Go Wolverines!

I am so excited because we got our new video camera in on Friday.  It is a tiny little thing (which I found out today makes it a little tricky to keep from getting shaky), and it's waterproof.  As in, you can take it completely underwater which is so cool.  It was a pretty inexpensive camera, especially compared to the one we bought when Addison was born five years ago that was ruined with water damage filming something for the church not long after we got it.  I've wanted another one ever since then and am so relieved and glad I will never have to miss another important event again!  And this one records to a memory card so it's super easy to just throw on the computer.  So thanks to the camera you are now about to witness Addison hitting the ball today at the baseball game.  Now that I've said that......

***DISCLAIMER***  This footage was shot by an overly excited baseball mother who, despite knowing she would cringe hearing herself on camera and tried to hold back, got caught in the moment and forgot she was holding a camera ( = the screen all of a sudden jumps up and down and really annoying and twangy cheering).  And it was the first time trying to use it.  And it was from a bad angle.  So if you get sea sick you might not want to watch this clip.  But if you want to see a cute kid hit the baseball and our personal favorite, give a little acknowledgement to the camera when he's on base, then watch on...  What I'm trying to say is the footage is not that great :)

I was getting on to Addison at the beginning of the clip because he was more concerned about me filming him than watching the ball :)  So we've had a couple of weeks of games under our belt now.  The Wolverines are currently undefeated.  Addison has done well so far.  He got his first hit of the season on the first pitch of the first at bat.  That game he went 1-2, and today he got to bat three times and went 2-3.   Fun times. 

Well, there's more to discuss than just Wolverine baseball, but I'll have to come back for more later.   It's actually the day after I started this post because I had some issues uploading the video, so it's time to get some sleep in preparation for the new week ahead.  Peace out from the Pate house. 

Fresh off the Pate press...

Words of the Wise:

Addison: (spelling God), G-O-D...  I just wonder why God named Himself that.  He's so big and so special.  (implying that there should be a bigger and more complex name for God)

Yesterday was one of those you-need-these-days-every-once-in-a-while kind of days.  Kids getting along.  Good times with clients at the gym.  Domestication (cleaning).  Baseball practice cancelled due to weather.  Last client canceling leaving the rest of the day and evening open.  Nap. Watching bluejays build a nest out the kitchen window. Favorite home cooked meal. Got paid. Chris coming home with a dozen roses for no special reason.  And Cadence going an entire day in panties with no accident.  Some will realize the magnitude of that statement.  For as many days as I feel completely overwhelmed and a little bit like not-so-sure-I-can-do-all-of-this, it is such a tremendous gift to have a day where everything goes right, you get it all in and then some, and you feel a little superwoman-ish.  

To expound a little on the Cadence situation, she saw some My Little Ponies panties at the store and begged for them.  She has never done that before, and I'm up for anything concerning this area, so we bought them hoping it would inspire her to completely join the world of the potty trained.  I made her a chart (which we've tried before unsuccessfully) that when she fills it up with stickers, I will buy her a new My Little Pony.  All of which has been tried before, but I'm just going to keep on trying things knowing that when she's ready she'll do it.  Actually I've never bribed with an ultimate prize.  Hoping the right (ha-guess it depends on your perspective!) motivation will keep her going this time.  So we were thrilled to have a dry day yesterday.  This morning she did have an accident while eating breakfast, but she's still doing pretty good other than that.  We'll see.  Lots of prayer, people.  Lots of prayer.

Addison has had two separate incidents this week of bursting into tears missing our dog, Jazz, who's been gone for almost two years.  Genuine, heart-hearting, flowing tears.  This is so strange because he's rarely spoken of him, and he was pretty young when he disappeared.  And he wasn't watching shows with dogs or anything related.  Seemed completely unsolicited.  His little spirit is so tender. Just breaks my heart, considering I would also like to have another dog.  Anyone like to start the "Get the Pates a Dog" foundation?  Actually, we can't have a dog until we own this house unless we convince the owner otherwise.  Maybe we can change his mind!  

We have our first baseball game tomorrow.  Go Wolverines!  Pictures to follow, I'm sure :)  Signing off for now...

Easter Snazziness

Well, got the kids all dressed up and headed out for a photo shoot yesterday, sinus infection and all.  I certainly had better plans for our glorious weekend than being sick!  But I got some good drugs and am already feeling better- gotta be on my game for Sunday.  Anyway, our internet is really giving us a headache right now, so I might not get all of the pics uploaded today to Shutterfly, but here's a little teaser.  

