Please Pray!

See the cute little boy on the front row in the red shirt?

We found out this afternoon that this little buddy of Harrison's, Jacob, was in a car that was involved in a hit-and-run accident the day after Christmas. He is currently in the PICU at Huntsville Hospital and is not doing well at all. He has a severe brain injury and hasn't been responsive to touch, light, or sound. Please pray for this sweet little boy!

Date Night

Well, really it was Date Afternoon.

Randy and I were lucky enough to con both our children into wanting to spend time with their grandparents yesterday--Caitlin with his parents and Harrison with mine.

Then we set out for the movie theatre to find out what everyone has been talking about...

Yes, we FiNaLlY saw The Blind Side! And it was worth every penny we spent on over-priced movie tickets, popcorn, and Diet Pepsi!! (Plus it was nice to be with only my hubby)

The Best Christmas Presents Ever

We spent the day after Christmas enjoying the beautiful sunshine outside with the best Christmas presents ever (according to Caitlin and Harrison)!

Caitlin got to show off on her brand-new pink scooter!

Harrison got some driving lessons in his brand new Mustang!

It got a little too cold outside, so we headed inside for some hot chocolate. While inside, I checked the movie listings and found a good time for us to go see "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel." While I took Caitlin and Harrison to see the movie, Randy had time to assemble his new grill--I can't wait for steaks (hint, hint!).

Then we came home and played with our new board games.

And Caitlin couldn't wait to put on her new pajamas that match her American Girl, Julie.

I love these few days after Christmas where we don't have to be anywhere and can just relax and enjoy being together as a family!

Happy Christmas Afternoon!

After eating a small breakfast of cinnamon rolls (our Christmas morning family tradition) and playing with our new toys, we got dressed and headed over to Grandmother and Grandaddy's house for what else? More presents and Christmas dinner!

"Can I open it yet?" We always go to our own spot, and then divvy up the presents. We take turns opening them one at a time. Randy says he couldn't stand this when he was little, and he just knows that our kids will talk about it after they are grown! But it's a Hollingsworth tradition to do it this way, so who am I to argue?

Caitlin got a BIG surprise--an American Girl! She was NOT expecting this! She has asked for an American Girl doll for several years now, but never got one until this year.

One of my presents-a pretty pink sweater. My mother-in-law loves to buy us clothes, and she always buys such nice things for us.

Then we had to take a field trip out to the garage for the final two presents.

Randy got a brand-new grill that he has been wanting for a while now! He was very surprised!

And Harrison got a bright red Mustang! He's been driving Caitlin's pink Barbie Jeep, but now he has a "boy" car to drive!

We had such a good Christmas this year. A little over the top, but we are very, very blessed and love to show the love to each other.

Merry Christmas Day!

Caitlin and Harrison woke us up V-E-R-Y early on Christmas morning! It was still dark outside the window by the Christmas tree.

But they were so ready to see what Santa had brought them for Christmas!

Annual photo of waiting to come down the stairs

WOW!!! Look at what we got!

Caitlin with her many presents. She always gets a board game for us to play together as a family, and this year she got two!

Harrison and all his loot from Santa. If you'll notice--there's a Transformer just like he requested!

They opened up their presents from each other, and SURPRISE! They gave each other the same gift--a Snuggie! They both wanted one after they snuggled up in mine, so that's what they picked out for each other.

I got what I have been wanting--a Cricut machine for scrapbooking.

And here's Daddy trying to guess what's in one of his presents. He was wrong! He guessed a shirt, but it was a new Alabama license plate.

And Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa showed up to see what Santa had brought. They also gave Caitlin one more present that was from them and us--a North Alabama Dance jacket! Caitlin now has a place to put her dance badges.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Christmas Eve Merriness!

We started off Christmas Eve by attending our church's Christmas Eve Candlelight service. We went to the 4:00 service because Caitlin was serving as an acolyte. That is my very favorite service of the entire year especially when we get to spread the love of Jesus through our candles! It meant more this year since Caitlin was a vital part of the service. Also my sister, Dana, and her family went with us! That is a first, and hopefully we can make that part of our annual Christmas Eve tradition.
We then went over to my parents (Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa) to eat Christmas Eve dinner together. It was delicious as usual! Then it was on to the presents....

