Mattie's Gearing Up for Winter...

Just had to share this amazing picture! Yes that's an Elmer Fudd hat! Yes it's pink and YES It's AWESOME!

And We're Back...

Sorry for the technical difficulties... While I was on vacation...so was the blog :)

Stay tuned for new posts!

The Shop on the Corner...

So, my mom and I are opening a store in Tecumseh, MI! She's running the store and doing the bookkeeping and I get to do more of the creative side-- the product selection, the paper products, the merchandising :) She's so organized and I'm so not, so this is perfect!

Our hope is to help Tecumseh, MI, "Celebrate Everything", with paper goods, invitations, unique hostess gifts, party goods and baby gifts!  Our grand opening is November 4th, but shop with us online at www.rockpaperscissorsshop.com  or email us at info@rockpaperscissorsshop.com to learn more :)

Once a Sprint store-- NOW ROCK PAPER SCISSORS! 

The Evans Street side 

Our bustling corner! 

Day 1 of Renovation! 

Visit us soon!!! Thanks so much for your support!!

August and Everything After

It's been a busy August for the Mattison & Roberts Family! From trips to the Lake House with Gram and Mike and Megan to Chicago, Football Season and the beginning of Fall. Mattie has had quite the August and September...

Four Generations- Gram, Mom, Mattie and Me

Mike Bartlett- Quite the Ladies Man...

Sue Sylvester Jr. or Run ABC. Thanks Booth! 

Mattie's first Michigan game- Hail Hail! 

Mattie and Papa Al watching Ken coach Clinton

Grandma Nancy 

All Smiles 

Serious Mattie. 

Tummy Time! 

Learning to Stand! 

The Professor. She's so smart! 

Upset about Notre Dame and Michigan turnovers! 

Watching football with Daddy! 

Ready for my first Fall Fest! 

Hanging out with my new friend, Allie Hertler! 

I've Got Chills...and They're Multiplyin'

Notre Dame came to the Big House earlier this month-- holy intensity, batman. College football Game day was there, as were friends from Michigan and Notre Dame, excited to cheer on the Irish or the Wolverines on to victory! For me, it was an ordinary Saturday, my dad was coaching in another big game!  Everyone asked who I was cheering for, but those that know me, didn't have to ask.  My family comes first every day and twice on Sunday, or should I say football Saturday.

I loved my time at ND, and I love ND softball. And so much of what I love about ND is the storied tradition, the expectation and overwhelming desire to be great, a greatness I can feel isn't too far behind for the Irish. But on this beautiful September night, I have never felt the energy I felt from the U of M fans and stadium. Every time The White Stripes Seven Nation Army played over the loud speakers, I got chills. I got the chills that I got when I watched Florida beat Ohio State in the National Championship, and the chills I got when I watched Iowa's #99 force, recover and attempt to return a fumble against Wisconsin in Camp Randall Stadium. These are the same chills on Thursday nights as Ken coaches his Clinton Redskins to victory and now on Sunday afternoons when the Purple and Black take on their NFL opponents.  I watch my dad, my brother and my husband work their asses off to be great or help others be great. The chills? Those are chills of pride and gratitude, of knowing that you're watching hard work pay off, that you have the opportunity to watch something really special. I love those chills. I love those chills more than I love a university, a team, or an alma mater. And although those chills sang Hail to the Victors  on that September night, as long as my dad, my brother and my husband find a W every week,  I'm happy. Some call me a traitor, call me what you wish, but don't call me for football tickets :)

The night turned out in favor of Michigan, and my friends and family got to celebrate in the way we celebrate most things, in a parking lot with beers.

Worst. Blogger. Ever.

Updates soon, I promise :) But until then...

Just rockin my skinny jeans (last time you'll wear those, kid), North Face and Uggs! 

Roberts Family Rules to Live By...

I love chalkboards. Besides having chalkboards through out our wedding, we also have them through out our house. There's one in the kitchen, laundry room and through out our basement!  Sunday afternoon I came home from a few hours at the office to this GIANT homemade chalkboard on our dining room wall. Using chalkboard paint and trim, Ken made our dining room so fabulous!  I can't stop staring at how amazing it is! We bought paint and the goods to make the wood look distressed, so it's not quite finished yet!

Unsure of what to fill the chalkboard with, we drafted our "Roberts Rules to Live By". Although we don't always follow our own advice, it's a fun colorful reminder of the way we'd like to live our life!

1) Celebrate Everything
2) Be Kind
3) Say what you mean and mean what you say
4) Hug, give BIG hugs
5) Laugh, giggle, be silly
6) Work hard
7) Count your blessings
8) Do something creative everyday
9) Cheer loud
10) Smile
11) Drink more coffee, wine, beer...
12) WIN
13) Cupcakes and Dance off's solve EVERYTHING
14) Find time...
15) Breathe Deep and Let it Go
16) Be grateful and say thank you
17) Love Unconditionally

The Daughters of Football Coaches...

