Early College Preparation

So...I hope the following pictures showcase Tate's creativity, not highlight the props Mama overlooked him utilizing...

I am pretty sure I was editing pictures when he first brought out the Mountain Dew and I promise, he originally was putting them in the cooler, not building a wall...

Is it bad to admit that I am kinda proud that my two year old can construct such a structure when I knew some college boys who had issues with the same task... (wink face to you, Savy!)

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

We did not send out a Christmas card this year. We wanted to. We talked about a family photo session. And then all of a sudden it was December, and we still had not taken a "worthy" family picture. Fast forward two weeks when we took the trip to the Botanical Gardens to see their Garden of Lights. It is there that we happen to take what I believe would have sufficed perfectly as our Christmas card. Alas, it is a bit too close to Christmas and I still have a fair amount of shopping to finish so we will not be sending it out. Rather, I will happily post our "Christmas card" along with holiday cheer and wishes...to all of you!

Wishing you the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest Holidays!

~Love,

Tate, Angela and Dave

Decking the Halls...

So, I'll be the first to admit that I don't start the day after Thanksgiving "Christmas-tizing" our house. Please do not get me wrong, I love the idea of a wonderfully decorated house, with lots of lights, and greens and golds and reds. I really, really do. (just ask Pinterest). The thing is, for me, I don't have whole day (or half a day for that matter) to clean, and put away the fall decor while arranging the Christmas and winter decorations. And truly, the main factor is that, I have a two year old. He is awesome and I love him, tremendously, but he is not on the band wagon of "keeping things tidy" or "picking up after yourself". So I stalled. I totally did. I did not know when I would find the time to get all the holiday decorating done with a little boy following me around, touching everything and asking a bazillion questions (that part actually wasn't so bad). So I did what any smart, creative woman/mama would do. I waiting until my husband came home and made him document the whole process. That way, we could team up and initiate a zone defense with Tate when needed. *oh! He's over on your side of the room, he's yours now!*

I also embraced the idea that Tate might actually like to help and decided to incorporate him into the tree decorating process...he was in charge of the candy canes. They suspiciously change positions every time I leave the room.

As we were setting up the tree, this was our conversation:

Tate: what you doing, Mama?

Me: I'm decorating the tree.

Why?

Because that's what we do at Christmas time.

Why?

(Oh I see what's happening)

What you doing, Mama?

Decorating the tree.

Why?

(giggles)

What you doing, Mama?

Picking my nose.

(Stops. Looks at me and laughs) You no pick you nose, Mama! What you doing, Mama?

What am I doing, Baby?

You decorate tree, Mama!

Chief Candy Cane Placement Supervisor

Trains and Towers

Tate is at the really fun age where he is able to play independently and Mama can get stuff done is into so many different things. Now granted, his attention span at times is very lacking, but all the same, Tate thinks some things are totally the bee's knees.

Thomas the Train is one of the constant loves in Tate's life. When he was little, he used to sit in the middle of the tracks, but size and imagination has moved him to conducting outside the rails.

Notice the elevated tracks. Smart boy figured out that Thomas wouldn't fit otherwise...

Very focused. So focused in fact he allowed me to take many pictures. Normally, now, when my camera comes out, he immediately stops doing whatever it was I wanted to capture.

Tate with G-Pa and "Gibbys!"

Tate just saw this picture and said, "Tate build tower, Mama!" and then started listing off all of the colors.  :)

Best Pals

We are well familiar with Tate's love of Mickey Mouse. It is one of the first things he asks for in the morning, he knows all Mickey's pals on a first name basis, and his love for Mickey is so strong, he even requested to be Mickey for Halloween. That being said, Tate did not own a stuffed Mickey Mouse...until he turned two. Our friend's Eric and Laura gave Tate his very own Mickey for his birthday and life has never been more complete. They are in essence, inseparable.

It was very important to Tate that Mickey was also covered up...just as it is important that Mickey be sitting comfortably when watching the Lion King or dinner is being eaten or we are reading books... Mickey is pretty VIP.

Two-rrific Birthday Weekend

So it turns out that in this house, at two years of age, one is entitled to a birthday weekend. As is the case with Tate the Great. Tate's actual birthday fell on a Friday, Veteran's Day, so Dave conveniently had the day off. We decided to spend the day doing super fun things that would tire out an energetic two year old Tate would enjoy. First up: birthday cookie for breakfast. Not gonna lie, Dave questioned my meal choice, but he was quickly silenced by Tate's excitement over blowing out the two candles on said breakfast birthday cookie. We then took Tate to Monkey Joe's. He adored it. And he was quite aggressive in the "big kid" blow ups. Then, since we have busy lives and had not yet purchased Tate's birthday presents, we made a trip to Toys R Us. It was successful and we didn't even leave with the Robo Claw that two Savides boys thought was "super cool". The secret 'Operation Tire Tate Out' was a success and we went home for nap time. Side note: Dave had been talking about getting Tate a fish for a few weeks so the plan was to head to the pet store and buy Tate his very own pet. For the record, my personal favorite part of the pet store visit was when I left the boys by the guinea pig cage to go purchase all our goodies and I said to Tate, "go say hi to the guinea pig and tell him it's your birthday". And as I walked away I heard, "hi guinea. It's Tate birthday!".

Tate's four goldfish.

Saying hi and checking them out.

Daddy and Tate readying the fish bowl.

Tate was fairly involved in the accessories selection process and loved setting up the bowl.

And as always, was very interested in pouring the water.

A birthday gift was on the porch when we arrived home. Someone who knows Tate very well (Baby Oliver, and by Baby Oliver, I mean, Baby Oliver's mom) presented Tate with his very first guitar and Micky Mouse microphone...

