Team Tillman 2

2011-11-12T12:05:00.000-08:00

Here's Caels 3rd of 4 goals today.

My favorite was the celebration. He kept making up silly handshakes and high fives throughout the game.

Pinnochio - A Puppet is the Life for Me 2

2011-09-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

This video clip has Maddie, Katie, and Bailey singing, "A Puppet is the Life for Me."

Pinnochio - A Puppet is the Life for Me

2011-09-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

This video clip has Maddie, Katie, and Bailey singing, "A Puppet is the Life for Me."

Pinnochio - To Be a Proper Girl

2011-09-26T21:17:00.001-07:00

This video clip has Maddie, Katie, and Bailey singing, "To Be a Proper Girl."

???

2010-11-15T13:15:00.001-08:00

Before today, I wouldn't have guessed two three-year-olds could pitch to and hit off each other. . .

Always in character

2010-11-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

Cael's been many characters this week -- from Darth Vader to a knight, to his usual football player. . . which I think he's becoming known for in the neighborhood grocery stores. . .

And thankfully Ben came over today to play along. (He requested the Star Wars theme be played in the background while they battled.)

Halloween 2010

2010-10-30T19:59:00.001-07:00

At Maga's Request. . .

2010-10-23T18:07:00.000-07:00

Even though I've known the Tillman children all their lives, I still thought filming them singing along to a song for Maga would be done in one take. Here are takes 1-8 in order.

Take 1: I accidentally took a picture instead of a video.

Take 2: I think they made it through a good 4 lines before things broke down.

Take 3: Typical

Take 4: As evidenced, Bailey can stay in rock-star character while shoving down her brother's head, and a little lipstick adds some glam. . . but when you don't know the words, distraction is inevitable.

Take 5: Watch what happens when I try to sneak around and film the girls in the back. . .

Take 6: Things are falling apart.

Take 7: Cael's comedy ends this before it begins.

Take 8: Here's our best bet. But don't forget to note the flying drummer in the background.

Spring Break in Arizona

2010-04-21T13:24:00.001-07:00

Baptism Day

2010-04-21T13:00:00.000-07:00

And as if it's not hard enough to get four kids to stand still for a family snapshot -- you have to worry about uncles in the background. . .

1st soccer games

2010-04-17T14:34:00.000-07:00

It was a gorgeous day for soccer. Good thing. Five of the six of us have games today.

Cael was thrilled to finally be playing. Last year during his sister's games, he was a broken record of, "I want to play. I do. I want to play, too. I do." See the look on his face when he first got in. Actually, his whole body is smiling.

Before his game, Cael got some words of advice from an old pro.

Ah. An aspiring goalie in the long Tillman tradition.

Having an important discussion about strategy during a break.

This is Cael's waiting-for-the-throw-in stance.

Does he look incredibly small to anyone else?

Cael's officially the only one of the kids, who, on his first soccer team, is not there solely for the after-game treats.

Heartfelt cheering for Bailey

And finally: The whole family gets ice cream if anyone scores a goal. The Tillmans were scoreless all morning, so it was all on Bailey's shoulders in the last game. . . She requested Eye of the Tiger in the car on the way to the fields so she could get pumped up. And late in the second half. . .

Silly pictures from Ireland

2010-01-20T15:27:00.000-08:00

I have a bunch more pictures, but I can't download very fast, so I'm going to bed.

Ashford Castle Pictures

2010-01-18T07:18:00.001-08:00

Ashford Castle was originally built in the 13th century, and after many additions and renovations, it's a hotel today. We got here late last night, then got up today, had breakfast, golfed, and strolled the grounds and took photos.

Pictures of Garvagh, Glenullin

2010-01-18T04:27:00.000-08:00

Kathleen shed some light on many of our old pictures.

Brandon, Stefan, and Martin at the Water Margin Chinese Restaurant

The whole crowd in Pauline's sitting room.

"The Girls" -- as we were referred to. We three were inseparable.

This is the church Grandma attended as a child. Kathleen said it hasn't changed since then.

2010-01-16T00:23:00.000-08:00

Cheers to a good mullet!

I'm the Leprechaun!

2010-01-16T00:19:00.000-08:00

Music in the pub (John Denver, The Beattles)

One of the pubs along Temple Bar.

2010-01-16T00:17:00.000-08:00

This is a great picture by Liz. Night lights looking from a walking-bridge over the canal.

2010-01-16T00:13:00.000-08:00

Walking bridge over the canal by our hotel.