I've been the daughter of a football coach my whole life. Allegedly, once, my dad owned a sporting goods store, but for as long as I've known my name I've been a coaches daughter. With that,  there have been many privileges, but also much responsibility. People were always watching us that much closer to see us falter, break, or fail. Intentions were always blurry-- was this guy dating me because of me or because of my dad or was this friend so close because of me or because of free tickets. It sounds silly to put in print, but it's the truth. My dad used to tell Bryan and me as we left the house-- before you make a decision tonight think about how it would look in a headline-- "Football Coaches son/daughter arrested for DUI" or "Football Coaches son/daughter ordered Diet Coke at a Movie". There's this ridiculous story when I was 14 that you'll have to have Ken tell you sometime about me freaking out about "living in a fish bowl". The truth of the matter is, as many fits as I threw claiming how mean people were when we lost at ND or how I was sick of "living in a fish bowl, I wouldn't have wanted my upbringing any different. I was around the best of the best athletes, competitors, and people. I was always in a learning environment, and I got to travel and watch some of the best college (and pro) football games ever played.  My dad and I shared a love for competing, a desire to be the best and he taught me about the responsibility & pride that came with being a part of a coaching family. To this day, we have a special relationship and even though he was busy he ALWAYS (and continues to) make time for me. Not too shabby of an upbringing, if you ask me.

Starting tomorrow, I'm not only the daughter of a football coach, but now the wife of a football coach.  (It's a good thing I trained under one of the best for the last 30 years.) Ken accepted the Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator JV football coaching job at Clinton High School.  And yes, JV is a little bit different than collegiate, but the responsibility comes with different intensities. Ken will be teaching these student athletes not only the X's and O's of the game, but how to be competitors, good people and (with out getting crazy dramatic) great men. My favorite part of it all (besides getting to make the kids that sack the quarterback my mom's famous "Sacks of Cookies"), is that Mattie is now the daughter of a football coach. And although tomorrow marks the start of the busiest of busy falls, Mattie will grow up with a dad who will not only make time for her & teach her how to be a competitor but will share a special bond with her much like my dad had with me.

So, although this fall is sure to be action packed and potentially ridiculously busy, you can find Mattie and me cheering the black & red and maize & blue with an unmatched intensity and pride-- after all, we are the daughters of football coaches!

Just like Daddy...

Mattie is so much like her dad. She loves a few things right now, laughing, bouncing and making fart sounds :) Amazingly parallel personalities...

Cheese! 

Is it bedtime yet? 

And I'm OUT.

Grampy Greg got me my first ball. I'm already picking it up... 

And throwing it away from me... 

The Nanny Diaries...

Cross your fingers, friends, this week of nanny interviews may have just resulted in Mattie Mae having a nanny! 

When I began this search earlier this year, I truly didn't know where to turn. After some serious googling, I stumbled across two different websites-- sittercity.com and nannypoppinz.com. Both are sites that screen nanny applicants, do background checks and then interview and line up the best fit candidates for your family situation. Sounds fabulous right? Of course it does, AFTER THE $1000-2000 FINDERS FEE! As someone who interviews handfuls of potential employees monthly, and after my dear friend Erin Murray suggested another option (www.care.com), I decided I could do the search on my own and save the cash! 

After filling out what I can only imagine is the equivalent of match.com for nannies, I had 55 messages with in an hour. These "nannies" had pictures, qualifications (let's use that term loosely) and expected salary/requirements. Most located our requirements based on location and, I'll just cut to the chase, most were missing teeth and or sporting a mullet and requesting ridiculous accommodations. All things that don't leave this first time mom feeling oh-so-confident. 

I read background checks, called references and finally set up a series of interviews through out the week. The first girl we met with was really sweet and would have done a fine job with Mattie, she needed her 14 month old to come along with her, and was really into us being "friends". The second girl was allegedly a stand up comedian (yet did not demonstrate humor) and was some how related to our friends the Esterlines, yet didn't have stable transporation (not an option when you have a kid with a heart disease!).  The third and fourth interviews I canceled after their references said they would (and I quote) "never rehire this candidate" and were "not familiar with that candidate as ever working for us". 

Frustrated and unsure of where to turn, my mom (the beloved Grannie Annie) texted a group of the Michigan wives to get their feelers out. With in minutes, one of the women recommended a part time worker at the football office, a University of Michigan graduate, a developmental psychology major and the daughter of the Defensive Coordinator that took the job at U of M after my dad left to go to Notre Dame, Jim Hermann.  After talking with Jessica, she seems fabulous and is willing to make the trek to our house! Although things aren't finalized, I can't even tell you how much better I feel. Jessica may not have a never ending tote bag full of goodies,  the ability to hop into sidewalk art or even a good looking chimney sweep as a friend, but she's a nice girl who will be very kind and attentive to Mattie while providing her steady and affordable care. Truthfully, that's all we could ever want! 

Tonight, I took our profile off of www.care.com. As I hit delete, I felt like The Banks' housekeeper, Ellen, slamming the door on the line of nannies as she said in the best British accent ever,  "Positions been filled".