Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Of course, we should (and hopefully are) thankful each day for how incredibly blessed we are, but I think it's nice to have a day to take a break from the normal routine to reflect and really remind yourself of what you're thankful for. As we have the last several years, we stayed in BG this year and celebrated with Mr.Pate's Mom, Brothers and Uncle Ed. One thing I am thankful for? That they are willing to drive to us! Not traveling on a holiday is such a lovely break!

Our holiday had a bit of a slow, tired start because a certain two year old decided to be awake from 11:30pm until 4am! Ahhh!!! We have no idea what that was about, but as normal, Griffin was a blast today so at least he is great during waking hours?! Haha!

We ended up with an extra turkey breast from some changed plans this year, so Mr.Pate smoked it for us, which was a first and was absolutely delicious! I also baked a turkey again this year and kinda burned the skin. Oops. But the meat ended up moist and pretty yummy. I did a brine again (did that for the first time last year) and I tell you people- it makes it so moist (or "wet" as Sheldon described it! Haha)!!!

After lunch, we ended up playing Hoopla and had a blast! Uncle Ed even played, which made it quite entertaining (rocking chair... Chair... Pu chair.... Oh punk rocker?!! Hahaha). Uncle Shelly, Mr.Pate, and Griffin played some football outside and we watched a Hallmark Christmas movie.

It's been a great day. I am thankful for so many things this year- my Savior and his unending grace towards me, my husband and son that make my heart burst with love, our amazing families, great friends, incredible jobs, abundant provision, freedom, and the list goes on and on.

Here's to remembering our grateful ness the rest of the year ;-)















- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Louisville Thanksgiving Trip

Last weekend we headed up to Louisville to begin the Thanksgiving festivities. The weather on the drive up was terribly rainy (thank you Mr.Pate for driving through the grossness!). But we made it!

Friday night we went to Cracker Barrel with Grandma, Uncle Shelly and Uncle Ed. Uncle Ed's birthday was just the day before, and mine was just a few days away, so we had some celebrating.

Saturday, we headed to Aunt Lisa's for our annual Pate Thanksgiving lunch. This year we had kids everywhere, and even a precious new baby to enjoy! Hayes is only a few months old, so we all enjoyed fawning over him. Of course, Griffin loves babies, so I had told him Hayes would be there. So every time someone walked in he would say, "where the baby?" Ha! He didn't seem to care if you walked in unless you were carrying that baby.

It was a great day visiting with the family. Afterwards we headed back to Grandmas to eat dinner and hit the road. It was a quick trip but great anyways!
























The proud Great-Grandfather:


And the proud father:


Giving Uncle Ed his presents...


This face is cracking me up!





Being Goofy...

- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Griffin and Ellie Sitting in a Tree

A Funny story that I absolutely had to document before I forgot it happened. Griffin loves Baby Ellie, and has since the moment he met her over 7 months ago. (I can't believe she is getting that old already!!)

The other night, Morgan and I were talking in the nursery. It had been a pretty crazy chaotic and exhausting Wednesday night. I had Griffin laying on the floor in front of me, because I was preparing to put on his PJs. Ellie had been hot all night, so she was crawling around the nursery in nothin but a diaper.

Suddenly she decided to crawl over to Griffin and pull up on him. He just grabbed her and held on. Then she made her move and started sucking on his nose! It was pretty hilarious, and all of the sudden it looked like a make out session! I grabbed my camera to grab a memory of it. Sooo funny. And cute.

And even funnier was that Griffin started trying to tell the story to someone who came in. He actually started acting it out. Here was his account: "and Baby Ellie was crawling over here, and then she laid here and got naked, and then she crawled on me and kissed me!" Hahahaha! I about died. His account was pretty racy.









Griffin and Ellie sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

(Maybe we are gonna have to start the purity talks early around here...)

- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Costume Overload

So Halloween this year showed Mr.Pate and I that Griffin enjoys dressing up. He got to be three different things over the course of that week (a "hot" dog, Alex the lion and superman). So after Halloween, we decided to hit up Target for the markdown costumes... Let's just say we might have gone overboard?!! They were so cheap! And he is so cute when he dresses up and plays imagination stuff. Love it. So there has been lots of dressing up around the Pate household lately. Toddlerhood is so fun!

- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

A day at school

A few weeks ago, Griffin got to visit Mimi and Livvi's school. I think he was a bit overwhelmed but also loved it! He got to eat lunch with the "big kids" and then go to the book fair! He loves books. Mimi said he did his "hummm, maybe I should get this one" thing that is precious, so she just bought them all. Ha! He is so spoiled.














- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Community Group Life

Once Fall hit, our Community Group started back up. I was super excited about this, because I have missed meeting this past summer. We meet with our group pretty much every Sunday night. Sometimes we meet for bible study, sometimes to serve together, and sometimes just to have some fun. This fall we are going thru a workbook that is all about grounding yourself in the gospel, and then spreading that message. It's been challenging and wonderful. We also went as a group to the Salvation Army to serve dinner, and that was a true blessing for us.

We now have another small addition to our group- baby Cayslee. Griffin adores her and I think it's so sweet to see our whole group love all over her.

I love that Griffin has grown up going to community group. We started our first one when he was just a few months old. It is such a good life lesson for him to see that life is meant to be lived in a community of believers, not alone. We need one another to push us on towards the goal. What a blessing to be rubbing shoulders with these people. I love Group Broady!

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
(Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV)


- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone

Lately

Lately around here...



This cool guy got another hair cut...


And rode a pony named Diamond for the first time (and LOVED it)...


This kiddo has been looking quite grown up in his cute little boy clothes...


And in our youths' shoes too ;-)


Imagination has taken over and lots of fun adventures are happening all around our house...


And super secret hiding places during games of "hide and seek while holding onto a large bundle of balloons" have been found...


There have been "Party Trains" venturing all around our home...


And there have been cute PJ Days at school...

Feeling very blessed around these parts lately. Thank you Lord, for this sweet time as a family. I am loving every random minute of it!

- Mrs.Pate via my iPhone