Uno, Dos, Tres Gates!

New Blog location

2011-02-24T22:24:00.004-05:00

This blog will no longer exist at this link. Please route yourself to the following site for all Gates family news:

http://gatesfam.wordpress.com

You can subscribe to our blog there or request to receive updates via email.

There will be some sweet baby photos coming soon!

Waiting for Baby Girl

2011-02-18T19:34:00.000-05:00

Some Winter Snapshots

2011-02-18T19:33:00.000-05:00

Well I never did get around to making another post from Christmas and New Years. Life goes on, right? So I am just going to post some photos from the holidays and more recent winter days for documentation. Enjoy!

Alex, Caden, and Micah

celebrating Mom and Dad's 40th anniversary!

Snowman Silliness

Sweet Honora

Kett Cars!

Liam

Aidan

lovin' the snow

snowy walk at Valley Forge

Micah putting on a concert for his animals

canal walk

Christmas Recap

2011-01-11T16:16:00.000-05:00

Now that all the Christmas decorations are down and all the holiday activities have passed, I figured it might be time to actually post some photos from all the holiday fun. I think my lack of blog posting might be the norm for a while seeing as I have no energy at this point in the pregnancy and soon enough I will no energy from taking care of two kids...ahhh!

We had a lot of fun preparing for and celebrating Christmas with Micah this year. It was so sweet to see his excitement and involvement this year. We loved sharing the Christmas story with him, putting stickers on the advent poster each day, decorating the tree and a gingerbread man, opening presents, looking at Christmas lights, watching some classic Christmas movies,...so many wonderful traditions began this year.

We also had great times family, which I will document in another post, because there are just way too many photos to post!

Below you will find photos leading up to Christmas day at home...

First Gingerbread Man!

Annual Ornament Exchange with Mimi and Greg!
This year's theme was "Fresh and Odd" (two words randomly
chosen from Apples to Apples game).

sweet little Adie :)

We spent Christmas Eve morning out on the frozen canal!

Our friend, Greg, passed through on his way home to Pitt.
He was the initiator of getting out on the ice.

Taking a ride.

Future hockey player?

Christmas morning

Wordless Wednesday (still unsure about Santa...but at least he didn't cry this year!)

2010-12-15T15:43:00.003-05:00

Before Christmas is Here...

2010-12-10T15:38:00.007-05:00

I thought it would be nice to post our Thanksgiving photos! Ooops.

We hosted this year for this first time and I was amazed that I didn't end up stressed out... this was probably due to the fact that I wasn't feeling well and was forced to not care about making my house look perfect. It also helped that my mom scrubbed the kitchen and my sister scrubbed the bathrooms! I could get used to that.

We made most of the sides the night before, which made Thanksgiving morning pretty low-key. The turkey carving photo does not resemble the traditional turkey shot this year-- we decided to cut the bird up before roasting it so that different parts could be cooked for different amounts of time. Tim heard on the radio that this was the best cooking method for really juicy turkey. I'm sure most of you are thinking we committed a sin but I must say it was the most flavorful, juicy turkey I have ever had!

The boys had a blast together, of course, and provided us with lots of entertainment. And Nora was as sweet as usual. It was really cute to see Micah interact with her-- he offered her toys and sat with her for quite a while, which gave me hope that he just might be more interested in his

own baby sister that I have expected him to be.

On Friday, we visited my great grandmother in the nursing home with all the kids in tow. She was really touched that we all came and surprised her. We had 5 generations in one room.

Little Baker

2010-12-10T14:40:00.002-05:00

I finally got the courage to let Micah help me bake. He has just started showing interest in what I'm doing in the kitchen, asking to stand on the stool and watch whats happening, so I figured it was time to let him help. I chose peanut butter blossoms for our first baking date since they are hard to mess up! Micah did a great job rolling the dough into balls and mixing them around in the sugar. But, as you will see from the third photo, his favorite part was opening up the Reese's peanut butter cup wrappers for me...and shoving them in his mouth when he thought I wasn't looking!

