First Day!

Yesterday couldn't come fast enough for Tater.....The big first day of school... he is going to
pre-school one more year since he has a late birthday, and he was stoked! When we went to back to school night last Wednesday, he asked everyday after.."mom is the next day I sleep though when I go to school!" He really, really likes it. He was up, dressed, and ready to roll, with his backpack on by 7:30 yesterday.....waiting to go to school at 9:30!!!! I can only hope that this much enthusiasm keeps going for at least a few more years!!! Go get'm Tate!!

Little Stinker!!!

Remember the cheesy grins that I just spoke of a few day ago???????? Well.......here it is again....but.....this time it has been enhanced with my liquid eyeliner!!!!!!!

Five & Fantastic!!!

Five years have passed since I got the one thing in the world I wanted most, I thought I might never get.....to be a mom!!!!! And not only a mom...but Tate's mom...how lucky am I!!!!! Tate turned 5 today, and we have had the best time. Celebrating with family and friends is the best way to spend your birthday.

Tate you are the smartest 5 year old I know, you are the best big brother Whit and Reese could ask for. , and dad and I are so proud and lucky to be your parents!!! We love you Tater!!!! Happy Birthday!!

This is a little of how we have celebrated the big day!




A new Leapster Explorer!!!!!



The best GG and Grandpa Ever!

He wanted a Dino party!!!! ( Surprise!!!) So we made the cake green his favorite color!!

The Fam!!!

Then we had Dr. Tate the Palaeontologist's Dinosaur Dig!!! The kids dug around and found all sorts of treasures!!

Then the Dino Stomp!!! Whit actually won..he was the last man standing with his balloon unpopped!!

Next we ate Dinosaur Sweets from a string.....NO HANDS ALLOWED!!!!

Finding Treasures!!

Hanging with his Dinosaur buddies!!!

He wanted to go to the Aquarium for his big day..

Hanging with his two best buddies, looking at all the fish!!

He picked Olive Garden for lunch!!! Noodles you know!!!

He got to top the day of with a treasure hunt from GG and Grandpa, !

The loot in the treasure box!!!!! Happy Happy Birthday Tater!!!! You ROCK!!!

First Big Money!

That is right......Tate won his first check at a rodeo......AND...... it was even in the dummy roping!!!! These kids rodeo's are great, just right for Tater. The peewee division is all done on the ground. I love to see the smile in his eyes, when good things happen. Taylor is so good with him too, because sometimes, it takes more patients than others, but Tate knows that Taylor has always got his back!!! So now the kid is a whopping $5.oo richer, and ready for the next one!!! GOOD JOB BUDDY!!!!!! You were amazing today!!!!!!





The big win..the envelope even had his name on it!! He thought that was alright!!



The prep...getting all fixed up with dad's help!!

The swing!!!!! BOOYA!!!!!!!! Tate we are sooooo proud of you...you can do whatever you set your mind too!!!

Twins!!

Holly Crap!!!!! These two little monsters are hilarious..... they are at the age of destruction!!!!!! There personalities are so funny, and naughty all at the same time. Tate was SO easy, he just didn't get into things, even still he is a worrier, and always thinks before he does something...(sometimes a little too much!) Not the babies....they just do it and hope for the best afterwards! And it is never in the same direction...they are always doing two naughty things far apart from each other. I think it is a system they have to buy each other a little time~! I said to Taylor the other night as we fell into bed with ours eyes already half asleep....."what doesn't kill you makes you stronger"!!! And just when they know that they have done something they shouldn't have... they give you one of these cheesy grins in these pictures!!!! How do they know already!!!






Having a snack after swim lessons....watching a little Last American Cowboy!!

Trouble....I mean BIG TROUBLE!!

This is Reese's I'm sorry grin!

This is Whit's!!!!

Karate!!

Tate is getting to be quite the Karate Kid!!! This class was one of the best things we have found yet!! HE LOVES IT!! He asks about every other morning if today is Karate!! And he is getting really good. The instructors are saints, they have patients like you can't believe!! It isn't a hard core karate class, they play a lot of defensive games, and have so much fun,it is a half hour of heaven for little boys to run wild, and use up ALOT of energy!!! Keep up the good work Tater..you rock!!!



Waiting patiently for class to start with his buddies!!!


He is getting higher and higher up on this wall!

This is the shark attack game, right up Tater's alley!

