Roaming Santa

We loved finding this jolly old fella on our door step this season. Kudos to whoevers brainchild this was! The kids were so excited, they wanted to keep him forever, and who could resist a three foot tall plastic Santa?? After I read the corresponding note, and took some memorable pictures, Ashden literally picked him up and ran him over to our new neighbors house. I am sure they were more than thrilled with this housewarming gift. However, after five straight nights of Santa not moving an inch from their porch, we had to take matters into our own hands, and send Santa on his way. So Ashden swept him away and we descended upon another unsuspecting household. I pity the family that gets to store him until next year!! Enjoy.

Here is Ashden ready to run!

Happy Holley-Days and a New Year too!

I just can't seem to get that last batch of Christmas cards out! I ran out of stamps, and haven't had time to go and get more, so if you haven't received your card yet, maybe you will get it sometime next year! Here is a glimpse of what you missed! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends. This year was such a magical one for us. We feel so blessed and loved. Thanks to all of you who sent cards to us, it was a record year. I love to hang on to them from year to year to see how much everyone has changed.

Merry Christmas

Ryan-Continues to excel in college, and is on-track to graduate in Fall of 2011. He enlisted in the National Guard and is set for boot camp this coming spring! We are so proud of his decision to serve our country.
Kari-Enjoys the triumphs and trials the children bring, and knows that these precious moments are fading way to fast. She enjoys her time volunteering at school and church, and is thankful for the blessings she receives.
Aiden & Anden-Started Kindergarten this fall and are doing fantastic, thanks in part to wonderful teachers and staff! Their little eyes just sparkle with delight each time they learn something new. Aiden wants to be a scientist, and Anden wants to be the guy who pays for everything! I’ll let you know as soon as we find out what that might be!!
Ashden-He is my little Jekyll & Hyde. One minute he is just the sweetest thing on the face of the earth, and the next, he has started the microwave on fire!! He will certainly give us a run for our money, or spend all of it on repairs!!
Adeline-Has turned into quite the little lady! Her vocabulary grows every day, and her favorite word is ‘baby‘. She is Miss Sassy Pants, and knows that she has all of her brothers (and Daddy) wrapped around her little finger!!

You can check out all the latest and greatest moments of our lives at www.thejollyholleys.blogspot.com! We hope this card finds you healthy and happy, and full of joy for what 2010 will bring. Please keep us in your prayers, as we keep you in ours.

Love, The Holley's

Ashland Extravaganza

This parade kicks off our Christmas season each year. It is always the Friday after Thanksgiving, and we haven't missed one since the boys were born! Parking is crazy, it is freezing cold, and the line to see Santa is about an hour long, but in the end, it is so worth it. The parade is super short, I think there were only about 14 entries, but they pass out good candy, they always give away books, Starbucks gives out free hot chocolate down at the plaza, and Santa is good for a few candy canes, so there is plenty of fun to go around. We love it and we hope you will too!

Waiting for the parade to start!

Gingerbread man from The Nutcracker.

Carolers
(These ladies also did the "Ten Virgins" for our church this past spring)

Cutest Snowmen ever!

The kids thought this guy was so funny, and can't wait to make a snowman so they can put a ton of carrots on his head!!

Jolly Old St. Nick!!!

(This picture is courtesy of the Mail Tribune, but it just shows you the sheer number of people that end up at the plaza to watch the lights turn on in Ashland!)

A Reason for the Season

Before I start with my annual montage of Holley-Day Hodge Podge, let me share my favorite Christmas song, along with a fabulous video I got off of You Tube last year. (Pause my playlist to enjoy the music with the video).

.Happy Thanksgiving.

This year I have much to be Thankful for, but I am going to limit it to one thing: my husband! I am thankful that he gets me and still loves me for it!

Since I have mastered the savory part of Thanksgiving, ie; turkey, stuffing, sauce, gravy, potatoes, etc. I have moved on to desserts! This year I am taking on two new ones, a Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Pie from Martha Stewart and a Cranberry Ribbon Apple Pie from Bon Appetite, if they are a hit I will post recipes, if not, I will post the aftermath. I do have two back up pies thanks to an awesome deal at Albertsons last week, so we will not starve!

Here's hoping your Thanksgiving is richly blessed with family and love, and of course, good eats!!

Update: Enjoy a few of our Thanksgiving photos!!

Here is a picture of our 25 pound Turkey, he was so delicious!!

We made these cute luminaries to decorate our walkway!

My first apple pie, it was so scrumptious, and super easy, why have I never made one before!!

Worth a Thousand Words

This summer was the first time all of my siblings and their families were together. What an amazing time we shared. We couldn't let this moment pass us by without getting some family photos, and I wanted to post a few here. Mostly because I think my family is dang cute, but also because we have the most fabulous photographer of all time! I love how she can capture the essence of my children in a photo, what a gift. If you are in need of a great photo shoot, give her a call, her name is Jolyn 541.601.6379 or check her out at her new site http://www.daveeblu.com/! Good luck on your new adventures girl, you deserve much happiness!!

The real A Team

(Anden, Ashden, Austin, Alek, Andrew, Aiden, Annika, Adeline & Alyssa)

I love, love this picture.

Four crazy siblings, and the loves of our lives!

Bonded for Life

Sorry the images are so small, but I pirated them off of Facebook, so you get what you get!

First Day of School

Last Tuesday was the twins first day of Kindergarten. What a proud moment in a parents life. I don't know who was more excited, me or them! We had a back to school party the night before, with a special dinner and dessert. We made special banners and decorations to commemorate this once in a lifetime event. The boys weren't really sure about all of the fuss I was making over school, so I am not sure if the party was more for me or them. We ended the night by reading the school handbook, and then Ryan gave the boys a Father's blessing. I am thankful for that gift he is able to give the boys. I hope they realize how much we love them and are excited for this new journey in their lives.

They were not excited about the picture taking, enough already Mom!!

The boys wanted to ride the bus on the first day, but I put my foot down, I needed pictures in front of the school, and I couldn't just let them go that easily. They did ask me on the way to school to please not cry in front of their friends, so I saved the tears for the car ride home. I did get a little misty eyed, but my super huge sunglasses hid any signs of the waterworks. I wasn't sad to send them off, I am just so proud of the little men they are, and I know that they will have a fantastic year ahead of them. I promised the teacher that I wouldn't dress them alike on the first day of school, which I am sure she was grateful for. Although, I am impressed that both Mrs. Bjorge and Mrs. Lewis can tell them apart, high five ladies, we are excited to share this journey with you both.


I am looking forward to my first PTO meeting and volunteer training this week, maybe I need to go out and buy myself some back to school outfits too!