The Hogan Hut

Jibberish

2009-04-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

Kate has been working on different sounds lately, and she has been making this noise for the past couple of days. What do you think she's saying? Our guess is "tickle."

A Weekend Project

2009-03-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

One of our goals this spring/summer is to have a successful container vegetable garden on our back deck. This inspired me to want to build my own larger size planter to go along with a few smaller pots. Since I'm pretty clueless when it comes to building something like this, I recruited my friend A.P. to help me out.

After about 6-7 hours of actual building time, the final product turned out great. Note, I said actual building time. This didn't include the almost 2 hours we spent in Home Depot trying to buy materials and keep up with Kate and his almost 4 year old daughter, Loa. It was quite the sight.

Now, hopefully we'll be able to get some veggies to grow. We'll post photos throughout the growing season.

Daddies and daughters hard at work.

The internal frame.

Complete planter before trim.

Finished product (not the best lighting since it was dark).

The weather in Georgia

2009-03-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

"If you don't like the weather in Georgia, just wait 5 minutes."

I've heard this quotation before, but in our case it was more like 'wait a few hours.' These are pictures from Friday:

9am (getting ready for a jog with Mommy). Temp approx 40 degrees:

12pm (temp approx 60 degrees):

4pm (no pants--it was too hot--approx 72 degrees!):

You gotta love Spring!

Why I love consignment sales

2009-03-20T21:41:00.000-07:00

I got all of this for only $16!!!

32 Years

2009-03-19T07:17:00.001-07:00

Happy anniversary Mom and Dad! 32 years is incredible! Thanks for being a great example of an awesome marriage.

We love you!

Love,

Lee, Anna, Kate, BJ, and Katie

Luck of the Irish

2009-03-16T19:41:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it's been 3 months. I promise I will not wait until the next holiday to post another blog. I'm learning this whole process again, so here goes...

Kate went to a St. Patty's day party today and had a great time! She even snuck some icing when I was passing my camera off to another party goer. She wore her green, played with some older kids, and decorated cookies. It was really fun!

Near Christmas Disaster

2008-12-07T19:19:00.000-08:00

Note to self - don't let a 7 month old play with Christmas ornaments on the tree. We picked up our tree this afternoon, and after an hour or so of lightning, decorating and admiring our best tree in 5 years... enter Kate. She was having a blast jumping in her jumper as we decorated the tree and listened to Christmas music. After the job was done, we thought, "Wouldn't it be cute if Kate sat next to her first tree and played with an ornament? It would make for a great photo."

We did get some great photos, however we also got something unexpected. Kate was playing with a Mickey ornament, Anna was right next to her and I was snapping a few photos. Next thing I knew the tree was on a downward spiral toward my head. With cat-like reflexes, I moved the camera with one hand and caught the tree with the other, saving near disaster by inches. The aftermath? A few ornaments rolling around on the floor and Mickey's head still hanging on the tree while his body was on the floor. Apparently, Kate decapitated Mickey and pulled the tree down at the same time. And we thought we wouldn't have trouble with a kid and a Christmas tree until at least our second Christmas when she was walking! I guess that's the beauty of being a first time parent.

Hours before...

Minutes before...

Seconds before...

The act caught on camera! I think I took this as the tree was coming down.

Kate's First Words

2008-12-04T20:11:00.000-08:00

To most, it probably sounds like jibberish, but to her proud dad she is saying "Da Da". Baby talk for Daddy!

Thanksgiving

2008-12-02T19:08:00.000-08:00

It was a Davidson family Thanksgiving this year. My mom's side of the family is from Savannah and everyone was getting together at my grandparents' house for the festivities. It was the first time we were all together for a holiday in about 13 years. Several spouses and babies have been added since then!

We drove down through typical Atlanta holiday traffic and made it to Savannah in about 4.5 hours. We had a great time hanging out with family and hearing what people had been up to over the last few years. The meal was awesome---you'd be hard-pressed to find a bad meal at the Davidson house. My friends Greg and Tamara Feightner joined us to celebrate their first Thanksgiving as a married couple. It was really special to have them there!

We left Savannah and headed to Athens for the UGA/GT football game. We took some smaller highways and discovered there is nothing between Sandersville and Athens. Kate was grumpy, hungry, and tired, and we struggled to find a safe-looking place to stop. Listening to a six month old cry for over an hour straight can really wear a person out!

We woke up Saturday morning to rain and cold. The Dawgs played the Jackets in the rain in 40 degree weather. I chose to stay at my parents' condo with Kate and enjoy the game on tv in the warm condo with a mug of hot chocolate. Given the outcome of the game, I'd say I made a good decision. UGA lost the annual rivalry game. It was a sad way for them to end the season, especially with my favorite player (Mohammed Massaqoui) having his best game of the season, and probably his career.

In the end, we had a great time with family, had a great tour of the state of Georgia, and made it home safely with some time to rest before the work week began.

Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving.

Our First Blog

2008-11-13T19:37:00.000-08:00

Well, we're venturing into the world of blogging. Not sure if anyone will actually read this thing, but hey, it gives us something to do in our spare time (like we have any of that these days).

Kate will turn 6 months on Saturday. It's hard to believe half a year has gone by since she was born. We're having a blast being parents and have had a busy fall. Football games, pumpkin patches and of course a pork butt or three on the Big Green Egg.

Oh, I guess we should explain the title of our blog in this first post. Ever since Anna bought me my Big Green Egg smoker for our first anniversary, I've added a new hobby of BBQ. I've always loved to eat it, but now I love to make it. If you smoke it they will come. Friends and family always say I should open a restaurant, but I'm not quiting my day job anytime soon. Anyway, if we ever were to open a restaurant it would be called The Hogan Hut, with the tagline "Get your butt at The Hogan Hut." For now, we'll just enjoy the BBQ in our own house. Here are some pictures from this fall with Kate.