The Messners

Bones, Gorillas, Bananas, and Simon. Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T13:15:00.000-08:00

This is the newest addition to the Horn pack his name is Simon. My mom and dad got this little boy Halloween Day. They brought him to see us today. Such a cutie!

Bones and Gorilla

Ms. Banana

Santa Rosa, Florida (Fall Break) October

2009-10-27T19:07:00.000-07:00

These pics weren't planned I just happened to catch these. Notice how Tate is playing so nicely in the back of Phin's pic. Notice how Phin is whacking jelly fish in the back of Tate's pic.
That just about sums everything up...

Tate's first catch...

We found this pumpkin by the ocean. We played with it all day in the sand.

We decided semi-last minute to hit the road for Fall Break...and where better to go but our "happy place". Phin and Tate had the best time. October might be my favorite time of the year at the beach. So peaceful...so beautiful...I am just counting down the days to when we can go back.

Morrows and Messners hanging at Papa TG and Lala's house Oct 2009

2009-10-27T19:02:00.001-07:00

First day of school...and such

2009-10-27T18:51:00.000-07:00

Pics from the summer

2009-10-27T18:39:00.000-07:00

This first pic is just a sample of the many pictures my Phin has taken with our camera. This is one of the many things he loves to "help" do around the house.
I have deleted many of them, but I keep several just to look and laugh at every now and then.

The Horn family slide at Fort Kid in Knoxville, TN. My grandparents, Terry and Louise, donated money for this slide in honor of their 6 grandchildren when this park opened. It still has our name on it. I've heard they are making new plans for the park are possbily going to tear it down. I wanted to get a picture to always remember... :)

Sea Crest Beach 2009

2009-06-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

The Morrow's, The Messner's, and The Senters

We stayed on Vinings Lane...it was so lovely.

The clean up well...and look soooooo sweet.

Ice cream man came right to our door!

Phin on the first day. He was so excited about the sand!

Shaun getting love from both B's.

Kent and Katie

Kent and Becca

Total relaxation

Eating sour ice cream

This may be my favorite pic of me and Tate ever

Sunset at Seaside

Hanging at the beach

2009-06-18T17:46:00.000-07:00

Tate gets 162.5 AR points!

2009-06-18T17:40:00.000-07:00

At Granbery Elementary every child 1st grade and up can earn points for reading books and taking comprehensive tests. With every book there is a different amount of points. If a child gets over 150 points in one school year they get their name and picture of their choice painted on the library wall. So here is Tate's "brick". He has read 6 out of the 7 Harry Potter books. He plans and reading book 7 at the beginning of 3rd grade.

Soccer...and fun in the rain

2009-06-18T17:30:00.000-07:00

Springtime

2009-06-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

Faith, Phin, and Tate

Easter

Phin's 3 year old birthday

THE FIRST SNOWFALL OF THE SEASON!

2008-12-14T12:32:00.000-08:00

Scared Phin...

2008-12-08T11:17:00.000-08:00

Phin is often scared.

He is not scared of other kids, especially not of his brother.

He is not scared of mommy or daddy, which makes for some really difficult times.

However, Phin is scared of the following: Chuck E. Cheese, any sports mascot, bears in his room, thunder, and marching bands in Christmas parades (pictured above).

All I can say his my Phin is VERY special.

Thanksgiving in Virginia and West Virginia

2008-12-08T11:08:00.000-08:00

Hanging with Nana and Poppy...

This is my NEW nephew Aidan Kristopher. He is a precious baby!

Phin (two and half) and Hansel (one and a half).

I swear they look so much like Kent and Kris when they were babies.

Ice Cream with Nana...

Kris, Hansel, Kent and Phin

James (10!), Tate (8), Aidan (2 weeks)

Happy Halloween

2008-11-07T12:30:00.000-08:00

The Popeye clan: Popeye, Sweet P, Mr. Wimpy and Olive Oyl

Our "Pumkin Patch" as Phin call it...

Tate the great is eight!

2008-09-14T19:16:00.000-07:00

I have started a tradition that is getting more and more fun every year. I have made all of Tate's birthday cakes since he was a baby. This year we had a Pokemon party. This is a Pokeball. (The actual pokeball is to the left of the cake.) I used fondant this year...a first for me. It looked great, except for a tiny little brother fingerprint at the top right. :)

All of the kids...
Of course I give a big shout out to my favorite "chaperone's" Katie and Beth! Love you!

