time, to light the chapel candle" song from school and "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord". What sweetness that is! In fact, whenever you have school and we walk up the stairs to your class, you see the big stain glass picture of Jesus and say "Good morning, Jesus" and then sing "Jesus loves me" all the way to your classroom. I often hear, 'Bubba be nice' or 'no like that' or 'me too me too'. The latest thing is when I ask if we need to change your diaper and you tell me 'No. Miss Marcie change me'. Glad to know your teacher changes you but baby, you only have school 2 mornings a week. There is a lot of time in between those 2 days and a lot of changings that need to happen. Potty training is going - well, it's going. You get it and 'Elmo's Potty Time' is your favorite. I think we've had it from Netflix for the past 3 months and we may need to hold on to it for the next few months to come. It seems to work - when convenient for you. It'll happen - just on your terms and not mine - which makes me a little crazy. Mommy is trying to let go of the control!

You love your friends at school and have recently named your baby doll, "Baby Alice" after your friend in class. You also have one named "Baby Lola" after Miller's Great Dane, Lola. Whenever we take Bubba to school and it's not your school day, it's always a bit of a melt down and you tell me, 'my school too'. You get over it quickly though because you either get to play with Miss Connie or we have fun playdates with Miller.

You're fearless. You climb, you jump, you do things that most little girls (or little boys) shouldn't/wouldn't do, for that matter. You have more cuts and scrapes and bruises than Tripp has had in his 4 1/2 years combined and when you fall, it doesn't phase you one bit. Even after pretty big tumbles, you just get up and brush off your hands and away you go. Your little feet don't quite keep up with the rest of you yet but that doesn't slow you down. I just hope CPS doesn't start calling me - at least I have plenty of witnesses to testify to how ungraceful you really are.

Eating is still a struggle. Not like most, I'm sure, but it's frustrating for me since my experience was a little goat named Tripp who ate anything and everything. Still no eggs - unless I make an omelet with lots of ham and cheese (and even then it's questionable) - and no chicken. You won't even eat chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A or ones unnaturally made into fun shapes like dinosaurs or Mickey Mouse. If I hide meat in a casserole, that sometimes does the trick but even then, you're on to me most meals. You love noodles, cheese, bread and fruits. Basically you live on carbs. Spinach and peas are a no go along with a number of other vegetables. I always get the look and the head shake followed by 'No like it'. It might be time to pull out the 'Sneaky Chef' book I never had to use on your brother.

Sleeping is another issue that I didn't have to deal with before. You just don't want to sleep and you're a lot like daddy in this situation. Daddy can function on little sleep and is very much a nightowl. Like daddy like daughter, I suppose. Naptime and Bedtime results in no less than 10 trips down the stairs or around the house. I've threatened, pleaded, bribed and tried to ignore. Nothings seems to work. Often times I find you asleep in the hall in front of our bedroom door on the hardwood floors. Miss Kristin said marshmallows always worked for her girls. Ok - let's try it.

"Tate - if you stay in your bed, you can have 3 little marshmallows in the morning. Ok?"

"Ok, mommy".

Next morning. "Tate, you don't get marshmallows because you kept getting out of your bed but Bubba didn't get out of bed so he gets your marshmallows".

"Ok" as she watches Bubba eat her marshmallows and could care less.

Hmmmm. Plan B, C, D, E and F.........

Tatie, you're a sweet little soul and you love your mommy, daddy and brother. We can't get enough of you and even though you consistently provide challenges, you always make us laugh and warm our hearts. I love hearing your little voice and love when you say 'mama'. I know you'll grow faster than we can imagine but in the meantime, I'm going to cherish my little 2 year old and thank God for my precious daughter.

I love you, my big girl.

Mommy

Austin Pets Alive!

Today Miller and I took all of the collected donations from our birthday party to Austin Pets Alive! We only got to see the kitties but we had a great time and enjoyed seeing the new APA! space. We showed the kitties many of the new toys we brought them and I think they're really excited. Even though we're little, we can still make a big difference!

Taking our favorite 'chickens' into APA!
Hi Meow Meow - do you want to see your new water bowl?

No silly Tate! He wants the chicken!

Too cute for words