The White House

Hi. It's Chad. I was in Washington, D.C., this past week for a training class. On Wednesday morning, I skipped out on training and went to take a tour of the White House. It was extremely cool. That evening, I called home and told Jaime about it. Hallie wanted to talk on the phone to me, so I began to tell her about it. Her response was, "That was cool. Did you see George Washington?" I told her that I did not, but I did see his picture. Blake was next to talk. I told him about going to the President's house. He wasn't quite as impressed at first. In an attempt to build him up to my excitement level, I told him that the President has his own movie theater and bowling alley in his house. He perked up at that point with an excited "Really?!?!" I then told him about the swimming pool, basketball court and tennis courts. Blake couldn't believe his ears and was amazed that someone could have all of those cool things in their house. Thinking of the best thing ever, in his mind, to have at your house, he then asked, "Daddy, does the President have his own McDonalds in his house?" After I quit laughing, I said, "No, but if the President wants McDonalds to eat, someone would bring him McDonalds." I guess even though you may have 5 star expertly trained culinary chefs at your service, there is no remedy for a Big Mac Attack.

Baking cakes

I have been baking cakes for about 25 years. When I was in 3rd or 4th grade I had a surprise Anniversary party for my parents, where I baked and frosted two cakes (from scratch) while Mom and Dad were not at home. I like to bake and have been doing it forever. Then this weekend, the kids and I decided to bake a Checkerboard Cake for Mom's birthday, again I have baked this cake before with no problems. I decided to do a cooked chocolate frosting, which is very simple, again something I have done before. Below you will see the results of my cake baking adventure. Let's just say, nothing worked right this weekend.

It tasted great, but that was about it. At this point, I gave up frosting the rest of it and we just ate it as it was. Oh, well.

Chad vs. Hallie

Hi everyone. It is Chad. Hallie finished soccer a couple of weeks ago. After we had gotten home, she was a little upset that she had not scored a goal in any of the games this year. It definitely wasn't for lack of trying. She worked really hard to score a goal, but just couldn't do it. She came really close in the final game, but missed the net. Since she was upset, I had told her that next year, she would most likely score lots of goals because she would be older. I went on to say that when you get older, you get stronger and faster, so you will be able to kick the ball harder and run faster. She thought on this for a second and then replied, "Daddy, that can't be right because I am way faster than you." I told her, "No, you are not." She went on to say that she was and she has beaten me in a race. After that, I did what any dignified dad would do. I told her that she was wrong and the next day that we were outside, I was going to race her and prove to her that she was not faster than me. Race day arrived this past weekend. We were outside playing and I reminded her about our race. We lined up. Hallie said, "On your mark, get set, go!" and the race was on. One thing to remember when racing someone in a sprint for a distance of 25-30 feet is that the jump out of the starting gate is crucial. Hallie was a littler faster out of the gate than I was ready for, but I am proud to say that I won the race. Yes!!! You heard me right. I am a slightly faster runner than a 5 year old girl.

Happy Birthday Andrew and Daniel!

On the kids birthdays I have been writing about the day they were born, but for Andrew and Daniel I need to start the story a little earlier. Because their birth story is the same, I will write to both of them together, I will write individually to them later.

When Mommy was about 8 weeks pregnant, I went to the Doctor. Daddy stayed at work that day because we knew all they would do was tell me I was pregnant. Before I saw the Doctor, they did an ultrasound and as soon as they lady put the wand to my belly she asked me how many pregnancies I had in the past. I told her 2, one for Blake and one for Hallie. She then asked me if I knew I was having twins. I was shocked!!! I started laughing and crying all at the same time. I kept on saying, but I already have two babies, I can't believe I am having two more. She kept looking at the ultrasound and saying everything looked great. Daddy had been teasing me ever since I got pregnant that it was going to be twins because I was so sick and I was not sick with Blake and Hallie. So they walked me back to the room and I called Daddy. He answered the phone and I said "Guess what? We are having twins." Daddy started laughing and said he knew I would try to tell him that because he had been teasing me for so long. I told him again I was serious and he did not believe me. Finally the nurse walked in the room and asked me if I had told my husband yet, when Daddy heard that he said,"You are serious aren't you?"

I said yes and we both started laughing. We were very excited, but also a little scared. Two babies at once was going to be a lot of work and we were worried.

Once I left the Doctors office, Daddy and I decided to go ahead and call family and tell them the good news. I called Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Brian and Aunt Dawn and they were all very surprised and very excited. Daddy called Poppa and Bidee, Aunt Julie and Uncle Jeremy. They were very excited too. I drove around in my car for about 2 hours before I went back to work because I could not believe I had two babies in my tummy.

Before long it was time for you both to be born. We were watching the Alabama/Tennessee football game and I was having lots of contractions, we called the Doctor and he told us to go on in to the hospital and get checked. When we got there they told me I was in labor and would be in the hospital until you both were born. That night they gave me some medicine to try to get my labor to stop so you would not be born yet, but you both were ready to be here.

So, they next morning we called all of the family and told them you would be born today! They all came to the hospital to wait. At 4:17, Andrew was born. Andrew, you were small 4lbs, 5 oz, so they took you straight to the ICU and I did not get to hold you right away. Then at 4:22 Daniel, you were born. You were small too, 4 lbs, 1 oz, but you were doing a little better so I got to look at you for a minute before you went to ICU. I was so ready to see and hold you both, but because you were so small I couldn't right away. Daddy and I went down the hall to see you about 11:00 that night. Andrew, we walked up to your crib and you looked just like Blake when he was a baby. You had brown hair instead of red, but you looked just like Blake. We walked over to your crib Daniel and we were so surprised. You didn't look like Blake or Hallie, but you did look just like your Daddy!

