Merry Christmas!!!

Jesse after seeing what Santa brought. Note the bed-head hair.......
Claire on Christmas Day with her new rocking toy from her Great Grandma! She gets down in front of the face and just talks to it all the time!
The loot the kids woke up to!!
Claire enjoying dumping out her shopping cart for the 20th time that day! Happy Holidays to all our friends and family and promise to post again very soon!
Love, Gretchen

Happy Holidays!!!

Well, we had a very blessed Christmas this year as a family of four and as Claire's 1st Christmas! We had every day packed with parties with friends and family and had a great time every day. We are so privlaged to have such great family and friends!!! Claire and Jesse with their goodies from Nana and PawPaw's house!! Claire's new ladybug from Nana and PawPaw!

My two blessings on Christmas Eve after Mass.
Gretchen, Claire, and Grandpa with Claire's baby doll that stays at Grandma's (it used to me mommy's!)
Grandpa made Claire a stool, but it may be a while before she can get on it herself!!!

December Already????

Jesse and Ms. Thumb sucker at the Bartlett Christmas Parade. They both were completely mezmerized!
Claire goofing off at Grisanti's Restaurant.
Me and mom at dinner.
The kids with their Great Grandma Giordano at her 80th Birthday Party! Happy Birthday Grandma!!
Claire on another wonderful playdate with Lily Grace. They look like such big girls up there coloring!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

This picture doesn't need any explaining!


Claire felt awful the day of and after her 18 month immunizations. She made a pallet right in the middle of everything so she wouldn't miss a thing. She would not let go of that baby doll for 2 days...... Wednesday, Claire was back to her normal happy self, so she went outside looking for bugs and leaves....no shortage of leaves around here!

More Fall Photos.....

We have been thoroughly enjoying the change of seasons around the Hollingsworth household. Claire looking pretty in pink before a playdate with Lily Grace.

Here is Claire going down the slide by herself for the first time. She did it solo about 20 more times!!!
Claire helping mommy make Jesse an after-school treat! Looks like quite the chef doesn't she???
Liliy Grace's mom helping Claire on the balance beams. She giggled the entire way across...

Halloween with the Hollingsworths

Mommy with Claire and Jesse before heading out. Claire did well and lasted about 10 houses. But then decided she liked handing out candy better! Jesse really racked up the treats this year!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!

Will post more very soon!
Love,Gretchen

Happy Halloween!!

Claire enjoyed her 1st Halloween as a Panda Bear this year! She did not like seeing herself with a black nose. But she forgot about it after a while and did just fine! She loved just carrying the pumpkin bag around!
Optimus Prime here ready to wreak some havoc on the neighborhood!

Jesse and Claire with their Nana, before heading out!

Jesse gets a visit from the Tooth Fairy!

Here's Jesse with his new haircut and 1 less tooth on his way to school....So proud of himself.....
She likes to play in the wierdest places....
Claire on her 1st playdate with friend Lily, who is 1 week older. Lots of playdates to come, we're sure! They were so weet and kept putting jewelry and shoes on each other!

Peering out the window together...

Fun in October!

Claire playing with grandma on a Wednesday afternoon!

This is bedhead Claire on the morning!
Our first cool day of the year....ready to take Jesse to school!
Jesse & Claire at the Firefighter's Pancake Breakfast.

Guess who lost his 1st tooth!??

Having Fun in October!!

Claire waiting to pick up Jesse with her sunglasses on. Finally she lets them stay on!
Jesse with his friends Sam & Max after a game!
Jesse at the fair with Max & his big brother Eric.

Having a blast at the fair......

Hope to post again real soon!
Love,Gretchen

Race Day......

Claire putting things in drawers....one of her favorite new activities!
Tommy (Jesse & Claire's uncle) got the opportunity to drive a race car this weekend at Memphis Motorsports Park. Unfortunately, there was a mishap with our camera. (it involved crashing to the ground) So all the pictures we have are before he actually started to drive. We do have video of it though. I may try to post that soon!
Everyone waitng for Tommy & his driving friends Shannon & Brian, to finish with their class.
TC going over last minute rules I suppose....

Claire loved it & her earplugs didn't seem to bother her at all!

Play, play, play.....

Well, yesterday Claire was sick of watching Jesse get all his planes & army toys out of this big box....so she just got in so she could be the center of all the action!!!
This morning it was a little too chilly for shorts, so we went to dress her, and could not find any of her pants to fit her from last spring. I think Claire is finally growing!!! At least taller for sure!.....So, I put her in one of her lightweight outfits from China. She really is into the phone right now & has complete babbling conversations with it. Very amusing to watch!!

More soon....
Love, Gretchen