Milo's Grandmother and Grandfather

judy Butler 1944-2010

2010-08-09T18:06:00.000-05:00

I am writing you today to let you all know that Judy passed away in her sleep on August 7th at her home. Judy's Celebration will be Saturday August 21st at 10am at Mount Olivet Funeral Home in Nashville. Please come and bring your best memories of Judy as we celebrate her life together. There are 2 scholarships set up in her name and Judy Wanted you to donate to them instead of sending flowers.

the info on the scholarships can be found here in her website:

http://www.judybutler.com

Milo's 2nd Birthday Party at Dragon Park

2010-06-09T15:35:00.003-05:00

Milo takes first ride in Paul's Jeep

2010-05-22T17:42:00.004-05:00

Paul's Jeep has only had two front seats all the years they have had it. They ordered a back seat just for Milo and then put a big guy car seat in it. He has loved to sit in the Jeep in the back yard but could not leave the drive way until today. Finally he got to ride in it. They took him to the Waffle House to celebrate. The top was not down but the windows were off for a breezy, exciting ride. IT IS LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TILL HIS SECOND BIRTH DAY. WOW. He is now Jeep Ready!

Milo riding tricycle

2010-03-21T09:00:00.001-05:00

Milo was playing in our back yard on a warm day in March. When Ellen and Mark brought him one of their grand children's out grown tricycles. What a great day.

Kelly took over and took him up and down the sidewalk.

Time for a water break...

Back on a different sidewalk... then time to go inside.

Milo and Paul in Our Yard Cold Day in March

2010-03-09T11:49:00.000-06:00

The Kerrigans Go to Wonderful Cumberland Mountain TN State Park

2010-02-17T02:44:00.005-06:00

Milo sleeping on his way to Cumberland Mountain State Park
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/CumberlandMtn/index.shtml

This park is rustic and built by the WPA. Beautiful and small cabins that are kid and dog friendly.

TV, no landline phone, and intermittent cell service. Great get away. Photos taken by Kelly on her cellphone and uploaded to Facebook. Really cute.

Paul's Logo for LeVar Burton's Production Company at Macworld

2010-02-17T02:28:00.006-06:00

LeVar Burton appeared at Macworld and in the background appeared humongous the logo that Paul desiged for LeVar's new production company.

Text from Macworld website:
To wrap up the “late night,” Pogue sat down for a candid interview with Burton to talk shop about how much the actor actually hated wearing his Visor on Star Trek (and why) as well as future plans for video production and acting. Burton fans may be happy to hear that, after a dozen years behind the camera and producing films, he will soon return to the other side of the lens, and Reading Rainbow is making a comeback.

http://www.macworld.com/article/146325/2010/02/pogue_macworldexpo.html

Milo Jan. Photos 2010: Cool In Sunglasses and beyond

2010-01-30T11:38:00.003-06:00

Very Cool Guy in his shades. He loves wearing his sunglasses.

One of Milo's favorite toys is a group of stacking Robot Blocks that Gran bought for him in Florida before he was born. He makes a tower, lines them up, and on and on. He likes all kinds of blocks. Stacking is his major thing right now, well besides dancing to Pop Music!

Milo in Motion!

2010-01-30T10:57:00.001-06:00

Milo Sees the Christmas Decorations at the Opryland Hotel

2009-12-31T10:49:00.006-06:00

Holly Cow: Christmas was so much fun...All about a Milo Holiday

2009-12-29T00:41:00.036-06:00

Woopie! Christmas is Cool!

Milo, Kelly and Paul all had colds so they rested in the morning then came to the Grandparents house for our first Christmas where he is walking, talking, and can better understand what the holiday and presents are all about. Well almost. One thing I had not thought about is that he had to play with each toy after it was opened. With that, Present opening took all day.

First it is about routine. At Grans' house you have to first turn on the fan when you come in the den. Lets get the order right here of what is important. Of course he had no idea of what was in store for the day.

Milo made Grand and Granddaddy a beautiful reindeer and hand print for our present.
It is wonderful.

Ellen gave him a very big and adorable Elmo Stocking that Kelly wrote his name on. Ellen also gave him 3 cute little animal ornaments for the tree. Next was an airplane with a propeller that turned on a container full of star candy. Fortunately he thought the candy was just a pretty decoration. We did not tell him they were totally delectable sugar goodies.

He got a play phone that is recordable. We spent the day off and on recording fun things to say. This phone rings when you close the lid...Pretty cool. This was followed by a little Sesame Street speak and say I can keep in my purse for him on our shopping trips. That finished his stocking!

What is better on Christmas day than an Oriole Cookie and a toy from your stocking!
What would a stocking be without a a box of Oriole cookies.
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HIS MOST FAVORITE PRESENT WAS HIS TOY YO GABBA COMPUTER!
Just like Gran's computer, well almost.

