Ainsley turns 11!

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” - Audrey Hepburn

Dear Ainsley,

11.

Count it all Joy.

Sweet girl. I love you. As you are growing up there is less I can write here. There is much more going on inside of you. This year was different. You spent a week at summer camp and my heart almost withered up and died from not hearing from you for that long. Your heart grew that week to about double its size from all the fun and love you found there. You can't wait to go back. I can't believe I will let you go again.

Count it all Joy.

There was hurt this last year. Girls learning how to be friends isn't always easy. Mean girls one day, nice girls the next. Yuck. It stinks to go through this sort of stuff when you are the kid, watching your sweet little girl go through it may hurt even worse. But you have grown through it all. And it is the right thing. To learn who you are and why you are that person. That is what this season of life is about. This year was the beginning of lots of years of changing from a kid to a grown up.

Count it all Joy.

You excel at so much. You feel deeply. You love well. You play hard. You think.

Count it all Joy.

You spend your time reading (you still love mysteries and have discovered Greek mythology type books which you love), listening to Adventures in Odyssey (I'm not sure there is a bigger fan out there), jumping on the trampoline (a favorite activity with your friends), and playing with your siblings (I think if Reagan was asked to pick between me and you she wouldn't hesitate in picking you!)

Count it all Joy.

Eleven years ago when I was holding a tiny little baby Grandma Seaquist and I talked about how we wondered what your voice would sound like. I was excited to hear what you sounded like, I didn't yet understand how wonderful it would be to get to talk with you as you got older and hear all the lovely and interesting thoughts that you have in your head.

Count it all Joy.

What a blessing has been the last eleven years Ainsley. I love you and, as always, pray that you would continue to grow into a great woman of God.

I love you so much Ainsley Grace.

Count it all Joy. Mom

11 years ago and this morning before school-

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

New child to add to the chore rotation

Reagan has decided she can set the table. Monkey see, monkey do.

Nothing good comes of this...

she learned how to open the pantry door.

Camden's Big Game

Camden's pre-k/kgtn. basketball team got to scrimmage last night during half time of the Barlow varsity game. The high school kids chanting, "Little Pate- Little Pate" when Camden had the ball was a pretty cool moment. Very fun experience for a 5-year-old. (and his parents!) They even announced all the kids names and ran through the row of cheerleaders at the beginning.

Defense is what Camden is all about. We are working on helping him switch over to offense when his team has the ball, usually he just keeps, as he says, "defensing" his man. His first game was on Saturday and at one point when he went out he got put guarding this really cute little girl. Before the ball had even been put into play he was "defensing" her and she was backing away from him, and so he would just get close and closer. The whole time he is making these intense faces. It was too much for the little girl and before they started playing she turned and ran off the court crying. It should be a fun season to watch!

Happy Birthday Hudson!

Dear Hudson,

What a fun 8 years it has been with you. You started out this tiny little baby who slept perfectly and almost never cried, grew into a pretty wild toddler and pre-schooler, and have grown up into a sweet, independent full-on-grade schooler.

You are a kid who really has two sides. You are sometimes shy and quiet. I see you sit back and wait to see how something is going to turn out before you try it. You have no interest whatsoever in doing anything up in front of people. What is so funny is you have that laid-back sort of charm that you can't teach someone. It means that other kids are drawn to be with you because you sort of make them work for your attention.

It is the second side of you that is why they want your attention. You can switch from being quiet and shy into this silly, outgoing, pretty wild kid. You will laugh loud, talk a ton, and play really hard. You live to play with your friends. You come home from school and just want to go outside to find Colby.

I've noticed in the past year that you are really pretty artistic. For a kid who didn't really pick up a crayon until kindergarten this surprises me. You really like to draw right now. One of your favorite things to do is have me print out pictures of things on the internet (star wars characters, snakes, eagles...) and then you try and copy them. You shade colors well and have good perspective. Your handwriting... well.. that is another story. It could use some work!

You are really into the Oregon Ducks right now. You are definitely starting to align yourself with your daddy. You've of course always loved and looked up to him, but it is becoming different now. He's your role model, and he loves Duck football- so you do too.


I marvel at how completely "boy" you are in everything you do. Your whole birthday is a great example. This was your family party year so last Saturday we went swimming at the North Clackamas Aquatic Park. You took Jackson Glover with you and the two of you had an amazing time. You did the slides over and over and had crazy amounts of fun. You and Camden shared a cake that day, and you guys picked a dirt bike hill cake. For your birthday dinner tonight we had meatballs shaped like footballs, salad and bread. To top it off the cake you wanted was a bomb. I'm doing my best at parenting boys Hudson, so I did my best at making you a bomb cake. It said "boom" on the side of it and an actual smoke bomb on the top.