Sweet Cousins

Candy from their stockings

Randy's favorite present

"Transformers!! Just what I wanted!" And it was...he asked Santa for them all of the 4 times he sat in his lap!

Randy and I got my parents a collage picture frame containing pictures from their 50th Anniversary Party plus pictures from among the years. They loved it!

Both Caitlin and Stephanie got Justice gift cards from Ma-Ma and Pa-Pa! Exactly what they wanted.

Gift cards were a popular theme this year!

Then we came home to change into our Christmas pajamas and lay out our cookies for Santa.

Harrison was too busy playing one of his new Leapster games to help us. Also we ended up having to move the Santa plate to the mantle so that Brady would not steal Santa and the reindeer's snack!
Then we all went to bed so that Santa could come.

Baking up a Storm!

On Christmas Eve, we did our usual baking. First up...cookies for Santa!

Mixing the dough

Yummmm!!! Chocolate chip this year:)

Then we baked our "Happy Birthday Jesus" cake.

We started this tradition with Caitlin when she was 3 years old, and then let Harrison join in on the fun when he was two. Usually we make a round cake, but last year they both decided to make cupcakes for Jesus' birthday. This year, to be a little different, they chose a "rectangle" cake.

The chefs with their final product!

Jingle the Elf

I found these pictures on Caitlin's camera the other day, and she wanted me to "show them to my computer friends." :) She is very proud of our Elf and the places he has migrated to lately.

On top of the entertainment center

On the piano--no, we do not play the piano, we just store junk on top of it! Ha-ha

Don't you love the book next to Jingle? That was mine growing up! My parents gave me and my sister a box full of stuff to go through, and several of my books were in there. We have been reading them, and Caitlin and Harrison love that they were my books when I was their age!

Christmas Festivities Part 2

Harrison had his class Christmas Party on Friday. I got to go (mainly because I had to bring the class Christmas present to their teacher!) and participate in the festivities. It was fun seeing the excitement in those little four-year-old eyes!
First they ate their snack...

Notice Harrison is sitting next to Mady:) He's also next to his best buddy, Casey.
Then who should to their wondering eyes appear???

SANTA!!!!!

Harrison told him again that he wants a Transformer, so I hope Santa brings it on Christmas Eve!

Then it was time for games!

First up....Musical Chairs.

Mrs. Spears played it to where as a child got eliminated, they got to pick their present from underneath the Christmas Tree. So it was really a treat to get out. Guess who purposely didn't find a chair the first round so that he could pick the first present?!?

Here are he and Mady (surprise, surprise...they are next to each other again!) waiting patiently to open their presents from their classmates.

Then we gave Mrs. Spears her present from the class.

It's a popcorn bowl that the kids painted themselves! She shed a few tears because she loved it so much--that made me feel good since I'm the one who did it.

The kids then got to open their present from Mrs. Spears--a book.

Harrison and Mrs. Spears--THE BEST Pre-K teacher!

And one last hug from Mady--I think he's trying to get away!!!!

Getting Festive

Caitlin had her Christmas Party today at school. I got to go and deliver the class Christmas present to her teacher as well as partake in the festivities. They started out with a Candy Cane Hunt. Parents had hidden the candy canes in the school's courtyard beforehand, and the kids had to find as many as they could.

On the hunt

She stopped long enough for me to take her picture in the beautiful sunshine!

They even let Harrison participate, and some of the 4th graders were sweet enough to help him find candy canes to put in his own bag.

We then came inside to play the Santa game. The class was split into 2 teams, and each team had to see how fast they could stuff one child's oversized t-shirt with balloons to look like Santa.

It was very funny!

Then we served the kids pizza, chips, dip, fruit, veggies and dip, brownies, cookies, and a cupcake. (This was their lunch, by the way!)

Smile for the camera!

Then it was time for presents!!!!

Mrs. Curry holding the popcorn bowl that the class painted for her.

Me and my cutie-pie as she takes a break from all the action

We couldn't visit Caitlin's classroom without stopping by Daddy's class also.

He had his party today too. Harrison looks sad because he wanted to play in his Daddy's classroom.

All in all, it was a very festive and fun day, and I'm so glad I got to go!