Congrats Mr. & Mrs. Peach

Today we got to celebrate two dear friends get married! If you have been reading very long, you have probably seen several posts about Amber, Rob, Lilli, and Rob's girls. Rob was Mr.Pate's manager at Starbucks, and has been a great friend for several years. A couple of years ago, these love birds met and Rob immediately said we had to meet her. Mr.Pate and I loved Amber as soon as we met her, and knew they were a great match. So glad we got to see them commit to each other today! In fact, Mr.Pate performed the ceremony. How special.


















Griffin and Lilli are great friends and are too cute together!















Congrats guys, we love you and we're thrilled to be with you today!


- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Thoughts on a Working Mother

A friend shared a great blogpost titled "Grace for the Working Mother and her guilt". Read it, then head back here for some thoughts: http://lisajobaker.com/2013/01/grace-for-the-working-mother-and-her-guilt/

If you have been a reader of this little blog for the long haul (do I even have readers these days?) then you should know I struggled BIG TIME when I had to return to work after having Griffin. Pretty much, I struggled the whole first year and a half. Struggled, as in cried at least twice a day for months on end. I would be holding Griffin on the couch for his dream fed and just stare at him for over thirty minutes after because I couldn't bare to put him back in his room, I felt I hadn't seen him all day. It was a rough time.

The older he got, the easier working seemed to get. Maybe because he can interact more? I am finally at a much better place where I am actually enjoying work (well, as much as you can enjoy work) and home. But then when I start thinking that, the dadgum guilt rears its ugly head.

Just like she says in her post, this isn't a post about wether women should work or not. Another day another time.

But the phrases like "if you really wanted to stay home you would sacrifice" or "we just sacrifice a lot bc we believe mom Should be home, maybe you should look at your budget" just do not help. I like how in the post she just gives the mom grace and defends the fact that you may not know the circumstances. When you say things like the above, you make the mom (who is already feeling guilty and missing her kids) feel like she is just selfish and not willing to give up her lavish lifestyle.

So just two random reasons for me posting this. One, to link the article because I found it very encouraging. Two, please just think about the things you say to working moms before you say them (or all people for that paper!). Three,
to encourage those of tou working moms that it really does get easier eventually (although it took quite awhile for me). And four, don't assume you understand someone else's situation. Give grace and love.

Lots and lots of grace.


- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Happy Zoo Weekend

Last weekend, we decided to head up to Louisville to see family and visit the Zoo again. When we got to Louisville we found out Uncle Shelly was in town! Yay! So we ate dinner and goofed around Grandma's house with Uncle Shelly and Uncle D.

We got up a little late Saturday (a two year old I know decided sleeping from 2-4am was overrated), but then headed to the Zoo. This time we actually got to feed the Giraffe! Griffin loved it. The Lions didn't want to wake up for us, the monkeys were cute, the gorillas are huge, and once again we did not get to see any polar bears. All in all it was a wonderful day to visit.




















































Then we took a quick dip in a freezing pool!! Griffin still had fun though. Great weekend!








- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Summer Splashing

We are trying our hardest to milk every last drop of summer out before it passes us by, so after work today we headed to the pool with Gammy Becky! 

It was not the hottest day, or sunniest, but the water felt pretty good luckily. Griffin had a blast playing in the kid pool. He is getting braver and will walk about in the kiddie pool like he owns it. He also tried out their new slide, but I think it kids scared him. 

Thanks for taking us Gammy Becky! 

T

Almost 25 Months

We were goofing around in Griffins room today and he was holding our giraffe playmat. It made me think of all our "griffin is growing" pictures his first year and I decided we needed a 2 year one.

2 Weeks Old (the day he came home from hospital):


11 Months Old (because I can't find the 12 month ones):


Almost 25 months old:


Trying to wink:


And he decided he should show us his booty:


What a ham! And boy does he look way more "boyish" instead of babyish. It happens so fast!!

- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Happy Birthday Eli!

One of Griffin's BFF's turned 4 today, and we got to go party Superhero style! We decided to get Eli a Captain America costume to go with the theme and all, and then decided to get griffin a little superman outfit to wear also. How cute are these guys?!!








And on a side note, can you see those awesome posters in that top picture? Eli's dad made them, aren't they awesome?!!

Happy Birthday Eli, thanks for letting us join the celebration!






- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone