Welcome into the Hollington Huddle! Here we will review game plans of the week and highlights from the big plays! Thanks for supporting our team! IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE PICTURES, CLICK ON VIEW ALL IMAGES!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Artwork
The crazies donned their mouse ears for a little interpretive dancing and then Wil sat down to create a few masterpieces! We have, in order, an alligator, mouse and pig!
Monday, November 26, 2012
Thanksgiving/Rivalry/Concert12
We were so thankful for a few days off in Perry with all of my family! 18 of us to be precise! We ate the most glorious and flavorful food thats entered my mouth in a long time! My family is getting pretty spiffy in the kitchen! Dad set up a Lego table outside while we fried turkeys and we all got a good talking and sipping in! The Farmers showed up later and by then we were at the campfire getting sticky with smores! The Kareoke machine was kicking, we swung and pushed and circled the sinkhole many times! Black Friday Becca and I went on a 6 mile run to Grandpa's farm and back and then we were fortunate to be present to see the neighbors skin a deer they hunted! Jason sees lessons in everything and this time it even yielded us dinner! Mom fried us up venison and we ate it with gravy over grits and a salad! Katie and I took our girls shopping and that was a hoot! Saturday brought us the victorious win at Doak and there was much pregame celebrations at Becky's house! Mom and Dad watched the kids and we relieved them at halftime. We didn't really want to leave a good game, but we had 4 Eddie Vedder tickets at will call in a Jacksonville theatre waiting on us! It was of course, magical the way I thought it would be! The kids really enjoyed it and it was very acoustical! At the encore I hoisted Elsie and we ran down to get a closer look at Eddie! He got a closer look at us and even passed back a guitar pic to the little girl! Unfortunately a rude concert goer stole her pic but it was nice to be noticed just the same! Wil said we should go back so his sister could get another guitar pic!
UF Homecoming 2012
We were so blessed to have Grandma Terry with us at Homecoming! I ran in the Gator Gallup while Terry watched the tots. By the time I got back to our parade viewing site, Wil was well on his way to making friends with the pretty colledge coeds! They were very sweet and patient with the kids because they were elementary majors! Terry really enjoyed herself and told me this may be her first street parade! Because it was an election year, the parade was themed "United We Growl" and it was also held 3 days prior to Veterans day so it was very patriotic! Terry and I gave Wil a crash course on saluting our military figures and Else shook her hips with just about every dancing or pom-pom yielding girl that passed us! We almost lost her to the Hari Krishnas!
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!
Wow what a great time we had at Mickey's party! We arrived just as the sun was setting on the last parade of the day and caught Woody and Jessie who went out of their way to dance with us on the street! Woody wisked Wil away to dance while Jessie broke it on down with Elsie! After dancing, Woody carefully put both kids back in the stroller and bumped into Jason in the process! Afterwards we decided to go eat our picnic dinner near the Happy Harvest Roundup and we were fully charged for a hoe down! Wil was slow to get into the dancing at first but Elsie ate up every second! Once Wil found his dancing shoes it was on! I danced with the kids til exhaustion and we probably stayed the entire hour! Dancing, hugs and autographs from your Halloween costumes!! Afterwards we paid a visit to the Haunted Mansion and then needed to head over to position ourselves for the fireworks-which were amazing! We had just enough time to take in a ride before the Boo to You parade started so we figured while in costume to head to Buzz's Space Spin. On route our fearless leader Jason took off and Terry and I lost the crew! In the commotion of trying to find the stroller, join him, call him or even text him we found ourselves in line...for the wrong ride! Or was it? Terry and I found ourselves in line for Space Mountain! What can I say? It totally rocked to ride a roller coaster with my girl! I think it cracked us up more than anything! Anyways, afterwards we met up with our fearless leader and crew and settled in to see the Headless Horseman bring on the parade! Our favorite moment was the attention the kids got from the Queen of Hearts! She must have had a soft spot for them and was deviling them a little until Wil broke out his sword to slay her! We took the tram back to our car afterward and most of the car was asleep in minutes!
Pumpkin Patch
Here are a few pictures of the Pumpkin Patch kids! We always purchase our pumpkins from the church so before picking out the perfect pumpkin we read bible stories on a picnic blanket!
