The Bates Family
Allen, Leah, Brookelyn, & Braedyn

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Happy Halloween!

We had a great Halloween this year! Check out the pumpkins Daddy carved...
Our three little pumpkins with their pumpkins!
 a scary monster for Braedyn

and Tinkerbell for Brookelyn!  Best. Daddy. Ever!

We took the kids on a Haunted Hayride to get them in the Halloween spirit.  Unfortunately it ended with the scary monsters climbing IN the trailer WITH us, so it wasn't necessarily as successful as we had hoped.
Waiting for the hayride--obviously this is the "before" shot.
Here is the gang before heading out to trick or treat! Yep--that's three Duck Commander employees and one very pretty princess!
Happy Halloween from The Bates!


We've Been Busy!

We have been so busy the past few weeks!
Brookelyn and Daddy ran The Goblin Run a couple of Saturdays ago.  It was right before Halloween and all the runners came in costume.
Brookelyn said she wanted to run in front of Daddy, so people wouldn't know they were together!

Here they are about to cross the finish line!
Brookelyn came in 3rd in the 14 and under group!
Yea B! Way to rock it!
 After the race it was time to head to Braedyn's last football game.
What a little stud muffin!
 He did great, carrying the ball down the field on a couple of plays, and grabbing a lot of flags!
He was so proud to get a trophy!
Up next for Braedyn is wrestling!  
Be very afraid..I know I am!
And, the littlest B had a bit of an accident.  Big brother and big sister tried to help him turn over and accidentally twisted his little arm in the process causing him to fracture his upper arm.  So he had to rock this arm wrap for a week.
Luckily he didn't seem to care that his arm was stuck to him for seven days.  Little guy didn't miss a beat!
And after a week of the wrap and a week of letting him move it around carefully, the doctor cleared him! His arm is completely healed!
Happy little monster!
It seems like we are always busy with one thing or another, but that is really the way we like it.  We feel blessed to be one happy, busy family!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Livestrong Bike Race

At the end of September (yes, I know I am late), Allen and I participated in the Livestrong Bike Race in Austin. Allen found the race while he was still going through chemo and I was pregnant.  We decided that riding the 45 mile route would be a great way to celebrate him beating CANcer and the baby's arrival.  Fast forward a few months, and I wasn't so sure I was prepared for that far of a ride, but as in life, I knew with Allen leading the way I would make it through.  

The pre-race expo was awesome! They had special cards you could fill out and hang up to celebrate people who were affected by CANcer.
Here is Allen's card!
 The next day we got up super early to drive to Austin (my mom was watching the kiddos at her house in San Antonio).
Right before the race started. 
This is the 1/2 way point stop.
WE DID IT! The race was great, and it felt awesome to cross that finish line!
Just past the finish line.
They gave all the survivors yellow roses.
You could wear cards on your jersey to honor someone.  Mt hubby is such a bad-ass!
I think this race might become a tradition! Of course Allen wants to do the 60 mile route next year.