Happy Easter!

Happy Easter! The Hollingsworth Family made our annual pilgrimage to Jackson for the 2 Family Reunions we attend every year. The kids had a blast and we had wonderful weather, food, and company! The kids loved huntung for eggs, and Jesse found the "money egg" at the Hare Family Reunion. Great times were had by all!

Jesse on the search during the "big kid" Easter egg hunt!

Happy Easter and promises to post again soon! Someone around here turns 5 next week!!

Love, Gretchen

Jesse throwing the 1st pitch at the U of M game at his 10th Birthday Party!

Hard to believe....our Jesse turned 10!

Well, Jesse has turned ten...where has the time gone? Well, Jesse has had a great Birthday surrounded by family and friends! Jesse blowing out his candles as cousin Gracie peeks in!

Opening gifts from Nana & Paw Paw as everyone looks on.

Jesse's Birthday Party cupcakes Claire and I made for him.

Jesse has become quite the photographer, and on his Birthday, he spotted this skink outside. He he loves snapping pictures when our skinks are out. This was taken on a sunny afternoon.....

Well, Jesse had his #10 at the Fed Ex Park where the U of M Tigers play baseball. All the kids at the party got to run on the field with the team at their positions and stand with them for the National Anthem. Jesse got to throw out the 1st pitch! Great times!

The entire Birthday Party Group got the outfield deck and we not only had a great view, but had the entire thing to ourselves!

Lots of games were played during the party, with the favorite being water balloon baseball. The kids got soaked, and had a blast doing it!

Cousin Peytin in action getting ready to bust up a water balloon!!

Jesse enjoying each and every card his friends and family gave him. We are truly blessed with such wonderful friends and family around us!

Full Speed Ahead in April!

Well, April has started off with a bang here in Bartlett. Lance's team is just getting started up with baseball, and came in 2nd place in their 1st tournament of the season. They did great, despite only a few practices due to all the rain we've had lately! Go Tigers!

Lance talking with the team after losing the Championship Game.

Jesse and Caleb ready for action....

This is what a tired, dirty, and hungry little girl looks like after a weekend of ball games!

Jesse ready to bat!

Jesse had a very difficuly week last week, as he said goodbye to 2 of his best friends. Our friends and neighbors of 9 years moved to Washington, DC last week. Jesse was sad to see them go, but who knows, maybe we'l plan a visit to DC??? Never been there.....would be such an educational and fun trip!

Well, lots going on in April.....will post again very soon! Gretchen

Science Fairs and Field Trips!

Jesse's CLUE class is beginning a lesson on the study of canines and all their many uses. Hence the field trip to the MPD K-9 Training facility. Lance accompanyed him on this trip and glad he did. They had a blast watching the amazingly trained dog respond to commands and attack the "intruder." Much learning was done and much fun was had!

Jesse completed his science fair project and was proud of his final result! He actually received a 3rd place ribbon and was thrilled about that. Way to go Jesse!

Well, lots going on with both the kids, so promise to post again real soon!

Gretchen

Fun in February!

Well, the month has started out on a roll! Lance had business in South Florida this week.....Hollywood, Fla to be exact....and I tagged along with him for this trip! Glad I did, because that happens to be wher Margaret, one of my best and oldest friends lives! We are so lucky we had her and her husband around to show us around.....

A blast was had! Well,I just had to include this picture of the car in the mall.....down here we have the usual Hondas, Fords, etc... on display in our malls. Not this one....only Ferrarris will do! Too funny! Anyway, I told Lance that would be an acceptable Valentine'sGift, but he just grunted...so I guess that's a no. Oh Well!

This was my view for most of the day while Lance was cooped up in meetings....poor Lance.

Margaret and her husband took us to this huge complex called Hard Rock Casino....it's on an Indian Reservation, so it's got a ton of shopping, restaurants, bars, and a casino. I lost very quickly! This picture is hard to decipher, but the complex has this monstorous TV thing that wraps around the complex and plas music videos and concerts. Very neat!

Having fun....with no kids around!!

Also, I've benn doing a little sewing for Ms. Claire. She loves this funky fabric!

Well, we are also in the midst of Chinese New Year. Claire dressed up for Chinese New Year to show her class. She felt very proud and also brought treats for her class to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. Great times were had!

Here are the almond cookies Claire and I made to pass out to her friends. She even had enough to pass out to a few neighbors and family members.

Sorry, had to show one last pic of the view from our room at the Westin in Hollywood. Oh well.....back to reality!!!

Lots going on soon! Promises to post again soon!

Love, Gretchen

Super Fun Snow Day!!!

We had a great Snow Day on Monday! The kids stayed out all day long with the exception of lunch time! They sledded, had snowball fights, built a snow fort, and just had a great day! Lance was able to work from home, so we had a great time with him at home as well!

Our cousins, Dylan, Patrick, & Keri came over, as well as some neighbors, and a major snowball fight ensued. It was a riot!

Jesse was one of the victims......

We used our neighbor's hill across the street for our sledding pleasure all morning yesterday...as did half the neighborhood! Keri having a blast on the hill!

Claire packing her snowball good and tight to throw at her brother.

I assure you, our yard looked this good for about 5 minutes.....

The Reason for the Season.....

Well, we had a wonderful Christmas Season surrounded by family and friends.......just a few pictures can not capture all the wonderful times we head!

All the Hollingsworth cousins at The Hollingsworth Family Christmas....all live in Memphis now, and it's been great!!!

Gretch & Lance escaping the kids for a quick picture on Christmas at our home...where we hosted the Crawford side for Christmas lunch.

Claire giddy with excitement after discovering Santa had brought her a hair salon! Now....to figure out how to match that to my decor....

Jesse just waking up and checking out his loot....he was really hoping to use that sled on Christmas Day!

Gretch and little brother Tommy at mom and dad's house Christmas Eve after Mass at Holy Rosary, which was just so lovely!

Jesse and cousin Keri tried their hand at ice skating on Thursday and got the hang of it, after many spills....note Jesse's pants!
Well, we certainly hope everyone also had a wonderful and relaxing Holiday season! Love to you all and will post again soon!

Love, Gretchen

Such a Wonderful Week!

Well, the week was jam packed with Christmas festivities. Today, Jesse had his last day of school, and his Holiday Party. It was a blast and celebrated with his classmates with games, lunch, snacks, and a gift exchange!

Today, Claire and Lily spent a special day together to celebrate Christmas, instead of a gift exchange. They come up with a thing to do together, and have a blast. Last year they did lunch and Build a Bear....this year they chose ice skating and lunch at the zoo. They had a blast (moms too!) and had the entire rink to themselves......such a special day for 2 very special friends!

This was their lunch date....he wanted something other than lettuce I think......

Our little skaters...

Barb, Lily Grace, Gretch, and Claire....quite cold, but had a great time! Claire and mommy fell, but at least there weren't a ton a people to witness it!!

Wednesday was the annual Christmas Party thrown by Lily Grace and her mom. Of course, there was great food, company, and gingerbread decorating! We all had to try the cany out before decorating of course!

A quick group photo before getting messy!

Also this week Claire had her Christmas Party at Preschool and the little ones really enjoyed all the stations and Nativity Book afterwards. I think everyone is ready for Chirstmas now!!