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!

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.

Braxtyn is 6 Months Old!

It's hard to believe our baby is already six months old! In some ways it seems like it isn't possible that he is already six months old, and yet in others I can't even remember a time without him!  Braxtyn is such a HAPPY baby--almost always smiling or giggling--especially if his big brother or sister is around!

According to your check up, you are in the 75% for your height at 2 feet, 3 1/2 inches and in the 40% for your weight at 18 lbs.  Wonder if that means you are going to be tall and lean like your Daddy?! Love you Baby "B" III! 

The Color Vibe!

Few races will top The Color Vibe 5K Allen and the two big kids completed a couple of weeks ago.  They got to run, in the pouring rain, through muddy fields, while throwing colored powder all over each other--a kid's dream, right?!

One of Allen's co-workers and her daughter ran it with the kids.  What a blast!

Here is what they looked like as they came across the finish! 

B-Man loved every second of it!

And Brookelyn loved it too!

These two didn't want to go home!

Needless to say, we promised the kids that we will do the next color race near us, and maybe Mr. Braxtyn will be old enough to join in the fun by then too!

The Eurekan!

A couple of weeks ago Allen completed The Eurekan Multi-Sport Race in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  The first day he had to do a triathlon...

Here he is waiting to go in the water for the swim.

The second day was a 100 mile bike ride through the mountains--lucky his good friend Mike did that leg with him.

Out on the road.

After they finished!

The third and final day Allen did a 10K run through the mountains and into downtown Eureka Springs.  While we hadn't made it to cheer him on the first two days, he had a cheering section for this race!

Before the race.

Cheering on Daddy.

Pushing through the pain!

He did it!

 I could not be more proud of my husband.  After all he went through this past year, he never stopped training, determined to get right back into his regular training routine once his treatments were complete.  As Braedyn would say, "Go Ironman, Go!"

Best Friends are We...

We have been beyond blessed with three wonderful kiddos who love each other and play so well together (most of the time)! Braxtyn has really settled in well with the two big kids--we can't even remember what life was like before him!

Braedyn showing Braxtyn a game on the iPad. 

Braedyn is always so sweet to Braxtyn on our morning runs; he talks to him, gives him his paci, and makes sure he is happy!

Braedyn loves to "babysit" for me while I make dinner.

Most days Brookelyn reads Braxtyn a story (this time on the iPad).

They really all play well together!

Our three little musketeers!

Braedyn's First Day of School!

This morning Braedyn started the Pre-K5 program at In His Image.  He was so excited to go and see his friends!

We are so proud of you, B-Man!

Braxtyn is FOUR Months!

Ok, ok where is the three month post you ask.  Well, I didn't get it done, so we have a three-four month post today! I don't know where the time has gone!

You love to sit in the swing in the morning while the big kids eat breakfast.  You already think you are as big as they are!

Your little piggies are SO cute!

The Bumbo definitely isn't your favorite place to be, but you tolerate it for a little while every now and then.  I think you need a little more head and tummy control before you will really enjoy it.

Most mornings you head out with me for a jog.  The weather has been beautiful and I have finally turned you around in the stroller, so you usually like looking around while we zip around the backroads.

You are happiest in the mornings right when you wake up.  I think you would sit all day in my lap while I rocked you if you could.

Love those little dimples that match your big brother and Daddy!

 At your check up yesterday you weighed 16 lbs and were 25.5 inches long.  That puts you in the 75th percentile for both.  The doctor said you looked just perfect, but of course we already knew that! We love you Braxtyn Eric Bates and can't wait to see what exciting things you will learn in the weeks ahead!

We Have a Second Grader!

This morning was Brookelyn's first day of SECOND GRADE! Hard to believe!  She was super excited to go to school this morning and see her teacher, Mrs. Sullivan who she met on Tuesday night at Meet the Teacher.

Check out that knee pop! All sass!

Watch out 2nd Grade!

I might be a little biased, but isn't she just the cutest?!

At her desk and ready to learn!

Can't wait for her to get home and tell us about all the fun she had!