Hoping to do some more baking as a family this weekend. I found a cute gingerbread man kit today at Trader Joe's so that will have to be included in our baking party as well. Let the sugar rush begin! (I am SO glad I passed the glucose tolerance test or I would be one sad lady this Christmas season!)

So Long, Fall (we miss you already!)

2010-12-08T21:25:00.014-05:00

Wordless Wednesday: Decorating Fun

2010-12-08T21:10:00.006-05:00

Shutterfly Designs, Oh My!

2010-12-03T22:44:00.010-05:00

Get this: Shutterfly is currently running a promotion to give away 50 FREE 5x7 Christmas cards to bloggers who review Shutterfly's products! I was so excited to hear about this offer, because I have used Shutterfly's service and have only good things to say.

First of all, I must say that Shutterfly's prints are the best we've found for digital printing. Having a "photo geek" husband (I say this with great endearment) means there was a lot of research done about different companies' printing processes, and Shutterfly's was the most impressive. We ordered over 1200 photos to finally document life since Micah's arrival, and we were very pleased with the quality of the prints.

We also created an adorable Christmas photo card (imagine Micah's adorable face inside the wreath!) for family and friends last year using Shutterfly. The coloring and photo quality were excellent and the delivery was fast. I loved how simple it was to insert our photo and add our own text below the header. Being able to customize the photo card made it very personal and meaningful. So cute, right?!

I am not sure which cards we will choose to order this year-- there are so many wonderful options! Since we always send a separate print of a family photo with our cards, I like choosing a simple design with a single photo of Micah (it's hard to believe that next year we will have two little ones one our card!). Here are a few that have caught my eye:

I like the centering of the photo and the simple yet meaningful design of this one. It really captures the spirit of Christmas-- it is a fun design and points to the reason for our celebration. It is definitely ideal for a close-up photo of one child. I can definitely see this one working well with the photo we have chosen of Micah.

This one offers space for 3 photos which could be fun to highlight several photos of Micah or one of each of us. This is a folded card which has the added benefit of being able to add a more personal message. I love the Scripture reference and the images of Jesus' birth displayed throughout the card.

Here is another one that beautifully highlights a single photo. I love the choice of colors and the simplicity of its design. If I choose this one, I will add a short personal message below the header as we did with our card last year.

One last card that caught my eye was this sweet design. I love that the photo takes up the entire front cover, because it is more likely to be kept on display long after the Christmas season has passed. The "Joy" text is very fitting for Christmas and adds an elegant touch to the photo. I also love that this is a folded card with room to write a more detailed message inside.

Head over to Shutterfly today and check out more of their beautiful designs! Better yet, write a blog post highlighting your favorites and score some free cards too!

Wordless Wednesday: Bath Time Silliness

2010-11-17T11:17:00.003-05:00

Cali!

2010-11-13T09:19:00.040-05:00

I am finally writing another blog post; how did a month go by?!

So my first agenda is to share about my trip to California last month-- what a treat! First of all, I must say that I feel very blessed to have a husband who encouraged me to take a little vacation and to have in-laws who were willing to stay at our home and help care for Micah while Tim went to work each day. After some challenging months, this trip allowed me to take a much needed break and revive my spirit.

Emily and I headed to San Francisco early Thursday morning (almost 3 weeks ago- second game day of world series I should add). The flight was tiring but not too bad with a great friend along for the ride. We arrived around noon and had the rest of the day to explore the city and spend time with my "other little sister," Sarah, who has been living in San Fran for about three years now. She was a wonderful host and tour guide, taking us around to popular attractions (Golden Gate Bridge, Lombard Street, the Presidio, Alcatraz), as well as some of her favorite local spots. It was so fun to see her at work and with her roommates, to get a more personal look at her life in California.

giants stadium

trolleys!

steep streets!

golden gate bridge

Lombard Street, crookedest road in U.S. (not a great shot since sun was setting)

love you, sarah!