Mommy and Phin

2008-09-14T19:07:00.000-07:00

I am so glad to be at home with Phin again this year. Working full-time has its advantages but it is great to be a stay-at-home mom! Here is a typical week for us...

1. Hanging with the dog...or as I call them "Phin and Faith my toddler twins"...

2. Going to the zoo...sometimes with friends (Preston Terry and Phin)
3. Library Storytime...Phin loves seeing all his favorite puppet friends and of course The Professor. Asa Hogg, Ari Burton and Preston meet us there a lot and we have lunch in the courtyard. Here Phin is looking for the library mouse. (That's is his mouse-house hole by Phin's head.)
4. Sit on the potty. We are still working on potty training. We spend a lot of time here. 5. Art! We love to do art. Phin, however, loves to do most of it on himself.

First day of SECOND GRADE!

2008-09-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

Tate and Phin are excited about second grade! Phin was upset that he didn't get to stay and ride the bus..."like a BIG boy".

Lipscomb Soccer Camp 2008

2008-08-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

This is actually a picture from June but I got it off Beth's computer to put it on my blog.
This picture sums up everything with my boys...everything Tate does, Phin wants to do too. He wanted to be a part of soccer camp so bad he couldn't stand it.
Stay tuned to pics of the first day of school where Phin threw a major fit in the parking lot because he wanted to go to school and ride the bus home too.
Sweet little Phin wants to BIG SO BAD!

Fun with Friends

2008-08-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

I had the Messner and Morrow boys and we went to Krispy Kreme for breakfast and the zoo. Here are cute pics of all the fun.

My boys

2008-08-05T13:17:00.000-07:00

Tate will be eight in less than a month. I think he looks so grown up in this picture...sniff. :)

Chattanooga Triathlon July 2008

2008-08-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Tate and Phin cheering the boys on...

(Kent is the one in the back.)
(Kent on the bike...after 26 miles.)

Jim Maddox and Kent have been training for this tri since last November. They both did so great!!!! It started with a one mile swim, 26 mile bike, and six mile run. I was so proud of both of them! They continue to train and are hopefully doing another one in Nashville in September.

Cute vacation pics

2008-07-09T18:29:00.001-07:00

We spent several afternoons at the pool with everyone.
Me and the kids on a canal ride.
Me and Ann
Hansel and Phin in the tub
My boys...(Tate is looking so big these days!)

Washington Zoo and Mount Vernon

2008-07-09T18:24:00.001-07:00

The Messners and the Washingtons :)

Not only did we visit Nana and Poppy but we got to do many fun activities. We had a great time at Mount Vernon and the National Zoo!!!

Washington DC

2008-07-09T18:15:00.000-07:00

Kent and I got a chance to get away from the kids for three days and have a little vacation of our own. We had such a great time. It was a great time to be there the week of the 4th of July.

West Virginia & Virginia vacation

2008-07-09T18:07:00.000-07:00

Ann, Kris and Hansel (baby #3 in the belly!!!!)

Phin in front of Nana and Poppy's new condo.
Pops and the grandkids

We went to W.Virginia and Virginia to see Kris and Ann and Larry and Kitty. We had a great time seeing all of them! Hansel ("Pencil" as Phin calls him) and Phin have become great friends.

"Stay-cation's" at the Nashville Zoo

2008-06-25T13:28:00.000-07:00

Tate, Ari Burton, Preston Terry, Phin, and Asa Hogg (Asa's brother Rett was asleep in the stroller.)

We got a membership to the zoo again and we have been so many times since April. We really love going with friends...and we almost always see some friends there. We LOVE the zoo!

Tate's new hair!!!

2008-06-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

This is Tate a few weeks ago...
...and this is Tate now. He decided to shave his head during soccer camp! He looks so much different and so much bigger!

My silly Phin

2008-06-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

Phin keeps us very busy. He has the funniest sense of humor.

Saying goodbye to our PT

2008-06-25T06:02:00.000-07:00

These are our last pics with our car "Miles" we have had for five years. Tate was very upset that we were getting a new car.
Here is our new car the Pacifica! We love it! There is plenty of room for everone...