13.1 Again

And it isn't any easier the second time!!!! We had talked about doing another race, and then my cousin Tif enteredtheProvo River Trail 1/2.........so my Grandma Hopes disease kicked in where you always say " Yeah I'll do that"....and we did. I have to say it was A LOT more mentally and physically challenging than my first one...I did reach my goal of finishing in under 2 hours though...1:54:03 was my time. The very best part of the whole thing was seeing our families at the finish line....I hope you all know what the means to us!!! I have not been able to move for the last two days, I am SOOOOOOO sore, I've had to get down on all fours to even stand up!!!! BUT.........I have a feeling that my damn Grandma Hopes disease is going to strike again, and I'll be up for another!!! Awesome job Tif!!!!!! Thanks for the laughs, and the fun!!!!!!!

Summer Fun!!

Wow, I can't believe that July is over!! We have been out and about doing tons of fun summer stuff! So there are a lot of posts to catch up on everything since this is how I scrapbook!!

Junction was this weekend. It has turned into one of our favorite weekends of the summer. We were sad that we missed it last year, but the babies were ready this year to try it out for themselves! So we headed out and camped in the trailer for another weekend!!! It isn't a very very big place, but they know how to throw a party. There is an awesome rodeo, a 5K, a carnival....(With the BEST DEEP FRIED STRAWBERRIES I have ever tasted!!!!) Fun stuff for the kids, a skeet shoot, you name it!!! And some of the nicest people you'll ever find!!!! Thanks Dalton Family for always making us feel welcome. See you next year!!!!





RODEO RATS!!!! All they need is some dirt a few toys, and a rodeo burger, and they are in heaven!!!



Breakfast at Camp Taylor Ranch!!!

Me and my herd!!!

My kids are no rookies now at a parade, even the babies know how to score some candy!

Hangin with Dad!

Me and Mandy and Beth.... We all ran pretty good, it was my best time so far 24.55. I have to say this 5k is one of the hardest ones I've ran...I'm not sure if it is the mountain you have to climb from the start or the altitude, but it kicks my butt every year!!!

Granny's Club!!

Tate has wanted Tanner and Carson to sleep over so bad all summer, so our plan was to pitch the tent, and have boys club! But it down poured that night so we had to move things inside. They made a sign on Tate's chalk board that read BOYS CLUB....NO GIRLS!!!! ( except Reese of course, LOL)!!!! And we made some popcorn, and picked a movie.

Well they found these tents that Judy had given Tate and Carson the Christmas before she died, so they wanted to set them up, then they decide on watching the Little Rascals....which also came from Granny's house, and Carson was convinced that my gourmet popcorn.......( air popped with some of that Kettle Corn shake on stuff) was Granny's famous gooey popcorn recipe!!! HA HA......so they decided that it should be Granny's Club instead!!! I know her heart smiled!!!! All the kids sat down and watched her movie.... with her popcorn LOL, and the tents she gave them, laughing from the bottom of their toes!!!! Thanks Granny!

Hinckley Stinckley!!!

This is our annual trip to Hinckley to have fun with the family. And the coolest thing about it is, it is both of my families and everyone has so much fun together!!! It is the Brown..Jorgenson, Hopes, Bryant reunion of sorts!!!! We go to the rodeo...run in the fun run....hang out at the Res. with Jac, and Bob.....and if you even believe it Taylor...Yes I said Taylor...my hubby GOT IN THE WATER!!!!!!! Not only did he get in the water, he skied, for the 1st timer ever.....he jet skied for the 1st time ever.....AND he rode the tube for the 1st time....he is not a water person, so it is a big deal!!!! He had a blast......we all did... Thanks Jacquie and Bob for coming with the boat!!!! We look forward to it every year!!!!


If this doesn't doesn't look dangerous I don't know what will. It is Taylor, Wes, and Uncle Doug!!! I should have got a pic of the driver ( Jacquie) because she has NO MERCY!!!!! They didn't just fall of the tube, they skipped across the water the were going so fast!





Heather and Kenadee, soaking a little sun!

The gang.... playing a little water ball!!

Now this is Taylor's 1st jet ski ride, and look who is coaching him....Bodee, and Brady......I don't think he knew how worried he should have been!!!LOL!

Sydnee, Tate and Reese... Reese LOVED Sydnee, she was so cute with her and was her buddy the whole weekend!!!!

Making Mud Pies!!

Tate honestly never got out of the water the whole time we were there, the whole to days....he slept for 14 hours that night when we got home!!!

Hopes and the Kiddo's....I love it because she is not about to miss a party!!!

Beach Bums!!! ( At the Horse Trailer)!!!!LOL!

My Cowboy in Flip Flops!!!!!! Very stylish!!!!