Halloween Preview

Hadley as "The Great Pumpkin."

On the Subject of College

After letting the world know of Reese's future intentions I feel it is only right to let everyone know that the girls have also made their decisions on future schools, although for very different reasons than Reese. It appears that we will not have a legacy that attends THE Florida State University. The Critters will not be able to check that every important legacy box on their college application. We will be a family of SEC'ers and a Big XII'er.

After long deliberation Carson has decided that she will be attending The University of Texas in Austin. As of now CarCar is still undecided what avenue she will pursue in college, she just knows that she will have a kickass time in Austin.

So as CarCar screams "Hook'em Horns" we can all start to sing the Fight Song of the University of Texas:
Texas Fight, Texas Fight,
And it's goodbye to A&M.
Texas Fight, Texas Fight,
And we'll put over one more win.
Texas Fight, Texas Fight,
For it's Texas that we love best.
Give 'em Hell, Give 'em Hell, Go Horns Go,
And it's good-bye to all the rest!
Yea Orange! Yea White!
Yea Longhorns! Fight! Fight! Fight!
Texas Fight! Texas Fight,
Yea Texas Fight!
Texas Fight! Texas Fight,
Yea Texas Fight!
The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
All the livelong day.
The Eyes of Texas are upon you,
You cannot get away.
Texas Fight, Texas Fight,
For it's Texas that we love best.
Hail, Hail, The gang's all here,
And it's good-bye to all the rest!

As will all decisions in the family we laid out all of the pros and cons of this decision by CarCar.

Pros:
1. Cool campus with great football program.
2. South by Southwest.
3. Quality Education.
4. Possibility of marrying the son of an oil tycoon.
5. Good BBQ.

Cons:
1. Tuition - but fear not CarCar will be exceptionally bright!
2. 14 hour drive.

On to the Hadster. She has decided to join her brother and attend an SEC school. Don't get your hopes up, its not that school down south! She will find herself partying in The Grove on Saturdays in the fall. According to Hadley she will be attending the University of Mississippi, affectionately known as "Ole Miss."


As with CarCar, Hadley has listed her major as undecided with a minor in partying. Me thinks she will be the wild child. So toss on a sundress or a button-down and khakis and join Hadley at the tailgate down in The Grove.



Pros:
1. The Grove.
2. The Grove.
3. The Grove.
4. Good Old Southern School.
5. Somewhat close to brother.


Cons:
1. The pesky issue of tuition.
2. Football team that folds like a cheap suit.


As you all can see the Critters will be spread out all throughout the Southeast. Fear not I have devised a plan in which we can get all of them to college. Unfortunately Rian and I will have to divide and conquer. I have a feeling that Rian will fly with CarCar to Austin, while I am left to drive brother and Hadster to their respective universities. I can't wait to be crammed in a car with Hadley and Reese and all of their dorm room accoutrements. The car will be bursting at the seams with twin extra-long sheets and comforters, computers, and God only knows what else. What exactly does a lady slayer take to school?

I know that you all are jealous of my Microsoft Paint skills.

Oh well, we have a few years to plan out our routes. CarCar and Hadley just wanted me to let you all know that they have made their decisions and feel free to mark your calendars for graduation.

Chris

Random Phone Camera Pics

CarCar letting me know what she thought about me taking her picture.

Brother

CarCar with a huge smile.

Chris

An Open Letter to the Critters

Hey Critters, its your dad in cyberspace. I just wanted to write you a letter to know how proud and honored I am to be your father. I can't believe that it has been five months since you came into this world. There have been quite a few laughs and probably just as many tears in that short time. I still can't get over how fast time is moving. I can remember when your mother was pregnant I wanted time to move so fast so you could get here and I could make sure everything was okay with you all. Now I just want to move in slow motion so I don't miss a thing.

Carson, you have blossomed into one of the sweetest little girls in the world. You were the quiet one for so long, but now you have found your voice. Your mom and I just need to remember that you are on CarCar time and you will do things as you see fit. You have quite possibly the sweetest little laugh. "Here comes the mouse from.................." I hope that this gives you a laugh when you can read this. So as I have said Carson you are dad's soft spoken, super sweet little girl.