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Happy Halloween 2012
Flowers Montessor had a fall festival and we started our day in costume! Grandma Terry said Elsie's eyes were bigger than her stomach! They played games and had party food and the dreaded sugary treats! After school I rushed home and we took the kids to Boo at the Zoo! I had a chance to do the "Time Warp" with a complete stranger vetinarian type person and the kids enjoyed the creativity of the staff! The animal portion was closed due to the fact of an infant primate being born that day. So we headed home and Terry and I talked politics and how God sends us signs sometimes! We picked up a pizza and had a pizza party before heading out to Trick or Treat in Rock Creek. We hit all our participating neighbors up and the kids are getting better and better at the art! One unexpected situation we had to contend with was our kitten Tiger following us to every door. At one door a lady opened up the door and Tiger ran right into the lady's house. To make matters worse she had a small dog! It was quiete adventurous. So Jason takes the kitten home and puts him inside the house while we knock on Mrs. Gamache's door. The kids got her dog "Nappy" (short for Napoleon) all worked up and it was quite adventurous. Jason finally got back and from that point on it got much easier! A lot of animal involvement this time! Grandma Terry drove us around in the Durango and we picked up a ton of candy!
A Hollywood Halloween!
Because the kids dressed as "Jessie and Woody" from the movie "Toy Story" we thought it would be cute to see them on set! So we took them to the World of Pixar at Hollywood Studios in Orlando! They got a lot of looks but we only had Woody and Jessie on the brain! We rode a few rides but the coolest was hooking up with Woody and Buzz again! They signed the cowboy and cowgirl hats and took many pictures! We even met one of the green army men! We watched the Pixar parade and found Jessie and Bullseye but found out that Jessie lives at the Magic Kingdom and meets folks over there! And no amount of Elsie's pathetic crying helped! We planned on returning in a week for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party and informed the disturbed tot. Grandma said she really liked the Star Tours ride and we all had a good time seing the great costumes in Hollywood Studios! Jason bought us a frosty drink and my fav Mom in Law kept me laughing! She wore those bats on her hair all day! She's so batty!
First Prophies and FL/GA
We had a nice stay with Grandma Terry who came in for some medical treatments and got a lot done while she was here. I took her up to Freimuth Family Dental for some needed dental work and while there I gave the kids their first prophies! School was out that day and Lynn brought Lilly to visit the kids again. Wil bravely went first and Elsie insisted on watching Lilly before her turn. Wil was very mature in the chair and seemed to enjoy the experience! Elsie felt the need to get up multiple times and eventually I just called Cindy in to floss her teeth! It was a good visit with my dental family again and the kids loved Dr. Freimuth's "rhinestones" on her shirt! She crouched down for a hug and Wil started feeling her shirt! He said "I love the Gators!" I told him that a lot of people like those Gators! Somehow my boss didn't seem to mind being molested!
Terry watched the kids for us and we had a good time working and going to the game-even if we lost!
Megan, Gary and Steve!
Steve Spurrier brought his cocky team in for a butt kickin' we hosted Megan and Gary for a good time! Megan picked up geodes for the kids to crack open with some assistance from Mr. Gary! We ate white chicken chili and caught up with our favorite adventurers! Debbie lovingly watched the kids for us and we enjoyed a fun and victorious weekend!
Nashville with our tour guide, Jon!
We explored downtown Nashville with Mr. Jon and Jason taught the kids Greek mythology lessons at the Parthenon! Tailgating was fun with the beautiful and bountiful fallen leaves and then we took our "High 5 Machines" into the game where they made a lot of friends! Go Gators!!
Chattanooga Choo Choo
Our next adventure was the Tennessee River Valley Train tour and Chattanooga Choo Choo. We took made sandwiches and ate them as we watched the train pull up into the depot. Then we boarded, got our tickets punched and we were off! We enjoyed a narrated 3 mile ride and then learned how the round house worked to switch directions. We climbed on the trains and then shot over to climb on the old Chattanooga Choo Choo. Our plans were to meet up with Jon for dinner at the Aquarium Restaurant in Nashville but we had a few hours to kill. We decided to go tour the Jack Daniels Distillery and enjoyed every second of it! I asked Wil to take notes so he could make me some whiskey! Afterwards we headed for the restaurant and had a good meal and identified all the fish in the tank! Tomorrow: tailgating!
Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival
We decided to make the Vanderbuilt game a mini family vacation and left on a Wednesday night. We spent all day Thursday roaming around Stone Mountain and enjoying the Pumpkin Festival! It was beautiful and we walked around the perimeter of the bald mountain and located the Atlanta skyline, located "weapons" and located rabbit poo and prickly pears! We fed the geese by the carillion and danced the afternoon away! As the sun decended we made our goal to drive up to outer Chattanooga. We couldn't resist the Popcorn Haven and let Elsie go crazy! After an adventerous bath in our room for 2 we finally settled our stowaways down and turned on the Vice Presidential debate. Tomorrow: Chattanooga!!