...even Faith! (As you can see Tate got over his sadness very quickly.)

Bowling

2008-06-25T05:58:00.000-07:00

Our newest favorite family activity is bowling. Phin and Tate are both pretty good. If you look closely at the pic above Phin has a spare! (He did that by himself.)

Hansel and Phin

2008-06-25T05:54:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law Katie got married at the end of March. So we had lots of company. Here are pics of Kris and Ann's little boy Hansel with Phin. They had a great time playing together!

Summer Cut

2008-06-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

These two pics are of Faith before the big summer cut 2008.

Here is Faith after. (She has a pom-pom tail.) We can't wait for our Ewok to come back.

Hopefully by fall she will be herself again!!!

THE MAYOR'S ART SHOW AT THE FRIST CENTER!

2008-05-16T18:35:00.000-07:00

Tate got selected to be one of the two first graders at his school to have his art displayed at the Mayor's art show. Tate is going to tell us about his painting so here he goes.

IT IS THE...STARRY NIGHT! DO YOU LOVE IT ? I DO... I DO! I L.O.V.E IT!!!

Okay, I love Tate. I think I have a future blogger on my hands!

The artist...
...the mayor...

...and the proud little brother!

My little girl...

2008-05-16T18:22:00.000-07:00

Here is a fairly recent pic of my Faith. She is such a sweetheart...but still very active! She is still growing bigger and bigger everyday.
The boys are waiting to splash the dog...
...she tries to get away before they do...but it is too late!!!

Phin turns two!

2008-05-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

March Madness birthday party!
The basketball cake...
...my helper. Tate decided he would help me with the cake this year! I was so thankful for the help.

On Phin's birthday we took him to play mini-golf. He is WAY into playing golf! Who know...next Tiger?

Beach trip 2008

2008-03-30T13:58:00.000-07:00

We went to the beach for spring break with Beth and Charles Morrow our closest friends. We all packed up on Sat. March 15 and headed for Santa Rosa, FL. (If there were a place I would call heaven on earth...Santa Rosa is it for me...for now. This is our third time going and first time with B & C.) We arrived at the Happy Lobster and began the festivities immediately. We ate, laughed, played games, watched movies, took walks, played soccer, shopped, but most of all enjoyed the beach. It ended up being chilly the first few days. And the "no swim" flags were flying until Thursday morning. But no amount of cold weather could keep us away from having a good time on the beach. Thursday and Friday ended up being the warmest days. It was a blast and I hope we can do it again next year. (I just don't think I can make it a year without going back to my happy place.)
Photos of the trip below.

Messner/Morrow Beach Trip 2008

2008-03-30T13:39:00.000-07:00

Tate, Trip, Will and Phin. This year they will be 2, 4, 6, 8! Crazy!

This was the name of our house we stayed at...and the Happy Lobster made us VERY happy!
Will and PhinOur boys on their favorite means of transportation at the beach.
Tate looks like a surfer boy to me...all he needs is a tan.

This is what we delt with all week...complete silliness.
Our "pirate" ice cream man...beard, birds and rocket-pops!

Easter

2008-03-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

My sweet boys...
The whole carzy Messner clan. We had a good easter with Nana and Poppy!

SNOW!!

2008-03-30T13:28:00.000-07:00

Here is Faith in her sweater (actually Phin's sweater).

This was back in beginning on March. We had a BIG snow...for middle tennessee at least. We went sled riding all morning with the Morrows on our big hill! The boys loved it!

My other puppy...

2008-01-17T18:03:00.000-08:00

I can't keep Phin out of the puppy crate. It is a great place to hide from mom and Tate.

Faith has arrived!

2008-01-17T17:57:00.000-08:00

Tate finally has his new puppy! He chose the name Faith. She is so sweet and small. Though we found out her mom was about 50 pounds and her dad about 100 pounds. She is going to be HUGE!

Three against one! She may seem small and helpless but she fits right in with these crazy boys!
I knew I would find a use for my baby "Boppy". It is one of her favorite places to take a nap!

Winter fun!

2008-01-17T17:49:00.000-08:00

Phin is becoming a "mini" Tate. He wants to be like Tate and dress like Tate. If Tate is wearing a hat Phin has to wear one too!

