Our 3 Monkees: January 2010

Friday, January 29, 2010

J's Cheerleading

Back in December I posted to tell you all about J making 8th grade cheer at her school. I cannot believe it has taken me this long to do an update on it. J is enjoying it, but says it is so different from competitive cheer, and it is in so many ways. We have had the opportunity to go to a couple of her games and we were really impressed with the talent both her cheer team and basketball team has. The Sabercats basketball team is really good, they have had about 10 games so far and only lost 3, they have their last (home) game on Tuesday then it is on to the playoffs the following week. Keep up the great work J, we are proud of you! Here are a few pics and a video of their halftime performance from this past Thursdays game against Highland Jr High.

J is in the back line all the way to the right

A just loves watching her big sister

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star...

Be sure to scroll down and mute the music before starting the videos.

I think she got a little camera shy on this one, it was cute so I had to post it.

YAY! She made it through it this time. She just loves to sing, dance and as you saw before play music. She is going to be our artsy one.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Winter Storm

We had a crazy storm hit Arizona last week. We (the State) got more rain and snow in 1 day then we usually get in a year, which is great except the storm lasted for about a week. Here at our house we got lots of rain the first few days then the snow came. We went to bed about 1:30am on Wednesday and the rain was just turning to snow, we woke up to about 8 inches, by noon we had about a foot, it was BEAUTIFUL! One great thing where we live we get a very mild four seasons, although we stuck around the house for about 4 days, we could have left if we wanted, but why go out if you don't have too. A loved playing and sledding in the snow, she even got to build her first snowman, which she preferred to throw snowballs at Mom while I built the snowman, needless to say he was kinda small, but our neighbors built one as tall as me. =)

The snow left as quick as it came but we sure enjoyed it while it was here. We may not have much left on the ground here at the house, but there is still some in town and tons in Flagstaff or the mountains around us. Enjoy the pictures of winter at the Bates home. =)

The back

View from the front

Another view from the front

Pull me Mom

She loves to eat the snow

Our Snowman-"Frosty"

A with "Frosty"

Taking her bunny for a ride

We may not have much snow around here but look at the mountains that surround us.

A couple videos of the view and the snow coming down, you don't have to mute the music for these.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Story Time

A was given this book for Christmas from Grandma & Grandpa Bates. It is a recordable story book of Twas the Night Before Christmas. It is Grandpas voice you hear reading it. She loves it and reads it several times a day, she can actually read most of it along with him, but of course as soon as I get the camera on her she stops. =} Here is just a small portion of the story for your enjoyment.

Take 1

Had to put this on here... Having a little snack while enjoying her story...GROSS!

Be sure to scroll down and mute the music before clicking play.

Much Better

Be sure to scroll down and mute the music before clicking play.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Our little Musician

Who needs drums when you have a garbage can?

Be sure to scroll down and mute the music before hitting play.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Saying good-bye to Santa

So this is a little late, but thought you would enjoy it anyway......

Santa was a huge hit in our home this year. At first A & the boys were a little afraid of him, but it only took a few hours for all of them to become best friends. I cannot even tell you how many times we heard him sing throughout the day. As annoying as it was it was kinda cute too, because it wasn't long before all three kids were singing along to Jingle Bells and the other 3 songs Santa sang.

I decided to let the kids say goodbye to Santa before putting them down for naps one day, it was pretty sweet. I was afraid if I let them watch me put him away it would probably traumatize them for the rest of their lives. After all does anyone really wanna watch Santa's head get ripped off stuffed between his legs and then pushed and locked down to hold it all in place then shoved in a box till next year, naaa.

Arlo & A saying good bye

Remember to scroll down and mute the music before starting the video.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

21 Weeks

This pregnancy is just flying by. Well A's did too but I think that had partly to do with we didn't even know till we were 13 weeks along, anyway. Things are going good, I have been feeling much better, well, with the exception of now having a little bit of a cold. We had a Dr appointment this week and Baby Girl is doing well, she still has a nice strong and regular heartbeat. Still not feeling her a whole lot, but every now and then shell give a little nudge and/or a kick to let us know shes there. I am sure it will start becoming more regular in the next couple weeks. My Dr says my pregnancy has finally caught up to my uterus, YAY, and my weight gain is slowing down, thank heavens. =)

We've been getting lots of questions about names, and too be honest we really haven't thought about any. We have a few that we are throwing around, but none that are really jumping at us, its getting to be about the time I pull out the baby name book. But just to let you know, we will NOT name baby before she arrives, we will have a few names picked then once she is out see what name fits her best. Maybe we can do a poll to get your thoughts once we get a few options. Here are some belly pictures at 21 weeks and 3 days, thank you to my sister for taking them for me.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The Valencia Family Calendar

Working for OfficeMax I got to make 1 free calendar a year for training purposes, (I started in 1996 & left in 2008) I always made them for my Mom. Since leaving OfficeMax, I have still been obligated to make sure she has a new calendar to start each year. It is pretty neat because she has kept every calendar over the years and has them all hanging in her spare bedroom. Here are the pictures for her 2010 calendar. =)

Cover

Panchito, Melissa & Erin

January
The Holmes Family

February
Panchito, Carmen, D'angelo & Andrew

March 1

Ashley

Happy Birthday March 18th

March 2

Angelina

Happy Birthday March 14th

April

The Bates Family

May

Panchito & Carmen

Happy Anniversary May 24th 1year dating

June

Dan & Melissa

Happy Anniversary June 17th

July

David & Erin

Happy Anniversary July 14th

August

Mom & Dan

Happy Anniversary

September

Jordan & Ashley

October 1

David

Happy Birthday October 19th

October 2

Kai

Happy Birthday October 30th

November

Jordan

Happy Birthday November 21st

December

David, Kai & Angelina

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The Bates Family Calendar

We also made a calendar for D's Parents for Christmas. We started making them one a couple years ago, now we get in trouble if they don't get one every year. I try to coordinate every ones birthday and/or anniversary to the month they are on. Here were the pictures we chose for the Bates Family Calendar.

Cover

The Bates Family

January
Lori, Dave, Dan & Melissa

February

Alyssa

Happy Birthday February 24th

March

Ashley

Happy Birthday March 18th

April

Jim & Cyndy

Happy Anniversary April 28th

May

Baby Girl Bates

Due May 23rd

June

Dan & Melissa

Happy Anniversary June 17th

July

Dave, Lori & Alyssa

August

Jordan, Alyssa & Ashley

September

Dan, Melissa, Jordan & Ashley

October

Grandpa & Grandma with their Girls

November

Jordan

Happy Birthday November 21st

December

Dave & Lori

Happy Anniversary December 26th

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Nana's Calendar

My Nana has 26 grand & great-grand kids, as you can imagine it is hard to coordinate so many schedules to see each other on a regular basis. I am trying to get better at keeping in touch with all my cousins. I decided to make my Nana a calendar of all of her grand & great-grand kids for Christmas, but I am a little late in getting it to her, I think it came out so good, and think she is going to love it, so I thought I would share it with all of you. =)

2010