FIRST, Get it out of the box. Woooooooooo! I really like this!

Mom's turn to play with me and my computer. Then some alone time with this gadget.
He got a small keyboard with a Karaoke microphone. Really nifty, that Kelly took home with them. Good thing, it would have driven Lew nuts!

=========================================

Yes, Everyone got presents other than Milo. But that sure seemed inconsequential. Lew and Judy got a complete new entertainment center with one of those 40 inch HD screens, a new cabinet, and all updated component parts including a Blue Ray player (He got lots of Blue Ray movies, fun). Lew is one happy camper. It was a total surprise that we installed about a week before Christmas while he was out of town.

Kelly and Paul got new winter coats, new floors in their basement and breezeway, some other treasures, and their biggest surprise present, a Wii player. Judy got may lovely gifts from family and friends who have been dropping in for weeks prior to Christmas day and Kelly and I each got a beautiful bird plaque from Lewis. We will hang mine on the patio... to satisfy my bird obsession around the yard.

Susan and hubby sent Paul and Kelly a generous gift of Christmas Cash, always a favorite. She got each of us an adorable key ring with unique figures. I hung mine and Lew's on our Christmas tree. Now every year we will get them out and remember this very special holiday thinking of how special friends and family are.

Holiday Fun with Milo

2009-12-25T09:38:00.008-06:00

Christmas Eve Lunch

On Christmas Eve, Kelly, Paul, and Milo picked up the Honey Backed Christmas ham and brought it over. We all sat down to enjoy some. Our friend Jeff was here to celebrate and work some more on our new TV and entertainment center. (Lew's big Christmas present). Jeff hooked up a vintage audio tape deck Kelly got at the thrift store. We looked for one new, no luck. We would have never been able to figure out all these components with our Jeff's expert help.

Milo ate at the table with us. The honey baked ham did not interest him. He was much more taken with the Macaroni and cheese casserole and the the roll just out of the oven. I tried to sell him some homemade split pea soup Lew and I made for lunch. We encounter a little projectile spiting of green peas...an interesting technique.

Did you notice he had three spoons. He keep collecting them for everyone at the table--well, maybe that was collecting from Gran. He loves to help his daddy clear the table and load the dishwasher. That was fun to watch.

Lewis Modeling a hat that Leigh Made me for Christmas

He is a wild and Crazy Guy

More Nutcracker Fun

More playing with the Nutcrackers who love to talk to each other. Oops, an arm came off. He tried to put it back on then just ignored it was on he floor. A little glue after Christmas will fix this little guy right up.

What will Christmas Ribbon do?

Last week Kelly and Milo came to help with gift wrapping. Milo was a swell Santa's helper. He thought it would be great to sort out the ribbon on the cartons... that is to mix them all up.

It only took me about 10 minutes to untangle them. Well worth it. He had so much fun experimenting to see what the bright colored ribbons would do.

Milo is getting ready for Madi Gras with our collection of beads

2009-12-17T06:33:00.001-06:00

Milo's Santa Photo for 2009

2009-12-17T06:27:00.002-06:00

Kelly and Paul took Milo to the Mall yesterday to have his photo with Santa.
Santa looks pretty excited about seeing this cute little one.

Is this cute or what!

2009-12-06T12:13:00.003-06:00

Toni brought me back a beautiful Lama wool hat from her Peru trip 2 years ago.
Here is Milo in this hat. Cute or What!
Taken in Kelly and Paul's back yard next to their really big tree.

Time for Christmas: Milo loves the Nutcrackers

2009-12-05T05:40:00.005-06:00

Kelly and Seth have been getting down the Christmas storage boxes from the attic over the last week. In the Den Seth put up the 3 foot tall live Cedar tree. Kelly picked out one that is soft and that Milo can touch without it being prickly. So many trees have needle sharp branches. We will decorate the tree today when Kelly and Milo come over.

Many of the storage boxes have Nutcrackers in them. I have been collecting them for the last 35 years. Not sure how many of them we have..many, many. We will only get out a few this year.

As Milo and I unpacked the boxes he was fascinated with these lovely Christmas icons. We made them into puppets, moving the levers and letting them talking to each other. What fun!

This post is a copy from my Art Blog: I take a little cactus character around with me to visit fun places

2009-11-30T16:16:00.001-06:00

Cactus Mundi had an evening outing last night. We went to my daughter's Art Opening. She is Kelly Kerrigan and has a show for the month of December at the gallery at the Belcourt Theatre, an art film venue in Nashville. You can visit her blog and see each of the 24 acrylic on canvas paintings.
http://kellykerrigan.blogspot.com/

Here is Cactus Mundi who jumped right up on one of the paintings to look over the crowd.

Kelly had a great time at the celebration.