After a delicious brunch Friday morning, we headed two hours south to Monterey to visit our dear friend and roommate, Erin, her husband, Kevin, and their three month old baby boy, John Michael. Erin and Kevin have been stationed in Monterey for a little over a year now with the navy. It was so sweet to see them as parents. John Michael is quite the charmer and the happiest baby I think I've ever met (I had him rub my belly and send good vibes to this little one in my belly!). We packed a lot in during our 3-day stay with visits to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Carmel, and several scenic spots along the coast. While on the beach in Carmel, we saw five or six dolphins swimming and diving about 150 feet from the shore-- amazing! We were also able to attend the weekly NavNite on Friday and get a closer look at Erin and Kevin's ministry to the students in Monterey. And of course there was lots of time spent just sitting around chatting together as if no time has passed since our college days. It was such a blessing to be with such dear friends! I am looking forward to next fall when Kevin and Erin will be moved to the east coast. It will still be a bit of a drive to see each other but I'm sure it will make visits a bit more do-able than now!

What more is there to say? Wonderful friends + beautiful scenery = 1 great vacation!

new parents!

little man

the seals looked like large rocks until you got up close

Carmel beach looking in direction of Pebble Beach

can you see them?

dolphins!

loved this spot, so peaceful

happiest baby!

2 Year Photo Shoot: Outdoor Series

2010-10-13T15:49:00.008-04:00

These photos were taken in town...

2 Year Photo Shoot: Indoors Series

2010-10-13T15:06:00.011-04:00

This past weekend we conducted a few photo shoots for Micah's two year photos. It was much easier than last year now that he takes direction well and enjoys saying "Cheese!" over and over again. He was so cooperative and animated; the photos really capture his personality! Since I had a hard time choosing which ones to post, I am going to share two sets of photos- indoor and outdoor photos. These photos will focus on the shots we took at home on Saturday morning... Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday: Small Group Bellies!

2010-10-06T13:56:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

2010-10-04T15:04:00.010-04:00

Happy Birthday, Grandpa! We had a great time with you on Sunday! Love you lots!

More Fall Fun

2010-10-04T14:46:00.005-04:00

After our apple picking adventure, we headed to Doylestown to see my cousin Brendan, a senior at Lebanon Valley College, play football. I spent many fall weekends watching my brother play football in high school and still love the chance to watch a game in person. It was fun to see Brendan in action and be with the family. Micah loved looking for Brendan throughout the game and giving him a high five at the end. It's so sweet to see him look up to his older cousins!

Apple Picking

2010-10-04T14:25:00.005-04:00

We took our first family apple picking outing on Saturday morning-- so much fun! We went to Varner's, a small farm nearby with lots of fun activities for the whole family (and most are free!). We had gone last year but it was later in October and it was slim pickins for apples then. This year we had an abundance to choose from. Micah did a great job pulling apples from the branches and adding them to our basket. He was very proud of his hard work as you can see from the photos. We didn't have a ton of time so we hope to go back again soon to enjoy all the kids' activities and visit the pumpkin patch. I love that it is so close and plan to go back to pick more apples, too!

Made my first apple crisp to end our lovely fall day! Yum!

Flood Zone

2010-10-04T13:45:00.004-04:00

We had our first glimpse of flooding in Mont Clare this past Friday. I am still amazed that our basement did not fill up with water! Our neighbors two doors down had 5 inches in their basement Thursday night and had to have the fire company come suck the water out. There was water covering most of our basement floor, but that is nothing to complain about. Everyone across the street had swampy backyards but little water in their basements too. I really was amazed after hearing so many stories of flooding on our street! Everyone I talked to had been prepared, spending hours Thursday night bringing all the contents of the basement up to their dining rooms. I am thankful we don't get it as bad as they do (the canal runs into their back yards), and I hope and pray we never see inches (or feet) of water down there!

The canal was quite a site to see. They closed the bridge going into Phoenixville at the corner of our street but it was still open to pedestrians. It was so weird to walk past the canal path and not see it-- the canal and river had joined. I tried to take a few photos to document it...

Micah was very confused about the path missing!

puddle jumping!

