Mr. Details: Justis

"Mom, where's Daddy?" "Is Daddy in last place?" "Is Daddy winning?" "Where is Daddy?" "Did Daddy beat those people?" "Will Daddy win a trophy?" "Where's Daddy!?"

My Justis. He's our little memory Superman and technical guru of the bunch. He had so many questions and used the marathon (as well as he does every new event) as an opportunity to fill his big ol' noggin with useful information and facts.

Madalynn, Dawson and Jillian accepted the fact that Daddy was a champion for simply running the marathon in Houston a couple weekends ago. Travis will always be Justis's hero, victorious or not, but Justis wanted to know more. "Did Daddy win?" "How is Daddy winning if those people are in front of him?" "Why do those people have their names on their chest?"

The most abstract lesson he learned is that sometimes winning doesn't mean coming in first place! He just couldn't understand how Daddy would "win" and get a medal if all of these runners were crossing the finish line in front of Travis. I explained to him about setting personal goals and the discipline and satisfaction involved in choosing to run a marathon.

Somehow I think little Justis is going to grow up to be very driven like his daddy. Watching him grow is fun, and his ability to grasp new concepts and information and turn around and apply it is humbling, for lack of a better word.

Patience is not always easy for Justis, and these pictures prove it. When you're a logical thinker, sometimes tolerating a wait when, logically, someone doesn't have an excuse to not be done with something is HARD. Justis is growing impatient and worried in these pictures. The race was over and we were waiting for Travis to be weighed, get some food and a massage before meeting up with us in the family reuniting area. Curtains were covering all of the runners' post-race weigh-in, etc, so for all Justis knew Daddy was MIA. Justis watched Travis cross the finish line, yet he hadn't come out from behind the curtain to meet us. A look of relief and a big smile came across Justis's face an hour later when Travis emerged from the post-race "refueling" station.

Jillian's Post-Straightenend Hair

Here's a picture of Jillian's hair after we straightened it and she took a nap. It pretty much looked like this before she took her nap...but the pillow did some extra "fluffing"!

Crossing the Finish Line!

Here's a clip of Travis crossing the finish line. Take a look at the pictures I added to the previous blog, too!

Travis's Bucket List: #1, Complete Marathon (check!)

Mile 23
Mile 16
Mile 13
The Champion & his kids
Travis with Scott, Cheryl, Holly & the Kids

Travis did it!! He ran 26.2 miles in 5 hours and 29 minutes in Houston on Sunday!

Travis has rigorously trained for this marathon for at least six months. His learning curve was steep during those 6 months. He learned Vaseline, Under Armour and "Gu" (little packets of runners nutritional "energy") are essential to a runner. Good shoes are quite possibly the MOST important part of a runner's equipment, of which Travis went through two pair. He put over 300 miles on our treadmill in less than a year!

Travis had a great weekend in Houston. He FINISHED a marathon, a goal he's had for a long time now, and his mom, dad and sister SURPRISED Travis by showing up at our hotel the same time we got to Houston Saturday. Keeping a secret from Travis is very hard, so he about fainted when he went to answer the knock at the hotel room door (thinking it was hotel staff) only to find his family standing there.

I know tears were shed over the weekend. Travis got a little teary-eyed when he saw his family surprise him at our hotel door, and when I gave him a hug after he had finished. I, too, blinked a few tears of joy and pride, watching my wonderful husband mentally and physically sustain such a grueling 5 1/2 hours.

We are blessed to have some very wise friends whom are also runners and have helped him along the way. Special thanks to Justin and Gi and Jay and Jennifer for all of their invaluable tips and support!

The most amusing part of Travis's training to me is Vaseline. Sore nipples? Travis came in one night after a long run, telling me his nipples were really sore from his shirt rubbing against his chest. I wasn't much help. I started laughing and told him "Try breastfeeding!" I asked my friend Jen and she said, "Oh, you need to get him some Vaseline." Of course. Vaseline!? Turns out Vaseline has many uses for a runner. They use it to lube up any part of themselves that will be rubbing against clothing or other skin. It prevents sore nipples, chafed inner thighs, blisters on the feet, chafed armpits. Wow.

Trevis's parents, sister, the kids and I all loaded in the van and drove to different points on the 26.2-mile track to stop and cheer him on. We saw him at three markers along the way, as well as at the finish line. He smiled every time! He got a shirt, a medal and a big 'ol glass that looks like a beer mug from the marathon for finishing. He got a big kiss from me and all the kids and the blessing of having his family there to witness his achievement.

He also got marathon fever. He was satisfied with his victorious completion of the marathon, but his time was not satisfactory for him. His next goal is to run the marathon in fewer hours. He's taking a running break for now, but he's already thinking ahead to how he will achieve his next goal. Ambitious. Driven. Travis. That's my Baby. Love you, Honey! We're VERY proud of you!

Jillian's Hair is "Straight" Up BIG!