Of course Milo and the whole family was there. Milo became a wild Wild banshee after about 40 minutes. So Gran and Granddaddy came to the rescue. Paul scoped him up so we could whisk him off to our house. After he was scurried off Kelly could enjoy the lime light and then she and Paul could go out to dinner afterwards with their friends. We had a great time too partying with Milo at our house.

Milo thought it was very cool to sit on my scooter and honk the horn. Not sure this was a crowd pleaser so I turned the motor off. Worked well till he learned to turn the key back on! It was sure time to get him out of this venue.

My stamping buddy and long time friend Toni came for the fun.

Jeff, over 18 years ago he was a high school student of mine, now a life long friend. He is the one who took most of the photos.

Jackie on the right another Judy long-time teacher friend could not stay away from the funky art.

Kate who made it a real party.

It is amazing to me that several of my students from years long past are now my good friends. Tammy came in from California to visit her family but found time to drop by Kelly's show and see me for a short visit. Another one who was my student from over 15 years ago. Teaching is a wonderful profession. You leave behind the amazing legacy.

Seth made the hour plus drive in. He was so much help to Kelly helping her get her studio together and made this show happen. Thank you Seth!

Below are some details from the show.
Following is Kelly's Bio explaining why she is so passionate about her subject matter for the paintings:

I am Kelly Kerrigan, a 35-year-old Nashville artist. For the last 6 years I have been creating hand made lamps out of vintage ladies undergarments. My Tramp Lamps have been a great Internet success with over 500 unique lamps made for customers all over the world including many celebrities such as Aerosmith, Robert Zemeckis, and Imogen Heap.

My home studio in south Nashville is a great space for all my artistic creations that include lamp making, toy-morphing/assemblage art, as well as painting. The space also provides plenty of romp room for my son, Milo Sparks. I started painting at Austin Peay State University where I majored in Theater and Art. I have worked as a scenic painter for several local stage production companies. I spend all my time now painting, making lamps, morphing toys, and being a parent to Milo along with my partner, writer and graphic designer, Paul Kerrigan.

This collection of new paintings at The Belcourt Theater is filled with animals dressed as icons from film, music and fable. The personification of wildlife and house pets seems to be something we read about and enjoy when we are children, but as we grow up, stories and books focus more on real people and real life human situations. For me, subject matter can be just as intense and emotionally engaging if we put animals in our shoes, literally. Who is to say they do not go through similar emotional events in their own lives? I hope that I can embrace the narratives that are generally restricted to childhood stories and bring the audience of my work back to a time when animals were the heroes. Making an audience laugh is the main goal of all my creative endeavors. I am available for all kinds of custom artwork. Please visit www.TrampLamps.com to find out more.

Milo had a great Thanksgiving

2009-11-29T13:59:00.008-06:00

Lewis, Kelly, and Paul cooked all day for our Thanksgiving day dinner. Milo ran around and thoroughly enjoyed having all the family together and the excitement in the air. This was his first Thanksgiving where he could have his chair at the table. We love all the firsts that happen each year.

He had all the fair that we enjoyed: Lew's fabulous cornbread stuffing, Paul's mashed potatoes, Kelly's sweet potato casserole and Macaroni and cheese. We bought fresh green beans that Judy took 40 minutes to cut into French style while sitting in her recliner. They were good but did not have the flavor or texture of the canned ones we are so used to. There is something important about keeping exactly the same dishes and have that tradition of the familiar.

Milo enjoyed the ginger snap cookie even more than the labored over turkey feast. Go figure! That will change over the years.

Kate mailed us a Thanksgiving decoration of a handmade turkey. Well maybe it looks more like a Turkey/Snuffalufagus from Sesame Street. I just did not have the steam to get the Thanksgiving decorations out of the attic--these include a series of vantage glass turkeys. So Kate's Turkey/Snuffalufagus was our only Thanksgiving decoration--very thoughtful for her to think of us. It made the table very festive. Milo liked it, of course not as much as his cookie.

Milo Playing in the little balls in the pool

2009-11-26T06:02:00.000-06:00

We got this little pool and the balls for Milo about 6 months ago. We had not gotten it out in a while. He was not as taken with it as when he was younger.

Now he is in to throwing the balls to me and Lew. That was fun.

Judy's scooter pulls Milo's Wagon: Huray for Fall

2009-11-15T09:27:00.006-06:00

Fall is such a great time to be outside.

Milo thinks it is fun to carry the colorful leaves around the yard.

MOVIE BELOW

See the movie of Judy's Scooter pulling Milo in his wagon. He liked it at first but when the scooter bumped and jerked over all the twigs and pecan shells on the way back he got frightened and started to cry. He quickly forgot about that when he learned he could stand by the scooter and honk the horn.

I turned the motor off and let Milo sit in my lap and honk the horn.
The scooter is just not stable enough to let him ride in my lab.

Milo and my scooter in the back yard

2009-11-10T14:47:00.003-06:00

I have not been able to walk in the yard lately so Lew and Kelly got out my scooter so I could take some photos. I turned it off and put Milo in my lap. He loves to blow the horn.

