Our Jesse Turns 13!!!

 Well, it has happened....we are the parents to a 13 year old whether we like it or not. Jesse and some of his buddies went on a limo scavenger hunt throughout Memphis on this 60 degree but sunny day, and had a complete blast!

 The kids solved the first clue and had lunch overlooking the Mississippi River at Martyr's Park....onto the second location!!

 The kids solved a riddle, which led them to the Orpheum....which then led them to...

 Elvis Presley Statue marking the beginning of Beale Street

 More Beale Street!

 Which ended at the Fed Ex Forum!

 The solved a picture clue to take them to Redbird Stadium.....

 And solved another clue which took them to this little Memphis landmark!

 They got prop clues and a riddle for the gates of Graceland as well!

 Limo Fun!

One of the stops was the Peabody, where the kids watched the ducks and went to the rooftop.  Just as they arrived to the ducks, one layed an egg and it is captured here on the floor.  The kids were in awe and quite curious as to what was going to happen to the not so little egg.....turns out...it was cracked and the kids moved on with their lives!

Happy Happy Birthday to our young man!  We love you Jesse!

Happy Adoption Day!!!

 Truly hard to believe Claire has been a part of our family for 7 years now!! How time flies! Sweet Claire wanted for very little.....she requested donuts, which were gladly devoured and enjoyed by us and all the grandparents!  Since her Adoption Day fell this year on Ash Wednesday, we ate a big dinner the night before.....and no shocker here...it was sushi at Claire's request!  We are just loving watch her every day as she grows and all her neat little quirks come out.  We are blessed to have her in our lives every day.....

Mini Vacay to St. Louis

 Well, Lance and Claire did the annual Father Daughter Dance at SFA and had a blast......word on the street is that Lance actually danced....oh to have been a fly on that wall!!

 We took the kids to Hidden Valley this weekend and let Claire try skiing for the first time..she did great and was a trooper!  We will definitely take her again!

 A fierce looking Jesse at the top of the slope......

 A not so fierce looking Jesse at the bottom....he's not quite sure if he loves skiing as much as his dad and sister!

 While in St. Louis we took them to the Science Center and was able to get Jesse in a Lego Robotics class.....he said he was in his "happy place".....somehow that does not surprise me!

 And of course we had to stop off in Lamberts so the kids could have hot rolls thrown at them....they loved it...despite a ridiculous 1 hour wait!! We had a great weekend with the 4 of us nonetheless!!! 

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year from all of us!  The kids having thoroughly enjoyed their 2 weeks off for Christmas and go back to reality tomorrow.....We hope everyone has a prosperous and delightful New Year!  We are certainly blessed, and hope that 2014 brings wonderful growth, experiences, and fun!  2014 will be a big year in The Hollingsworth home....Mr. Jesse will enter his last year of middle school, and prepare for his entrance into high school...and Ms. Claire will receive her 1st Reconciliation and 1st Holy Communion....lots to be grateful for!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

 What a wonderful Christmas we had this year.....we partook in our annual tradtions....mass at Holy Rosary, Christmas at my parent's home, family here on Christmas day!  We couldn't be more blessed.  Jesse's loot seems to be diminishing this year, as his items are becoming more "costly"...new driver, fancy shoes...etc....He had a great Christmas.  Ms Claire asked for one thing....an AG doll that looks like her.  She was thrilled when she discovered Ivy Christmas morning and has yet to put her down!  Santa was able to deliver some other goodies to her, but it paled in comparison to Ivy!  I hope everyone had a blessed day, and is having a wonderful Christmas season!

Love, Gretchen

Christmas in full swing!

 Well we are just enjoying this season so much this year....toothless Claire asked Santa for a doll that "looks like me" and nothing else.....I hope Santa can deliver!

Claire all gussied up for the Nutcracker.....we had a blast dressing up, going to lunch, and seeing the Nutcracker together.  I've really come to look forward to our little tradition every year!

 

All 4 of us at The Hollingsworth Christmas this year!  We have lots to be thankful for, and are truly enjoying this time together...boy how they are growing up before my eyes!!

Super Blessed in December

Well, things are busy around here, as we prepare for Christmas, school activities, and lots in between!  We have been great, and are truly enjoying watching our kids grow up......time flies so quickly!  Jesse is somewhere between a kid and a young man...we never know which one we will get when he gets up every morning!  Claire is great, always a smile on that girl's face! As for Lance and I....just keeping up with them keeps us in tip top shape!  We are lucky indeed!

November Fun!!!

 Well, we are more than halfway through November, and it's been full full full!!!  We celebrated Lances big 41 out to eat and then back here for presents and cake!  Hard to believe the boy I met when he was 17 is now 41!  Well, I'm blessed beyond measure!  Also, a bunch of us SFA moms hit the town for a night out and then went to the JT concert!  I must say I had a little too much fun...but wouldn't trade it for the world!!  It was great taking off my "my mom hat" for an evening and just having a blast with my friends!!

The Hollingsworth Bunch on Lance's Birthday!

Happy Halloween 2013

 Well, we were told by Jesse that this Halloween will be his last (we'll see about that.....) so he really needed to hit those houses last night quickly so that he could acrue a lot of candy....He racked up, so hopefully mission accomplished.

 Claire was a garden fairy, and while I'm not really sure what that is, she wanted me to take live ivy from my garden and apply it all over that costume....and that's just what we did....crown and all. I did overhear her telling some friends "Don't worry, it's not poison ivy!"  Anyway, she looked super cute and had a great night!!

This is the "fight picture" as orchestrated by Jesse I'm sure....  Enjoy and lots of events coming up, so I promise to post soon!

Love, Gretchen

Fabulous Fall!

 Well, now that soccer and golf are over, our weekends have freed up somewhat!  We had a great weekend filled with pumpkin carving, Priddy Farms, and trying to get out of the corn maze!  We all enjoyed the time together, and made some great memories!

 Yes, that is really old corn, and yes, Jesse ate some on a dare form his little sister.....

 Out sweet niece Gracie after helping carve her Halloween Pumpkin!!

After navigating the corn maze!

 Claire picking out her pie pumpkins

Enjoying a hayride with the kids!

So Long Fall Sports!

 Well, the kids have wrapped up their sports for now, and I am so happy! Of course we love watching them grow and do well in their activities, mom and dad are glad for the break!  Actually, Jesse will resume golf and do a bit of Fall Golf, it will just be on a weekend basis.  Yay for that!!! Claire had an absolute blast at soccer and turned out to be a great little defender...

 

 Jesse is just changing before our eyes.  Every time I see a new picture of him, I'm not sure where my little Jesse has gone.  He is just 12, but 5'4 1/2 and really growing to love the sport of golf.   Jesse played in the end of the season Fall Tourney at Mirimichi and was not happy at all with his score, but practices almost every day to improve.  This is a side of Jesse we are not used to....but we love it! Jesse's team as a whole did great and had a great season!

 Just a beautiful course to see on cool fall day!

 Jesse with his team and coach after the tourney.

Jesse and his friend MJ at Tiger Midnight Madness...had a blast!!