katie, ben and lucy » Dallas http://www.coatefamily.com Coate Family Happenings Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:42:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 So a Million Years Later…Or 3 Months…. http://www.coatefamily.com/2010/07/19/so-a-million-years-later-or-3-months http://www.coatefamily.com/2010/07/19/so-a-million-years-later-or-3-months#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:36:27 +0000 Katie http://www.coatefamily.com/?p=1980 So “HI.”  Welcome back.  Sorry we’ve been gone for so long.  An absolute huge amount has happened since our last post.  In March, the California crew, along with Amanda’s parents, came for a visit.  The goal…a new deck at the lakehouse.  The boys worked hard while the girls and kids played harder.  Next, we celebrated my birthday and Easter in April by visiting my brother and his family in Washington DC.  When we returned to Houston after the trip, we enjoyed the opening game of the Astros’ Baseball Season. About a week after Easter, Lucy learned to walk.  After her first day of the big accomplishment, her distance seemed to double every 24 hours. In no time, she was quickly waddling from person to person. In May we moved from our cute little first home in Houston, after 3 weeks of renovations, to our new more permanent home in Katy.  I’ll spare you the details. But as usual, it was a long and difficult process that Ben and I are glad to be done with. To make matters more interesting, Ben was working on one of the biggest projects of his career at the same time.  He dealt with all of the home renovations; I dealt with all of the house hunting, packing, and moving processes.  The workload between us evened out in the end.  And as usual, we couldn’t have done it without our wonderful realtor Patti. Then we celebrated Lucy’s 1st birthday with two little shin-digs with the family.  (You’ll notice two separate “Smash Cakes” in the photos.  The pink flower cake was on her real birthday – a Tuesday.  The cupcakes were for her birthday party which occurred on a Saturday).  For the past two months, we have been renovating the new house.  OK, actually, the new house is in wonderful shape..structurally.  But cosmetically, we had very differing opinions from the previous owners concerning paint colors, flooring choices, hardware, light fixtures….just about everything imaginable.  So, slowly but surely, we have been making it our own.  We still have lots to do – but in time.  We need more money for that!  So if you’re wondering why there are not any pics of the new house yet, it’s because I’ve been wanting to add our touch to everything before the big reveal.  Soon enough my friends, soon enough. For July 4th, the entire family hung out at the lakehouse to celebrate with food and fireworks…except for me. I had to work the holiday. But no biggie…I spent my spare time, baby-free, to paint the nursery. It has now transformed from olive green to “dried toothpaste”…but pretty dried toothpaste – aka a light mint green. I was informed that Ben and Lucy should take more trips with the family and without me. Since I was not there for Lucy to cling to for dear life, she was much more social with everyone else – giving hugs and sharing kisses with everyone. (I must admit, it is nice to have her lean over to give you a kiss on the cheek with a loud smack of her lips. Very cute!).  Last, but certainly not least, my cousin James and his sweetheart Kelly just married this past weekend.  It was quite a fun party – with lots of family to celebrate with.  So…all in all….A LOT has happened. I tried to pick the best photos for all the occasions. But of course, i still managed to pick about 70 or so “Perfect Pictures.” So have fun flipping through the gallery that covers the last three months of Coate Family Happenings. As usual, click on the photos for an enlarged view; you can move from picture to picture by using your arrow keys.  They’re shrunk to fit on the website page.  For a short little caption on each photo, just hover your mouse over the small version.  It’s amazing to see just how much Lucy changes in the photos during this time. She’s growing so fast; it just amazes me.

March – A Family Affair…Building a New Deck at the Lakehouse

Building a new deck at the lake house Working on the deck at the lake house Aunt Amanda with her mom, Susie Making bird feeders out of pine cones Cousin Milo on Granddaddy's tractor Nanny and Lucy Milo watering the dog Showing off the teeth 

Still March - Renovations to Our Old House

Family room of old house under construction Redoing the wall in the old living room Redoing the wall in the old kitchen Master bathroom remodel in the old house Guest bathroom remodel in the old house Who needs kitchen counters anyway? Renovating the kitchen of the old house Living room of our old house, ready to sell New granite counter at our old house, after renovating Kitchen at our old house, after renovating Living room of our old house, after renovating Master bathroom at our old house, after renovating Guest bathroom at our old house, after renovating The old house…great memories.

April – Our Trip to D.C.

Pretty Trees Cousins Ingrid and Malcolm Cousin Ingrid with Lucy and Mom Dad, cousin Ingrid and Tom Lucy, Mom, and Tom Cherry Blossoms We like the Washington Monument The Virginia Belchers The family enjoying the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC Ingrid on her bike Easter Egg Hunt with Cousins Playing with cousins Presents? For Easter? Bunny Birthday Cake 

Still April – Opening Day with the Astros!!!  Shortly thereafter, Lucy learns to walk on her own!!!

Take me out to the ballgame... Looking cute at the Crawfish Boil 

May – Lucy Celebrates 1 Year…Twice  :)

Birthday Presents Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack Trying on a new hat The family celebrating Lucy's 1st birthday Wearing a Pink Birthday Cake! Bath Time! (Wash off the cake) Lucy's 1st Birthday Cake Fun with Cake Chocolate Cake and Milk New Toys!

July -An Explosion of Fun!!

