The Bates' Brood: Finally!! Some New Pictures!

It's been 7 long months since I've blogged....or updated "Piper Pics"! "Lucy, you've got some 'splainin' to dooo"...so we owe all of you some good photos and an update on our lives! I figured that since we are 5 months expecting (sorry to break the news via blog for those of you who don't already know!) that I'd create a "family" blog. So now you should find most of our family pics here.

As Piper would say, "Hmmm, leeets see...", where do I begin? Okay the lastest and greatest news is we are expecting a new daughter on December 6th. No names yet but we're planning to keep it "neutral", kinda like "Piper". Sorry to disappoint you Mom...she won't have a Chamorro name or a "girly" name either. If anyone wants to cast their vote an any particular name you can post it in the comments section of our blog.

I'm still staying home with Piper, which is SUCH a blessing I have to say! If I just stay pregnant for the next few years Jon won't send me back to work!! Just kidding, really though, I love the outcome but don't enjoy being pregnant. Anywhooo, it is truly a joy to witness Piper grow developmentally. You miss so much when you're away...just ask her Dad. Piper is learning to read, do math, and we are just delving into encyclopedic knowledge. Some of you may be thinking, "isn't that just a little ambitious?" and yes, she is just shy of 2 years old but a friend turned me onto a program called "Teach Your Baby to Read" and I was hooked! For those of you curious, you can google the title and it will bring you to site for the Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential. 'Nuf said! Check it out for yourself if you like! Danyl stayed in Va. Beach this summer while Kristopher headed out to Guam to spend the summer with his dad. Good thing Danyl did stay behind because he was invited by a friend to spend 10 days in Canada at a cabin on the lake. He had an awesome time, he says, and hopes to go again next year (see photos below). Kristopher goes deep sea fishing a lot with his dad and on his first fishing trip of the summer caught a 250 lb. marlin! Holy Mack!!

So you're all thinking, "okay already, get to the photos!" so here you are!!!

Love and miss you all!!