Out to lunch with Milo and Kelly at the Cheese Cake Factory two weeks ago

2009-11-07T17:22:00.005-06:00

We went to the Apple Store to get some gear for our new IPhones, then ate lunch at The Cheese Factory. Milo thought he was cool in his new Giraffe hat. Thought he might wear this for Halloween but he was a cute Lion instead. See the Halloween post for those pictures.

He learned to sip through a straw a couple of months ago. He loves to get drinks with straws. This was pink lemonade. Of course his favorite thing of the meal was splitting a big piece of cheese cake.

I love to talk to Milo and Kelly on the Web Cam phone

2009-11-07T12:18:00.004-06:00

Here is a webcam photo Kelly grabed off the screen.

The are so pretty and handsome!!
Well, maybe I am a little biased. Ya Think?

Happy Pumpkin Day: What a fun holliday

2009-11-01T09:38:00.008-06:00

Milo, Kelly, and Paul had a great time Trick or Treating with the Tidwel Clan. Nobody had more fun than Milo who is now on the road to thinking Halloween is the best Holiday ever! Kelly was just happy to have an excuse to Trick or Treat again!

A little hard to recognize Paul under his “redneck” makeup. He got the first prize of the night for his costume. I loved the tattoo sleeves but he had taken out the really great teeth.

There were so many people in the house, I realized later I did not get photos of Kelly. ding dang. She was so cute in her witch too-too outfit. I also did not get pictures of most of the Tidwell clan. I hope others got some and will send to me so I can post here.

Jewel and Bailey looked soooooo cute!

Jackson was James Bond. Kelly made him an MI-6 ID card, very handsome in his tux. I some how missed getting photos of all the other great costumes --the kids were moving around the house so fast. Ellen, the Nanna of the clan did not get to come or she would have organized my photo shoot.

This is Milo looking out the front door after all the Tidwells left (about 15 of them).
Milo was sad to see all the Trick or Treaters go.
He did not understand that his bedtime was approaching and he could not go back on the road with the big kids! Sometime it is just a Bummer to be the little tike.

Lewis Pulls Milo in the Wagon

2009-11-01T09:07:00.003-06:00

Lew took the afternoon off to help baby sit Milo.

He pulled Milo in the back yard...then in the front yard...then in the back yard... and so on... and on... Till Lew decided maybe it was time to go back to work where it is not so strenuous!

Then our friend Seth took over. To the back of the yard, back and forth!
Then when Kelly came to pick Milo up it was her turn, back and forth.
Finally, it was time to go home to be in the wagon another day.

Milo and Seth far in the back yard admiring the beautiful fall leaves.

Movie: Milo pulls wagon and wagon bites him

2009-11-01T08:12:00.003-06:00

Milo enjoyed his new wagon. He was much more interested in others pulling him than trying to tug it around. He kept calling to Seth and Granddad to come pull it. He wanted to keep the handle up, well until it fought back! Life is just full of little lessons.

Milo in the wagon

2009-10-31T18:56:00.011-05:00

Ellen gave us their wagon that her grand children have outgrown. Wow, it is wonderful.

In the wagon.... out of the wagon... in the wagon... out of the wagon!

Milo spent two days at our house this week

2009-10-24T13:25:00.017-05:00

Milo spent two days at our house this week. On Thursday Kelly brought him for a playdate. We went to the pumpkin patch in the morning then played in the yard and in his room the rest of the day. He takes a 2 hour nap in the afternoon so I get to rest.

On Friday Kelly and Paul got to have a day off dropping him at the Grands house in the morning and picking him up in the late afternoon. Ellen came in the morning to help witht the babysitting. He had a long nap then Lew came home in the afternoon to enjoy him. This way Kelly and Paul could work in the morning and then go to the movies in the afternoon. These next few posts show a lot of the fun we had over these two days!!!!

Lewis bought the really cute M & M Radio about a year ago. Milo is in love with it. It is easy for him to change the station and make the volume go up and down. It has a string that he can carry it around with him. And he dances and dances to the tunes! He and Granddad chilled out for a few minutes listening to the music.

Milo loves to explore the yard, lots of stuff to see, touch, and do.

He found an old chamber pot on the potting table (yes, cleaned up from former use!) and spent a half hour putting rocks in and out of it. More fun with the stuff in the yard!

Milo The Artist: He loves his crayons and the antique desk

2009-10-24T13:11:00.003-05:00

We have an antique school desk on the patio that Milo discovered this week. He goes on the patio and heads straight for it. It has been recently sanded and painted and perfect to play on. He is a little small for it with his chin just coming up to the desk top.

It was a great day with the temp in the low 70's and just a little breeze. He kept his hat on over his ears which is great since he has had an ear infection for weeks. He sat at the desk for over 30 minutes just examining the crayons and putting them in and out of the box.

