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!!

Hollingsworths in action

 Jesse teeing off at Stonebridge against St. Dominic's.  Jesse continues to improve with every match and seems to actually enjoy getting better!!

 I just see a little Lance here.....

 Little Claire holding her own!

Claire is having a blast playing soccer, and also seems to be improving with each game.  I'm just glad she's having a blast!!!

Lots coming up...so promise to post again soon!!!

In Full Swing.....

 Well, the school year has gotten off to a bang this year and every day we are in motion.  Between Claire in soccer and Jesse in golf.....we are a family on the go!  Jesse's golf game has grown leaps and bounds and is improving with every match.  Jesse played Stonebridge yesterday vs St. Dominic.  While SFA lost, Jesse seems to be enjoying the competition and actually seems to care when he deosn't do great.  That's a good sign...  Claire and PawPaw ride the cart, while Lance and I walk the holes....actually I often hitch a ride with PawPaw too!  Claire's learned to just do that homework in the cart and that's one less thing to do when we get home...which is often 7ish oclock!    

 Such a pretty golf bag isn't it??

 

It's actually great to see all the boys out there cheering each other on, no matter what team they are playing for.  Very good manner and sportsmanship...great thing to see.  Well, he has lots of matches coming up soon...promise to post again soon!

love, Gretchen

First Day of 7th and 2nd Grade!

 It is truly hard to believe that we are the parents of  7th and 2nd graders!  I can still remember as it was yesterday bravely walking both of them into kindergarten and then sobbing once I got into the car.  Well, there is no more sobbing....a little cheering these days.  But they were glad to be going back today and seeing all their friends and teachers!  I pray for a wonderful school year for both of them!

 Sweet little Claire ready for school!

 Sometimes sweet Jesse growing leaps and bounds!!

Packed full of stuff for the first day of seventh grade.....