Reese, you do everything to please your mom and me. I don't think that we could have gotten a better little big guy. You nap when you are supposed to and you can generally tell when mom and dad need a little break. You are also one of the most sensitive little guys that I have seen. We could tell when you were in the NICU that you were talking to us with your eyes. The moment that comes to mind is when you looked at your mother and said, "Mama, everything is gonna be all right. Sisters and I will be out of here real soon." You have grown so much since the first time that I saw you. I know that they grouped you as a "wimpy little white boy," but big guy you have fought and grown like a true little champ.

Hadley, or should I say "Heavy H." You have always been the strongest of the bunch and I have a feeling that that will place out the same in the future. You have a little sister and brother (by mere minutes) to watch after. You have grown into such a wonderful little girl. I don't think anyone can laugh and smile like you, just this mouth open grin with one of the most wonderful little laugh noises that you will hear. I really think that you are hitting your stride now and it is both wonderful and a little sad at the same time. Wonderful because you are growing and developing at a super rate, but in the same breath a little sad because you are growing so fast. You have mastered to roll over from stomach to back and you almost have the back to stomach figured out. Keep on keepin' on Hadster. Dad is so proud of how you are doing.

I know that there will be so many good times in the future for us to enjoy I just wanted to let you guys know how much I truly love being your father. Now, I won't say that there has not been any frustrating times, but those are so far outweighed by the good times they are easily forgotten. Please just keep on doing what you guys are doing and you will grow into the big critters that your mother and I envisioned.

Just remember that no matter how frustrated we get, your mother and I still love you guys and we would not change our situation for the world.

Love,

Dad



Chris

Reese, 9/30/09

Striking a pose for the ladies.

Showing his sense of humor.


Some pretty freakin cool socks if you ask me.

Chris

The Hop, 2035

This would be the year that Reese graduates from medical school. If you are wondering what "The Hop" is it is a nickname I made up for Johns Hopkins, yes that Johns Hopkins. The fighting Blue Jays. Apparently Rian has Reese's future roughly sketched out for him, which will culminate in him becoming a graduate from Hopkins, at a cost of around $158,000. Drop in the Bucket.

Rian also informed me that our son was a huge Tennessee Volunteer fan. I guess things could be worse, like Hogtown. She told me that he would like to go there for his undergraduate studies. Sweet, if you saw the figure from graduate school above I now get to add out of state tuition. I told Reese and his mother that he better be amazingly smart. I see a lot of scholarships in his future. I am not sure where Rian got the idea that our son wants to go to Tennessee, but I think it might have something to do with Peyton Manning and Smokey "but it he a Hound dog" the Blue Tick Coon Hound. I think it might have something to do with the pretty Southern ladies in Knoxville.

Reese is apparently going to become a cardiologist according to Rian, I guess I really don't have an issue with this. Plastic Surgery always seems to be a lucrative field, though. Well enough with my rambling about Reese's future, but I thought that you all should know early so you can make your plans to head to Baltimore for graduation in a few years.

Reese, a quick note from your father - study hard little buddy.

P.S. - Hayley, I am sure you saw the amount of tuition per year at Hopkins so I think Reese living in your basement during school is a definite possibility.

P.S.S. - What are the chances of Peyton Manning and George Clooney ending up in a single blog entry.

Chris

Critter's, you're gonna carry that weight · Carry that weight a long time

The Critters had their 4 month visit today. We are about two weeks behind schedule. The Critters did not enjoy this visit at all. The girls each got three shots, but Reese was the big winner with an extra shot for RSV.

I must say that it is no fun having to hold their little arms down so they don't flail during the shots. Hadley was asleep when they started, let me tell you that was quite a rude awakening for her. We had a lot of the silent cries followed by the outburst and beet red faces. They made it through though and calmed down quickly.

Weight Check:

Carson: Length 23 1/2", Weight 12 lb 9 oz

Reese: Length 23 3/4", Weight 12 lb 11 oz

Hadley: Length 23 1/2", Weight 13 lb 3 oz

Chris