...with which the boys immediately formed their own band. 'Son and Daddy', I believe was the latest name, Son being first because Tate "is the lead singer". Direct quote from David. Not joking.

After a terrific two days celebrating turning two, the morning after Tate's party left him a bit spent.

Tate turns Two!

It has been two years since our lives have changed. Two years since we've lost our spontaneity, two years of buying diapers, and two years of living our lives completely for someone else. It has been two years since our lives have truly begun. Today, our little man Tate, turns two!

we figured out the best snuggling arrangement very quickly. Tate and I only hours after he was born.

David and Tate, already in love.

our little man, letting the world know he had arrived...

Big Guys and a Fire Truck

To share a couple of events that I have pictures of, but yet to blog about, let me introduce you to "the big guys". For about a week and a half we had construction on our street and on one particular morning they were literally in our front yard. It was pretty awesome sitting outside with Tate (who did not move for approximately 45 minutes) drinking coffee and enjoying the sunshine.

Tate began referring to the construction workers as, "big guys". It made me smile when on a day they weren't working, Tate asked, "big guys go buh-bye?" I replied, "Yeah, Buddy, it looks like they are not here. Where to you think they went?" To which my creative little boy answers, "Up north".

And of course if the "big guys" had their helmets on, it would be appropriate that Tate wore his as well...

During our venture down to Oktoberfest, the fire department had a fire engine on display, along with some spectacular fire fighter who were phenomenal to Tate. Not only did they allow him to touch the fire truck, they also put him in the front seat.

Tate also received a bunch of goodies from the firemen, including a fire dog tattoo. Which he proudly displayed to anyone who he could make eye contact with...

Trick-or-Treat

A couple of weeks ago, I began attempting to explain the concept of trick-or-treating and obtaining candy. Lots of candy. (I believe we experience our first "sugar high" tonight. Be jealous you weren't there). As Tate and I were out getting items together for his costume, (superhero) Tate the Great, he was distracted by his obsession, Mickey Mouse and then declared, "No, Mama. Tate, Mickey Mouse?" So at 10:32 am this morning, we made a costume change. Scrambling just a bit this afternoon had us ready to do some trick-or-treating at Dave's office, followed by a stop at Grandma and Papa's, as well as Rama and G-Pa's houses. And obtain lots of candy. Lots.

As we walked into Dave's office to show off Tate's costume, Tate screamed, "BUCKY!!!".

Picking something good.

He was in love with the ghosts across the street from Dave's parents' house.

When he wasn't eating as much candy as he could, he was sharing it with others.

What I Did Over Summer Vacation: A Savy Report

Alright, I am sorry. I have dropped the ball in blog posts. Life is just so much fun and sometimes there are just too many photos to edit. However, for all you stalkers out there who have pleasantly reminded me that I still need to post to Savy Life, here you are. A recap of one of my favorite weekend of the summer.

Perhaps you remember last year, when we spend the weekend up at our good friends, Dan and Ruth's cottage. It has become a sort of tradition and this August was no exception. Every year we do repeat activities with Tate it is pretty awesome to compare how much easier (or maybe not so much) it is this time around. Here's some of the awesome of this year's Up North with Friends trip.



Tate loved playing with the rocks that Ruth and her sisters had painted.

The tears on Tate's face were most likely because he told us he did want to go on a boat ride, and then had changed his mind.

It's okay, Daddy was there to fix it.

One of Tate's most favorite things to do over the summer...

...jump/fall into the water, and Daddy's (hopefully) waiting arms.

Tate and Captain Dan driving the boat.

Ha. I can hear Chris Farley now..."fat guy in a li-ttle coat".

Oh, the up north air and fun times gets the best of all the guys. Big and small.

Mini Chef on The Floor

As we were rummaging last Friday, Tate and I found the gem of all rummage sale finds (thanks to my mother-in-law). And now, all Tate wants to do is go "ou-side" and "cook".

The boys getting it done.

The master of seasoning and flavor.

Getting tips from Dad.

Desperately Seeking Jelly

We had some friends over for a wonderful cookout/get together on Friday evening. The majority of Friday afternoon was spent at the grocery story and in our kitchen as I attempted to ready the house and prepare the food while Tate got in the way played golf inside. At one point, we were both in the kitchen as I was making some delicious guacamole and I noticed that Tate had gone into the pantry and was eating peanut butter. (Totally will own this one as I allow him to dip his finger into the jar whenever I use it, because 1: peanut butter is super scrumptious and 2: he looks so cute doing it). All was well until I realized it had been quiet for a bit too long. Here is why...

Awesome.

My first step was to take a deep breath because, really, who lets their 20 month old boy eat peanut butter out of the jar?! (Answer: me) My second step was to take Tate outside and literally hose him down. Thankfully it was pretty nice out and thankfully he thought it was funny. Then we took a bath. His second one of the day. At least it wasn't something gross, like poop, and at least he didn't get it anywhere but all over himself. Lesson learned.

Real Life Practice

Dave was pretty pumped when the NFL lockout was resolved. We celebrated by heading to the Packer's first official practice of the season.

This may be my favorite picture because of James Starks' smile right before he gave Tate a high five. Dave told me later that when Starks saw Tate, he said "hey, little man!". 44 bonus cool points for James Starks.

High fives.

Fives for Mr. Bishop as well.

There was a charter plane on display that provided flights around Lambeau field and the guy who was part of the charter company was super cool and allowed the kids to climb in and look around. Tate adores airplanes and was way more interested in this plane than the practice going on.

Pilot Tate

At the controls.

My boyfriend (#12) with his team.

Da Pack

Tate and Mr. Starr. Tate stood at the base of the statue and asked, "High five?". And then politely waved, "Buh-bye" as we walked away.