Don't let all of the cuteness and sweetness deceive you- it was like pulling teeth to just get the 20 something that were decent out of over a 100 I took.  Everytime we take pictures of the kids it seems that Chris and I leave worn out and angry!  Cadence actually likes taking pictures, but the problem is she just yells "cheeeeeeeese" and doesn't actually smile or look at the camera.  We actually found ourselves shouting at the kids "Stop saying cheese!!"  I don't think Addison is such a fan of taking pictures, and he was giving us a little attitude. I think when we look back one day on the pictures of the kids when they were younger, I will be so glad to have those precious little faces captured, but I will also laugh remembering how much work it was!   And I plan on letting them know just how hard they made it...

I'm sure there will be more fun times coming up for us, so we'll be back with more soon...

Some Catching Up

 Catching up in many ways this week.  Since the last post, life is back to normal, crazy busy life.  Went to Lubbock last weekend to see Annie and it was so much fun.  The only downer was that the friends we had arranged for Cadence to stay with during the show got sick, so Chris ended up staying with her while Mom, Addison, and myself went.  It worked out because she was sick, too.  Addison did really well.  He was all into it, and I took him down to the orchestra pit at intermission to let him see all the instruments which he enjoyed as well.  I was impressed but not that surprised that he sat fairly still and was very well behaved through the entire show.  Though he has his moments, he really is such a good boy. 

The next day we went to the Science Spectrum before we headed back home.  We all had a good time.  That's really a neat place.  I'm posting a few of the pics, but for the full viewing, go to the Shutterfly link where I posted all of them.  The highlights for the kids included the bubble exhibit and seeing some reptiles, fish, and other interesting creatures.  It's been fun now that the kids are getting a little older and we are starting to enjoy some things as a family.  We are going to attempt (finances and schedule willing) to take our first "family vacation" this summer to Sea World.   I can't wait to see the kids there- they will be blown away.  

The other catching up we're doing as a family is our bodies trying to catch up to feeling well.  All four of us are battling the "junk" and trying to stay on top of it.  I missed work on Tues. and Addison and Chris missed baseball and the four of us just sat on the couch and watched Madagascar 2, popcorn and all.  It was nice to just all be there and be together like that, even if we weren't feeling all that well.   Trying to gear up for Easter weekend and hoping it will be better by then. 

 The gym is closed tomorrow and Saturday, so we will actually all have a weekend to be a...... weekend!   Sleeping in and everything!  That hasn't happened in a really long time, so we're really looking forward to it.   Probably me the most :)   One of the eventful things from this week was our garage door completely cratering yesterday, which ended up rearranging our day.  The good news is that it got fixed today and the beauty of renting was that we don't pay for it!  And even better news is that the owner told us he wants to put in a new shower in our bathroom (which is really needed) and just kind of redo a lot of it!   But we get to pick it out.  Yessss!!!  So some of our leisurely weekend might include picking out new materials and colors.  Okay by me!   By the time we are able to buy it all of the work will be done for us!   

In random Pate children news, Addison has started some new curriculum for school and is doing really well in it.  These days if you ask him what he's going to be when he grows up it's a Pastor.  Sometimes he also thinks it would be really cool to be an astronaut though.  He begged and begged to go with Chris on Sunday evening to the college meeting.  He told Chris that he wanted to go help him make some money- pretty funny, huh.  Already feeling the manly burden of being the provider :)  But Chris explained that they were just praying and having praise and worship that night, and Addison was still insistent on going.  Chris said he ended up doing pretty well.  During worship, Addison leaned over to Chris and whispered in his ear, "Daddy, what if God and Jesus were actually here worshiping with us right now..."  He sort of understands the concept of God being present all of the time in knowing that He is in our heart.  Still trying to wrap his five year old mind around not seeing but believing....don't we all?

 Cadence is just being Cadence- she has been princess Cadence some of the week, putting on her costumes from head to toe and dancing around.  Last night at church someone gave her some star shaped sunglasses and she put them on telling everyone, "I'm famous.  I'm famous.  What's your name?" I have no idea where that came from except her own little Diva mind.  I joke to Chris that she's already demanding an entourage around her, because when she sits on the couch (or our bed or anywhere else) she just has to bring along the 20 friends that sleep in her bed with her.  I wish I was exaggerating, but I really think it's almost gotten to 20.  It's a little bit ridiculous.  But she knows when one is missing.   I need to get better about documenting more things they say, because they both daily say the funniest, most random things that crack us up.  

Probably will post more pics this weekend because I'm going to take Easter pics early like I did last year.  That was great on so many levels and takes out the stress of feeling like I have to do it on Sunday when it's never a good opportunity.  Plus I think it's supposed to be rainy on Sunday.  If we don't blow away in the West Texas wind and end up covered in dirt, I hope we'll end up with some good ones.  Until then....peace out from the Pate house!