BBBJB New Year's Eve

Our New Year's Eve is off with a bang. I couldn't get my car to start to make the trek back home for NYE. After further investigation by jack-of-all-trades Matthew, turns out I need a new fuel pump. Yippee. So instead of being stranded at the TP until it can be fixed, I (along with Pete, Mo & Molly) hitched a ride to town with Nathan. Nathan was invited by OT to go to the Wild Horse for their NYE celebrations. Good 'Ole Otis only had one extra ticket... so by process of elimination, that makes Kate the poor girl who didn't get asked to the prom tonight. Bubble Bath, Ben & Jerry's and Blockbuster for me! Well, maybe no Ben & Jerry's, but you get the point. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas celebration with family.  Christmas Eve Morning was spent at our home with the Hollis Crew.  We had a great morning eating, talking and opening presents.

Sweet little Jackson

The Brothers Hollis: Timothy, Nathan and Joseph

These guys were the hardest group to photograph!

Virginia (Joseph's fiance), me and Niki (Timothy's wife).  The lovely ladies.

Virginia & Annette (Nathan's Mother).  Aren't they pretty!

Barry & Annette, cute, festive and color coordinated.

Haydn ready to tear into some presents in his Santa PJs.

Timothy, Niki & the Kiddos, upholding the pj party tradition.

On Christmas Eve we attended the candle light service at Brentwood Baptist and participated in one of my favorite holiday moments -Silent Night sung with candles glowing all around.  After church, we went to dinner at Aunt Celi & Uncle Perry's.   We used the camera timer for group shot after everyone "Scrooged In",  but Addison had a melt down just before the shot was taken.  Nana was trying to calm her down.  Nathan was in the room... just fast asleep on the couch while visions of sugar plums danced in his head.

Christmas Morning we stopped in to see Nathan's Meemaw and Dick.

Angel the Poodle is not a fan of Pete & Mo.

Christmas Day was spent at my Mom and Dad's in Franklin.

Nana excited to tear into presents.

Ben, Nana and that Matthew.

Dad & Mom

Aunt Celi excited about some new socks.  We had a lot of people excited about new socks!

Andy & Kristin, minus a sleeping Addison

Our "vintage" stockings hung by Mom's chimney with care.

Miss Polk Salad 2009

As part of my country education, I learned of a new native plant this summer courtesy of Nathan's Uncle Bobby.  Polk Salad was growing in abundance in the TP back yard.  Uncle Bobby pointed it out to me and proceeded to inform me, in a way only he could, and don't I wish I had audio on this... "That there is Polk Salad.  Some people like to eat it.  But you got to boil it first."  Thus began my love of Polk Salad. 

Although, until recently, I thought it was Poke Salad.  Whilst perusing the Rocky Mountain General Store in Harriman, my eyes spied something...

What?  What is this?  A contest for Miss Polk Salad??  Surely it can't be.... and next to this glorious sign,  a portrait of the reigning Miss Polk Salad 2008 perched on a golden easel.  

My New Year's Resolution... 

To become the 2009 Miss Polk Salad. (As soon as they update the website)

For all your Polk Salad questions, visit The Tennessee Polk Salad Association website. 

Trading Post Weekend

Nathan's nephews and dad  (Gramps) came to visit the TP this weekend.  Lots of fun was had by all.  

 

Gramps took Eli for a 4-wheeler ride.  I think this is right before Eli got clothes-lined (literally) by the Shooting Shack target track.

Being silly with Aunt Kate.

Haydn didn't want in this one.

Chillin' out with Pete and Mo.  Who were soooo very happy to have company for 2 nights. 

Goofing around in Wal-Mart while spending their lottery winnings.  I think this just about sums up the difference between being 9 & 4.

And of course, they got elfed.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Shootin' Shack: Evolution

 The weekly Shooting Match at the Trading Post has grown quite a following and the Shootin' Shack needed to be enlarged, weather proofed and refined.  Not the greatest pictures, as it hasn't been cleaned out from the previous night's match, but doesn't it give an air of authenticity? The ghosts of shooting matches past.  Just imagine bearded men in cammo, holding shot guns and smoking and dipping.  The ultimate Man Cave. Where to start.... 

Wood burning stove keeps it nice and toasty despite below freezing temps.

"Managers" booth and shooting window.  This is where Nathan, Lee, and Matthew stand and check out the cards, x's and money during the rounds.

Bench seating all around.  This is the "extension."

And the award for most ingenious use of shot guns shells goes to.... this gun rack.  I think this is my favorite improvement.  Very clever.  I wish I could have gotten a shot when the all rifles were lined up here...

Now this is pretty clever, too.  A bicycle wheel and cable system runs the targets out and back in with the crank of the pedals. No one has to run back and forth in the line of fire.

Dancing Hollis Hairballs

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Nana Hoe-Down

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Christmas Cookies

Nathan's nephews came over for cookie decorating, cocoa and a Christmas movie.  Haydn kept saying, "Happy Halloween!"  He wanted to sprinkle his reindeer food on the cookies.  Mmm, glittery.  He's really excited about Christmas this year.

Eli showing a little brotherly love.  In our first attempt at a photo, Haydn was injured.

Uncle Tim

My brother Tim came home from grad school in Oregon Saturday night.  We had an impromptu family gathering.  Uncle Tim & Addison got to meet for the first time.

It's tough being 2 months old.

Oh, Christmas Tree

Our little Christmas Tree.
Nathan made so much fun of it the first year I drug it out. He called it Charlie Brown's Christmas tree. But once it was decorated, he changed his tune. We love it because it doesn't require rearranging furniture!  It will always fit somewhere.

And a few of my favorite ornaments.
This one is from our First Christmas together.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

4 Years

12.4.04

12.4.08

Not our best picture, but that's us, on our anniversary.