Your doing great in school, not that you tell us anything about school. You love your class and love going, but don't have much to report despite my probing questions. It is interesting because when you are in the right mood you can be very chatty and tell us lots of things, but on a normal day you don't tell us much about what you are thinking. You are in Mrs. Terveens class this year and she is a great teacher for you. It is pretty funny that you are in her class because I was job-sharing with her in a second grade class when I was pregnant with you!

My biggest worry for you is that you can be a bit of a follower. It is probably because you and Ainsley have always played so well together and she directs what your doing so it just comes naturally. One of my biggest prayers for you is that you will choose right and stand up for what you know to be true.

You are really a super sweet kid. From someone just hanging around with you initially they might not initially see how gentle and kind you are, but you have a soft, tender little heart. You are getting so tall and so grown-up, but you will still snuggle in my lap, even though you don't fit. That reminds me- I can't believe it has taken me until almost the end of the letter to mention how much you eat. Man, you are ALWAYS hungry. You eat so much and then are still hungry an hour later. It is crazy. I can't imagine what you will be like as a teenager because as a 7 year old you about ate us out of house and home. Your the tallest in your class and are taller than some of the kids in Ainsley's 5th grade class.

Daddy coached your soccer team this year and it was great. You did really well, and so did your whole team. It was so fun to watch you play and do well. What you are really excited about though, is basketball. You love basketball and are so excited to play. Daddy is coaching Ainsley's team and you go with them to practice most times. Your doing great. Last Friday night I went and watched a Barlow boys game and thought about how someday I will probably see you out there playing in high school. It is going to be fun to see what you do.

You are a wonderful boy Hudson. It is such a blessing to be your mom. I pray that God will fill in all the things that your daddy and I miss as we are caught up in the day-to-day work of parenting. My prayer for you right now is that God would grant you wisdom to make good choices and see that walking a life with the Lord is the greatest and most fulfilling way to live. Proverbs 16:17 says, "The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life."

Hudson, your daddy and I couldn't love you more. Thank you for being such a wonderful son and sweet brother to your siblings. We love you so much. I hope your eighth year is a wonderful one.

Love, mom.


This was outside setting off the smoke bomb from your cake.

Grandma and Grandpa gave both you and Camden remote control cars for your birthday and you love them!


The dirt bike hill from your shared party!

A hand-full. (as in 5)

Dear Camden,

Today you turned 5. And sweet boy, now you are officially a hand-full. And I couldn't love you more. As I sit down to write this, I don't know exactly what I will say, but with you I'm thinking it will pretty much write itself.

The thing that stands out about the last year is you starting pre-school. You are a Bruin Buddy. To say you love going to school would be a colossal (one of your favorite words) understatement. We didn't really know what to expect as far as how you would act at school, but evidently you are quite the little rule follower. You listen and obey. We are feeling really good about that.

You like girls. You play hard and wrestle and have lots of playmates who are boys, but you also love girls. You don't necessarily play with them, but you really like to take care of girls. We have had to have conversations about not hugging girls and holding their hands at school. You also love your cousin Eleison so much. Tonight after talking to her on the phone you cried at bedtime because you want to see her so much. A month or so ago we went to the Woodards (from church) for dinner and as we were getting ready to leave you asked if you could wear a pink shirt. We were so confused, because of course you don't own a pink shirt. After questioning you about it you explained that Abigail (their 5 year old daughter) likes pink so you wanted to wear pink so she would like you. You settled on drawing a pink flower picture for her. So cute.

You are a thinker Camden. Your mind is always going and trying to figure everything out. This has led to some interesting theology. You do fully understand that God should be the most important thing in our lives. You frequently say, "I love you, but not as much as I love God." Or you will say, "This is so great, but God is the greatest."

A good word to describe you is passionate. I know it is cliche, but about you it is true- if you are going to do something, you are doing it 110%. Good or bad. If you have something to say or do you usually feel very strongly about it and it is hard to stop you. You are SO opinionated. If you believe something, your mind rarely will be changed. This year for our Sunday School Halloween party daddy and I dressed up as Samson and Delilah. When we came out and you saw us you said, "I know what Samson and Delilah look like and it is not like that!" In the past few weeks you have been saying, "I have some advice for you." Then you let us know what you think we should be doing differently.

Your crazy smart. You love numbers and doing math problems. You are sounding out words and continue to shock us with your vocabulary. It is amazing. You are strong and coordinated. You came home from playing at Jalen's house this fall and said, "Hey, I can ride a bike without training wheels." Sure enough, you had gotten on his bike and without us ever teaching you, you took off riding.