Wordless Wednesday: Outdoor Fun

2010-09-29T14:02:00.006-04:00

Mr. Chatterbox

2010-09-15T14:40:00.007-04:00

Micah has been cracking me up and amazing me with his vocabulary and way of talking. I just never know what he will say next. He loves to talk to people wherever we go and narrates our entire day. If only I could control his volume level... Here's some of his recent quotes that have made me chuckle.

After getting himself in my shoes the other night, Micah walked down the hallway and announced "I going to store... I getting groceries... I be right back...See you later!"

"Batman needs to go in bathroom. He need a spanking." --Can you tell discipline has been a big issue in our house lately?? And let me tell you, I fear no approach is working for this kid! Sigh.

"Oh my goodness, that's a lot of pennies!" he exclaimed as he emptied out his piggy bank today.

"I having a good time!" is a common phrase right now.

"Here Mom, that's a cute one," he said as he handed me a fire truck hat to wear. --Note that he has started calling me "Mom" this week. I have not had issues with him growing up on me...until now. Sniff Sniff.

A few weeks back, I went to get him out of his crib in the morning, and the first thing he said with a big smile on his face was "Want some coffee, mommy? Want some donuts?"--already trying to manipulate me; I couldn't believe it!

"I want it louder" is also a common phrase right now when I put on his CD for nap time or bed time. The other day I got out of the shower to find the door to his room shut and rap-style music blaring inside. He had managed to turn the radio on and turn the volume up to a ridiculously loud level. When I opened the door he was happily playing with puzzles on the floor. I told him the music was really loud and his response was "I like music louder." Oh my.

Wordless Wednesday: Miracle in the Making

2010-09-01T13:45:00.006-04:00

Last Summer Trip

2010-08-31T13:46:00.007-04:00

We ended our summer travels with a trip to Syracuse, NY to be with most of Tim's extended family for 4 days. Tim's aunt and uncle and two of their three children all live very close so it made it very easy for sleeping and going between houses for activities. It was so nice to see everyone, catch up, and see how much the little ones have grown up in the past year. The weather was not the nicest but we all made the most of it. There was plenty of entertainment with 6 young kids running around! Tuesday, our last day, turned out to be gorgeous so we spent the whole day by the lake boating, kayaking, water skiing, wind sufing, playing in the sand, playing games, etc. Good times.

I love that Micah can eat at the kids table now. He is really growing up!

This was our best attempt at getting all 6 great grandchildren to pose for a photo. Ha.

Poor Grandma was all nervous about Micah riding down the hill. Of course Micah was as calm as could be. I've got a daredevil on my hands.

Lots of outdoor fun

Smores in the fire pit. Mmmmm.

Boating time!

Tim was impressive on the water skis.

Micah joined me for a kayak ride (it didn't last very long since he kept trying to stand up and was stressing me out!)

The sand pit was a big hit with Micah.

Gates Family Fun

2010-08-20T14:31:00.009-04:00

Tim's parents and sister spent a week camping at French Creek recently and we were able to join in on the fun for the weekend. There was constant activity--boating, fishing, disc golf, playgrounds, bike riding, playing in the dirt-- and the cousins had a great time together. We also celebrated Micah's birthday while there.

On Tuesday, Tim took off and we all headed to Sesame Place for the day. Alex and Caden had a blast on the rollercoaster and Micah enjoyed seeing a rock band performance by all his favorite characters. We all enjoyed the giant water tube ride and cooling off in the spray park. It was a really fun day with the family.

A Beach Retreat

2010-08-19T09:05:00.008-04:00

We were so happy to get a weekend away at the beach in early August. A big thank you to the Grossmans for letting us stay the night! We had great weather and wonderful fellowship. It was so nice to see Mimi and Greg again with their adorable little girl, Adie.

Micah loved digging in the sand, running into the water, and strolling on the boardwalk. He also liked burying Daddy in the sand and chasing the seagulls. Hoping we can have a longer stay next summer. It really does my soul good to breathe in that salty air, dig my feet into the sand, and watch the waves roll in!