Andrew, when I first held you I could not believe how small you were. We had so much special time when you were still at the hospital. I would sit between you and Daniel all day long and alternate holding you and watching you. You came home when you were 3 weeks old and we were so excited. Blake and Hallie had not seen you yet and they wanted to hold you all night long. For the first two weeks you were home we went back and forth to the hospital several times a day to see Daniel and we had lots of special time together.

Daniel, when I first held you, I could not believe how much you looked like your Daddy. You were small too and so handsome. You had to stay at the hospital two more weeks after Andrew went home, but we came to visit you several times a day. I got to give you bottles and give you baths. We missed you so much when we went home at night, but before long you came home as well. Daddy, Andrew and I came to the hospital to pick you up and we were so happy to have you both in the car with us.

Here is a picture of you both on the day Daniel came home from the hospital. You were 5 weeks old and Blake and Hallie were so happy.

Andrew, you are such a wonderful boy. You are so happy and you love to cuddle and be held close. I love to sit and hold you as we talk or sing. I am so proud of all that you do, you love to play ball and you surprise me every day with the new words or songs that you know. I hope you have a wonderful, happy birthday and Daddy and I love you so much!

Daniel, your smile lights up the room. You show every emotion on your face and when you are happy the whole world knows. You don't sit still often, but when you do I love to watch Tigger and Pooh with you. You are such a big helper, I love it when you help me do laundry or load the dishwasher. I am so proud of you and all of the new things you are learning ever day. I hope you have a great birthday and Daddy and I love you so much!

WEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone. It is Chad. As you probably can tell from the previous blogs, we all had a great time at Disney. One of my favorite parts, and I know Blake's too, was riding the rides. We basically rode everything we could and wanted. All of the kids showed a ton of courage to get on some of the giant rides and loved them. Blake and Hunter even braved the Tower of Terror with me and Jaime. Blake loved it, but it was definitely not Hunter's favorite. He did show more courage than his parents, who chickened out. (Just kidding Ed and Sallie.) Blake says that the Tower of Terror and Expedition Everest were his two favorite rides. I would have to agree.

The most favorite ride of all the kids was Splash Mountain. We ended up riding that about 3 or 4 times and we got wet every time. Soarin' was also a highlight. For those who don't know what that ride is, you are raised up in a row of seats to be looking at a giant movie screen. Then the movie starts and you are flying over California. The seats glide with you as you are flying and you feel the mist of waterfalls, smell the orange groves, and all sorts of things. All of us were amazed with this ride, but probably none as much as Hallie, who asked me, "Daddy, are we still in Disney World?" She really thought we had flown away.

The 3-D things were a little too real for Hallie. She loved the Muppets and was amazed at parts of Mickey's PhilharMagic, but the Bug's Life show scared her to no end. She was fine initially, but when the giant spider came on the screen and started throwing its deadly poisonous quills past our heads, she was ready to go. She sat in my lap with her eyes hid until it was over.

Another ride that everyone seemed to like, but it took a little time to get over it, was Dinosaur. It was a little intense and Hallie had to ride it with her head down. They take you picture as a big dinosaur is screaming in your face. We all looked a little scared, except for Hallie, who wasn't looking. After the ride, I asked Blake what he thought of it. He replied, "Whew. I thought that was real."

It was such a great fun trip that I could go on and on about all of the rides, but I will leave it here for now.

More Disney Pictures

Sallie has set up a photo album with a lot of the pictures they took when we were all at Disney. They are fabulous pictures. Here is a link to the album...

http://picasaweb.google.com/Sklawrence/Disney2007


Enjoy!

Disney World

We are home and had a fantastic time!! There are so many stories to tell, I don't think I can write them all on the blog. The kids were wonderful, they had a great time and there was very little fussing the whole trip. Blake loved the rides, he rode every single one with his hands in the air. His favorites were Tower of Terror, Expedition Everest and Splash Mountain. Hallie rode everything she was big enough to ride, she loved Splash Mountain, the Goofy roller coaster and meeting all of the characters.

The lines were not bad at all, we did not have to Fast Pass many rides and were able to walk on lots of them. Some of the highlights of the trip were many, many, many knock-knock jokes told by Hunter, Blake, Brantley and Hallie. Everytime were were still for a minute, more jokes were created. Very few made sense, but they had a great time.

Another highlight was the fabulous food we ate. We had a fancy dinner at a Steakhouse and all of the kids were fantastic. They behaved very well, ate all their dinner, and stayed up way past their bedtime and never complained. We also ate at the Whispering Canyon Cafe, it was so much fun! The kids got to be loud and silly and no one cared. They got to yell for ketchup and everyone is the resturant brought their ketchup to our table. Then they got to bring our ketchup to someone else's table when they called for it. We celebrate Hallie and Brantley's birthday on several different days, and on the last night both got birthday cakes.

Too many stories to tell, I'll post more of them later, but here are some of the pictures.

The girls at their birthday dinner...

The boys on a Star Wars speeder..

Hallie with Snow White..


Blake with Goofy...

All of us at dinner...



More pictures and stories to come!