brad and patterson's goings-on & other quick items

Happy Friday everyone! I'm trying to get a quick post in while Lottie Sue plays, Coldplay is on the Today Show and she has been dancing when they perform. I love Coldplay and it seems that she does as well. She's so cute when she boogies, she moves her hips and shakes her arms like crazy.

Please let me introduce a new blog for you to peruse...Brad and Patterson's Going-On! I used to work with Patterson at HGTV, but I'm not there anymore and she moved on to a great job at UT (she's making the world a better place - see photo below). They are super cool people and I know you will enjoy all of their home projects (I need them to come over and help!). Also, Brad and Patterson are legendary-level Rock Band folk, I am currently star struck.

a recent photo from their blog

I just have a few photos from last weekend, we went to the lake and had a nice time. It was hot and we cooled off by staying in the water.

lottie sue is getting pretty good with utensils, it's messy but she's getting better

at least most of it is on her face, this is progress

And then we took another pleasure cruise, Lottie Sue REALLY loves to be out on the boat. She's really all about them, back at the house she is the assistant harbor master to her GranDaddy and she gets very excited when one comes into view. They are her main source of entertainment when she isn't in the pool. But here are some photos from the boat trip...

lottie sue boats it up

granbunny, matt and lottie sue sit tight as we cruise down the main channel

Becce called the other day, well actually Harlan accidentally called me and boy - he did not want to give the phone up. Becce took it from him and he was quite upset, Becce sent this photo as evidence. We have an old cell phone for Lottie Sue but she only wants mine.

I WANT THE PHONE MOMMY!

Babies are really funny, they get very mad if you take something away from them. Lottie Sue likes to do a big cry if you tell her the word "no" - I'm not kidding. If she tries to grab something she isn't supposed to have and you gently tell her "no" she breaks out the tears. Matt and I think it's funny, it doesn't last very long and she at least gets one tear out every time. What a drama queen.

Wednesday was Lottie Sue's first time in her Kangaroo Class at Sprout Studio - she loved it and I thought her head was going to explode when the music started. She's in the Bouncers group and it's an engaging hour of "kangaplay" which includes rhymes, songs, dance, story time and other little activities that stimulate senses and perception. I put her in there mainly because I need to get her around other little kids, she gets so excited when she sees little kids and I was starting to feel bad about it. This is great because she loved the class and she also loved being around the other kids. They range in ages from 10 - 18 months and it was really funny watching them. Little kids are crazee, they basically run around or crawl all over the place, concurrently putting anything and everything into their mouths. I'll see if I am able to get photos next time, it's pretty busy in there with all of the singing and jumping.

A few stories to read if you are so inclined:

• Lance Armstrong is quite the cassa nova.
• A Monet painting sold for $80 million the other day.
  

Alrighty, that's all I have for now. Everyone have a great weekend!

A Hair Helmet, A Senior Pose & Meet the Robinson Family

Now that my excitement of Design*Sponge has died down (just a hair) I guess I will focus on other topics for the blog. But honestly, I am still on a high. Natural Home magazine contacted me after seeing the chair on D*S and they are putting it in their May/June issue - that's right. So when it comes out I will rush to my local Barnes & Noble and buy all of them right up just like they do in the movies!

OK, I don't think anyone is going to send me embarrassing photos. I went through our archives and found these of Matt and Michelle, sorry guys! And don't worry, I have more to share later. I want to thank Grandpa and Gramma for taking photographs of their family as it grew and sharing them. Check out the sah-weet hairdos, what a sign of the times...

Somebody loved da Bears - nice hair helmet by the way

Ha ha ha ha ha - Matt's "do" here really makes me laugh

Could these jeans be any tighter - I think not

Here is Matt posing in front of his new car, at the same time being too cool for school

Michelle's senior photo

Michelle stabs Matt, she's an amazing shot (and notice Michelle's boots, these are back in style this year - I see them in magazines all the time)

Michelle as a geisha

When does the fun start? Like, now - totally rad!
(how much gel do you think Matt used to slick down the sides of his hair - I say one tube per side)

Alrighty, now on to Lottie Sue. We had lunch on Saturday with Gramma and Grandpa, and as you can see LS is quite grabby. Anything she sees within reach she's all "gimme gimme gimme."

Grandpa, gimme those glasses - they look delicious

They ARE delicious

Lottie Sue playing throughout the weekend...

