Latest Low Down...

Well I guess I should give a quick update about what we're up to and how the cutest gal in Alpine is doing. McKenzie turned 1 year on Jan 19th, so she is 13 months old now. She is now a scooter, she can pull herself up all by herself, she is a cruiser, and hopes to walk before the age of 30. She is taller than most her age, she has a big head, which she has managed to crawl around with, but has yet to lift it off the floor while doing so. She says Mama, Dada, Dog, duck, (she also quacks like a duck, which apparently is the sound for every animal currently) she has recently mastered the words No, and grandma (although it doesn't quite sound like that). She loves to give kisses, and is so dang cute I love her to pieces. She has 6 teeth on her top and bottom, which makes this the 4th week that the Gates Family has not slept well through the night. She is a happy girl, who loves to laugh at anything that gets thrown up in the air. Although she does not like drinking milk, she eats really well, and hopefully one day she will forgive me as I quit nursing her far too late... we're currently trying chocolate milk, but to no avail, she is not a chocoholic like her mom and dad.

Mom and Dad are doing great by the way. We are building a house in Draper which is scheduled to be done March 26th, so you're all invited to the house warming party!! BRING LOTS OF GIFTS!! :) J/K But I really can't wait to show off my decorating skills. Shawn's business is really taking off. He's about to land a couple of HUGH accounts, and when he does, this will allow us to work here in Utah. He's decided to stay home this summer instead of selling security to build his biz I'm really proud of him. He's done so much in such little time, and has sacrificed so much for out little family and I am grateful for every single thing I do and don't have. I'm good. Tired.. all the time... Mother's around the world, why did you not tell me I would always be this tired? Happy to be a Mommy and a wife, and hope one day I will make it to the spa.. ahh.. p.s. my b-day is next Wednesday and my favorite Spa is anything with the word Aveda in it.

Chao for now, just wanted to give you the latest low down!!

House when it was about 2 weeks old. They build these suckers so fast!

The view from my soon to be back porch looking south. If you look straight out the back of the house, you see a beautiful mountainside with lots of trees.

McKenzie and Daddy in the soon to be finished Grand room/kitchen.

Happy Anniversary

It was the Crazy Gates' 3 year Anniversary January 5th. We celebrated by dropping the kiddo off with Grandma for the night and headed up to Johnson's Mill in Midway. We stayed in the largest room in the house with the Largest Bathtub! It was the size of my bathroom at home! It was a great night. I loved getting all dressed up in my little black dress- although it's much more little after 3 years, and we went to Ruth Chris in Park City.. I LOVE me some good Steak. It was a great little getaway. I luv my Shawnee. Thanks for 3 amazing, crazy, wonderful years!



Pictures from our Balcony of the Mill.


Big 'ol bathtub!

Happy Happy Birthday McKenzie Dear!

Happy Birthday to my little blue eyed Bombshell! McKenzie's first birthday was a blast! We had a family birthday party with presents, potato bar, and of course cake! We bought McKenzie a smash cake all of her own. It was so cute!! She would NOT eat it, in fact she hated the taste, but she loved making a mess of it!

I thank my Heavenly Father every day for my little Angel. I can't wait to see what this next year will bring! McKenzie has mastered the art of scooting, loves to say "Duck" Mama" Dada"and "who's that?" She quacks like a duck, and is currently cutting 4 teeth at the same time, and Mom is no longer sleeping at night. She is 19 pounds, and really tall.. Not sure how tall, but she's got legs that her Mama never had. She hopes to pull herself up to a stand in a couple of weeks here. Stay tuned!

Snow Mobiling

We went with the Gates Family to American Fork Canyon to take the snow mobils for a spin.. Since I didn't get to last year, being extreemly fat and pregnant, I got first dibs and got the longest ride this season. It was awesome. McKenzie was so cute in all her snow clothes too. She went sledding with Daddy for the first time. It was great! Can't wait to buy one of my own.. After we buy a new house ... and a new wardrobe... and a new car.. and a new nose of course.. just kidding.. I love my clothes.. :)

I have no idea who this dude is.

McKenzie wore out before we even got out of the car!

McKenzie with her cousin Amber. So cute!

Merry Christmas 2009!

We took the family to Temple Square this Holiday Season to go look at the lights. we lucked out, and went on a night that wasn't quite so cold. McKenzie was such a trooper. She didn't cry once and loved looking at the lights.

We headed out to Mom and Dad Bingham's for Christmas the next day where I was serenaded by Shawn and McKenzie singing Christmas Carols. I got some of it on tape if you'd like to make fun of my Soprano Husband. Too bad McKenzie stopped singing for the Camera.

Hope you all are doing wonderful and are all ready for Christmas since it's in 2 days! Love you all and Merry Christmas!






Shawn's big Debut

My little Fairy

Look at my little fairy! We won a free Halloween photo shoot. It was lots of fun to see my cutite all dressed up! Now if she could just waive her magic wand and make all my wishes come true, we'd be in business! At least she's granted me the most important wish- the happiest Mom ever!

Raking Leaves

My cute little Bug was helping me rake leaves.. Really, look how hard she is working! Love this kid.

See, she's handing me the leaves one by one to put in the pile.

Last but not least, look at my two cuties.. You just have to love them right?! It's Shawn and his "mini me"!