Lots to Celebrate!

Well, today we had lots of fun, as it was Jesse's Class Valentine Party and a Chinese New Year Celebration with Lily Grace at her home!

Claire got to help Jesse open all his Valentines at the end of the party and had a ball doing so!

Jesse and his friend Arvind at the party.....Jesse never takes his jacket off during the day...???

Well, Claire and Lily had a wonderful time this morning making paper lanterns for one of their Chinese New Year crafts....here they are showing off the finished products! Notice ther girls' Chinese New Year dresses!

Here they are posing with their Dragons they made in honor of Chinese New Year also! Thanks to Mrs. Barb for providing the crafts and the creativity! The girls also had congee (homemade by Mrs. Barb) and moon cakes to bring in Chinese New Year. There was also a little tea party on an Authentic Tea Set from China! I'm proud to report that no China was damaged!!!

The girls posing before the party! Claire had so much fun that she actually threw a fit when it was time to leave.......She forgot all about her fit when we arrived at the Valentine's Party though...... Well, a great day was had by all and thanks to Lily Grace and Mrs. Barb for helping make it so special for Claire!

Love,Gretchen

Let it Snow!

And we thought she looks small up close!

A small snowman, but a very loved one anyway!

Well, my children who have no cold receptors apparently were outside for the majority of the morning. Jesse stayed out for like 3 hours without coming in.....I do not know how he does it!

Well, enjoy the snow day everyone! Will post again very soon...as we have an event filled week this week!

Love, Gretchen

Am I already getting spring fever???

Well, my sweet Aunt Linda was stuck here for a week during that winter storm we had....luckily, she was stuck with her embroidery machine!! She was showing off her different fonts to me on some extra fabric, so I decided to do something with them. I covered buttons with the fabric and just stuck them on some ribbins and voila....cute and very inexpensive flip flops for the spring and summer! Time to get out toes done?????

What we've been up to in January......

Well, the kids really enjoyed the ice/snow we had this weekend. Jesse was outside almost constantly, while Claire would go in and out. Neither ever complained of the cold....

Jesse was supposed to be in Nebraska visiting his newest cousin. Due to the winter storm, his flight was canceled and all his cold weather gear was already in Nebraska with Nana and Pawpaw. We had to improvise and pull out old coats and shoes......Jesse didn't care one bit!

Claire trying on which outfit to wear for Chinese New Year Celebration...which was postponed to a later date!!

Well, we have lots of events coming up, so I promise to post again very soon!

Love,Gretchen

What We've Been Doing....

Well, we're all back in the swing of things around here again...back to school and normal routines! Claire's new thing is to wear her hair in braids.....she insisted I take this picture of her after I braided her hair today!

Claire rocking it our with her new guitar and microphone. I go to sleep with those very loud sounds in my head at night!

Someone looks way too happy to be doing a pre-test......

Claire at her "office." She now has one of Lance's old keyboards, and she goes around the house with that thing. She is seen here "talking to daddy and making an appointment!"

Lots coming up soon!! Will post again soon.

Love,Gretchen

Animals of the Litcherman Nature Center

Well, my Aunt Hilda, who works at the Center, took all the grandkids to the center to have "backstage tour" to handle many of the animals. I have posted a few of the ones the kids got the pleasure of holding or petting. Thanks to Aunt Hilda! We all had a great time! Here's Jesse with a rescued box turtle. The turtle only has 3 legs, and was nursed back to health at the center.

Claire held all the animals as well, but was always swarmed by her cousins, so I don't have any of her in action.....but enjoy the pics though!

This was Jesse's favorite I believe. It's a blue tongued skink. Many who know me knows that we get visits during the spring and summer from a family of skinks! Jesse loved it!

More of the Nature Center.....

Here's a rescued red tailed hawk with it's handler. Here he is being fed mice....that had the kids in complete captivation....the adults too!

Jesse holding a corn snake....the snake was very calm....despite all the kids around!

Jesse with his explorer bag to hold all his treasures from today.

The possum scurried around and let all the kids hold him.....such a calm little creature!

Jesse and claire observing ablack rabbit. He was rescued...along with most of the other animals in the center.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Jesse & Claire after coming down to see what Santa had brought them.......

This is as good a pose as we could get from her today. She was non-stop action today! If only I could ciphen her energy.......

Jesse taking a moment from his loot to ham it up!

What did Santa bring Claire???

How about Jesse???

Merry Christmas to everyone and may we be in constant reminder of the reason for this wonderful season! Love,Gretchen

Merry Christmas Continued!

Well, Claire crashed on the way home from Christmas Eve and Grandma and Grandpa's house, so Jesse put out the milk, cookies, and note for Santa solo this year!

Claire opening one of her gifts at Grandma & Grandpa's on Christmas Eve.

Any ideas what Jesse wants to be when he grows up????

My dad during all the gift opening chaos!

Lance upon awakening this morning at 6:15am. Picture by Jesse!

More Christmas Festivities

Well, this weekend we also celebrated Christmas with the Hydrick side of the family and had a wonderful time, as usual. Here are my double-first cousins, who drove from Murfreesboro to join in on the fun!

My sweet uncle with 2 of his adorable grandchildren! Uncle Danny is the only one missing a pacifier!

The great grandkids (some of them) waiting on their turn to open a gift!

Claire and Jesse having a chat with Santa at Bass Pro Shops!

Jesse was Joseph in his PRE Christmas play and was boasting of his job! He did a great job!

It's Christmas Time!

Well, we had our Christmas with The Hollingsworth side yesterday, and we all had a great time! The kids always enjoy spending time with their cousins! They are all getting so big!

Me with the kids before opening our gifts......

Here's Jesse opening his big gift from Mr. & Mrs. Hollingsworth....any guesses?????

His first set of golf clubs!! Lance is very happy (and a little scared) to have Jesse start joining him to play golf when the weather warms up!

Merry Christmas and promises to post real soon!

Love,Gretchen

Claire's "Girl Day" Part 2

Well, here are a few more photos, this time from Barb, so they'll be much better! Enjoy!

Claire was not afraid of Santa at all and was whispering to him in the softest voice what she wanted. Whatever she said, Santa laughed.....She and Lily were perfect ladies and each received a candy cane from Santa!

Will post again very soon!

Love,Gretch