You are an awesome kid Camden. Nothing with you is ever boring. People say to us all the time that it is going to be fun to see what you do with your life. Whatever you do it won't be something dull. You have more personality packed into your now 5-year-old body than most people ever have in their whole life.

Your choice for your birthday dinner tonight was hot dogs and Cheetos. It was interesting. That pretty much that sums up your whole life. You, my little love, are always interesting. I'm not sure we have ever worn you out. Your energy is without end. I so hope that your daddy and I can be the kind of parents that you need and deserve. As long as we can help you channel your energy and passion in the right direction, you will be amazing.

Happy Birthday Camden. It is such a honor that of all the moms in the world, God chose me to be yours.

"Grow in the grace
of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
Get to know Him better.
Give Him glory
both now and forever.
Amen."
2 Peter 3:18

School Days

School pictures:

Ainsley the 5th grader

Hudson the 2nd grader

Camden the big preschool guy.

Happy 2nd Birthday Reagan Joy!

Dear Reagan,

Here it is. TWO. As in technically not a baby. It doesn't seem possible that we have been this little family of 6 for two whole years. But much has happened since your last (first) birthday letter. Lets get to it.

You are a love. Always have been. So patient with so many people wanting to give you love and attention. I'm still amazed at your siblings devotion to you. I thought that this would be the year that someone (especially the someone closest in age to you, ahem...) would get frustrated and mad at you because you would get into their stuff and mess it up. You have of course become very mobile and capable of destruction this year. Amazingly there is almost no irritation with you. I try hard to protect your siblings creations to protect your relationship with them, but even when I fail as protector and you destroy something, for the most part there is no frustration. They all just love you so much that they want you to be with them. Amazing. Crossing my fingers it continues.

There is irritation when you scream in the car. Sometimes you just don't want to be pinned down by that darn car seat and you go ahead and let everyone know how you feel. Loudly. This brings great irritation because you drown out the radio/adventures in odyssey and make it difficult to read. It also produces in Camden the need to scream, "beeeeeequiiiieeetttt!!!!" which does little to stop your screaming. Just had to throw this part in so you don't look back someday and think it was all sunshine and roses everyday!

Ever since you started walking you have been a hand holder. Not really out of needing to be connected, but to bring one of us over to do whatever you want. When you bring us over you then shove our hand on whatever it is you want. Often it is to the pantry or refrigerator. Lately it is becoming to bring me to a book you want to read. There has even been a time or two that you bring me over to show me something that you just got into that you know you shouldn't have. Yeah for developing a conscience! For awhile when you first started walking you wouldn't let two people hold your hand at the same time. I think it was way too confining. That was before your siblings taught you the joy of, "one-two-three-WHEEE!" and now you love to hold two peoples hands so you can swing away.

Speaking of swinging, I think we have a little dare-devil on our hands. Faster and higher is better. And big wild slides.. you love them. It is fun to take you places because you will try anything. You definitely think you are a big kid. You think jumping on beds, couches, and if someone will lift you on, the trampoline is great fun. Your sweet little laugh is intoxicating!

You are also the first Pate child to learn how to climb out of your crib before the age of two. That sort of threw me at first. However you and I have come to an agreement that if you climb out, you get put in your little pea pod tent. You don't mind it, it is where you sleep when you are away from home, but you prefer your crib when here. Consequently you don't really climb out. I am still a bit shocked! Nice that you caught on quickly.

You are still a binkie and blankie girl. Two blankies to be exact. The funniest thing you do is when you are tired or needing soothed you put the little fringe part of your blanket up under your nose. I guess you are smelling it. Adorable.

"Dada" was your first word, but "mommy" wasn't far behind. You understood what we were telling you quite awhile ago, but saved talking until the last few months. Every animal until about 6 weeks ago was a doggie. In the past month you have been stringing words together to make little sentences. Your first sentence was, "where'd my binkie go?" Great. That is going to be fun to take away. When you call your siblings by name it melts their heart.

Your favorite foods are pizza, spaghetti and pancakes. I hate to admit that you have discovered, thanks to Camden, that you love the tv show Curious George. You lead me over to where the tv remotes are and say, "show" and "monkey." You do love books, or "bookies" as you call them. You don't really have a favorite book, but we try and keep you away from non-board books right now because you are fond of ripping pages of paper books and then bringing them to me and saying "open." Evidently you are a little confused between things like raisin boxes or granola bar wrappers and books.

