Summer Fun

Sorry it's been a while since my last post. We've been fine, just very busy! Claire & Jesse are doing great!

This is Jesse, Claire, & Keri (their cousin from Jackson, MS) at the Memphis Zoo. As usual, they had a blast & really enjoyed the butterfly house!
Posing for the camera. What hams!
Claire playing around in her room.
Claire & Daddy at the fountains downtown. She loved it! She loved watching Jesse & Keri run around & be silly & soaking wet in the fountains!

One last vacation photo....

I just love this picture, because this is the expression on her face most of the time. She was looking intently at a seagull that was just a foot or so away. Such a wonderful trip!

I will post more pictures soon!

Love, Gretchen

More vacation photos!!

This is the 1st time all 9 great grandchildren have been together at the same time. Grandma Hydrick was so proud to finally have this picture taken! The kids all enjoyed each other's company on the beach!
Brother & sister enjoying evening on the beach.
The annual beach chair picture is a tradition in our family, & now we get to take one of Claire as well as Jesse! She wasn't so sure about this though.....
Hard to smile when staring directly at the sun!

Jesse was so proud to be taking this picture with his sister this year! She wasn't as cooperative as he, though.....

We're Back!!

Well, we're back safe & sound from a glorious family vacation to Orange Beach! Jesse & Claire did great, & Claire loved the ocean & sand! This picture is of the day before we left. She is crawling all around the house now, & pulling up onto furniture! She is doing new things daily!!
Claire's 1st day on the beach! She was all smiles like this until the last 2 days, when she began to cut 2 new teeth. That girl is going to have a mouthful!! Lance says this picture is of his "little Michelle Wie in training".
Jesse & his cousing Peyton. They would play in the beach until they could go no longer! This is their Power Ranger pose......
Claire with cousin Asa. Asa is 5 months old & outweighs Claire. He is the sweetest baby ever!!

Jesse & more of his cousins feeding the gulls crackers. They loved to see the gulls hovering overhead!

Claire's 1st time in the pool!

The Schiller's had a Memorial Day Weekend Party at their house yesterday & Claire got in the water for the first time. Is was very cold, so she didn't stay in long, but she had a blast!! Uncle Tommy went in with her. It was too cold for mom & dad!
Jesse & Peyton playing inthe ice cold water.

Our day at the zoo......

The new butterfly exhibit was wonderful, & Jesse had butterflies everywhere he walked!
Claire going in for another look.....no touching yet....

Jesse & Claire in the petting zoo at a lovely Lily Garden. Claire was pretty exhausted at this point!

Jesse Graduates!

Jesse graduated from Kindergarten Thursday & is ready for 1st grade.....after a bit of a summer break though! He had several speaking parts & sand lots of songs. It was so cute!!! Claire was in the audience & sang & clapped along with the kids!
Jesse with his Grandma & Nana & PawPaw & Claire after the program.
On Jesse's 1st day of summer vacation, he wanted to go to the zoo, so that's where we went. It was also Claire's 1st time at the zoo & she loved it!!
Claire thoroughly enjoying the butterfly exhibit. She watched so intently as Jesse would hold the different types of butterflies!!

Claire Crawls!

Oh Happy Day.....

Well, Lance's computer crashed last week & we lost most of our pictures......China included. However, thanks to Lance's computer prowess, we have everything now except for a large portion of 2006. But, between grandparents & family members, I think we'll be OK. I'm back to posting now & should have lots of posts coming up!!

We are doing great with TBall in full swing & Jesse graduating from kindergarten next week! Claire is doing great & doing something new each day! She eats like a horse! She loves her new riding toy but doesn't know how to make it move quite yet!
Claire, we have found, absolutely loves her new baby pool from Nana & PawPaw & splashes like crazy. She loves this plastic bottle & keeps pouring it on the grass over & over again.....Something tells me she's going to love the beach in just 3 weeks!!
Happy with big brother Jesse. Jesse wished there was more water in the pool, but had fun nonetheless....
Jesse & Coach Lance at last week's game. Just waiting for the umpire to say "Play Ball"!
Another wonderful moment. Claire doesn't look so happy, but that's only because she wasn't splashing!
I promise to post in just a few days!
Love, Gretchen

Our evening routine...

While Jesse takes his shower each evening, Claire gets her bath. Afterwards, he sits in her room with her & plays with her, all while she's "brushing her teeth". Actually, I think the toothbrush feels good to her gums, but good habit to start now, don't ya think?

Jesse has become the best big brother & really enjoys helping out with Claire & playing with her while I clean up the kitchen & house before bedtime. Such a good boy...he can't wait til summer vacation!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Claire!!!

Claire celebrated her 1st birthday this weekend surrounded by a house full of family & friends! She enjoyed every minute of it! She enjoyed her polka dotted cakes & had her first taste of sugar!!


Claire getting a birthday kiss from big brother Jesse!

Can you tell Claire loves cake???

As usual with kids, Claire enjoyed the paper & bows as much as the gfts. Thanks for the gifts everyone!! We are so greatful to have so many wonderful friends & family close to celebrate Claire's special day with us!!

We love you all!

I'll post again soon, as we are all much better around here in the Hollingsworth household.....

Birthday Parties & Field Trips.....

Claire & I have been under the weather for the past week, so sorry about the lack of pictures. Jesse had his 6th Birthday Party last weekend & had a blast. The kids did cosmic bowling & had so much fun! It was Claire's 1st Birthday Party to attend, & she just took it all in!
Look at the handsome birthday boy!!
Towards the end of the party, she couldn't hold her little eyes open any longer.

Jesse at the zoo for his 1st field trip as a kindergartener!

More pictures to come this week!! Thanks to everyone for continuing to follow the blog!

Love, Gretchen

Happy Birthday & Happy Easter!!

We finished up a fun week last week with Jesse's 6th Birthday on April 6th & we went to Jackson, MS for Easter Weekend, where both of the kids had lots of Easter fun. Lance's sister, Tracey, threw Jesse an impromptu birthday party complete with gifts & a huge Birthday cookie, which Jesse loved!
Jesse after hunting Easter Eggs. He won the prize egg in his age group this year!!
Claire enjoying banging the empty eggs together. If only she was always this easily amused......

Showing the camera her finds!!!

Hope everyone hd a great Easter & will write again soon!

Back to normal....

Well, the wedding has passed, & all is back to relatively normal here in the Hollingsworth household. Jesse & Claire love each other to pieces! Claire is eating like a horse & doing new things every day. She enjoyed seeing all her new family members at the wedding! Claire with her cousins Dylan & Patrick at the rehearsal!
Jesse receiving his engraved harmonica from Ryan for being the ringbearer.
Claire being her normal, happy self!
Jesse with Claire Big Hair after school!

Well, I'll post soon...hopefully with sme great Easter pictures!