Milo At the Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-24T11:45:00.007-05:00

This pumpkin patch is at McKindrie Manner in Hermitage. Milo was a little hard to keep up with. He was more interested in running through the patch than noticing the pumpkins.

Lew takes Milo for a ride in the wheelbarrow

2009-10-24T09:49:00.005-05:00

Milo and Lew have fun in the wheelbarrow. But the tire was flat. So Milo helped Lew inflate the tire with the electric pump hooked to the car battery.

Milo Helps Gran do some drawing in the yard

2009-10-11T17:25:00.005-05:00

Long Walk in the yard for Milo

2009-10-02T18:49:00.006-05:00

The noise in the background is our neighbor mowing his grass just the other side of our patio where I was filming. Very loud.

Kelly, Lew and Milo took a walk to the back of our property. For little legs it was a really long way. Milo was like the Ever Ready Bunny. Go, Go, Go.

Coming back they picked up sticks and looked around at the surroundings.

Wow. That was a long way. Lets just keel over. OK.

Wooo. Lets just sit and rest and look at our stick we found.

Milo On The carousel at the Nashville Zoo

2009-09-27T07:53:00.003-05:00

Kelly and Paul do not live far from the Zoo and take Milo Often. Last weekend they found a break in the rain and made a visit to the carousel and the petting zoo. Paul holding on to Milo who was on the carousel for the first time and Kelly taking the photo. How fun.

MILO's first school picture in preschool

2009-09-24T19:15:00.003-05:00

Milo is in preschool several days a week.
This is the school photo. CUTE

Milo playing in Gran and Grandaddy's Kitchen

2009-09-23T19:41:00.002-05:00

Cat In The Hat In the Chair

2009-09-19T16:59:00.002-05:00

Lets Cook Up Something In the Kitchen

2009-09-19T16:16:00.002-05:00

Milo hugs his rocking horse

2009-09-19T13:44:00.002-05:00

Milo toots his own horn

2009-09-16T05:42:00.003-05:00

Milo has some kitchen stuff in his play corner. We had a spice shelf in the kitchen we "child proofed" to hold kitchen things he can play with. He has fun with this stuff.

Milo Loves Granddad and Gran's back yard

2009-09-02T09:39:00.009-05:00

Milo and Kelly spent last Sunday afternoon with us.
We had so much fun watching him walk around the yard.
We gave him a walking stick like mine and he had much fun with it.

He spent a long time banging on the flowers with his stick.

Milo and Kelly took a long walk to the back of the yard. Go Milo go.

Milo and Gran in the Yard on Sunday afternoon

2009-08-30T20:23:00.005-05:00

Just a swinging!

So much fun swinging with Milo.

Milo stole my Cain and ran off with it. So Lew went inside and found one for him
so we could both have our sticks. I bought him this hat yesterday on my shopping therapy trip at the Opryland Mall. Pretty cute!

Milo on his push car

2009-08-29T17:15:00.003-05:00

Milo at Davis Kidd Book Store

2009-08-19T05:50:00.003-05:00

Davis Kidd Book Store is made for Kids!
We visited several weeks ago. I sat in the Rocking Chair and watched Milo Play.
What a better place to hang out in with your grandchild than a book store?

They have the biggest collection of Thomas The Train on Earth!
He liked it a lot. Mainly liked to drop the the train cars and the floor and watch his mom pick them up. Now thats fun.

Gooooo Red Rider

2009-08-19T05:42:00.004-05:00

The Gran gave this little Red Rider to Milo for Christmas. At Christmas he was too little for it. Kelly got it out of the box when he was ready for it. I finally got to see him riding it a couple of weeks ago. He Zooms, Zooms! Very Cute.

Milo on Vacation: Tennessee Chattanaooga Aquarium

2009-08-16T14:47:00.005-05:00

Look, Look, Turtles.
Milo all three hours of this tour. He was amazing.

Magnificent flying Turtle

The family in all our regalia,
Kelly, Paul, Milo
Judy in her scooter with pink umbrella and Lew taking the photo.

Jellyfish, jellyfish, jellyfish

One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish, and yellow, too!

The Butterfly Garden

Milo On Vacation in Chattanooga: Lookout Mountain and the Civil War Park

2009-08-16T14:31:00.011-05:00

View from the top of Lookout Mountain

Suset while we were there

Milo crawled went up and down the steps over and over.

Judy filming Milo, Kelly and Paul

The family taking in the view from the top of Lookout Mountain.

Wee..weee... down the hill to meet up with Gran.

Hi Gran! We came down the hill to see you and have another great picture made!

Hats, His Table, Books, and Lunch--Things milo loves

2009-08-05T21:32:00.005-05:00

This table belonged to Kelly when she was a toddler. It has been the attic 30 years. We got it out...Kelly and Lew glued the top back together, and a friend re-stained and varnished it. OH, BOY DOES HE LOVE IT...a chair and table just his right size.

