Winter Fun!

Nurse in training???

Jesse, playing in the flurries last week before leaving school. Look how tall my baby is getting......

Today at 7 in the morning.....Those kids were out forever! Had a blast making snowballs!

After the snow fun, of course hot cocoa!!

Our neighbors Nina, Cade, & Tori playing in the backyard with Jesse & Claire!

Chinese New Year Celebration!

Well, Claire was as happy as a lark during the year's Chinese New Year Celebration. She loved going from room to room doing the different crafts and trying all the different dishes. She tore up the lo mein! Though she is still too young to understand the importance of Chinese New Year yet, we hope she enjoys being around all the children from China with their forever families also. Jesse, however, learned alot and had lots of questions about it. We want him to learn a bit of Claire's native culture also!

Mommy & Claire enjoying the festivities.

Daddy feeding Claire all the sugar she desired!

Instead of just smiling for the camera, she decided to constantly blow kisses, until the camera was put down, then she decided to cooperate!

Chinese New Year continued...

Claire posing with a child a bit younger than she...they enjoyed throwing the balloons back and forth!

All the kids with their siblings! Jesse and Claire are on the 2nd row almost all the way to the right.

Promise to post soon!

Love,Gretchen

Happy New Year!

Well, sorry not many photos to post today, but I promise many more soon! We have still been getting over our sicknesses and enjoying Lance's siblings and their families, who have been in town all week! Here is Claire playing with her cousin Keri, from Jackson. Claire looks like she's ready to roll....

Claire, when asked to smile now, scrunches her face as tight as possible until she knows the picture has been taken! Oh well.....hopefully this phase will pass!

Will post again soon! Love, Gretchen

Merry Christmas!!!!

Merry Christmas to everyone! We had a delightful holiday, despite the fact that we are all ill. The kids went to The Peabody to see the ducks and wonderful decorations with mommy & Aunt Cathie a few days before Christmas. They loved every minute of it!!

Look what Santa brought Jesse!!!!

and Claire.....

Jesse upon discoving all his loot!

Unfortunately, Claire wouldn't cooperate for a single picture, but could always be found close to her new kitchen! We plan to stay put the next few days playing with toys, and getting better!

Merry Christmas to everyone! We post again very soon! Love,Gretchen

Exchanging Gifts.....

Well today, Claire's great friend Lily Grace came over to exchange gifts...before things get a little hectic next week! Hot cocoa and cookies were enjoyed, along with a little rock & roll. Great times!!

Lily Grace is a future rock star! Claire in the background in her tutu dancing!

Let the unwrapping begin!

Lily Grace thoroughly enjoyed her princess bling and Claire is smitten with her new Asian doll. Thank you Lily Grace and Barb! Lots of events coming soon, so please check in......Merry Christmas! I would've posted pics of Claire and her new doll, but I had battery issues today...will post some doll pics soon!

Love,Gretchen

Let's Get Ready for Christmas!!

Well, today started out with a fantastic Breakfast With Santa at our Church....however, Claire was frightened of Santa...this was as close as she would get to him.....maybe next year!

After naptime, we dove into the assembling of our Gingerbread House. I decided to chill this year, and let the kids make it look like they want. OH Well.....They had a great time eating and adding the candy. They especially loved the hot apple cider they got to enjoy during the fun!

Hard at work......

At this point, the gingerbread house had passed the tacky stage.......

And here's the finished product!! Lance & I call it the "Gingerbread FEMA Trailer ".....still the prettiest Gingerbread House I've ever seen!!

Merry Christmas!Love,Gretchen

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!

Well, we've just been super slammed around here lately, but here are some pics of the kids on Thanksgiving! We spend a few lovely days in Jackson, MS with Lance's side of the family. We had a great time, and the kids as well. They love seeing their cousins as much as they possibly can!!

Jesse with his cousin, Keri after Thanksgiving dinner!

This is the Hollingsworth Clan..Mr. & Mrs. Hollingsworth wit all their kids and Grandkids!

Claire is smitten with her cousins. Here she is sitting on Patrick's lap.

All the Hollingsworth grankids!

More Halloween Fun!

Well, we couldn't pry the sucker from Claire, so this is the best picture we could get before they embarked on their trick-or-treating for the evening. Cousins Peyton, Alice, & Peyton joined them, and there was much candy to be had!

Jesse & Claire's cousins Dylan, Patrick, and Keri were in town from Jackson, MS on Friday, so the kids stopped over to see them before trick-or-treating. We enjoyed spending the weekend with them!!

Jesse with a few of his classmates at the sock hop on Halloween at his school! Jesse seems to have found a perfect home at his new school. We are so happy!

Promise to post more soon!
Love,Gretchen

End of October Fun!!!

Well, Friday, Jesse got to dress up like his favorite literary character, so he imrovised and this costume is Andrew Dubble, from his favorite series Andrew Lost. He had a blast telling all his friend who he was!

Claire, after making a fall craft provided by Mrs. Barb and Lily Grace!

Claire has been waring hats like crazy lately, and here's her in her favorite one of the moment.....such a vision in pink!

The Hollingsworth bunch at Priddy Farms the weekend before Halloween. Thee kids had a ton of fun and especially loved the hay ride!

Fall Sewing....

I've had the time in the last few weeks during Claire's naps to do some fall clothes for Claire!

This one is for the Halloween Season with little pumpkins and ghosts on it!
I can put a turtleneck under the sleeveless ones and in the spring, I'tt take out the hem and turn it into a sundress...hopefully!

I'm a sucker for pink and green....

Gymnastics Friends Halloween Party!!!

Well, Lily Grace's Mom was nice enough to throw a party for the kids in Claire's gymnastcis class. There were tons of crafts, food, and toys for all. The kids had a blast and were extremely well behaved. They all enjoyed dressing up in their costumes and just playing together!

Claire showing off her scarecrow she made!!

Claire insisted on placing the "beauty mark" on her little pumpkin!

The class before starting the party!

Claire & Lily Grace striking a pose looking mighty precious I might add.......

Thanks to Ms.Barb for throwing such a lovely party for the kids AND the moms! We had so much fun!

Promise to post soon!
Love,Gretchen