LSU and Becky too!
Because Kevin had a big project to complete, Becky offered to make an overnight trip to Gainesville to sit the kids so we could go to the LSU game! We enjoyed a victory, came home and watched football the rest of the day with Aunt Becky, Cam and Luke. Becky filmed Elsie doing the "Two Bits" cheer and it is adorable! Jon came over and had some jumbalaya. Becky and I made jello shots for us and the kids and it had a marvelous effect! After the kids noded off we played in the backyard and took a midnight bike ride! Next morning I woke up with the morning people:Wil, Elsie and Luke and we let Becky and Cam sleep in. I love my twin and her sweet little family!
Tampa time!
Marisa and Craig volunteered to watch the kids so we could work at the FSU/USF game and we dang sure took them up on it! We attempted the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot and then headed over to the Faasons. Our camera was well hidden in the car and we didn't find it until all the good times were had at the Ris's. They fed us breakfast on Saturday and planned on bringing the kids over to the Ciaks. Ris and Craig said they had a good time visiting with Gary and Nina at the pool. After we got back we made dinner and consumed our jello shots! Of course, that got us talkative and we talked and laughed all night! Next morning we met up with Katie's family for omelettes and a early afternoon walk through Lettuce Lake Park. What a great time we had!
Tailgating Strueken style
We tailgated with the Struekens for the Kentucky game and sampled Michelle's homeade Gator Gritio! The kids had a ball playing together and I loved every minute of my girl time with Michelle! The game was a hot one-noon kickoff. Elsie said, "The sun is hurting me!" So we ended up leaving a little early and hanging at the Strueken house!
UF vs UT and good times in Tryon!
We took a road trip up to Mom and Dad's place in Tryon to work the UT/UF game and create a few good times with the folks! We had a long weekend so we did all kinds of things:climbed Grandpa's trees, ran up the mountain, picked blackberries and apples, picnicked at a covered bridge, waded in the mountain stream, removed a painful splinter in dramatic form, yard saled, soaked in the hot tub, ate Grandma's magnificent food, hung out with Uncle David and Aunt Mary, camped in the camper, celebrated a victory and snuggled much!
Texas A&M vs UF
Jason and I drove on out to College Station Texas to work and play! The Aggie fans were very cordial and so excited to be playing their first SEC opponent! I enjoyed the new experience and it was fun to root against the "Twelth Man!" We had dinner at the Chicken Oil Company and stayed at a nice motel room. After our victory we headed out of town and stayed at a Red Roof Inn. Next morning we picked up the kids in Freeport and they told us all about the good time they had at Grandma Terry and Pepaw's house!
School Days
September brought on the start of Elsie's Montessorri experience and the return of her brainy brother to his favorite learning spot! I got emotional, I guess because my baby started school! Jason promised to take some pictures to capture the moment and I kissed their heads as I headed down to Ocala while they slept! I told them I am so proud of them! I believe Wil is eating some of Elsie's food on the couch based on the expressions on their faces! And the last few pictures are what I come home to when I roll in from Ocala! Elsie picking flowers and Wil working out his alphabet as Dad sweats it out on the eliptical!
Sabrina and the sun!
The Speigelmans invited us over to enjoy their new house and we thouroughly enjoyed it! After soaking in the pool Neil grilled us steaks to perfection and Sabrina provided all the fixins! We ate well and were just getting worked up when Melissa and Josh stopped by to party too! Tanner and Eric gave Wil and Elsie belated bday gifts: Star Wars rocketbike and a My Little Pony. We bedded down for the night, slept well and Sabrina even made us breakfast before we headed out! We are so blessed with such good friends!
Grandma Terry's First trip to the Magic Kingdom!
We took Grandma Terry to the Magic Kingdom and introduced her properly! We put her with the kids as much as possible and we all had the best time! She told us her favorite ride was Small World!
Birmingham Vaca
Wes and Kasey hosted the whole family at their house for some summertime shennanigans! We carefully planned the entire trip to make it the most fun ever! We cooked big meals, ran through the neighborhood, picniced at a dam little park after we waded, slip and slided, took many pictures, went dollar store shopping, practiced gymnastics, got silly with the red wine, ate ice cream, made homeade ice cream, took lots of bubble baths, explored Oak Mountain, grilled hot dogs, paddle boated, canoed, swam, and strolled in the shade! On the way home a trailer hitch crashed into Grandma Terry's windshield but did not go through! It was a miricle no one got hurt but it sure gave Ralph and Terry on heckova scare!
