Halloween 08

Here is some pictures of Halloween '08. Tori had a few friends over and went trick or treating around the neighborhood. I think this will be the last year for trick or treating.

update blog... 4th of July and Washington trip

Hello family and friends. Great to be back home. Don't you hate to unpack? Wouldn't it be great to have disposable suitcases... where when you get home you just throw everything away? I have contemplated that issue. I'm still doing laundry and putting things away. The trip was wonderful, informative and very tiring. If you go, wear good shoes and socks and be prepared to walk 10 miles a day. I was surprised to find how friendly everyone was. Oh, also bring lots of money. I was astonished to find that a happy meal in downtown dc was $6.50. Steve got some good footage of the President's car going by and also a women getting arrested in front of the white house for attempting to get in. Hilarious! Tori loved the program and learned so much. At the end of the program we were able to take her to Mount Vernon where to her surprise they were offering an inside private tour how they filmed the scenes of her favorite movie "National Treasure 2". She was so excited. Enjoy the pictures. Also included is a cute picture from 4th of July. Love to all.

Middle School Update

Good to be back at the blog. We have been so busy lately. Swim Team, Drama, Piano, Dance, Church and lots of homework. I thought 6th grade was going to be easy. The math is hard for me and easy for Tori. I'm glad to brag that she missed by one point having 100s in every course. We are so proud of Tori and so appreciative of her 5th grade teacher at Broadview who prepared her well. Teachers and librarians alike, can tell which students came from Broadview. We will be gone to Washington next week for her leadership conference. Don't tell anyone, but Steve and I are able to stay in the same hotel, just on another floor. The picture of her is at her first middle school dance. No, I didn't go, she didn't want me to. Another is a picture of Tori and Katelyn hanging out at the pool. Yesterday, I can't believe they got in and swam. Crazy! oh, and by the way, what about those Commodores?

!Tori!

Hey its Tori I was just on my moms blog looking at it and thought i would sat hi. North is really cool, I have met lots of new friends. So far everything is going great! I'll try to weite more posts. My mom will probally be suprised when she sees this post! :-) BYE love ya!

Tori's 11th birthday

It's been a while to post a blog because our camera is dead. We borrowed a camera and was able to get some shots of Tori's recent 11th birthday party. We had 23 kids show up and fun was had by all - even me. Tori started middle school this past week and loves it. She is doing drama, piano, swim team, dance and bells at church. Mommy is doing cab service. I do a lot of sitting in the van, unfortunately I can't leave the van running. I hope you enjoy the pictures of her party. (Eric, look at David in the stunning picture Renee took with color graphics). Miss you all.

Summer Blog

We're still here... just can't seem to get away from the pool and keep the family updated with my blog. We're having a wonderful summer. Tori is taking art, sewing and cooking classes this year. She has some friends visiting in the neighborhood for the whole summer. The pool is always full of kids. Steve is working on the fence and staining the woodwork on the porch. Dogs and cats are doing fine and well me, I'm doing ok. Hope you enjoy recent pics of Tori. She will be 11 in August and off to middle school.

Mother' Day 2008

In loving memory.... Jean Terry 1936-2007 One year ago my mother passed away. I had a thought, I was trying to remember things about her that only a child would know. I encourage all of you whose mother's are still living to jot down these remembrances because one day you wish you would have. For those whose mothers have passed on, try to remember.... Share them with me or if you think of other things to remember send them to me. Love to all and Happy Mother's Day!

Favorite Perfume: White Shoulders; Favorite music star: Dolly Parton/Elvis; Favorite season: Spring; Favorite Meal: Beans and Turnip Greens/Cornbread; Favorite car: Lincoln; Favorite TV show: Antiques Roadshow; Favorite skin regimen: Merle Norman; Bath or shower? Always, a bath; Favorite holiday: Thanksgiving; Favorite flower: Yellow Rose; Favorite cake: Hummingbird; Favorite restaurant: China Star; Favorite past time: needlepoint, antiquing; Favorite piece of clothing: gold lame jacket circa 1960, including purse and change purse. Favorite hair style: blonde with an updo twist. Favorite indulgence: gold jewelry and Minachevetiz (spelling) red wine; Favorite nail color: Pink; Favorite politician: Al Gore and Al Gore, Sr.; Favorite person: Her father; Favorite saying: "just don't let them tag my toe!" (hospital); Proud accomplishments: her children; moving alone to Indianapolis in 1952 at the age of 16 from a small town Celina, finding a job in a factory, having her own apartment by age 17 and being able to have lunch downtown Indianapolis at Shapiros Deli and stopping by on her way home to have her nails done at a window booth salon. Wow! Would have /could haves? probably finishing high school and not having a specific career. Wish I could ask her. Keep that in mind.

Spring Break 2008

This year Spring Break took us back to Chattanooga for something a little different. The girls were food critics at a four star restaurant at the Bluff View Art District. This area is beautiful and I highly recommend it to everyone. Then we were off to the Aquarium for a behind the scene tour of the tanks and food prep areas with the girls being able to hand feed fish in a huge tank. Then off to the Choo Choo for the night and then shopping the next day. Also a visit to Coolidge Park. Notice there are no pictures of me. I was suffering with a sinus infection and bronchitis, which was diagnosed the next day when we got home. At home again for the rest of week with play practice and softball practice. And by the way, the pool is open! Love to all.

Congratulations Tori!

Newspaper article in today's paper.