Why hello everyone - what a lovely day

Let me see what I can dig out of here for you, a circle or star - what'll it be?

This towel is just great

Out of all her toys, the towel was #1

And of course we played Rock Band this weekend, Carrie and Kevin were newbies but picked it up like pros...

This could be on their Christmas card photo for 2008

Rocking out

Carrie and Lottie Sue get along splendidly

The guys rock and roll while Carrie dotes on LS

And I also have these WONDERFUL photographs from Matt's mom and dad. I am not sure of the members in each of these but I will update them if I can remember to ask...I know these are the Robinson family, Matt's maternal side.

I love this one, what a great photograph

I know this one is a Robinson family photo, not sure of the year

And this is a great photo of Matt's great grandparents, do
you see the resemblance with Matt here - I sure do

And I'll end it with another Giant Picture, this is Mike at the Sunsphere...

Mikezilla

OK, I hope you enjoyed those. Matt has been ill with the flu so he's been sequestered for a few days. I follow him around with a can of Lysol and it just occurred to me now that I should make him wear gloves and a mask....hmm. But anywho, he is feeling better so that's good news.

Lottie Sue's 2nd tooth broke last night, it's barely out but adorable already. She spends her day playing, napping and eating - it's a nice life she leads. She really loves to play with her toys now, and she loves to stand up and hold on to things. She gets a look on her face like she's proud that she can do it, or at least that's what I read into it. And to hear her laugh, it's just the neatest thing - we love to hear it. Lottie Sue is also a very observant baby, she looks at everything and nothing much gets by her. She still thinks that sneezing is so much fun, and she loves to yank kitty kat tails. She really is a such a sweet kid and she's such a joy. LS is also HEAVY, it's literally breaking my back. I had lunch with Jo on Friday and I could honestly carry Birdie around on my little pinkie. Lottie Sue and Birdie liked being around each other, and I have photos that I will put up later.

And let me link to this story - our Vols are ranked #2 in basketball and play #1 here in a few days. It is VERY exciting. Matt has a man-crush on Coach Pearl, he is his biggest fan. Seriously.

Until next time...

Hello Dolly! & T-Minus 4 Days

WAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Cera is almost done packing the things she needs for her move to Los Angeles. She's outta here on Saturday morning. Um, that's in four days. Let me distract myself by posting pictures of her birthday last Friday.

Cera FINALLY got a new cell phone. For those of you that don't know, she had an old old old phone that her co-workers dubbed her "Zack Morris phone" (hahahaha) and it drove me crazy. It was heavy and big and didn't have texting capabilities - I'm pretty sure it had a rotary dial on it. But I must say she did it right- she bought an iPhone and named it Dolly...

I was so happy, I made her pose in front of the Apple store

And here is a photo of Cera about to blow out her birthday cupcake. She turned 26, a wee babe.

She made a wish but was tight lipped about it

And then OF COURSE we played Rock Band for hours - it's been a month and we're still going strong...

Cera on drums, she has the cocky pose down

Megan on bass in a very relaxed position

And here is Cera giving me lip when I'm telling her it's her turn to play the guitar but all she wanted to do was play with Dolly

Ok, that's all I have from her birthday. I've been doing contract work with Scripps and I went to Nashville on Sunday night for a roast. It was much fun and I was able to see all of my old friends from the outer offices. I don't have any photos though, my bad.

Matt took Lottie Sue on a drive around the yard in her pink car. Here are a few photos of the adorable one...

Pink nose/cold nose

Beep beep!

Listen buddy, I have the right of way - not you

Ooh, and here are some recently scanned photos.

This is our mom with Cera as a baby

This is GranBunny as a newborn - I think she and Lottie Sue look alike, especially in the eyes

Here I am, looks like I broke into GranBunny's makeup and applied it myself - with my eyes closed

A full shot in GranBunny's kitchen, this ensemble has a lot going on (I've always been fashion forward)

And now for a few random shots of Lottie Sue - I almost forgot - she has a tooth coming in! Two are there but only one is making the move currently. I simply can't wait to see her with teeth.

Playing in the floor after a nap

Put your feet in the air, wave them round like you just don't care

In the jumper, jumping away

Moments before she was talking into the microphone, but she was going to town on this piano

Alrighty, I'm out going to sign off for now. I hope everyone is enjoying life!