Now he can easily look at his books, play with toys, and sport one of his cool hats.

How many UT Hats do you think Lew will try on Milo
as he grows up. I mean Milo growing up, not Lew!
He is woofing down lunch, another of the things Milo loves!
Well, along with his GRANDDAD.

These shoes are made for walking!

2009-08-05T20:37:00.003-05:00

When Kelly was a toddler we got her first pair of shoes at
Lonnie Young's Shoe Store in Green Hills, Nashville.
35 years later Kelly took Milo to get his first pair of shoes.

Very Cool.

The following photos are of him stepping out at home.
Apparently he did not want to take them off.
Tomorrow Milo and his new shoes go to his first day of Mothers Day Out.
Paul and Kelly are a little nervous, what a surprise.

"Hey, look at my beautiful new shoe.
I like them a lot. Can I sleep in them?. My grandad slept with his
new basketball when he was a kid."

Sway this way and that...

Lets do a little dance.
Who matched is leggings and socks?

Milo loves pushing his truck

2009-07-23T15:40:00.002-05:00

Milo In Kelly's Baby Chair Playing the Piano Toy

2009-07-22T16:18:00.004-05:00

Milo likes to brush his teeth

2009-07-11T18:17:00.002-05:00

Milo and Moose Hat

2009-06-29T10:45:00.002-05:00

He would rather play with it than wear it.

Kelly and Nilo Snuggling on Couch

2009-06-21T16:59:00.001-05:00

Happy Fathers Day to Lew and Paul

2009-06-21T10:40:00.008-05:00

Children are such a joy in your life!

Fathers and Children are a very special thing!
Paul and Milo a hour old.

Paul and Milo a little more than a year ago

Paul, Milo, and Kelly a couple of weeks ago

Lew and Kelly when she was only a few months old in 1974

Lew and Judy two months into married life
Three years later Kelly came into our lives and has been a joy ever since

Judy and Lew in 2006

Judy and Lew in Window Rock Arizona 2006

Milo Has His First Dentist Apointment: He loved that Swishie Thing

2009-06-19T08:50:00.004-05:00

Milo Loves Bells: The Bell From Hong Kong The Largest Budda in the World

2009-06-16T18:44:00.006-05:00

When I was in Hong Kong in 2006 I bought a bell at the gift shop while visiting the largest Buddha on Earth. I really like this bell and tied it with a ribbon to the floor lamp next to my recliner. Ho my, Milo likes this as much as I do!

Listen to the bell in the Movie below. Well, he almost has the hang of it.
It actually has a beautiful clear ring tone.

MIlo likes to chase the robins in the yard and listen to the train

2009-06-14T15:19:00.005-05:00

Lets Get That Bird

Shucks, it flew away!

Went that way!

Lets see that again in a movie!
Which is more fun? Chasing the birds or listening to the commuter train?

Milo and Granddad On the Swing In Back Yard

2009-06-14T14:12:00.004-05:00

Lewis and Milo have fun in the backyard just a swinging and swinging.

Milo Movie Retrospective for his first Year Edited by Kelly

2009-06-04T07:06:00.002-05:00

Kelly put up a six minute video of Milo's first year. Woozer.

It is too big to post here but you can see it on UTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/MiLoSparKs

ENJOY!

Milo 1st Birthday: Combined Birthday Celebration with Gran

2009-06-03T18:07:00.014-05:00

Toni and Joan came by to have a belated Birthday Party for Judy.
We waited for Joan to come in from London.
(Judy and Paul's birthday was the second week in May).

Although unplanned, the party planners came on Milo's One Year Birthday
and he was here for the celebration. How cool is that?
We had a combined party--Milo and Judy. Yeepee.
Believe it or not, they brought the whole package: balloons, party hats, cupcakes, candles, and matches just in case our kitchen was not well stocked, ho, ho.
IT WAS FANTASTIC!

Side note: First picture of Judy with her real hair.
My new medicine has resulted in my hair returning.
Yes, it is RED.
Short is in.

M is for Milo

LET THE PARTY BEGIN

Toni and Joan brought everything for a party.
WE THINK THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HE HAS HAD BALLOONS. NEAT!

PARTY HATS FOR EVERYONE
Toni adjusted Milo's party hat to get it just right.

I am ready with my bowl, bring on the cake. Yes, that is what I am talking about.

Who needs a bowl?
Just put it all out on my tray so I can squisk it just right.
Oh boy, this is the goods...my first choclate!
I see why all the grownups love this stuff.

We had a wonderful time at Natchez Trace State Park for the Weekend

2009-06-02T08:21:00.004-05:00

Milo's favorite place was the balcony overlooking the lake.

Listen to the birds.

Groove with Nature

Yum Breakfast in the Cabin

2009-06-02T08:18:00.004-05:00

Cherrios, Raisens, Banannas and three squares a day in the Cabin.

