Bithday Celebration

Due to the fact that both of my children have summer birthdays a month apart, we decided to do one big party. We had a "Splash Party", where the kiddos have kiddie pools, slippin' slides, sprinklers, bubbles, water guns, and all that messy, fun stuff. It was a blast! We served cupcakes and ice pops and let the kids have a ball.

There were lots of presents...

Some messy faces...


Some bubble fun...

A few water gun fights...

And Mr. Brad even got in on the action...

Overall the kids had a great party.

Now onto a full week of stress. We are leaving for Savannah/Tybee Island Friday to which I have not even begun to pack for. We are also renewing our vows, to which I have not written. What has happened to me. The planner who does everything months in advance. Also Jacob starts football tonight. He will practice every Mon., Tues., and Thurs. with games on Sat., so that means life as I know it is over until Nov. Oh well, we will make it, we always do!

Carley Brooke Turns 7!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That really doesn't even seem possible. Can it really be that I gave birth to my last baby 7 years ago??? Where in the world has time gone??? It seems like ago a short time ago she was my chubby little baby girl that I would hold and cuddle and rock to sleep... Now here she is turning into a young women riding a 2 wheeled bike, tying her shoes, and "Miss Independent"

I really do wish I could slow things down a little and really take in how fast my kiddos are growing up. It's hard to believe in a few short years they'll be entering high school, graduating, going to college, the list goes on and on!!! Happy Birthday to my Big Girl, I Love You!!!

STRESSED!!!!

I wish I could even tell you how unbelievably stressed I have been this week. As you know from my last post we were planning a trip to Gulf Shores to renew our vows in Aug. Well needless to say those plans have had to change. I have been worried about the oil ever since it happened and have checked on the beaches daily. When the oil finally started washing onto the beach I told Brad he was going to have to help me come up with a solution. Me being the OCD planner that I am, Brad just usually lets me do it all, but I told him it was time for input because I was going insane. He made the suggestion that we go to Tybee Island/Savannah since that is somewhere we have both LOVED ever since we went nearly 7 years ago. See why I need him, that never crossed my mind. We went for business the first time, but fell in love with the city of Savannah and all the lighthouses and ocean liners that are at Tybee Island. It all of a sudden seemed so simple! I started looking for condos Sunday and then the stressed kicked into high gear! Our requirements were a pool, oceanfront, and sleeps 10. That was nearly impossible to find. I finally found one and emailed the lady. She said she had just had a cancellation and it was 1st come 1st serve basis. I emailed her back and told her I would take it! She emailed me and told me she had went to town and when she got back she had 6 request for that condo with mine being first. Thank Goodness! Now onto the planning of switching the wedding stuff over from Gulf Shores to Tybee Island, but I am just grateful we found something.

Planning, Planning, Planning...

It seems my summer is going to be spent planning!!! Planning what you may ask, well birthdays, wedding, vacation, and preschool. The church here at Fairview has decided to start a preschool in the fall, of which I will be the director. I am so glad we are starting this work because there is a huge need for it in the community. I need to finish getting everything organized and ready to go for it to start in the fall. (As a matter of fact I started out working on curriculum and somehow ended up on here, oh well!) Then as most of you know birthdays run full circle for the Tate's in the summer. Brad is June 29, Carley is July 3, and Jacob is Aug. 8. I am the oddball with a Jan. birthday stuck in the middle of winter. Anyhow, I really need to plan something for the kiddos, but right now have no idea! Then on to the best part of the summer....the BEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Need I say I LOVE the beach. It is my all time favorite place ever! We are going to Gulf Shores (if the stupid oil will stay away) July 31- Aug.7. I am so excited. It has been a few years since we went to the beach since we splurged on Disney last year. I am ready for a relaxing vacation of sitting on the beach and eating fresh seafood! Now on to the final planning of the summer...the wedding! Me and Brad decided that we are going to renew our vows while we are in Gulf Shores. We got married at the courthouse and never had a real wedding. We have always wanted to renew our vows on the beach, but always said we would go to the carribean on our anniversary in Feb. and do that. Well 2 kids and 50 (well not really, but feels like it) moves later, we are just going to do it. My family is going with us to Gulf Shores, so that makes it perfect since everyone will already be there. What started out as simple vow renewal has kinda expanded a little. I guess since I never had my dream wedding, I am kinda making up for it. I will definitely keep everyone posted and let you know how it all turns out.

Dr. Appointment

Today was the day for Carley's allergy testing. I am so proud of my big girl! She sat there like a champ while she had 25 needle pricks in her back, and never shed 1 tear (I am not sure I could have been that strong!). The test showed that she is highly allergic to pecan, oak, and elm trees. Luckily that was all. The doctor is pretty sure we can maintain this just by keeping her on allergy medicine from Feb.14-July of every year. I really hope it will be that simple!

Today we had our appointment with the allergist. She seems to think Carley's reaction is due to a plant of some sort. She scheduled her for allergy testing next Wednesday, so please pray that goes well.


Summer officially starts around here tomorrow at 12:05! That probably also needs a prayer. Pray that momma doesn't end up in the crazy house!!!

Just to give everyone a quick update on Carley. Yesterday I started the day calling around to pediatric allergist trying to get an appointment. Most could not see me until August, I mean come on...Really??? So I ended up getting the name of a pediatrician in Franklin that came highly recommended (I haven't pick the kids doctor since we moved). I called and they were able to see us yesterday afternoon. She was GREAT!!! She is so nice and actually took the time to talk to Carley, which a lot of doctors won't do. She told me it could be a number of things and we may never know what actually caused the reaction. She said a lot of times allergic reactions that severe build on one another. Example- she is a little allergic to dogs and gets around a dog and that irritates her system a little, then she eats seafood which aggravates her a little more, then she smells a flower with a lot of pollen and that sends her system over the edge. She was able to get me an appointment with an allergist this Thursday. She told me not to have high hopes that we will ever find out what caused this, but she said even if we can eliminate some of the little allergens that would help. She said if this was to happen again we might consider keeping a diary of what Carley eats and is exposed to...Fun!!! I sure hopes it doesn't come down to that. Can you imagine trying to keep track of everything your 6 year old does. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.