Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Boot Camp at Mia's

While I was away for a week in Hawaii (and Rob joined me for half the trip), Tate got to spend some quality time with Mama Mia and Big Guy. They whipped that boy into shape.

They taught him manners. He now says "thank you." (and uh oh and buh bye)

They taught him to get to sleep on his own. For the last two months, bedtime has been a test of wills involving much chasing and cajoling. Now, all I have to say is "It's nite nite time" and the kid actually walks to his crib and acts like he's trying to climb in. Unbelievable.

Finally, they taught him to work for a living. Observe him mopping the floors in Wal-Mart.



Who needs Super Nanny when you have Mama Mia?

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Work Trip

I am on a business trip to Hawaii (believe me, I am doing a lot of work...it's actually exhausting).

This is the view from my hotel room.


I still miss Tate.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Down with Horatio

I have a confession. I just sent an email to Sesame Street complaining about Horatio the Elephant. It started with a long, well-written message about how much I love Sesame Street, how I watched it as a kid, and how I feel ridiculous even bringing it up, but that the Horatio character just doesn't seem like he is up to the usual Sesame Street standards. His voice and his antics encourage children to be loud and obnoxious. I clicked on "submit" and got an error message. My carefully worded missive disappeared into cyberspace. Frustrated, I went back to the "Contact Us" page and tried again. And I got another error message. So I had to start over AGAIN. Finally, I just quickly typed:

"Horatio the elephant is shrill and obnoxious and must go."

Submit.

This time it went through.

Yep. I just used my English major and professional skills to flame a Sesame Street character.

This blog post brought to you by the letters P and O.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Rock Band Family

We had some fun with Rock Band at Nancy's recently...

Tate was very into the drums. (t-shirt was a Christmas gift from his Aunt Nancy...so nice of her to recognize his Aunt Brooke in such a way.) 

For those about to rock, we salute you


The guys playing a song. But wait! Who's singing????


Our own Rockstar! 

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

New cousin

Tate has a new cousin, Cecilia Rosemary Robertson! She is the first child of Rob's youngest brother, Chris and his wife Sarah. Check out www.erinbeach.com/thebaby. She is absolutely beautiful! We can't wait to head out to San Francisco to meet the newest member of the Robertson family.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

I've been tagged

I was "tagged" by LKW, which means I had to go to the fourth picture folder on my computer and pick the fourth picture in it and explain it. So I did that, and I really cringed, but I am posting it anyway in the spirit of the game. Ugh. So here it is: 

And the explanation: This picture was taken on Feb. 10, 2004. I just had about 7 inches of my hair cut off into a "swing" style (it's even shorter in the back). It was a huge change for me, and I wanted to show some folks in Texas (I lived in Memphis at the time), so I set up my super cool new digital camera (hey it was February 2004, people. They were kinda a novelty then). I put it on my kitchen counter and took the picture of myself using the self timer. I explain this for those who are very observant (and by "those," I mean Sarah) and who will note that it appears that I am not that much taller than a kitchen counter. I had to squat in order to get a self-portrait. As a side note, this was taken in our apartment on Harbor Town Square in Memphis. I LOVED that apartment. You could see the Mississippi River from our balcony and the Memphis downtown skyline from our front window. Aaaah. Good times. 

Another side note: LKW, who tagged me for this walk-down-memory-lane, makes a cameo appearance in the background of this picture. She's in the picture on the far left side of my fridge...wearing a red shirt and black pants. 

So now I am supposed to tag people now, and I don't know who to tag, so I just invite anyone who wants to play, to do the same: 
1. Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer
2. Select the 4th picture in the folder
3. Explain the picture

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Name that Caption

In honor of the New Year, I am introducing a new regular blog feature called "Name that Caption."  Here's how it works: I post a picture and people suggest captions for it.  

This originally started on my old blog when my Aunt Cathie put out the call for a better caption for a pitiful picture of Tate. Click here for that.  Then, my Mom forwarded the picture below (courtesy of daycare webcam) to a few family members and asked for captions.  (Tate is the one with his head thrown back): 

The suggestions: 

From Mom and Dad: 
"Try a little deodorant next time Brendan...you're killing me over here." 

"OK...ONE more round of grape juice but then I really got to be going." 

From Aunt Kathy (Special K): 
"Not the 'uncool table' with the booger eaters....Noooooo!" 

From Bongo: 
Cheerios for breakfast? Cheerios? Are you KIDDING ME?! Freaking CHEERIOS? AGAIN?!?! DAMMIT!!! What's a guy gotta do to get grapefruit around here?!? 

From Nancy: 
"Hey guys! My dad has been taking me to the bar with him...he taught me how to throw nuts in the air and catch them in my mouth. Watch me do it with these cheerios!" 

From Todd (you must note the hanging lion in forefront of picture): 
"Dear God, thank you for turning Ricky into a stuffed lion...but what the hell about these other two?" 

"What? We aren't charging users to look on the webcam??? How are we going to make a profit this year?!?!" 

From Brooke: 
"No Billy, I don't have proof, but there must be a camera somewhere...I sense we're being watched."

And this one from Brooke is the funniest, but only if you know that she did this exact thing when she was about three: 
"Ok everybody, do like me! If a teacher asks you to sit up, tell'er....'I'm deeeead'..." 

Too fun.  So, here's a new picture...please submit any caption suggestions in the comments field!