Our Hotel!

2010-01-16T00:10:00.000-08:00

Liz and I looking good at the Dublin, Ireland restaurant.

Ellen, Dustin, and Liz and the hip Irish restaurant.

Team Tillman 2 and 3 in Dublin, Ireland

2010-01-15T23:32:00.000-08:00

Well, our flight out of JFK to Dublin was delayed about 4 hours, but we were in good company. Dustin, Ellen, Liz, and I were able to sleep on the plane and they served us dinner and breakfast for free. We arrived at Dublin Airport around 12:30pm local time, picked up our luggage, which thankfully was waiting for us, and headed to the rental car pick up.

Good thing we upgraded to the full-size car because these Euro cars are like clown cars. We loaded our luggage in the trunk and we were off and running driving on the opposite side of the road. Pulling out of the rental car location I almost took us into incoming traffic, but there was no harm, therefore, there was no foul. It took us about 10 minutes to get to the hotel which was in a good area of town and somewhat roomy. After figuring out the parking situation, taking showers, and changing clothes we headed out to get something to eat.

We ate at a happening Irish joint a couple block away from the hotel. The attached picture is looking from the restaurant at the waterway and local architecture. Ellen had bangers and mash, Dustin had a lamb burger, and Liz and I enjoyed good ole fish and chips.

After dinner we did plenty of walking to find Trinity College. Liz is so enamored with the Irish guys and their accents that I thought she was going to take off with the trashman. We enjoyed the local night life of Temple Bar while a local band sang John Denver. We got back to our hotel around 10:00 to get ready for our choose-your-own adventure Irish extravaganza that lays wait.

-Brandon

"I'm the Great Bambino"

2009-11-03T09:42:00.000-08:00

So Cael comes up to me this morning with a big tootsie roll in his mouth and reenacts a scene from his favorite movie, The Sandlot.

Halloween 09

2009-11-01T15:34:00.000-08:00

random pictures

2009-09-29T13:45:00.001-07:00

Here we have Katie and Alyssa on their first day of school, Bailey with her new baby cousin, Cael in his new "homerun hat" from Maga, all the kids at the splash park (they look cold!), and Cael and Ben swinging.

Bailey's 1st Day of School!

2009-08-27T13:05:00.001-07:00

My little girl's in kindergarten. And wouldn't you know it, she wasn't a bit nervous. Bailey! Who hates new situations! I guess all the times she's been there for her sisters' activities made a world of difference. When we found out she would have Alyssa's old teacher, she was ecstatic, because she already feels like they're friends.

Today I put her on the bus and then met the bus at school to get more pictures. When I said goodbye as she walked into school and I got in the car to go home, I was shocked to discover I felt. . . sad. I thought I would be awash with relief -- freedom! Afternoons to myself! (Cael naps). But I guess today I'm just gonna feel sad. My baby's growing up.

Easter

2009-04-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

Leave it to my dad to discover silly things to do with plastic Easter eggs.

Half Marathon

2009-04-13T08:03:00.000-07:00

Here's the evidence. I really did run that thing. It was worth it to see Team Tillman on the finish line. Isn't Brandon great? He made those shirts the night before after I'd gone to bed and surprised me.

Leprechauns

2009-04-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

The girls spent an entire Saturday last month making leprechaun traps with Cole and Haley. They were very elaborate -- bridges, trap doors, and the old "knock-out-the-stick-and-get-stuck-under-a-Wendy's-cup" trick. The finishing touches were some misleading (shamelessly lying) notes to Mr. Leprechaun, i.e. "There is gold in sied," and "This is a house for you and it is not a chrap," along with a light dirt-dusting for footprint identification.

Random

2009-01-22T22:25:00.000-08:00

I can't help but put this up. Classic kid fun. They don't require much for entertainment.

Sunday phone call

2009-01-22T22:02:00.000-08:00

This is what Cael does during the Tillman Sunday phone call. (We put him on mute, and he talks the whole time. He laughs along with everyone, says "yeah" at all the right times, makes funny noises, and thinks he's a part of the action).

Putting those kids to work!

2009-01-22T17:46:00.001-08:00

We've also done a lot of construction lately -- helping my parents finish their basement. The kids helped bring in the insulation.

2009-01-22T16:46:00.000-08:00

sledding video

2009-01-22T16:34:00.000-08:00

More sledding

2009-01-22T16:03:00.000-08:00

Introductions

2009-01-22T15:20:00.000-08:00

Cael met his uncle for the first time last week.