Milo In Gran's Hat

Kelly and Lew Hang Out with Milo

2009-06-02T08:16:00.002-05:00

Milo Chillen Out after lots of Park excitement

2009-06-02T08:14:00.002-05:00

Paul and Milo: greetings from outside

2009-06-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Milo, what is going on up there?

Hey Dad, I am up here playing.
What are you doing?

Lets have a hand hug!

Natchez Trace Adventures: Lets Roll

2009-06-02T07:56:00.004-05:00

Kelly and Paul took Milo and many walks in the Park. He enjoys his "Jeep" stroller for some off roading.

Milo first visit to beach, inland beach at Natchez Trace State Park

2009-06-01T15:44:00.012-05:00

We took Milo to the beach on Cub Lake at Natchez Trace State Park. He put sand in his bucket but more went into his mouth than in his bucket. He enjoyed looking at the other kids and generally had a great time.

What do you think about this place?

Hey, the water is the other way.

Sand, ooo.
Give me that shovel and lets put some in the bucket.

Now it is time to get back to our cabin and wash this sand out of you know where!

I am big and can sit on the couch by myself

2009-05-28T17:22:00.004-05:00

So many hats: which one for Gran to buy for Milo?

2009-05-28T08:16:00.002-05:00

Kelly and Milo too Gran shopping at Michaels. There was a huge bin of animal hats. Of course he tried on all of them. We settled on a Moose. Now Milo is a" Granpoopa in the Excellent Hat Order of the Moose Lodge!

Animal Crackers: Milo likes cookies

2009-05-27T15:31:00.002-05:00

Books A Million: A little spot of heaven

2009-05-21T06:16:00.003-05:00

Kelly and Milo took Judy for an outing yesterday. We went to Books A Million. What fun. Zillions of books to look at and Thomas the Train play table. Of course, his grandmother took a few books home for the man who loves, loves, loves books. How wonderful...another book obsessed member of the family.

Kelly confesses she longed for a wooden train set at Dillards when she was a little older than Milo. Who knew?

Chowing down --more teeth and more eating opportunities

2009-05-21T06:11:00.002-05:00

Look at those teeth. 6 in all!

Milo is a Rocker

2009-05-21T05:40:00.004-05:00

One of the many Tidwell hand-me-downs is the amazing rocking horse. Rockin Out!

Milo in Kelly's chair--watching YoGabba TV--his favorite

2009-05-14T09:00:00.005-05:00

We got Kelly a maple table and chairs when she was a toddler. Hummm...35 years ago. Kelly got them out of the attic. She is in the process of refurbishing the table which split after 30 years in the attic. But the chairs are in great shape. We put one in the Den for him to sit in. He really liked sitting high and we can control how close he is to the TV. He wants his face to be about 6 inches in front of the screen. This is not good. So he has to sit with me, Kelly, or in his chair to watch.

His feet don't exactly touch the floor.
Someone must stay with him in his chair.

Ahhh... he difinitely got Paul's feet!

More Play Date Photos

2009-05-14T07:33:00.004-05:00

Now we share and see why Milo had such a great time on his play date. Kelly sent these pictures. There were 10 children from ages 6 months to 4 years of age. The older ones took really great care of the younger ones. Is this motion-toy heaven?
He got to ride on everything including those that make noise and music. Was he having fun?

Milo play date with friends

2009-05-13T05:33:00.002-05:00

Swinging at a kid party out in the country! Much fun had by all.

Milo has a new big boy car seat

2009-05-07T14:32:00.002-05:00

He just out grew his baby car seat. He is 11 months old as of May 3. It was time to get the kind of car seat that faces forward. I can turn around and play with him, what fun.

Milo Hanging Out In The Car

2009-04-30T06:19:00.003-05:00

Milo and Kelly take Judy to lots of places for medical appointments and shopping. He spends time in the car waiting and waiting. He is such a great passenger and can entertain himself. He reads books, sings (well to his own tunes) and of course is in love with his sippy cup.

Milo Loves His Cheerios

2009-04-30T05:59:00.005-05:00

See that Cheerio on the back of his tongue?
Now that is what I am talking about. Yumm...
The ultimate happy food.

The further adventures of Milo Kerrigan: April 29, 2009: Milo Learning Sign Langage

2009-04-29T08:59:00.004-05:00

Judy and Lew's training included working with deaf students and adults for the first 5 years of their education careers. As a result they both learned sign language and taught many words and phrases to Kelly. There is a lot of research that says that signing to infants and toddlers actually encourages the development of oral language. Kelly is passing on some signed words to Milo.

Here is Lewis' take on what is going on with Milo and learning signs:

The further adventures of Milo Kerrigan: April 29, 2009:

Milo’s mom, our daughter Kelly, is teaching Milo a few signs as he grows. As Milo is being fed Kelly asks if he wants “more” and signs “more” with her hands. Milo leans back a little and mimics the sign: he receives his next mouthful of green gook. Milo loves green gook!