Tori Hinshaw In Academic Program

Tori Hinshaw, daughter of Steve and Kay Hinshaw, and a student at Broadview Elementary School, has been accepted into the "People to People World Leadership Forum." She will join a select group of students in Washington, D.C. Oct. 6-12 to earn high school credit while studying leadership and exploring some of the U.S.'s most prominent monuments and institutions. From Capitol Hill to Smithsonian Institution, and from Colonial Williamsburg to the National Museum of American History, Hinshaw will examine the characteristics of American leadership during times of national challenge and prosperity. Forum delegates will also participate in small group discussions and exercises to experience first-hand how successful leaders develop strategies, make decisions, build consensus and foster change. Hinshaw was nominated and accepted for the honor based on outstanding scholastic merit, civic involvement and leadership potential.

Upcoming events...

Several of you have asked about upcoming events for Tori. This is a list. Jackie and Renee, hope you can come to dance recital. This time it is in Tullahoma at the South Jackson Theater. Oh, and also bring David, maybe he won't be bored to death, but I know he would like the church play. Here is the schedule:

May 4 - 6:00 p.m. Church Play - "Holy Moses" - church gym with ice cream party afterwards.

May 17 - 6:00 p.m. - Dance Recital - Tullahoma South Jackson - I think it is at 6:00.

May 18 - 2:00 p.m. - Piano Recital - our church in the gym.

Love to see you all there.

Easter 2008

Easter 2008 - We all went to church for a beautiful service with the youth choir singing along with the adult choir. It was beautiful. That will be the last time Tori will sing with the youth choir, she will be moving up to the 6th grade group. The Easter bunny came and left Tori a basket full of surprises. Easter afternoon we went to Ray and Nadine (Steve's parents) for lunch and then an Easter egg hunt. It was a good day except the longing for wanting to talk with my mother. Easter was one of her favorite holidays. For her, another excuse to get in the kitchen and make a wonderful ham dinner. We all miss her dearly. Have a good everyone. Pictures are Easter past and Easter 2008 with Ray and Tori's cousins, Haley and Harley.

Pictures to share...

Hello friends and family... I'm just checking in to post a few pictures. One is of Tori and some of her friends over for an evening. One is of Tori in the doghouse! One of Tori and her Daddy on his recent birthday. His cake was designed by our resident "Ace of Cakes" Tori - which was a large Hershey bar. I hope everyone is ready for Spring -- bring it on!

Eric, hope you can come by when you come up next week. Love to all.

Friends Forever?

As I look at these pictures I wonder... Do you remember any of your first friends? I wish I could remember those days. Tori and Casey have been friends since they first met in the nursery back in 1998. That has been 10 years for them to be friends. I always tell Tori to cherish those memories of great friendships. You know, they will be going to separate schools next year, but thanks to our church she will still get to see him and hopefully continue this longstanding friendship. Love to all...

Snow At Last!

Well maybe not a snow storm but at least it was enough to make a snowball . I remember back in the 60's in Indiana we would have 4 feet of snow at times. Then in the 70's in Tennessee I remember having at least 3 feet of snow. What has happened to the seasons? I don't ever remember going from 61 degrees to 29 in one day? Steve took off work on our one snow day and we drove up to Sewanee mountain at the golf course and sledded. For those of you local, that is the best place to go sledding. We brought hot chocolate with us but we still froze to death. It was fun. Maybe it will snow again this week. I've got my fingers crossed.

My Valentines

Here are my two valentines. Aren't they sweet. Oh, look what's that on her finger? I think he got the boxes mixed up! Ha! We had a wonderful Valentine's Day - just us three having dinner at home. It was a good night. It was also a good night that very same date (Valentine's Day) 28 years ago that Steve and I met. Isn't that romantic. I hope you all had a wonderful Valentines Day. I hope everyone is well and not sick. So far so good here. Take care.

Tori's Teacher

Congratulations to Tori's 5th grade teacher. This picture and article is on the front page of the paper today. We are so lucky to have been in her class this year. Here is the link to the article.

http://www.heraldchronicle.com/

Eric, congratulations on your new teaching job. I think Jackie said it was 5th grade also.

Why do we have pets?

Why do we have pets? Isn't it enought too have your family to keep you company and entertained? I complain alot about these animals but really they are great to have around. Even though, I spend most of my day referring between the cats and the dog. As you can see by the pictures, Tori woke up this morning and is herself turning into quite the pet. How will I clip those nails? Enjoy the pictures. Have a great day!

We're still here...

Hello dear family and friends. I'm trying to shrug off these mid winter blues and keep you all posted on what's going on here at the Hinshaw house. Let's see. The puppy gained 6 pounds. He is now a 3 month old 17 pound monster with very sharp teeth. Steve has been working on our privacy fence around the pool. I don't think there is anything he can't do. Me, taking care of the household -- cats, dog, hamster and everyone else. Tori is getting ready for the state 4h speech contest and doing lots of homework. She is getting excited about going to middle school and keeps asking me lots of questions that obviously I can't answer. She is also been invited to attend the People to People International Leadership Conference in Washington DC in October. She is very excited. Hopefully, these next few months will pass quickly and we can get into warmer, sunnier months. I hope you all are doing well and email me or call anytime. Have a great day!

Everybody say ahhhh!!!!

Just to share photos of Buddy and Tori

Love to all, Kay

New Year...New Puppy

Happy New Year to all Friends and Family. Allow me to introduce the newest edition to the Hinshaw family..... Buddy! He is a 10 week old Golden Labrador, which his mother was a black lab and his daddy was a golden retriever. He is so sweet, especially when he is sleeping. Ha. Right now his schedule is 10 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. and then sleeps all day. I found myself waking him up in the middle of the day just because it's not fair. The vet said he was going to be huge. The cats are adjusting and the house is a mess. I had forgotten how hard it is to house train puppies. Come and see Buddy sometime. Love to all.