I think our favorite thing about you that we have discovered this year is your funny little personality. You like to laugh and make us laugh. You know when you are doing something funny and delight in it. You are also so pretty and cute. People stop me all the time to tell me what a pretty little girl you are. Daddy especially loves your soft, golden blonde hair.

This morning your siblings woke you up so we could have breakfast as a family and open presents. You weren't super impressed with the whole thing. Tonight when we had birthday dinner and opened gifts with grandma and grandad gave you a birthday cake toy that you were obsessed with. You loved it so much you wouldn't open up anything else. It was great practice so you knew how to blow out the candles on your cupcake!

We love you so much Reagan Joy. It is so fun to watch you grow. You are so cute and fun right now that I want to freeze time and keep you this way forever. However, I know that I'm going to love what you turn into. I love every minute with you sweet baby girl.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.

Happy second birthday Reagan Joy.

Love Mom.

October!!!

Our family actually did all the following October events in a period of six days. It was a busy end of the week/weekend! Here is the recap:

Camden's preschool class took a trip to the pumpkin patch last Wednesday. Gramma Arlene got to go as a chaperone with him. It was a beautiful day and he had a great time. How cute is his little class!?!

This was his High School buddy for the day. Each kid had their own high schooler with them, and each group of three kids/high schoolers had one adult chaperone. The kids were well watched!

After trying to find a day we could go on our annual trip to the pumpkin patch with Gramma and Grandad and Auntie Kate we finally were able to go on Friday night. Unfortunately Grandad had plans so he couldn't come. I almost said that it was unfortunate that it rained, but actually it wasn't bad because most of the stuff was actually indoors (we don't actually pick out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch) and there were NO lines! Ainsley's friend Sydney came with us- here they are in the acorn pit:

Reagan is the family animal lover and so she loved the goats and chickens.

There isn't much I need to explain about how Hudson feels about the giant swings.

Reagan loved the swings too.

Auntie Kate helps out Camden on the swing.

Saturday was the Sunday School Harvest party at the Strandbergs. Whoever ordered the weather did a great job. It was super fun. Strandbergs are pretty much the best ever for letting us all come over. In a rare moment of boldness Andrew and I dressed up as Samson and Delilah.

Ainsley trying to eat a donut on a string.

Sunday was pumpkin carving day. Andrew did a great job. Ainsley made Minney Mouse

Camden wanted the bird from angry birds. How awesome is this? It is better in person.

And Hudson represented the Ducks. Don't be fooled and think that is a drawing of a duck on top of the "O". It's not. It is a bat. Because that makes sense right?

And finally the culmination. Halloween night. I didn't actually get any trick-or-treating pictures because have you ever had four kids trick or treating that all walk? We hadn't either. Turns out that keeps you busy. We went with a whole pack of kids from the neighborhood. The big group of kids along with no streetlights in our neighborhood (okay, in our whole town) make it really tricky to keep track of your kids. Hudson's goal was to be the first kid at every door. Ainsley and her friend made their way a little slower. Reagan wanted to walk, but of course couldn't keep up. She made it up to three doors total. I carried Reagan on and off and tried to keep my eye on the older two.

Hudson-Jango Fett, Camden-Buzz Lightyear

Andrew was with Camden who enjoyed every minute of Halloween. Camden saw no reason to hurry through the event. He didn't keep up with the other kids. With Andrew watching him he would go up to each door alone, having been left in the dust by the pack. He would procede to have a long conversation with each person who opened the door, about everything from their house, their Halloween decorations and how he thought they could be improved, and their candy selection. Andrew said it was hilarious. Two times the person didn't come to the door fast enough and Camden opened the door to try and let himself in. Andrew explained that he couldn't do that because we don't know those people. Turns out that wasn't the best explanation because at the very last house which was our next-door neighbors who Camden loves he opened the door without even knocking as he was yelling to Andrew at the driveway, "this is okay because I know these guys!" I will have to do a whole post on Camden and our neighbor Chuck. Funny stuff.

After much debate over a costume choice for Ainsley she ended up going with tennis player Maria Sherapova. Not only is it her favorite sport, but Maria wears necklaces and dangly earrings. Getting to buy new jewelry to make up a costume was the icing on the cake.

Reagan was the fourth Pate child to wear this giraffe costume. She wasn't a big fan. I finally got the costume on, but never was successful with the little hood/head part. Oh well, she is plenty cute without a giraffe head.

As you can see no one lacked for candy.


My friend Tara made these shirts for the kids, and Gramma and Grandad grew the pumpkins with each kid's name on it. I just tried to get everyone to look at the camera at the same time. Fail. Super fun and successful Halloween for everyone!