Homecoming!

2009-01-22T15:02:00.000-08:00

This was our first view of Seth and his first view of us after two years. We made quite the spectacle, but what can we say? He was our only missionary! We had to get it all in.

Royal Rumble

2009-01-22T14:59:00.001-08:00

I'm pretty sure Uncle Bret was the instigator of this wrestling match.

Birthdays

2009-01-22T14:46:00.000-08:00

December is celebration month for us. Here are some birthday pics. Christmas and our anniversary were in there somewhere too, but I apparently have no record of them.

One of Katie's birthday gifts was a spa set. The banana oatmeal mask was quite the undertaking.

Okay, okay, it's been a while.

2009-01-22T14:43:00.001-08:00

I'll do a quick run-down in the next few posts of what we've been up to. First of all, we've definitely gotten in our share of fun in the snow.

4 kids

2008-11-06T13:09:00.000-08:00

The picture in the next blog is the only known picture of the four of my kids together. I just realized why that is. Because if ever I attempt something posed. . . this is the sort of thing that happens.

First Snow

2008-11-06T13:06:00.000-08:00

We had our first snowfall yesterday. The kids even managed some mini snowmen. "Snowkids," they called them. I was impressed with their tolerence for the cold, even Cael. I must be raising them right.

Halloween

2008-11-06T12:40:00.000-08:00

Cael was more interested in the experience of going up to people's doors and talking to them than he was in the actual candy.

Halloween 08

2008-11-06T12:33:00.000-08:00

Ah. Halloween marks the one year anniversary of this blog. Time flies. Here are the Halloween pictures. My question is: How can little girls painted so scary still be so dang cute? I'm biased, I know.

So, yes, the girls sprinted from house to house just like last year. But this year even Cael was totally into it. He carried his own candy bucket the whole time (and it was getting heavy!), and he managed a decent "ick- ee"(trick-or-treat), and a respectable "ank-oo"(thank you) at each house. And for all those who make fun of parents who let their toddlers trick-or-treat -- of which I am one -- yes, I did eat almost all his candy.

Everything's a bat and ball.

2008-09-17T17:34:00.004-07:00

Sidenote: I love how I took a huge bite of. . . something unhealthy I'm sure. . . right before I pushed record on the camera, and the whole time I'm narrating I'm smacking and swallowing. But I didn't want to miss the moment!

The Big News

2008-09-17T17:34:00.003-07:00

Maga and Paga are treating us to Disneyland at Thanksgiving time. I have never encountered three more thrilled girls. Maga sent them a brochure to appease their appetites for more stories of Disneyland, and we read it as their bedtime story the night it arrived. This is the scene I encountered early in the morning when I walked in the door after jogging the next day. (This picture is not posed.)

Discovery

2008-09-17T17:34:00.002-07:00

There's nothing like discovering an unexpectedly sleeping baby. I stuck Cael in front of the TV while I showered, and this is what I found when I came down. It's especially notable knowing that this little boy NEVER falls asleep anywhere but in his bed, and occasionally the car. I like how he's still wearing his hat and shoes.

Bailey

2008-09-17T17:34:00.001-07:00

No reason for this picture. I just think Bailey's cute.

Anyone notice the theme here?

2008-09-17T17:34:00.000-07:00

Up until this point, Cael's been a perfect angel. But recently he's started to find some mischief. He has a thing for taking anything messy and painting it on his face. . . nail polish, glue stick, lotion, ink. . . I don't know why it always ends up on his face. He can't even see it there. Well, I guess that's better than the walls and carpet.

2008-08-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

Brace yourselves. I'm posting a long series of cheerleading films. Alyssa and Bailey just finished up their summer cheer program. They both had a blast. You can see that Bailey's just having fun, and Alyssa's. . . intense. I know you're all asking, "Where's Katie?" She chose to do Tae Kwon DO this summer. I'll have to post pictures of her in her uniform. I think it may have been the biggest draw to the class, though when asked she said her favorite part was "the punches."

2008-08-07T20:09:00.000-07:00

2008-08-07T15:51:00.000-07:00

2008-08-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

2008-08-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

Cheerleading

2008-08-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

Alyssa and Bailey had their summer cheerleading performance yesterday.

This and That, Tabicat: Hair Clip Giveaway!

2008-07-28T09:40:00.000-07:00

This and That, Tabicat: Hair Clip Giveaway!