FHS Reunion
It has been 20 years since Wil and Elsie's dad graduated Freeport High School and he and his best friend of years, Michelle put together a wonderful 20 year class reunion! We had a brief layover at St. George Island for some surf and sunbathing and then it was on to Pepaw's house! Grandma Terry had been up in West Virginia with Granny and we had the pleasure of hanging with Hester's mom who had been visiting her girl for the weekend. Jake, Hester, Pepaw and the cousins watched the kids for us for the nighttime reunion events. We gathered for a family picnic at the sports complex. Mark Miller grilled up a bunch of hamburgers and hotdogs and everyone brought a dish. It was cool to meet all of Jason's classmates and I loved every one of them! They made me feel welcome. The kids had a good time with water balloons and we all enjoyed catching up. We had about 3 hours or so to go home, nap, shower and put on our best to make it up to Nick's on the Bayou for the big Mullet Toss! It was the most perfect evening down by the water with a good breeze, a few adult beverages, kareoke singing, and dead fish handling! Tossing a mullet is harder than you'd think! As classmates began to disperse, a couple of others arrived and we sat outside Nick's until the wee morning hours cutting up and finding out what interesting items were to be found in Tammy's purse! I loved meeting Bunny and Edwina and the whole gang! Of course, I always enjoy Michelle and Tony! It was a great date night for Jason and I too!
A Patriotic Party!
For the Fourth of July we invited Grandma, Grandpa, Bill, Becca, Wyatt and Ramona to come over to celebrate America's Birthday! We put together a bbq pulled pork picnic and took in the fireworks over Lake Alice on the third and we loved watching the kid's excitement! The next morning it was waffles with red strawberries, whipped cream and blueberries! Grandpa and Uncle Bill helped assemble our totally awesome new tire swing and the kids and Uncle Bill wore it out! Becca and I got a morning trail run through Ring park and that's where we got the idea of taking the family to wade in the creek during the heat of day! The mosquitos just about carried us off but we all found treasures including a board, bottle and a half dead fish! We snacked on watermelon while we soaked and by the time to leave were all feeling a nap in our near future! After a good long nap and our suits had dried we put them on again for a quick trip to the pool as Jason and Bill prepared our hamburgers and hotdogs! We returned for a lovely birthday dinner on the porch to celebrate Ramona's birthday! Becca made cupcakes and we lit off sparklers and danced the night away!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
4th Beach trip
It was a very patriotic and spirited trip to the beach before the 4th and we celebrated with an awesome bike ride in the sand! We ate watermelon and played on the sand piles created by the tractors! Can you say Awsome?! :)
Quick Orlando Trip
With tropical storm Debbie approaching, we braved the winds and rain and hit Hollywood Studios and Epcot. We had the parks pretty much to ourselves and got to meet a lot Buzz, Woody and a whole slew of princesses!
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
A sweet little visit from the Faasons!
Craig and Ris came up for an overnight trip to Gainesville for dinner, wine, playing in the backyard and breakfast! It was so good to get caught up with some of my favorite people and we are already planning the next trip!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Operation Kitty Pickup
We took a long weekend trip to West Virginia with a few fun stops on the way. First we hit Washington DC and took the kids to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. We let them burn off the rest of their energy before hitting the road to Baltimore at the Washington Memorial. They were a little off the chain after spending the day in a museum! They both had emergency potty breaks on the lawn in front of the Memorial. How reverant! National Aquarium in Baltimore was awesome! You walk right by a shipyard and the kids enjoyed the old vessels. We loved touring the animals up and down the escalators at the aquarium. Before leaving town we got some crab cakes and headed up to Clarksburg. Its always a hoot to play at Stantons house! We caught lightning bugs and we showed the kids the rooftop on this visit! Of course Stanton fed us well again! Stanton let us borrow his jeep for a thrilling ride through town to go see Pam, Savannah and meet Hoss. Stanton and Anita offered us kittens and we took 3 off their hands! We welcomed into our house Tiger, Marmalade and Tangerine! They all have a tabby oragne coloring and are very sweet! They made the 13 hour trip back down to Florida a little more interesting!
Snails pace
Here are a few pictures of summer. "Mom, I love mashed potatoes!", We found a snail, light saber attack, hatching baby birds, welcoming the cement truck, safety class at the Y, Space Cowboy and the Cowgirl, living room ballerina and a blueberry scramble!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Sears Photo shoot 12
We only have professional pictures taken once a year so enjoy folks! It was an interesting experience. I can't count the number of times I had to drag the kids from behind the white screen! I had never craved a beer more in all my life!
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