Alpine Village 2007!

Tonight, the kids (and Karen) made our annual trek to the "Alpine Village" at the church were Nicholas and Caroline play sports–Trinity Baptist Church. The folks there at TBC entirely transform their gym/multi-purpose room into a winter wonderland, complete with live trees, Magi, hornpipers, and of course Santa Claus! Here are some pics from tonight...

Caroline & "The Books of the Bible"

Here is a quick peek into the types of things Caroline is learning at her Preschool!
Enjoy!

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"...