Phnom Pehn, Cambodia

2008-05-15T12:39:00.000-07:00

Our hotel in Phnom Penh was really nice, although all the beds we experienced in Asia were quite firm. Also, during one of my jetlagged moments of wakefulness in the middle of the night, I encountered a cockroach in the bathroom, and I quickly remembered how much I hated those things as a kid in San Antonio.

These pictures were also taken at Wat Phnom. There was an elephant ride some of the people in our group took, and the elephant was wearing shoes! (I got a kick out of that, even though I claimed to take that picture for my kids' benefit). One of the most fascinating things about Cambodia was the children. School was only a half day, so they could go either in the morning or afternoon, and so there were always children selling in the shops, especially at the tourist traps like Ankor Wat. Also, a lot of the younger children wore very little, especially since May is the hottest month of the year there, being the last month of the dry season (there are only two seasons, the wet and dry). And there were no diapers. The little boys walked around in just a shirt or nothing it all, and the little girls just wore dresses. They were so stinkin' cute, though I'll forego posting their pictures on the internet =) The children in these pictures were selling snacks and fruit, and the one little girl is balancing a container of flat bread on her head.

Kung Fu Movie

2008-05-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

We were shopping in Stanley Market when we ran into a group of German filmmakers shooting a Kung Fu movie. I'm thinking it's going to take some serious digital enhancement to make much of this.

Hong Kong

2008-05-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of us on a quick boat tour of the harbor, some shots of a floating restaurant, and some colorful scenery at Repulse Bay.

Hong Kong and Phnom Penh

2008-04-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

I'm finally getting a chance to update this entry. We were on a trip to Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Cambodia from April 23rd to May 5th. We went because one of the classes for Brandon's MBA program was an international trip, and I wouldn't let him go without me.

I posted these pictures with no explanation from our hotel in Phnom Penh, just to get something up, but it was late, and we had a time limit on the hotel computers, so I gave no info. This was a shot of the Hong Kong skyline from Victoria's Peak and here's us in front of Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple in Phnom Pehn.

2008-03-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

The girls have been on a leprechaun kick ever since St. Patrick's Day when they saw a Disney movie, "Luck of the Irish." I said, "Did you guys know Grandma Tillman is from Ireland?" and Alyssa said, "She's a leprechaun?!" so I said, "No, but she was born in Ireland." Katie said, "Does she just eat Irish cheese all the time?" I don't know where that came from, but I said, "No I don't think so," and Alyssa said, "Does she do Irish dance?"

Although Grandma Tillman probably could do a mean Irish jig, I have never seen her.

Photo Night

2008-03-30T19:27:00.001-07:00

Alyssa's choice for a Sunday night activity was having a family photo shoot. So we had fun making use of the timer, and Bailey set up this pose. We thought that the first four heads in the row really looked like two sets of twins.

Cael Discovers Swinging

2008-03-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

Cael has four loves: balls, magnets, containers with lids, and now. . . swinging.

Cam's "Red" Birthday

2008-03-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

Cam's "Red" Birthday

2008-03-27T10:19:00.001-07:00

Scary, aren't they?

2008-03-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

I am posting this photo at the demand of those pictured. . . against my better judgement.

Explanation: Katie and Alyssa discovered a bag of a few singlets left over from when Brandon coached Orem Junior High. Now they suit up every night and wrestle best two out of three take-downs to see who chooses the bedtime story.

Is it just me, or does this photo bring to mind the phrase, "I'm an animal!"

Easter

2008-03-27T10:10:00.000-07:00

Easter

2008-03-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

Clean again -- time for presents

2008-03-25T20:29:00.001-07:00

Cake Fun

2008-03-25T20:21:00.001-07:00

Cake -- Before and After

2008-03-25T20:18:00.001-07:00

Cael's Birthday

2008-03-25T13:24:00.001-07:00

Here is the official record of Cael's messy first birthday. I was one second too late when I started filming, and I missed when he tried to grab the "ball" to play with it. But this first frame is his confused reaction. He just sat with his hands paused in the air for a few seconds. It took great persuasion to get him to attempt another touch.

pictures with Grandpa John

2008-03-25T12:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun picture of Grandpa and Cael. Their bum left shoulders are both improving.

More Fun with Socks

2008-02-26T12:25:00.000-08:00

Cael's obsession with socks continues. . .

Valentine's Song

2008-02-22T20:43:00.001-08:00

Katie, Alyssa, and Bailey wanted to thank Maga for her Valentine's Day e-card with a song they learned in school. I couldn't decide which take to post, so I'm posting all of them. Those girls are such clowns.

