Just For Me

He's a Real Hoot!

Tate has grown out of all his winter hats from last year, well he was only 6 months old, so reasonably so.... anyway, so I thought I would make him a new one. It's cute but I think it's the little guy under it that makes it so irresistible!






You are probably wondering if I keep Tate in the high chair all day everyday, because that is where most of his pictures are taken. Well the truth is, no I don't, it's just the only place where he is still enough to get a clear picture.

Hello Blog world

I feel so out of touch with the blogging world out there, I actually didn't look at a single blog for about 10 days. It feels strange to be back at it again after such a short absence.

For the past 11 days I've been in Utah visiting family. I hadn't planned this trip and we had planned to stay home in Minnesota for thanksgiving. I got a call from my little sister on Thursday the 17th telling me some heartbreaking news. My brother and his wife had lost their baby boy. She was 34 weeks along. I was devastated for them. Tears and emotion over came our whole family. I thought it was financially impossible for me to come out to be with them.

My sweet sister-in-law spent the whole night in labor and Friday morning delivers Koston, their stillborn baby.

I felt I needed to get out there and be with my family, which was made possible by my incredible in-laws and sweet husband. Poor Donny, I left him with no food, a messy house and a huge pile of laundry! With a smile on his face he told me not to worry about any of it and go support my family. He is really the best there is folks!

It was good to be with family during this heartbreaking time. The strength that comes from family and love is incredible. I'm so thankful for family.
Baby Koston was buried the following Wednesday and had a beautiful grave site service. He is loved and very missed. I know he is a blessing in our lives, and his sweet spirit is busy doing his work with his Uncle Ryan.
I believe it was the night of the service that there was the most beautiful sunset. We all went out to look at it and enjoy it's beauty. I heard Kensie say to Maycie "Koston made this sunset for us to show how much he loves you". I loved that. Aaron and Kens are amazing, strong, and mindful of Heavenly Father's plan. They are fantastic parents. I love them dearly.

In the furry of packing in a few hours and my mind being else where I forgot my camera at home (and enough clothes for 11 days). I was super bummed I didn't get pictures of the service or Thanksgiving or any family. So all I have are the memories I'll keep with me always, which is good enough.

We are so blessed. There are many things to be grateful for. Little Koston will always be in our hearts and with us forever. Heavenly Father loves us, and cares about each and every one of us.

Sisters

My little sister Amber came to Minnesota for a visit for the past 12 days. She just got home form her mission in Hong Kong and we were so excited to have her come out. For one thing she needed to meet Tate! When she got in the car he looked out the window and wouldn't look at her. He was just smiling and laughing but wouldn't look over. After he softened up they became good friends. Sharing a room and playing all day. I didn't take many pictures while she was here, I wish I had, but here are just the few I did take.






Sisters are the best. I love my baby sister, and I'm so glad she is home! She went back to Montana today and I miss her already!

Families are Forever

Today I have been thinking a lot about families. I love my family, both Bingham and Baum! I feel so blessed to have all of these people in my life. I know I have grown in many ways because of all of their influences. I have great examples of strong women and loving, compassionate mothers, of faithful/dedicated husbands and loving fathers. Our family really has it all. As much as I love my family that lives outside of my home and miss them daily, I know what gets me through the day is the family that is right here in my home.

When life is as unpredictable and crazy as it is right now, and sometimes I think I should be a complete mess. I feel at peace in my situation. Sure I get anxious sometimes at the thought of the unknown, everyone does. I always have a constant reminder that everything will be right, because I will always have my family. We live in Minnesota right now and to be honest I wasn't too happy to come out here, but I love it. I really do, I would even say I sometimes have mixed feeling about leaving here someday. Yes I hate being away from loves ones and miss them terribly, but I have my little family of three. We're small but we have each other.
My sweet Donny is my best friend. We laugh and giggle together, have constant inside jokes and most of the time know what the other will say or is thinking. We have cried together and found comfort in each others company. I know now that it doesn't matter where we live or how much money we have or how nice our house or car is. We are happy with nothing, (I know this because we have nothing now and we are happy). Happy to be a little family.
Little Tate is a blessing in our family. Sometimes I can't remember life without him. He is like sunshine in a bottle. When I feel down, that little smile warms my soul. Family really can be together forever........and I'm counting on it!!!

Sunday Best

Can you resist a boy in a sweater vest? I can't! He is such a snappy dresser and I love it! He's just so kissable and squeezable, and that smile just melts my heart!

I vant to suck your blood!

This year for Halloween Tate went as Dracula. He was so cute with that cape flapping behind him and that little bow tie. We had our church Halloween party the week before Halloween when Greg and Valynn were here. It was fun and I had thought maybe that would be all the Halloween we would do this year. I'm glad we decided to go out and do some trick or treating because we had so much fun. At first Tate wasn't quite sure what we were doing, but then at the first house that lady opened the door and dropped candy in his bucket he was hooked. The look on his face was priceless! There was no stopping him he was running from house to house. His bucket was getting so heavy but he wouldn't let us carry it for him he just started dragging it along. He did take a few spills along the way one somersault off the sidewalk and one trip that gave him a little bloody lip which added to the costume. He cried for a few seconds and was ready to go again. He was so funny he was holding his bucket out and would continue to hold it out until they would drop another into his bucket, then he would wave and say bu-bye and turn and run.






We went out with our friends the Oborns. Tate and Madison are just the cutest! Little Dracula and his witch girlfriend. Yep they like to kiss! and it is so cute!






One of the houses in our Neighborhood did an awesome job decorating and making it very spooky. Tate was terrified! But they were giving out full size candy bars so we had to go up to the door. As you can see he was scared to screaming and tears, please don't judge me for laughing in the pictures it was entertaining and I do feel bad for making him scared!




All in all it was the best Halloween we've had in years! It was so fun to see Tate enjoying the traditions we enjoyed when we were little.