Last Home Game!

On November 24th, the Tigers had their final home game of the season, a 55-52 triple-overtime win over Southern Methodist University! What a thriller!

Here is the family bundled up and huddled for a photo op - Karen and the gang made it almost to the 4th quarter, before being chased indoors by temps in the mid 40s!

Here Nick is wired in the fashion of a Borg, #1 of 200, of course!

Here are Nicholas & best buddy Brandice, sporting a lighter blue flair!

Here we go again!

I actually got up this morning before Nicholas left for school (this usually doesn't happen--I am not a morning person). I was helping him untie some knots in his tennis shoes when he said "mom do you think we could buy me some new tennis shoes?" "These are starting to hurt because my toes are already at the top" So I leaned down to check and sure enough his toes are about to pop right out of the top. So, I reply "Of course, we will go tonight after dinner". I have thought about this all day. I remember buying them in August thinking "I hope we didn't get them too big" That was only 31/2 months ago!!! Now I know why I work 3 part time jobs!!!!! He is getting so big that I sometimes forget that he is only 7 and sometimes such a little boy at heart!! I think I will rewrite the words to that old song to say " Here we grow again"

Coffee Snob

OK, I admit I indulge this completely. Let's just call me the enabler. About 2 weeks ago I found a professional line coffee pot on sale for a crazy good price. It has a built in grinder, professional level of coffee production, etc. etc. So I bought it for Nick. He has enjoyed some yummy coffee for about 10 days now. Last night we are picking up some weekly groceries and Nick sees this HUGE bag of Starbucks Winter Blend and I hear a groan behind me. He is trying to place it back on the shelf and go for the less expensive brand. In a moment of weakness I just say "Go ahead honey, buy yourself a treat!" Shear pleasure lights up on his face. Later when we get home Nick looks at me as he puts his coffee up and says " I am a coffee snob again!" He is so happy about this!!! Both of us just crack up as we remember the days before kids and graduate school when he would have Starbucks delivered directly to his house every 6 weeks. That certainly doesn't happen anymore but a big bag of Starbucks every now and then never hurt anyone!!

"The Iris" - The Tennessee State Flower

Nicholas has always enjoyed drawing, coloring, sketching, and painting. I have many of his pieces on display in the "gallery" in my office. But this one is perhaps my most favorite, hence the special post for him. This was painted in October as his class studied the state of Tennessee. He learned the governor, county, and city mayors, the state crops, the state rocks, the state rivers, the state bird, animal, and insect, and the state flower. Here is the Iris, as painted by Nicholas V. Holland, IV.

Homecoming 2007 - Memphis vs. ECU

Memphis hosted East Carolina for our homecoming on November 3rd, and were promptly treated to a drudging at the hands of the Pirates! I haven't seen a beatdown like that since...well, ask Corry Noel about that. Here is Caroline & one of my staffers Justin Johnson practicing their smiles and "game faces"...

One of the Million things we LOVE about C S

We thought we would share a picture of Nicholas' class that we took last Friday. Every Friday morning C S invites parents, siblings etc to join them for a "Family Gathering". Each week a class performs a movement (usually dance moves to a fun song) and then performs a skit to teach a Life skill. We just love this!! Nicholas and his class performed a song and skit on responsibility. We are truly blessed that Nicholas is at such a great school!




Here is the C S Pledge: I pledge to be RESPONSIBLE, I pledge to be RESPECTFUL, I pledge to be READY." What an awesome place!

Soooo Tall!

OK so we are getting ready for church this am and I was picking out pants for Nicholas. Well the first two were too short. Finally by the third pair we had a winner. It really hit me how tall this child is. I can't tell you how often lately we are saying "take those off they are too short!" Thankfully, we are blessed with many hand me downs and he has several to choose from. But if he keeps growing then ....... I will be shopping instead of cooking a turkey. He is not even a foot shorter than I am at this point, HE IS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD! Nick and I are now placing friendly bets on what age he'll be when he is taller than me!