Jillian's hair. It has a personality all it's own. We get looks, questions. Someone even asked me if I had permed her hair!? What!?

Her hair never got very straight. After three steps, an hour, and trying not to burn my VERY wiggly Jillian, we got a small glimps of what her hair might look like straight. Thankfully we got a few pictures of her hair in a few different "styles" and "stages," because ten minutes after the transformation, her hair morphed into a CRAZY big 'fro. The pictures speak for themselves.

A Chadd Family Christmas Part 3: A Red Ryder BB Gun & Plantations

Cole's Red Ryder (I think, by the smile on his face, he knew what was in that box!)
Notice Justis. Fully clothed and ready for some jumping action. He was SURE Santa was bringing that trampoline!
Laci and Chadd lounging in the chair
The kids had a full-on water fight in the 80-degree Christmas weather. Cole and Chadd can now tell their friends in Kansas that they had an outdoor water fight on Christmas Day!
Dawson and Jillian, the two littlest, felt like big stuff up on the trampoline.
Oak Alley Plantation
Laci, Cole, Chadd and Madalynn under an old live oak.
Nottingham Plantation was one of the plantations we saw while driving up River Road.


Christmas Day was fun and relaxing at our house while my family was visiting. My dad, mom, sister and nephews also got to tour beautiful Oak Alley Plantation and ride a ferry across the Mississippi River for the first time!

Santa left a Red Ryder BB gun for my lucky nephew Cole! Classic. We all got a kick out of seeing a boys dream of owning a Red Ryder play out. He didn't shoot his eye out. Travis took Laci and Cole out to the backyard and showed them how to load, handle and shoot the BB gun. Laci reiterated to Cole that the gun was only for SUPERVISED play.

A trampoline was wrapped up and waiting for our kids. Grandpa and Daddy spent about an hour Christmas morning assembling the trampoline. The 80-degree weather was perfect for jumping and all the kids went out and jumped to their little heart's content. My kids have spent hours on the trampoline each day since!

We ate a big Christmas lunch of things we "normally" eat for Christmas-things that my Grandma and mom always made. Ham, hashbrown casserole, salad, yeast rolls, crock pot corn and cranberry fluff. I forgot pies for dessert, but I think we were all too full to notice.

We all loaded up the 26th and headed to the beautiful Oak Alley Plantation so my parents, Laci and the nephews and could experience a tour. They, along with Madalynn, enjoyed the tour while Travis and I enjoyed our youngest three. We knew the little ones would have much more fun "touring" the perimeter of the plantation home, so Travis and I had fun with them.

A leisurely drive "up" [Mississippi] River Road gave us a good "driving tour" of other beautiful plantations lining the River. We even got an extra treat. We had to get from the "west bank" to the "east bank" to get home, so we took a ferry across the Mississippi River. Fun, fun! I got a kick out of Cole, who said, "That water is DIRTY!" Hence the name "Muddy Mississippi!"

My family's visit seemed all too short, as they had to leave Saturday morning. We had SO much fun, though. Being together as a family for the first time in a long time was so refreshing.

A Chadd Family Christmas Part 2: Christmas Eve Bonfires

Rodney's Bonfire
My Dad and Mom, Tony & Marsha
My sis, Laci, and her boys Cole (6) and Chadd (4)
Jillian is not afraid of fireworks...at least when Daddy is "protecting" her!
Laci and Jae
Travis with the cousins
The kids sitting on the levee and telling "ghost stories" by flashlight. (The one holding the flashlight got to tell the story)
Mom and Laci (can you tell they're mother & daughter?!)


Enjoying the "Bonfires on the [Mississippi River] Levee" was an extra-special treat this Christmas Eve. Dad, Mom, Laci and her boys, Travis, me and the kids got a lesson on bonfires and Cajun history.

Rodney (Travis's coworker) and his family build and "host" one of the bonfires each year. He has generously invited us to his bonfire both Christmases we have been here. Long story, but last year we saw the bonfires, but didn't make it to Rodney's because we were late. An accident on the Interstate almost prevented us from getting there this Christmas Eve, but we got there just in time to actually be a part of Rodney's bonfire! We were blessed by the hospitality Rodney and his family extended, and we were fortunate to get a first-hand history of "the bonfires" from Rodney.

Rodney grew up in a home right across the street from the Mississippi River levee. His parents still live in the house, therefore he has been participating in the bonfires on the levee for a long time.

Rodney told us about how it used to take from November 1st all the way 'till December 23rd to build their single bonfire! That was before the time of chainsaws, so they chopped their wood by hand. He also described what the bonfires were like before the fire department stepped in and made some safety guidelines. Bonfires were constructed up to 60 ft. tall and there was a contest on who could build the biggest or fanciest fire. Some bonfires were built in shapes like houses, boats, etc. Tires used to be put in the center of the bonfires' tepee structures, so the fires would burn for a LONG time. Rodney said it was kind of a contest on whose fire would burn the longest. He said with the tires, the fires would burn easily for one, sometimes even two weeks. When someone realized the smoke the burning fires created was toxic, the tires were banned from being burned in the bonfires.

