Season's Greetings

It took me literally 47 pictures to get one good one of each of the children and a good one together. This time of year, I try to keep them looking good enough so that if everyone is in a good enough mood, I can snap a quick picture. That has always worked better for me than dressing them up and posing them. It has worked so far. Just moments after I got all the good ones, the night quickly spiraled downward! I'm glad I was prepared that day! Happy Holidays from the Tates!

Collin Mac -- 8 months

Byron Hurst -- 3 1/2 years

Abby Elizabeth -- 10 years

Abby's school Christmas program & Collin's new look

I was wanting to get more pictures of this, but a few things kept me from it.

1. Too many people in too small of a space.

2. Too far away

3. Too wiggly of a person to hold

At any rate, it was spectacular as usual and Byron is really getting into these kind of occasion too. He was singing along too!

This was only a small portion of the chaos.Principal Saunders & Abby after the program while Daddy talked...and talked...talked....Training Byron for his days in school to comeHe likes to be at the top and she likes to perform... Can't imagine where it comes from....

So, most of you know, maybe, that Collin had a hemangioma on the under side of the right side of his chin. It wasn't there at birth. It appeared at about 5months as a tiny red dot and began to grow...quickly! It never seemed to really bother him, but it got big enough to be a nuisance just because it would rub his clothes as he looked from side to side. It got irritated several times and then dried, cracked, and bled. And bled. And bled. After all, hemangiomas are just blood vessels. So, we were referred to a dermatologist in Lubbock. We were suppose to take him Monday, Dec 7, but after the Thanksgiving holidays, I called to see if there was an earlier appointment. Sure enough, they said to come in on Wednesday, Dec 2. We were thrilled! The appointment was at 8am. We live at least an hour and a half away...in good weather. It just so happens that the night before all of this, it began to snow. We were up, dressed, ready, and on the road at 6am! For those of you that know us well, that is a BIG deal! We dropped Abby off at Kevin's parents house to let them take her to school, and us and the boys were off! The roads were clear, no hazards to speak of, and we got there with 20 minutes to spare! The entire drive (and for many days before) consisted of potential arguments for the doctor to have something done about it as soon as possible. We figured we would need to come back at least once. The doctor walked in, looked at it, said, "Oh yeah, that is a pyogenic granuloma. (which I couldn't have told you or spelled before the letter came in the mail with the official diagnosis) We will deaden it with a shot, snip it off and cauterize it." When? THAT DAY!!!! WOW! We were thrilled! It took less time to do it than it did for me to type it out! The shots were worse than the procedure and the recovery was a little rough, but it was wonderful to not have to put a bandaid on him anymore! (which were getting to small to cover it anyway) So here is a before and after shot. Thank you, God, for modern medicine.

The day before. It was growing so big and he was drooling so much, keeping a bandaid on was become a real challenge.

3 days after. My sweet boy now. It is almost completely healed and he will only be left with a tiny, barely noticable scar. (Incidentally, that leaves all 3 of our kids with facial scars. Does that say anything about our parenting?.....)

2009 Snyder FFA Chapter Show

Today was Abby's very first stock show, and I just had to blog it before I forgot and while the boys were sleeping. First of all, Byron has thought all along that one of the pigs was his anyway. Well, last night, we got some pleasant news that they were going to begin with a PeeWee division and let everyone 2nd grade and under show a hog. So, Byron got to pick which one he wanted, and boy did he pick the right one!!! Hershey, the Duroc gilt, was his choice, and she showed like a champ! She won him a showmanship ribbon after peeing on him! The judge moved him out of the way, laughed and gave him a ribbon! Byron didn't quite know what to do so just stood still. He looked to Dad at the edge of the ring and was told it was ok, and he moved on. I would have gotten a picture, but I was laughing too hard!

So then it was on to Abby. They began with the Duroc breeding class. She did SO well! That pig was just like an extension of her and pranced around just like she was suppose to. The judge liked it and gave her FIRST PLACE! Wow! The very first time she showed!!! I was so proud of her! So then, every champion gets to return to the ring where they literally pick the best of the best. She got SECOND PLACE there and received a beautiful belt buckle! We were on a roll!!! But that is where it stopped. She still did well, received another ribbon for 5th place and one more for 3rd place. All in all, not a bad first run and BOY, was it fun! but exhausting! Here are some pictures from the day.

The day began (at lunchtime) with some french fries. No those are not his pajamas. It just kept him warm and kept me from having to keep up with socks. He has grown fond of pulling them off. Actually, only the right one...Chowin' down before the show. They were famished!PawPaw and Byron waiting to show his pig.That kid looked like he had been doing this his whole life.And he got rewarded for it!A little down time for Collin. He had to be held the whole time. NO WAY was I going to put him down anywhere in there! Oh, the things he could have put in his mouth! I cringe to think of it....He did take a nap surprisingly.I really didn't get very many good pictures of her actually showing. And the ones that weren't blurry ended up dark. Must be the operator.....Our little winner! We are SO proud!!!!Showing the Hamp. He didn't do so well. But, like Dad and Paw Paw said, that is just one person's opinion.....A little more down time. I wonder if I could get some of those pens for the house.....The trophy, the buckle and the pigThis is what I found in my backseat when we got home. And we ALL feel that way.

Good night all!!!!!

Halloween....just a little late.....

I know it has been MORE than a month, but I still wanted to be a proud momma and display my sweet kids. What else would you do on a blog anyway?!?!

This happened before we made it to the first house.....My sweet, ferocious boys....The lime green volleyball player. Hopefully, by the time she plays for the high school team, they will have uniforms that cover as much skin as this. When she stood up, the only skin you could see was from the neck up and the wrists down. I won't start on that. That is my soapbox....Don't I have the cutest trick-or-treaters????

He's gonna hate me for this someday....

Byron (from the bathroom): Mom! I'm done!

Mom (entering the bathroom): Do you need my help?

Byron: No, I'm not done yet.

Mom (leaving the bathroom): Ok, let me know when you need me.

Byron: MOM!

Mom: Do you need me now?

Byron: No, I just need a magazine....a Hay one.

Pictures to come of Halloween (I know!), Abby's birthday, Collin's new image, and the Christams tree!