balrina, lottie arizona and henry everett & great greats (plus books 2 read)

Lottie Sue talks about dancing like a "balrina" a lot the past few days. We don't know why this started but have been enjoying it very much. Today she wanted to wear a tutu to Mother's Day Out and I can't tell you how excited she was - she kept shouting "I A BALRINA! I DANCE!" - it was awesome.

Here are a few shots of her and some dance moves...

yeah, we know how cute she is

Matt's mom sent this photo over last week. I'm not sure if you know, but we got the name Lottie from Matt's great-grandmother, her name was Lottie Arizona (her sister's name was China Bee - I love it). We found out after our Lottie was born that she shares the same birthday as Great Grandmother Lottie - freaky! But neat!

This is a photo of Lottie and her husband Henry Everett (Matt's great-grandparents - I think Matt looks like Everett!).

lottie and henry in their 50th wedding anniversary photo

Matt's mom sent this note over with the photo, it's about Everett:

He was quite a fellow, a big man, very intelligent, taught in a one-room school most of his life, played the banjo, knew an amazing number of folk songs, led singing schools in his area. Then when a college degree was required to teach school, he drove the school bus. He loved to entertain the grandkids by playing the banjo and singing all those oldies. Actually Grandma Lottie taught him to play and sing to begin with. Lottie was the sweetest, kindest woman, and she's the one who was always doing some kind of needlework. They both laughed alot.

This picture is for their 50th wedding anniversary. She was 16 and he was 21 when they married on May 28 in 1918. They had 8 children, 2 boys and 6 girls. All the kids played some sort of stringed instrument so they had some lively singing sessions. My mom, Ima Jean was the 4th child, and the only one who taught in a one-room school. All the children have lived into their 80's--pretty amazing.

Anywho, I love family stuff like that (send more Mom!). Thanks for sharing!

Lottie Sue and I went to see Grandma the other day for lunch, she found this photo of me when I was little.

maybe this is where lottie gets it?

She also had this photo and I asked to scan it in. The woman on the left is my great-grandmother, Grandma Carter (Grandma's mother), and she is with her brother Oscar and their parents, Grandma and Grandpa Rainwater (my great-great grandparents).

hello, family!

I have also had the pleasure of loving several of the books I've recently read. I found three of them in our bookshelf and am pretty sure these are books that Cera left here before she moved - so THANKS CERA!). Anywho, I thought I would share...

• Vinegar Hill by Manette Ansay thumbs up (enjoyed it very much)
  
• Mudbound by Hillary Jordan - thumbs up (I loved this book, wonderful)
  
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett- thumbs up (it's a fast read and I enjoyed it very much)
• Inamorata by Joseph Gangemi - thumbs up (ate it up)
  
• Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel (this book is a graphic novel, I thought it was great)

Alrighty, over and out. Blog for ya later!

books, booties to die for, smart girls & nuts

FYI - no Lottie Sue photos here, I'll post some tomorrow or Thursday. Forgive me. Please. I will tell you that right now she is playing her piano with a measuring spoon while laughing diabolically. She is absolutely cracking me up.

So here's a very random post, enjoy:

Here's the New York Times' list 100 Notable Book of 2008. I am always looking for a good book and I look forward to the lists that come out (here's amazon's bestselling books list along with their editors' picks for 2008). I read through them and then add them to my list at the library. They'll send any book to my branch and when I'm done I can ask for the next one on my saved list, I love it. Easy and free (my favorite part).

And since it's gift-giving season, I thought I would share a lovely that I will never purchase due to the extremely high price (which is fine, I DO NOT need them but I like to look at them). These are Christian Louboutin booties and are GORgeeous.

you don't even want to know how much these cost

Having a little girl makes you worry about, well - being a girl these days. I was happy to find this online show, Smart Girls at the Party! Thank you Amy Poehler and friends! Here is one episode, I watched the shows and they really are delightful.

cameron, a 10-year-old writer

And it is possible for you to watch a holiday special/movie every day until the 25th. Follow this handy guide and you won't miss any of your favorites. Tonight I'm going to watch The Polar Express, I have never seen it (don't ask me how). My favorite Christmas movies are Scrooge and White Christmas.

Here's an easy and delicious recipe for holiday nuts, trust me - you won't be disappointed. Becce started making these a few years ago and they are now a staple in our house. It's from Nigella Lawson and they are called "bar nuts from union square cafe" - your taste buds will thank you.

OK, here's to a happy Monday. Later taters!

mcnickigoodness is here, get you some & a peek-a-boo overload

I am SO excited, one of my favorite people (in the whole entire world), Kat, created a blog! I can't tell you how it warms my heart when a friend decides to blog (let me take this moment to urge you to start your blog if you've been thinking about it). Now I get to read about things in the McNicholas Casa on a regular basis, let the hilarity ensue! Aside from being entertaining in general, Kat and hubby PJ are remodeling their historic home and the "before & afters" will be awesome (there are some up already). I'm linking them on our blog but please take a moment to check out McNicki Goodness every now and then...you won't be disappointed.

This is Lottie Sue's new favorite blog

Alrighty, let me give you your LS fix. Lottie Sue has been teething and one of the toppers finally broke through. You can barely see it in this photo, so now we're waiting on the other one to drop. She's figured out that she can make noise with them if she bites down real fast over and over again, so she basically does that all day. Well, that and peek-a-boo.

Teeth count: three down with one more on its way

I took lots of photos of the wee babe this afternoon. You'll notice lots of photos of her with her arms up over her head, that is her version of peek-a-boo.

She can see you but you can't see her

Laughing after I yelled PEEEEEEEEEK-A-BOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

OK, ready to play again?

Then we moved into the study and I somehow changed the setting on the flash. These are a little overexposed but I'm posting them anyway.

Waving "hi"

And then of course, peek-a-boo

And here are some additional PABs...she's just so cute - I must post.

This baby is the best, she was made happy

Lottie Sue is the name, Peek-A-Boo-n' is my game

Playing with her imaginary friend I suppose

And then I was able to scan in a few old photos. I like to look at the background in these, it's fun to see what we had back in the day.

Looks like I am reading something to Becce here, and that wallpaper is something else (also notice the miniature ironing board in the back behind Becce - I'm getting one of those for LS)

Here we are again in front of the fireplace, I think we are 5 and 8 maybe

Becce striking a pose on Grandma's stoop

Michelle and Matt, circa 1988 - very stylish, these two

I've started reading again, I was unable to read even a magazine for a while but now I'm in the groove with things and have read three books the past two months. That's BIG news...anywho, I thought I'd share what I've read in case you need a book suggestion.

big thumbs up

thumbs up

thumbs up

Signing off - oh yeah, this is what happens when you let Lottie feed herself. She actually did a great job, just a messy one.

PPPPSSSTghetti, I hearts it

Tonight we are having a Mexican stir fry meal (not your typical stir fry we know) - um, we REALLY need to go to the grocery store.