My boys

2008-01-06T15:01:00.000-08:00

My boys are growing so fast! Phin will be two in March and seven year old Tate keeps getting taller by the second. We are so blessed to have such sweet boys!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-06T14:59:00.000-08:00

We spend New Years with our best friends Beth and Charles and their kids Trip and Will. We started the annual Morrow-Messner spend the night. We had a blast!!!

100000 miles!

2008-01-06T14:56:00.000-08:00

We turned a hundred thousand miles on "Miles" our car aka the P.T. Crusier.

Santa brought a new family member...

2007-12-30T12:56:00.000-08:00

Welcome the newest member of the Messner clan. Santa brought us a puppy. Though we haven't met or received her yet she will be arriving in a couple of weeks. She is a chocolate Labradoodle (half Lab/half Standard Poodle). Tate is in charge of naming her so we are waiting to see what her name will be. I am looking forward to having another girl in the house! (She is the one on the right.)

More Christmas

2007-12-30T12:51:00.000-08:00

Kent's parents got to come down to Knoxville Christmas evening.
Breakfast the next morning with all the grandparents and Uncle Jerry
In my parents back yard a couple of deer having a morning run.
Tate LOVES his new bike...

...Nana and Poppy got Phin a new bike too! What a great Christmas!

Christmas at Jerry and Susie's

2007-12-30T12:45:00.000-08:00

My Dad got his fadora!

Mom with her miter saw and Kent with his circular saw
Tate got a new sleek bike from Uncle Jerry and Aunt Susie

Christmas Morning

2007-12-30T12:35:00.000-08:00

Tate and Phin at the stairs waiting to see what Santa brought!

Tate is HAPPY! I guess he was good this year!
Tate reads a letter from Santa!
He is getting a PUPPY!!!! Finally!!!!

Katie and Shaun spend the morning with us at my parents!

Christmas Eve with the Horn family

2007-12-30T12:28:00.000-08:00

Phin and Aunt Beth play a little "Up on the Housetop"

Me, Mom and Dad
Me and my first cousins (Alex, Spencer, Danielle, and Andrew) and my boys
PHIN LOVES EGG NOG!!!!
"Crook" and Phin are waiting for Santa

Cousins!!

2007-12-30T12:24:00.000-08:00

Tate and Carson Lash got to spend a whole day together in Knoxville during Christmas. They are both nephews of my Uncle Jerry and Aunt Susie.

Our Charlie Brown Tree

2007-12-28T06:26:00.000-08:00

This is the tree that Tate liked for our house. It was small and not very full...but we liked it.

Thanksgiving in Canaan Valley, WV

2007-11-25T10:19:00.000-08:00

We found bear tracks in the snow!!

Poppy and Tate building a snow man!

The boys...Phin, Hansel, James and Tate.
Nana plays the dulcimer.

Fall Fun...

2007-11-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

Tate and Phin playing in the leaves.

Tate's Thanksgiving Program

2007-11-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

Tate and his class
Tate built the Mayflower for his fall project.

Phin first hair cut

2007-11-25T10:09:00.000-08:00

Phin at the playground before the big trim...
after the big cut...
such a BIG BOY!!

Halloween!!!!

2007-11-25T09:51:00.000-08:00

All the kids are ready for CANDY!!!!!

Tate aka "BEN 10"
Trip aka "Peter Pan" Will aka "Army Man"
Phin aka "Green Dragon"

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

2007-11-25T09:45:00.000-08:00

Tate and Phin picking out their pumpkins....
Trip and Will Morrow trying to find their pumpkins as well...
playing with seeds and corn at the patch!
Aunt Katie found the one for her!

My Soccer Man!

2007-11-25T09:42:00.000-08:00

Tate was on the Red Sharks this year. Kent coached the team and Tate scored several goals this season! He also LOVES to be the Goalie!

Tate turns SEVEN!!!!

2007-11-25T09:38:00.000-08:00

Here is Tate and all his friends at his party!
Tate, Becca and Parker. We had a Scooby Doo Luau and this is the mystery machine cake made with love by me.

First Day of School!!

2007-11-25T09:35:00.000-08:00

Tate and Phin on their way to school! Tate is in first grade and Phin in the the 1's class.

