Winter Events

Here are some pics to do a review of our last few months.

In November baby Hunter was born. A new nephew to love on. Emi was in the room while Aunt Jeanie gave birth to Baby Hunter. She completely enjoyed the experience and found herself in tears and in awe of the process. She adores Hunter and was asked to be his God Mother. VERY COOL!


Nate's football team won his 5th Superbowl in a row and Emi and Jess were in several cheer competitions. Also, Nate made the Junior High Basketball team!


We went to the zoo and saw all the Christmas lights and made gingerbread houses.






The boys got Tennessee gear for Christmas from Grandma Starla and Papaw Ronnie...GO VOLS!


We made it to the international food store and got lots of items from Colombia and the things to make empenadas. YUM!!! When we stayed at Zuetana, one day they had a cooking session. We learned how to make empenadas and brought home the recipe!




And we've gotten lots of snow lately to play in!





And Jess turned 9 years old this week.
Here is a pic from just after her birthday 2 years ago while we were in Colombia and then one from this week. I can't believe how much she has grown! Little Jess isn't so little anymore. She has grown in every way imaginable. She is very concerned for others and is making good friends. She is terribly concerned for the people in Haiti right now and speaks of things we can do to help, like send toothbrushes, soap, and clothes (which we have done). She loves art and being crafty. She loves music and her iPod. Jess is very sweet and a big time Daddy's Girl!

Pumpkin Patch

My jewels



My little clown


I love this pic...big bro, little bro

These two get such a kick out of each other. Hard telling what Nate was doing, or what they were up to.

Jess won't carve her pumpkin...she doesn't want it to die (lol)




Jess and her Uncle Brian...isn't she pretty?

Emilee cheer competition #2. This is the first year the Junior High has gone to competition. They have been offered a bid to attend the National Comp...big honor!

Just Some Pics

My gang!

Nate tending the fire so it's good and ready for the camp out later that evening.


Jess at her first cheer competition ever. She did AWESOME! The girls wore pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness month.


Heading off to Cheer Competition number one of the season.


Poor little guy got stung by a bee right under his eye

Aren't they cute!

"Hollisisms"

Yeah Yeah, I know…I never blog and now I post 3 times in a week…what’s up with that?

So, I have recently started my own “Happiness Project” and one of my resolutions for August is to pay attention to the funny things the kids say. That was an easy one, cuz they do keep me laughing. Anyway, through the year as Jess and Joaquin have been learning English they have come up with some pretty funny stuff. Sometimes just in the way they pronounce things or the accent on certain words. Well, we have two things that J and J came up with that the rest of us thought was very creative and funny. Both of which Emi and Nate also starting using. And now even I say these two things. So they have now become “Hollisisms” that make me smile every time we say them.

Before J and J…we always called pajamas either PJs or Pajamas. J and J combined the two and now we call them “P.Jams”

Before J and J…girls had panties and boys had underware. Thanks to J and J we are now not gender specific cuz we all wear “Pantywares”

Hollisisms:
Pantywares (panties and underware)
&
P.jams (PJs or Pajamas)

So maybe you don’t find these funny, but for me these Hollisisms make me smile and remind me to laugh and enjoy the little things that come about thanks to my kiddos. Hope they made you smile too!

Oh, in case you are wondering what a “Happiness Project” is…check out this blog:
www.happiness-project.com
It is not a biblically based site, but I find a lot of great info as gentle reminders of everyday situations.

She's a Teenager

Ready or not, today I became and official mother of a Teenager. We love you Em and are VERY VERY Proud of you!!!


Some of her best friends came over at midnight to decorate our garage for her. What good friends!!!

Emilee lives life to it's fullest. Proud to be who she is as a young lady and Christian, loves having lots of friends, enjoys helping others and gives 110% at everything she does!
At cheer camp she won Most Spirited! Imagine that!



She'll try anything at least once...You GO GIRL!


And one of Nate, Just for Fun!

Time Flies!!

I am a terrible blogger...when I pulled up the blog to check my last update I couldn't believe it had been so long. Aye aye aye!
It's been so long it's almost hard to put it all in a nut shell...

The kids are all doing so well and are starting to get things ready for the new school year to begin. Football and cheerleading are in full swing and so far Jess is enjoying learning all the cheers. Joaquin is not playing any sports yet, however he has made some friends (siblings of kids who play with Nate) and loves going to practices and games to play with his "buddies".

We went to Disney and had a WONDERFUL time! It was super hot but not terribly crowded. The kids had such a good time they didn't want to come home. I have spent some time thinking about how much they have grown in the past year and it blows my mind. The summer has been so busy I almost don't know where all the time has gone.

I have been able to work minimum hours this summer so I have had lots of time with the kids. Once school starts I will be working a more regular schedule, but will be able to get the kids on the bus in the morning and be home every day by the time the kids get off the bus. I have to give thanks for my job and the flexibility I have.

We also had a chance to visit with The Uhlenbrock family.Their girls and J and J lived in the same house at the orphanage in Colombia. Jessica spoke of their girls often.It was so nice to get to visit with them. What a sweet family and they have the most adorable girls!


And lots of kid pics for ya!

Now those are some good looking kiddos...hee hee


Goofy...a perfect fit!

Always smiling, always having fun




Emilee's favorite princess

Papa and his girls