A Big Weekend @ Big South Fork

First stop Keith's cabin on the Fentress County side... we got to visit w/ a good friend, had some good food, and met some of Keith's neighbors (both human and animal)

We have taken this picture in this very same spot through the years starting with the first one in July of 2002


Chris n Keith


Keith n his favorite "people" in our family

"Super Peanutbutter and the Big Bad Hamster of Doom"

This is the title of the new best selling children's book by Drew... haha, we wish!! It is the title of the state silver medal winning book that Drew wrote for a school contest! The story is of a superhero guinea pig (no surprise, named Peanutbutter) that saves the world from an evil hamster who is stealing carrots and turning them into an evil carrot army. Oh, how that little brain works. She also did some fabulous illustrations using pictures she found on the Internet along with her own drawings.






Now, we've got to figure out how all this creativity and talent can make momma & daddy some $$$!

Easter Sunday

They clean up so well!! Here are the girls being good sports cause the sun was killing their eyes!

All of us out by Nana and Pop's lake

This one almost makes me cry... such a sweet little lady.


A great pic of the girls with their most favorite Nana!

Home Sweet Home

We finally have had a day or two without rain (or snow) and were able to do some landscaping around the house. Also, we've got some grass growing... Chris and Pop spent a long afternoon raking and seeding that has really paid off with a lot of green.


We've constructed a dry creek bed in the drainage swell (of course, this is where the grass seems to grow the best... where we don't want it)
We still have a lot of work to do, but what a difference already!! Now for the back yard...

Drew Shows Off Her Creative Side

Drew's sculputure was chosen to represent her school in an art show downtown. The show was a collection of artwork from students all over the county school system. We attended a reception on the artists' honor and she got to show off her stuff... we are so proud of her creativity and hard work!

Oh Heaven, Reesey Turned 7

Our baby is not a baby anymore! 7 years ago we welcomed our little Reesey Cup into the world.... and we had no idea what we were getting into! She adds so much excitement to our lives! She is sweet and cuddly, stubborn and conniving, smart and tender-hearted, tough and hard-headed... all wrapped up in the cutest little package w/ curly hair and a few missing teeth that you've ever seen! We love you, Reese!

We had a great little cook out on Reese's Birthday and were able to share it w/ some friends and Jed & Delia!

Then, we invited some of Reese's friends from school to a party @ Build-a-Bear Workshop at the mall. As you can see from the pics, Reese and her friends (& Drew) had a great time... we were also glad Nana, Pop, and Aunt Tara could join in the fun!

Playin' Hooky

So about 7 o'clock on a Tuesday, we decided to drive up to North Carolina and ski the next day. Chris worked it out with work and the girls played "hooky" from school. Isn't that a great lesson to teach them, they can miss school for a good reason like... going skiing. Anyway, we loaded up the car, after an ordeal getting all of our ski stuff, and headed to the snowy mountains Above: the first lift ride of the day
Below: the second lift ride of the day... I started taking the frostbite warning seriously

And, don't let the beautiful sunshine fool you... it was about 9 degrees up top. It did warm up to a balmy 17 or so by the end of the day! You know on the movie "Dumb & Dumber", when they ride the little motorbike through the cold weather and icicles start to form? Yeah, something like that...
It was actually much warmer toward the bottom of the mountain where the girls spent most of their day. They rode the magic carpet on the bunny slope a couple of times, and spent the rest of the day on the green slopes with thier instructor. By the time we picked them up, they were hitting jumps, skiing off through the trees, and flying down the hill! We are going to have a hard time keeping up with them pretty soon!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

What a treat... a beautiful snow shower to end a long weekend.
the view out of the kitchen window above

Reese and a friend, Maddy.

... and, A Happy New Year!

Breakin the new house in w/ a little New Year's Eve get together

Random Christmas 2008

In the middle of all the chaos of moving... we were able to sqeeze in a little Christmas!!

This is on our Christmas Card that everyone should expect in their mailboxes mid to late January... our new fireplace


Here the girls are getting ready for Santa... he came a few days early to our house, we guessed it was because of the new address.


Santa brought all kinds of goodies including a wii and wii fit!


We got to spend some time with the cousins.


Here is everyone in their new jammies... thanks Nana!

The Griswold Reese Family Christmas

The whole clan got together in North Carolina... we enjoyed some food and fellowship and celebrated Avery and Joyce's 40th wedding anniversary!


The Youngin's... these are all of the great-grandkids... well, not all... not even close, but a good looking bunch!



Getting Older (some of YOU are older than others)... 15 of the 19 grandkids


Really Old... haha... the brothers with their lovely wives (sadly, missing a couple of folks in this one)

And, the original... Mrs. Sallie.
Grandma was feeling the Christmas spirit, she was as happy as Dad has seen her in a long time!!


The oldest and the youngest of the brothers... acting their ages (at least Dad kept his teeth in)!

Some interesting things overheard at the Reese family get-together:
"That's OK Joyce, at least you know you have a pair at home just like them." Uncle Gerald
"This family likes them even if they are black." Sheila ***this is a reference to food so nobody gets in trouble
"How is this a family reunion if I don't know anybody here?" Alex (Kelly's son)
"That's OK, Chris sleeps with his eyes open." Paige
"Ya'll want to see something nobody has seen in 40 years." Uncle Avery

Now That's My Kind of Building a House...

Thanks to Nana... a little Christmas crafting has been going on! These will be beautiful on our new mantle.

What Is Missing In This Picture?

More Thanksgiving 08

Kids and Chickens
The little ladies in the magnolia tree
The girls have to stick together
The Couzins
The brothers and their boys

Thanksgiving 2008

We spent our Thanksgiving on the Teague farm in North Carolina... as always the kids had a ball
Uncle Reggie hooked up the carriage out and gave Cass a workout! Always a HUGE hit!
Here is Drew in the top of the big magnolia tree
These 4 had such a great time together... out early giving the horses treats