Bonfires can be no more than 20 ft. tall now. The bonfires can easily be built in a matter of a few days thanks to chainsaws, and tires are no longer burned. The fires are all lit at 7:00 and most burn into the morning, warmly welcoming Christmas Day.

Although the physical structures and regulations have changed since the beginning of the bonfire tradition, the fellowship, tradition and friendships the fires "lit" have lasted. The bonfire tradition was built around camaraderie, families and good old fashioned fun! Some people say that the fires light the way for Papa Noel to navigate the foggy river to get presents to the good little boys and girls. Others say the fires, "Light the way for the Christ Child," guiding Him to Louisiana. Those legends are fun, for sure, but the draw of the fires is family, friends, fun and just the awesome sight of bonfire after bonfire stretching farther than the eye can see along the Mississippi River levee.

The kids, by the way, had a blast! They immediately started "rolling down the hill" when we got to Rodney's bonfire. They'd start on the top of the steep levee and roll sideways as fast as they could to the bottom. They were thrilled AND filthy. A friend then gave the kids a flashlight to play with and they took turns telling "ghost stories" by flashlight. They all went right to sleep when they got home after showering off, so Santa could get his work done and get to bed!

A Chadd Family Christmas Part 1: Family Pictures

Imagine it. Eleven people, including five adults and six children, pull up into a large, crowded parking lot December 23. The mission? Take family pictures and get everyone to smile.

My Dad and Mom, Tony and Marsha Chadd, and my sister, Laci Brown, and her two boys, Cole and Chadd came to our house the week of Christmas. We had a WONDERFUL week.

We took advantage of Travis's family all being down last Christmas and went in and took pictures of the whole family. They turned out so well, we decided it would be a great way to commemorate my family being all together, as well!

Monday night, we got all of the family together to open one present each. The kids were ecstatic. Toys were wrapped in those boxes. They were convinced of it! Paper and ribbon went flying when I gave the green flag to open the packages. Cole, my 6-year-old nephew, was SO EXCITED about the clothes he got. He's Mr. smooth when it comes to style. Madalynn wears her heart on her sleeve and her face showed that clothes were not what she expected to see in the box. She was trying to be so polite and grateful, while at the same time holding back tears. Justis, Chadd, Dawson and Jillian reasoned, I suppose, that a gift is a gift, because they immediately stripped down to try on their new duds. I explained to Madalynn that this is just a pre-Christmas gift, and we would still open presents, possibly with toys in them, for Christmas. The coolness of her new sweater dress and matching striped tights put a smile back on her face and she forgot all about the toys.

My mom was the first to figure it all out. Everyone was opening a present the 22nd, before Christmas for some reason, and upon examining all of the clothes, she realized they were coordinating. "Jae?" she asked, "Are we going to get our pictures taken or something?"

I smiled, said yes, then all eyes turned to my dad. He HATES getting portraits taken and always has. "We're getting our pictures taken!?" asked Dad, his blood pressure already rising. We all just giggled as my mom reassured him that it would be okay, and that the experience would be different than the church directory pictures he'd taken with mom just a few weeks before. Like me, he clashes with sales people who try to push people into buying something when they don't want to! I reassured Dad we wouldn't be going to this picture place if they did pressure sales pitches.

We got all fancied up and loaded in the car at noon the next day. Our 1:30 appointment ended up being a 2:15 appointment because of the huge mass of other families taking holiday pictures. Madalynn, Cole, Justis and Chadd were very cooperative and photogenic. Dawson and Jillian had the crankies and getting a smile out of them was DIFFICULT to say the least. I even got a genuine smile out of Dad (a staunch democrat) when I told him as we were posing, "Dad. Think happy thoughts, like President Bush." He just grinned. I'm a republican, so we have some spirited (but fun) political conversations.

Little stomachs were growling by the time we got done with our pictures around three o'clock. Dad and Travis walked the kids over to PF Chang, which was conveniently located just right across the parking lot from the picture place. Mom, Laci and I stayed at Portrait Innovations to chose the best poses and order our pictures. The guys put in a frantic phone call from PF Chang asking for some backup, so Mom and Laci went over while I finished up the picture order.

We were all so hungry, we finished off five Chinese food dishes, two bowls of fried rice, and some excellent complimentary asparagus our waiter sent out. Yum! I went and picked up our pictures after lunch and we headed home through the thick Baton Rouge traffic.

I learned that next time I schedule a portrait sitting with children they need to be well-rested and have full tummies. In other words, our next portrait sitting with be in the a.m.!

We got home and looked at the pictures. The pictures turned out wonderfully, and proved the wait and battling the holiday crowds was well-worth it. We will forever remember Christmas 2008!