The Messner Family Vacation in Emerald Isle

2007-08-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

Here is everyone on the beach our last night.
The girls...Katie, me and Ann
The boys...Kris, Kent and Shaun Poppy and Nana with all the grandkids!

Phin, Tate, James, and Hansel

Meet my new nephew Hansel! He is a doll and I love him so much!
Phin loves him so much too!!!

My Little Harry Potter...

2007-07-24T19:40:00.000-07:00

Tate went to a Harry Potter party with his LaLa in Knoxville while visiting my parents for a week! Kent of course has already read the whole 7th and final installment.

Weekend in Chattanooga

2007-07-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

We visited the Discovery Museum!
Phin is playing in water with his provided water shield. Here we are at the Aquarium. Phin and Tate both had a great time!

Dancin' Through the Decades!

2007-07-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

Our first production together at Towne Centre Theatre in Brentwood!!! My friend Kari Cheri Smith and I directed the show for 6 to 14 year olds. It was awesome and Tate had a great time!

Greased Lightin'!

My sweet boys enjoying summer!

2007-07-19T14:23:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-19T14:18:00.001-07:00

Tate, Phin, Trip & Will Morrow, and Parker (Tate's girlfriend!)

Me, Beth and Katie
Kent, Charles, and Shaun the grill masters!

Our very own fireworks in the backyard!

How They've Grown!

2007-06-19T13:03:00.000-07:00

Phin and Tate one year ago!!!

Phin and Tate now!

New Pictures

2007-06-19T12:58:00.001-07:00

Tate at 6 1/2.

Phin at 14 months.

Tate's Last Few Weeks of School

2007-05-28T10:52:00.001-07:00

Here is Tate in his end of the year program in his classroom!

He got his face painted the last week of school by his art teacher!

Here is Tate and his best friend David on Field Day!

Tate and his cousin Carson!

Tate and Mommy on Field Day!

Here is the whole Kindergarten in there performance of Lemonade! Tate was Father Goose!

Tate (Father Goose) and Carson (a Goat)

Watching Daddy Mowing

2007-05-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

Phin plays peek-a-boo

2007-05-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Phin loves playing peek-a-boo. This day he was playing it inside while we were outside!

Happy Easter!

2007-05-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

Phin is 1

2007-05-23T19:26:00.001-07:00

Phin turns 1 year old! We had a big "frog" party for the sweet boy!

Jennifer's wedding

2007-05-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my best friends at Jenn's rehearsal dinner! Mandi, Carmen, Amy, Jenn, Ashley, me and Ginny!

Here we are at the Bridesmaid lunch with all the babies. Amy and Asa, me and Phin and Carmen and baby Lizzie. Mandi's baby Preston was with grandma.

My best friend Jennifer got married March 31st...which also happens to be Phin's birthday. We had a great time at her wedding! Nana and Poppy and Lala and Papa TG got to come too! Tate was the best ring bearer ever! He really got moving on the dance floor!

Soccer

2007-05-23T19:08:00.000-07:00

Tate started playing soccer this year! He loved it and he is planning on playing again in the fall. He also scored his first goal in the second game of the season!

At the BEACH

2007-05-23T18:58:00.000-07:00

Tate lost his first tooth at the beach! (He is holding it in his hand.) His new tooth was already in!

Phin played with his wagon the whole time we were down by the ocean. He loved pushing and pulling it all over the sand!

This is at Grayton Beach which was close to where we stayed in Santa Rosa!

We had a great time at the beach. The boys loved playing in the ocean and in the sand. We also spent a lot of time swimming at the pool.

Spring Break

2007-04-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at Santa Rosa Beach in Florida. We had nice weather and lots of fun. We also had a milestone. Tate finally lost his first tooth! The vacation ended on a little bit of a bad note. Tate got swimmer's ear from the hours in the pool, but all in all, we can't wait to go back!

Snow Day

2007-02-02T12:07:00.000-08:00

Tate was so happy to not be at school! He went sled riding all morning.

Snow Day

2007-02-02T12:05:00.001-08:00

2007-02-02T11:57:00.000-08:00

Here is Phin all ready for a big sled ride.

Snow Day

2007-02-02T11:47:00.000-08:00

We enjoyed Kent and Tate being out of school! Phin wasn't sure what to think about the snow...