The Bounce House

This weekend we went to Knoxville to see our good friends that FINALLY moved back to Knoxville from Oklahoma City! And we also went to celebrate Derek's cousins Haden and Hudson's birthday! We had such a good time visiting with Matt and Mandy and Saturday at the twins birthday at The Bounce House Mason had an amazing time! He was such a silly boy and did not want our helping climbing he inflatables or coming down the slides! He thinks he's such a bog boy! Welcome Home Matt and Mandy and Happy Birthday Haden and Hudson!

Apple Farm

Sunday we went with mom and dad and the Ridge's to the Apple Farm. The apple fritter and apple pie with ice cream are reason enough to go up there, but they we had a good time and finally got some good family pictures.

Daddy and Mason

Mommy and Mason

Not real happy

Halloween Night

We decided not to take Mason trick or treating since A. He can't say trick or treat. B. He can't eat much candy. And C. It makes me nervous so we stayed home and let Mason hand out candy which he loved. So Happy Halloween!

Mason's pre- costume was John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever

He loved giving the kids candy

Yelling at the kids

The Annual Pumpkin Carving!

Cutting the top offOur scary pumpkin


Mason got to clean it out this year!He wasn't real sure about his hands being nasty!
Derek cutting out the faceSo cute!
The finished product!

Trunk Or Treat

Wednesday night at church we had our annual Trunk or Treat. Last year, Mason didn't show much interest and I wish I could say that this year was different but he was more interested in riding in Cooper's play car than getting or handing ou candy. Max, well, he did what he does best, jus looked around and slept. Here are my precious puppy and my plump pumkin!

Enjoying some pizza before candy!

Max just looking around wishing he didn't have something on his head!


Mason and Derek just love them some Vivi, aka Hannah Montana!


I always wanted a puppy!

More interested in throwing candy that walking around and getting it.
Our family of 4!

Mad because he had to get off of Cooper's car!

Daddy and his pumpkin

Finding Nemo

Saturday night, after a very long week for my parents, mom treated us to Disney On Ice Finding Nemo. I must confess that I wasn't as excited to see Mason's reaction to Nemo as I was just to see Nemo myself. I am a huge Disney fan so when anything like this is going on, I am a 5 year old all over again. I have come to realize that nothing I do comes without drama and this was no different. We bought the tickets in mid- September and me being the crazy wife that I am a.k.a. a normal woman, I didn't think to check the Vols schedule and bought our tickets for the biggest game day of the year, but Derek being the wonderful husband and father that he is, gave up the beginning of the game to come watch Nemo with us.

Mason was not as interested as I wish he would have been, but what can you expect from a 16 month old. I think he did great considering his age. Next year if something like this comes to town, I think he will do great. It has made me a little nervous about our trip to Disney, but mom keeps reminding me that this doesn't have to be the only time we go. I am really excited to go to Disney because it will be Derek's first trip there and although he may act like it's no big deal, I am really excited for him. Anyway, here are some pictures from Finding Nemo!

Keeping him occupied until the show starts with what other snack than Goldfish!

When Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy came out to introduce the show

Scuba Goofy!

He thought they were hilarious

I don't remember the birds name, but I loved how he was actually flying around!

Our favorite part... the turtles

More turtles!

Getting very tired and bored towards the end

Since Max has been born, we have had no time to do anything with Derek working a lot and every Saturday and with the flu hitting our house. So we had a free weekend before I went back to work so we decided to go to Knoxville for the weekend to visit Derek's family. So we left Friday night and about the time we hit Sweetwater we hear " Tornado Warning for Sweetwater, Lenoir City and Knoxville." Me in a panic starts crying thinking about what I am going to do with a 16 month old and a newborn if I see a tornado and I am on the road. Thankfully, we made it to James and Kristie's before it got too bad. Mason thought he hit the jackpot when we got there with 2 boys and all their toys to play with. I have never seen him play that hard. So Saturday morning, we ate at Cracker Barrell and headed to Maynardville to see the Bates and Listers. Mason also played hard here and ate more food than I have ever seen him eat. Max just enjoyed being held and fought over! Sunday we saw Perry and his parents and came on home. We had so much fun and we were so glad that we had a weekend to go visit since we won't have a chance to go back until Christmas. Here are some pictures from the weekend!

4 Generations- Derek, Mason, Max, Derek's Dad- Danny, and PaPaw Bates

Mason thinking he is one cool kid

Mason eating- he did it all day!

Derek's cousin- Julie and Max

Eating again!

Derek's Aunt Debbie, Julie and Max and a little bit of Justin

Max and his Great Grandfather- PaPaw Bates

Happy Halloween From The Bates Family... And Will Smith

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Halloween Poll

I have had the hardest time trying to figure out what Mason will be for Halloween. So, I need your help! I have posted the possible costumes, but to the right you will see a poll. Take your pick to help us decide what Mason shoudl be for Halloween!