Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Random stuff

Some recent happenings from the Bateman's

 Mutual Activity....Mystery dinner wasn't exactly what it appeared to be.   Nicely set table but very strange combinations of dinner, like Vanilla Ice cream with Spaghetti sauce on top based on what each girl ordered.     The girls were great sports and laughed their way through the whole thing.

 So much fun when the cousins enjoy time together outside.   
Jaylen is giving little Gavin the ride of his life!

 Okay, this is a bit embarrassing for me but we had a hat party at Grandma's on Emily's birthday!    Emily recorded this for posterity sake...haha.    Merilee if you are reading this....come visit and we'll have another hat party with YOU!  We missed you.

 Beautiful evening for a bonfire with the Priests and Laurels.  
 They roasted hot dogs, played basketball and had a great time.  



 Another tooth lost...this time big sister Emily pulled it out for Preston.
 Preston is sporting a new look after receiving this tie for his birthday from cousin Braden- very cute!
Ready for his first Pack meeting--Yeah for Cub Scouts!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Eight is Great!

It was a special birthday for Preston on March 18th 2012.  
FAMILY BIRTHDAY PARTY 






 Some special gifts from grandparents...They are so wonderful!



 BAPTISM
                               
 PUMP IT UP PARTY...it was the best!





Friday, March 16, 2012

Validation

Validation--click here to see this quirky movie.   We love it.

Emily introduced us to this short movie and it has been a fun theme for our family recently.   It reminds us that we all need a little validation sometimes.   So remember..."YOU are Awesome!"

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

March 13

23 years ago Emily was born!   I love thinking back to the day she was born because it was such a surprisingly quick labor and delivery.   One minute I was coming home from a shift at the hospital and less than 2 hours later she was born!   We are so thankful for Emily---she is awesome!!     It has been 5 years since she has been home to celebrate her birthday with us and it's great fun having her live at home for a bit.  



A highlight of her birthday was exploring Grandma's hat collection!   She has hats from many different countries, fur hats, sun hats, fashion hats and wool hats.   Emily picked out a couple favorites but I think she secretly wanted them all!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Choir trip...Portland Oregon

Mike and I love chaperoning the Curtis Acappella Choir trips with Mr. Dickerson.  This time we were the only chaperones, we took about 50 kids to the Portland area and it all went great.  The choir sang at a rest home in Seaside, inside the Astoria Column, at Pioneer place in downtown Portland, had a workshop at University of Portland and also sang at the Grotto--a unique Catholic church and park.   We tucked the tired kids into their hotels room each night with a chocolate kiss and didn't see them again until breakfast the next day.   Wonderful trip.  
First stop...
ASTORIA COLUMN and DOWNTOWN ASTORIA





 We ate lunch with Mr. D at a unique Bosnian Restaurant in Astoria--authentic coffee served and then a delicious cabbage roll with salads.   The owner/chef escaped Bosnia during the war.
PIONEER PLACE MALL in DOWNTOWN PORTLAND

 SINGING AT THE GROTTO in PORTLAND... very interesting place, with beautiful grand Catholic church plus beautiful grounds and trails and an elevator to the top of the hillside.

 The girls used the bus as a changing room to get ready for a night on the town...we ate dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and then went to this amazing dance show called Club Morocco--it was so fun and entertaining, a 2 1/2 hour show felt like 30 minutes!   



 At Club Morocco Katie was dancing like crazy...

 ROOMATES!!!



 Ran into Molly Berger at the choir workshop at University of Portland!