Week 101

Let me begin by apologizing for being so tardy in getting this post out. For those of you who don't live in or near Jonesboro, let me give you an update. There was a major ice in the area during the last part of January. The ice storm caused massive power outages that left thousands without power in Northeast Arkansas, including the power customers or "members" that belong to the electric cooperative Chuck works for. He worked CRAZY long hours, seven days a week, for about 27 days. The long hours wore on all of us. Tate and I were missing Chuck, and he was missing us. One night Chuck called me and asked if we would come up to the office for a little while. I jumped at the opportunity!
After the guys finished eating it was time to get back to work. I must say Tate is becoming quite the little helper. Maybe, just maybe, Tate will follow in his father's footsteps and work for the coop.

Week 100: Backyard Adventure

Following a week (or two) of terrible weather the mercury rose (edging toward 70). So, Tate and I ventured outdoors. My goal was to let Tate run wild for a little bit while I cleaned downed limbs in the backyard. I figured the fresh air and a breeze in our hair would do us both some good. Boy did it!
Tate had soooo much fun running wild and free!!!! It didn't take him long to discover a stick. He promptly toddled over the our garden pond and began splashing water. Then he graduated up to the pool skimmer Chuck uses to clean leaves out of the pond. After just a little work he managed to "catch" some loose debris from the bottom of the pond.
Next he rediscovered his canine siblings. My little guy actually tried to ride Cheyenne. What a patient pooch! She just put up with him until eventually he gave up. As the afternoon wore on Tate found other things that caught his interest. There was the plank of wood Chuck brought home from work. (I'm still not sure the purpose behind this huge circular piece of wood, but it's in the backyard and has been for some time. I don't think it's going away anytime soon.) There was a concrete thingy in the yard that Tate took a rest on. He also discovered leaves and a plastic flower pot (probably from my stash I keep under the carport) that had blown into the back yard.
The afternoon outing was rejuvenating. Watching Tate meander and run and discover so many things that an adult takes for granted. It was one of those moments I think I'll remember forever. You could call it a Chicken Soup for the Soul moment.

Week 99: Inside the Box

While we were stuck at home last week we found new things to keep us entertained. Tate was thinking outside the box when he decided to pull all the toys out of one the storage cubes in his room and climb in it. In and out and in and out. It was great fun!