Dad and Lucy on the Jet Ski Lucy Riding the Rudy Grandma and Lucy at the Lake Aunt Elinore Reads with Lucy Lucy with her Granddaddy Lucy and Daddy Swimming

Still July – James and Kelly’s Wedding

 Newlywed James and Kelly James and Kelly's Wedding Cake James and Kelly's Grooms Cake Zach and Haley Grandma, Lucy, Mom Dad and Lucy Grandma and Grandpa Dancing Aunt Diana and Lucy Aunt Cammie and Cousin Zach Fa Fa and Uncle Russ Ashley Dancing with Lucy Dad and Lucy Dancing Cousin James at his wedding with his mom, Aunt Diana Lucy with her Grandparents

And just because…

Worst Bite Ever!!! It took about a week to heal...poor kid.  Reading with Grandpa For all you non-believers...Cuddling with Kitty Cat TOYS! Sleepy Cuddly...Loves that Giraffe! Loving her Fa Fa Pensive Thoughtful

]]> http://www.coatefamily.com/2010/07/19/so-a-million-years-later-or-3-months/feed 2 A Visit from Amanda, Lola, and Milo http://www.coatefamily.com/2009/11/01/a-visit-from-amanda-lola-and-milo http://www.coatefamily.com/2009/11/01/a-visit-from-amanda-lola-and-milo#comments Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:42:23 +0000 Katie http://www.coatefamily.com/?p=1492

Henry and Patrick Nanny and Lucy Milo
Lola on zipline Lola on zipline Patrick
Just the three of us Milo So serious
 Katie and Lola  Elinore  Amanda, Lola, and Milo
Dallas, Milo, and Lola   Carving a pumpkin  Milo - eating raw pumpkin seeds???
Amanda, Nanny, and Lucy Playing chase with the kids Lola and Ben
Milo Lucy Lola and Lucy
]]> http://www.coatefamily.com/2009/11/01/a-visit-from-amanda-lola-and-milo/feed 0 Call from the doctor http://www.coatefamily.com/2009/04/17/call-from-the-doctor http://www.coatefamily.com/2009/04/17/call-from-the-doctor#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:10:32 +0000 Ben http://www.coatefamily.com/2009/04/17/call-from-the-doctor Earlier this morning, I got a phone call from my dad… you know, the doctor who has delivered 7.3 million babies in his career.
He has decided that Katie will be going into labor sometime next Monday (April 20th) and the baby will be born on Tuesday (April 21st).
What does he know that the rest of us don’t?   Hmmm… Anyone care to change your bets?

]]> http://www.coatefamily.com/2009/04/17/call-from-the-doctor/feed 7 A year goes and the belly grows… http://www.coatefamily.com/2009/01/05/a-year-goes-and-the-belly-grows http://www.coatefamily.com/2009/01/05/a-year-goes-and-the-belly-grows#comments Tue, 06 Jan 2009 03:08:26 +0000 Katie http://www.coatefamily.com/?p=514 Now that the holidays have come and gone, I’ve finally found some time to sit down and share some photos with the world.  So…here are a few that we have taken over the past few weeks. I wish there were more. 

The biggest excitement for me was beginning to work on the decor for the baby’s room.  We’ve decided on a sort of seaside/ocean theme for the room.  And, I decided that I want to make most of the decorations - rather than buy them in a store.  Alice, Ben’s mom, is being absolutely wonderful (and patient) by guiding me through all of this sewing business.  She’s the sewing Guru Genious of the family.  I’m really putting my “Walmart Special” sewing machine through the ringer!  But it’s hanging in there so far!  {Ben bought if for me for my birthday about four years ago – when we were still dating.  Just a side note, when his dad found out, he made the comment, “Oh, a sewing machine.  It must be serious!” }  I’ll post pictures of the baby’s room as the decorations come along. 

Anywho, enjoy the current pics.  If you click on the first one to enlarge, it should show a caption/title.  You can scroll back and forth between pictures by clicking on either the left or right sides of the photos. 

BOB Ornament, X-Mas 2008 The boys enjoying Christmas toys - dressed for the occasion. Pete and Dallas enjoying a sail at Lake Limestone. Second Wind is sea worthy again! Hard at work - sewing decor for BOB's room. More sewing... Still sewing... You may think I'm done - but I've just begun!

]]> http://www.coatefamily.com/2009/01/05/a-year-goes-and-the-belly-grows/feed 1 Weekend Photos http://www.coatefamily.com/2008/10/06/weekend-photos http://www.coatefamily.com/2008/10/06/weekend-photos#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 12:35:13 +0000 Ben http://www.coatefamily.com/?p=230 Dad working on sailboat 1

Dad working on sailboat 2We often like to head out for the weekend and spend a couple of days at the lake.  It was a short trip as we couldn’t leave until Saturday morning and we had to head out Sunday at 2 PM.  Still, it was worth it.  Mom made us some fantastic food.  I helped Dad work on the sailboat.  It is coming along well.  He has put a lot of work into fixing it.  The boat was seriously damanged in a storm a few years ago.  He thinks we are almost ready to get the boat back into the water.

Katie in front of the treehouse You can also see our progress on the new tree house.  Katie was standing in front of it just before we got in the car to come back to Houston and I snapped a couple of photos.  We started building this treehouse last year using a lot of the leftover wood from the old pier we took down.  That wood went into the “platform” that is attached to four trees.  The “house” sits on top of the platform.  The house framing is done.  The roof is decked and covered with tarpaper.  We put up enough siding to give the walls some stability.  It should be done in time for our kid to start playing in it.
Mule Dogs It’s fun to get out of the city and let the dogs run, play, fetch, and drive the mule.  The mule is kind of like a small pickup truck.  It could also be described as a golf cart on steriods since it has 4-wheel drive and can launch boats.  Any time we fire up the mule, the dogs all compete for who gets to ride shotgun.  It’s normally pretty cute, unless the winning dog just got out of the lake.  Then you’re just trying to drive while keeping a stinky wet dog from crawling all over you.
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