Trip to the mountains

Sunday after Match Day we went to a bed-and-breakfast called Blue Mountain Mist in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. (Katie bought a groupon). We had a cabin, which was very nice. Once we unloaded our car, we went on a hike around the farm to the main house. As you can tell, Chase could hardly wait.

At the house, we explored. There was dessert left out every evening. They had a "TV room" that was full of movies. Mama and Hank got a picture with a poster of Hank's namesake...

We walked back to our cabin and grilled hotdogs. It was a 1-room cabin, but it had a sitting area and a kitchenette. Chase and Daddy enjoyed their hotdogs.
After hotdogs, we cooked s'mores. It was Chase's first taste of marshmallows and s'mores. He was a fan.

The next day we drove to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. We stopped at the Sugarland Visitor Center. Chase got to see all the animals. There was a movie about the mountains so we figured it was a good time to give Hank a bottle. It was a "National Geographic-like" movie, so Chase was asleep in about 5 minutes. Mama and Daddy dosed off several times as well.

Our next stop was a riding stable. We had hoped that Chase could get to pet and maybe sit on some "neigh-neighs." We were very excited when they said he could ride one. It was probably one of the best moments in Chase's life.

Chase meets "Slick" (the horse, not the cowboy)

Chase settling in to the saddle

A natural cowboy. He even said, "yee-haw" several times.

Chase thought he was very big stuff after riding the neigh-neigh. We drove up to Clingmans Dome. We walked up the steep 1/2 mile path to the tower. Mama carried Hank and Daddy carried Chase most of the way up.

Chase nearing the top

Chase at the bottom of the tower-He did not want to walk to the top and it was very challenging getting him to go. I had to carry him while he slid his hand along the rail. It reminded me of being there about 20 years earlier with Granny and Grandaddy. Granny was very mad at how steep the "short walk" was and in protest refused to go to the top of the tower and waited at the bottom for us all to come back.

Daddy and Chase at the top of the tower

Mama and Hank at the top of the walk

Chase was very eager to walk down. He wanted to run, which would have been very painful if he fell (which was very likely). When he didn't feel like running he wanted to sit on the side and play in the dirt. It took us about an hour to make it down to the bottom (an unusually long time).

Once we got to the bottom Chase wanted to climb on the rocks like many of the other kids there. I remember climbing on these rocks with Wes and Clay. It was fun for me to see Chase want to do the same. He worked hard, but eventually made it to the top of this "Chase-size" rock.

We ate lunch in the parking lot and let Chase nap on the drive back down the mountain. We had very little gas, so I basically coasted all the way down to Gatlinburg. Once there we drove around a little and visited the Nantahala Outdoor Center. Thanks to Mama Zo and Pops we ate an early-bird dinner at the Park Grill that was very good.

Chase loved the bear outside the door

Hank enjoyed a bottle on the front porch

We had a lot of fun on a great trip!

Daddy's Match Day

On March 16, we all gathered at UAB to learn where I would do my residency training, starting in a few months at the completion of medical school. Most would say that "match day" is more important than graduation day. We were all hopeful, but a little anxious about where I would end up. Thankfully, we are staying in Birmingham for the next 4 years. I will do my intern year in surgery at Princeton and Trinity hospitals. After that year, I'll do 3 years of anesthesiology at UAB. It was a fun day for all; Chase and Hank did very well in an auditorium for about 3 hours.

Daddy and Chase going to learn our results

Announcing that we would be staying in Birmingham

Signing my name on the map

A happy (and relieved) family

My parents and the Stanleys came back to our house following the ceremony for lunch. My parents brought some good roast beef, baked potatoes, green beans, salad and banana pudding. The Stanleys got a chocolate cake. We had a good time celebrating.

Gran and Hank, hanging out

After the lunch, we went to Lowes to buy some flowers and plants to "pretty up" our house a bit. Chase had to help me push the cart. He also enjoyed riding on it as well. It was a fun trip and a good stress release from our morning cooped up in an auditorium.

Community Helpers

Not too long ago Chase and Hank had "Community Helpers" day at school. We first thought of Chase wearing his Super-Man costume, since Super-Man is a true community helper. However, we settled on them being doctors. We stayed up until midnight the night before making Chase's scrubs.

Dr. Chase

Dr. Hank - thanks Aunt Beth for his shirt

At the end of the day, Chase would much rather be playing with his soccer ball.

Chase goes to basketball game

A few weeks ago we took Chase to a Samford basketball game. He looked forward to the game all day saying "bak-ball dame." We've been wanting to take him to one, and Samford was a good introduction. Chase is officially a Duke Blue Devil fan. A few days later, we were watching Duke play and Chase ran around the house throwing his basketball saying, "le doe Duke," with emphasis on the Duke. The other night, a basketball game was on and he came in the room and screamed, "le doe Duke" as loud as he could. His mama thinks he'll play for Coach K...we'll see.

Chase watched the game and would clap when everyone else did. His attention span was a little short, but popcorn helped some. It was his first experience with popcorn, and Chase loved it.

Trying to catch up...

We have a lot of fun playing with Chase, Hank and Ruby around the house. Below are several pictures between January and the end of February of us just "hanging out."

Chase coloring

Daddy and Hank taking a nap

Chase singing "Row, Row, Row your boat" with Hank. He likes to hold his ends and rock back and forth.

Hank, Chase and Mama getting ready for bed

Chase getting ready to paint

Chase going "night-night" under his rug

Hank in his swing (about mid-February)

Chase with his big "mink-mink" that Peg-P gave him for Valentine's Day

We have a lot fun between bath and bed time. Chase and Hank take a bath together (Hank sits in his small bath tub in the big bath tub). Chase likes to help out with bathing Hank and is always very interested in pouring water on Hank. After the bath we usually split up with Daddy taking Hank and Mama taking Chase (Chase usually picks the teams b/c Mama lets him get away with more "stalling"). We put their PJ's on and then meet up in Chase's room. We usually let Chase get his last bit of energy out before we start to read and wind down. There are some nights when Chase wants to read "mo book" but is never satisfied with his selections. There are also nights when he will not calm down until Hank gets in bed next to him. Hank is usually just as involved looking at the books as Chase is. It's a lot of fun for us, and usually Chase will let us leave him in bed without much fight. We leave his light on because he continues to read his books to himself after we have left. Overall though, it is probably our favorite time of the day and we spend most of our time laughing!

Chase reading his book to Ruby before he got in bed

One night Chase discovered all of his shoes and began entertaining us before bath time had started. Thanks Uncle Hunter for the boots!

Hank on his play mat

Chase eating pudding outside one afternoon

Chase is in to horses (neigh-neighs) and he always wants to go on a ride. We were surprised that he was able to saddle up on Ruby...however, Ruby was not interested in taking him anywhere.

Hank and Chase in their matching brother shirts