Yesterday Judy was munching on a Lorna Doone while walking into the den. Milo was crawling along the breezeway and spotted the cookie in Judy’s hand. Milo stopped crawling, got his feet under his butt and while perched on his knees he signed “more.”

He is almost ten months old right now and trying very hard to begin talking. However Milo IS communicating!

The following was taken on Sunday as Kelly gave Milo some Ritz Crackers.

Grandaddy Spraying Milo In Swing

2009-04-28T08:34:00.002-05:00

Kelly Pushing Milo in the New Swing

2009-04-28T08:26:00.002-05:00

Milo Video in New Swing

2009-04-28T08:15:00.002-05:00

Milo in His New Swing

2009-04-28T08:13:00.003-05:00

Milo In His New Pool Full of Colorful Balls

2009-04-24T10:49:00.005-05:00

A friend of Kelly's gave her a bag of these colorful balls. We bought the little blow up pool to put them in. This was sooooo much fun to watch!

Happy Earth Day

2009-04-22T20:35:00.004-05:00

Happy Earth Day: Ring in the celebration

Milo loves being outside. Of course he also loves to put the dirt in his mouth. Kelly took him to see the clematis which he seemed to think was pretty cool.

Spring is such a miracle.

Milo Standing For a few Seconds

2009-04-21T21:46:00.006-05:00

Milo is learning to stand up longer and longer. Very Cute!

Good job. It is hard work standing up. I need a hug.

Mommy is so proud of me!

Doug thinks he is pretty cool, too.

Milo Sleeping in Car Seat

2009-04-16T09:32:00.001-05:00

Milo frequently falls asleep in his car seat.

Milo in the Psycodelic Sling

2009-04-14T04:55:00.002-05:00

Kelly and Milo took Judy to pick out the bedding plants for her yard. The sling makes carying Milo around a lot easier.

Paul Entertains Milo on Easter While Kelly and Lewis Cook

2009-04-12T04:33:00.003-05:00

Milo loves to fly in the air!

To see photos of Lewis and Kelly cooking see Lewis and Judy's new blog called
Kitchen Fun: http://judyandlewisbutlerkitchen.blogspot.com/

Easter at the Tidwells

2009-04-12T04:17:00.002-05:00

Todd has fun with Milo in in Easter appropriate Bunny Hat

Jewel and Holly are glad to see Milo

Courtney, just back from her European Singing Tour is happy to play with Milo. She brought Milo back an Easter Basket with German chocolate. Almost too pretty to eat. Well... maybe the adults will force themselves to enjoy this great present.

Milo Has His Spoon and Gran Has Her Spoon

2009-04-11T09:23:00.002-05:00

Milo comes to Gran's house several days a week. He eats lunch and Gran gets to feed him. Much fun to watch and be a part of.

Milo and Kelly took Judy and Toni On Outing to Factory Mall in Franklin

2009-04-11T02:23:00.009-05:00

April 8, Spring Break
Kelly put Judy's scooter in the car and away they went with Milo to meet Toni at the Factory shopping area in Franklin. Milo was the star of the mall getting lots of attention with his rabbit hat and bright orange stroller.

We went to the restaurant in the mall for lunch. Milo had corn, sweet potato fries, and rolls. I kept giving him small pieces thinking he was very, very hungry. Did not realize that half was going into his mouth and the other half on the floor. He was having fun dropping the pieces on the carpet and looking at the great patterns of yellow, red, and white. He got really sleepy and yawning took over the eating. He was in the high chair for over 30 minutes and received a lot of attention from the folks passing by the table. When he got in the car it was immediate snooze town.

Milo At Andrea's House Playing in a Pool of Plastic Water

2009-04-08T20:58:00.001-05:00

Milo, Kelly and Paul at the Zoo

2009-04-05T19:05:00.004-05:00

The elephant was so happy to see them.

Milo and Kelly looking at the Zoo pictures. Can he really figure out which one is the elephant? I say yes he can!

Milo Is Great to Take Out To Eat

2009-04-02T05:53:00.005-05:00

Kelly and Paul love Sushi and take Mile to their favorite haunts. Milo is happy to go with them and hang out. He says to pass on the Sushi and prefers to have his pacifier, bottle, and Cheerios while he watches them eat raw fish.

Milo at Kroger Cheking Out Products Named After Him

2009-04-02T05:48:00.003-05:00

Milo is very interested in how products named after him are sweeping the country!

Tell us about it

2009-03-30T19:08:00.002-05:00

Milo and Granddad

2009-03-30T17:58:00.002-05:00

Milo likes sitting on Granddad's lap. He thinks the pen in his pocket is really interesting. Maybe he wants to help Granddad with the crossword puzzles.