Cael wants to go outside

2008-02-19T21:00:00.001-08:00

Poor Cael. All he wants to do is go outside. If you open a door he bolts. . . as fast as his little knees can crawl. He sat on the bed and watched his sisters play outside for 20 minutes today. Spring had better come soon.

Make-overs

2008-02-19T20:46:00.000-08:00

I am so pampered! I got a great make-over this week. My stylist was young and hip. Okay, she was four. I got custom designed hot pink toenails with white heart-blobs. I had baby-blue eyeshadow (a color I have surprisingly never before tried), and I was sporting about six different lip glosses. . . layer after layer after layer. The big surprise? (I mean besides the color selection. . .) It was a total blast. Whoever thought a visit to Bailey and Alyssa Tillman's "Fashin Hur Sdiyulz" would be so fun?

Bailey's Big Day

2008-02-08T21:49:00.000-08:00

Bailey wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese's, and I think the kids had a fun time. Ben took his rides very seriously. He grabbed the horse's ears and growled the whole time. Katie cashed in her tickets for a new whoopie cushion. I'm sorry to say, the second one Maga sent only lasted a few minutes. . . there was some very intense sitting.

Why are there only two candles on Bailey's cake? She had them blown out and two removed before I could get the camera turned on. . . so I made her pose.

Bailey's new outfit

2008-02-05T15:51:00.000-08:00

Bailey's birthday is coming up, but she opened her present from Maga and Paga early. She loved her new coloring book and outfit.

Cael's a sports fan

2008-02-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

Cael sat on his dad's lap the entire basketball game. . . entralled. Why am I not surprised? And he cheered at all the appropriate times.

Cheerleading

2008-02-05T12:00:00.000-08:00

A few days ago, Katie, Alyssa, and Bailey did a cheerleading clinic in the morning and then performed with a bunch of little girls for the halftime show at the Lehi High basketball game. See if you can find them in this video.

Camera Theft

2008-02-05T11:54:00.000-08:00

I was just downloading the pictures off my camera, and I discovered that at some point, my camera had been commandeered and a photo shoot had taken place. Here is one of the results.

Socks

2008-01-09T13:20:00.001-08:00

Here's Cael's new thing. . . socks. Give him a pair of socks and he'll entertain himself for hours.

www.thenelsoncabin.blogspot.com

2007-12-26T09:49:00.001-08:00

We've got a cabin blog. See www.thenelsoncabin.blogspot.com.

Christmas Morning

2007-12-26T09:39:00.001-08:00

Visit From Santa

2007-12-25T18:47:00.001-08:00

On Christmas Eve the kids spotted Santa wandering around the meadow searching for his reindeer. He waved and Brian heard him say, "Ho, ho, ho." Later in the evening, he visited the cabin and brought one gift each.

2007-12-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

Sledding

2007-12-24T16:44:00.000-08:00

The kids are having the time of their little lives.

Sledding

2007-12-24T16:35:00.000-08:00

Jay drove us out to a sledding hill and packed down a nice long run with the snowcat.

Snow

2007-12-24T16:14:00.000-08:00

Christmas at the Cabin

2007-12-24T15:41:00.000-08:00

Crawling!

2007-12-18T16:53:00.000-08:00

Cael has a very interesting new crawl.

Cool face he makes at the end, huh :)

Cousins

2007-12-05T12:59:00.000-08:00

Cael and Ben were wearing their matching PJs, so we had a photo shoot.

Will Cael make it to his first birthday?

2007-12-04T17:35:00.000-08:00

Cael's sisters think he's a toy.

2007-11-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

We joined Team Tillman 3 for a trip to a fun new park the weekend before Halloween.

Halloween

2007-11-01T16:43:00.001-07:00

The trick-or treaters raked in the candy.

Cael stayed back with Nanna and Papa

Trick-or-Treating

2007-11-01T15:55:00.000-07:00

The kindergarteners marched around the school in their costumes and sang a few songs for the parents. Katie is doing the actions to "Five Litte Pumpkins."

Alyssa led the pack of trick-or-treaters. She ran from house to house, rang all the doorbells and waited for the doors to open while everyone else caught up. At one house with a cobwebbed cemetery out front, she headed down the steps with her candy and declared, "I wasn't a bit scared!"

First Halloween Picture

2007-10-31T09:42:00.000-07:00

Bailey dressed up as a kitty for preschool, where she joined Cinderella, Snow White, and five ninja turtles.