Miracle Babies....FIVE years old!!

I am not sure how you blink and your "babies" are FIVE years old....I am sure mommas across America would identify with this same bitter sweetness of raising babies into children, and children into teens, and teens into adults. . When I remember this week of their "birth-day", December 11, 2008...I have a combination of emotions that is quite exhausting if I bare the honest truth. I remember sights and sounds from that day that make my stomach twine a knot. There are so many faces of people who showered us with so much love and prayer for these lil guys. I see all of their faces. I can easily visualize the nights of solitary silence I would sit in my living room, gazing at the beautiful Christmas tree lights, and cry out to Jesus, "Help me Lord, Help me have the strength to handle it all.."

I am so thankful, so very humbled and beyond honored to have these two FIVE year olds to celebrate with today. Watching them develop into their own rich, beautiful souls is nothing shy of a MIRACLE, and definitely a "GOD GIFT" for our family. 

James Daniel--

Such a loving child. Very sensitive and aware of his surroundings. Loves to create and invent. Wants to be independent. Loves to drink Ensure milkshakes, chocolate Devil's food cake doughnuts, hot dogs, carrots and ranch dressing and "spaghetti meat"....Always has a hat, gloves, glasses or belt tied around his waist. Loves Camo. Loves Auburn. and LOVES his school, CASA.  Sings and plays guitar. 

John David--

Funny kid...is always saying something to make us all laugh. He is happy to be playing with 'nothing'...will spend time chopping trees with a stick if that is all he can find. ACTIVE boy...rides his bikes, scooters, whatever can "go" fast on...Loves to watch TV and play Ipad. Wants to be first, and tends to over talk others. Loves SUGAR...always asking when the next treat will be. Wants to know dessert before dinner. Wants to watch crazy scary stuff, like Mario with the bad guy, or Smurfs with the mean guy, but then is scared to death to sleep at night. Loves pirates. Loves ninjas. and LOVES football. Talks about playing football all the time. 

Thank you Heavenly Father for the blessing of these two little boys. I pray you will empower me to raise them first to know you, and second to be amazing men of honor and integrity like their Dad. I thank you for the family you have designed for us. I thank you for my husband that leads us in your direction. I thank you for a love that is nurtured through your Holy Spirit. I ask that your protective love and spirit would manifest itself through all the members of our family. Thank you for this day to "celebrate your miracles"...

JAMES DANIEL and JOHN DAVID....

Interviews with each kid..

Claire McKinley Pate:

Who is your bestfriend - Leah Nielsen
What is your favorite breakfast food- Chick Fil A
What is your first choice restaurant for dinner- Bone Fish
Favorite soda-Dr. Pepper
Favorite candy- Jolly Rancher Chews
What do you wish for right now-I wish I could go Black Friday shopping with you, Momma.
If you could change something about your school, what would it be- I would hope for kids to be nicer, and the bathrooms to be cleaner.

Favorite fashion- riding boots, skinny jeans, cute shirt
Favorite color- coral and yellow
Highlights in your life this year- Auburn Georgia game, getting Gus, WhiteWater


Jenna Kathryn Pate:

Who is your best friend- Savannah Holder and Elizabeth Oswald
What is your favorite breakfast food- Waffles with whip cream and strawberries
What is your first choice restaurant for dinner- Olive Garden (because I love their desserts)
Favorite soda- Root beer
What do you wish for right now- I wish it was my birthday right now.
If you could change something about your school, what would it be- We could swim at school for recess.

Favorite fashion- Purple/Blue/Indigo dress with rhinestones
Favorite color- hot pink
Highlights in your life this year- Won my last soccer game and got my back bend kick over by myself, riding my bike without training wheels, and we got Gus.




Ellie Brooklyn Pate

Who is your best friend- Jillian Edwards
What is your favorite breakfast food- Pancakes, waffles, biscuits,
What is your first choice restaurant for dinner- Mt Fuji
Favorite soda- Diet Coke
What do you wish for right now- I can go to Flip Fest.I could get 1st all around on my state meet.
If you could change something about your school, what would it be- Recess could be 2 hours.

Favorite fashion- High/low shirt with rhinestones with sparkling jeans and diamond black high heeled boots.
Favorite color- hot pink and lavender
Highlights in your life this year- I made the gymnastics team, we got Gus, Becky and Rosey moved to Alabama.


John David

Who is your best friend-- Ben
What is your favorite breakfast food--Waffles
What your first choice restaurant for dinner--Winn Dixie
Favorite soda--Sprite
What do you wish for--A new stocking for Gus

What do you love to play with--batman cars
Favorite superhero-Hulk
Favorite movie--Home Alone


James Daniel

Who is your best friend--Colt
What is your favorite breakfast food--Pancakes
What is your first choice restaurant for dinner--Nana's house (tomato soup with meat loaf)
Favorite soda--root beer
What do you wish for--Christmas

What do you love to play with--toy soldiers
Favorite superhero-- batman
Favorite movie--Ralphie with the big gun


The best part of interviewing the kids every few months, is the different responses I get from each kid. I love to just listen to each of them individually. We spend a lot of time together as a family talking, but spending a few minutes individually with them is priceless....