We're on our way!!! We took a much needed vacation Beaver Dam State Park in IL. It was great, we enjoyed the time together as a family, without the stress of work and other obligations.
Haelley wanted to drive the rest of the way
We got the kiddos pictures with good ole Ronnie
Haelley's turn!
The girls took care of the tent while the guys unloaded the car
Brennan had dried rice cereal in his hair, so it looked a little----stupid.
The campsite all done, I thought it was so cute!
Brennan couldn't help with the tent, so we put him in charge of the radio. He did a pretty good job.
Michael set up the camera to take a couple of candid photos, it was kind of nice to have pictures of the whole fam.
Dinner in the great outdoors, ahhh, it was great.
Brennan's first chocolate chip cookie
Haelley drug this suitcase all the way to the tent from the car and drug it back to the car at the end of our stay. She kept saying "help daddy?" It was great, she loved camping.
This, folks, is a raccoon paw print in potato chip grease. One who will not be named, (Though it was not me, Haelley, nor Brennan), decided that surely critters wouldn't get into unopened bags of chips if we left them out on the picnic table all night. When we got up, there was just a huge grease spot, not even a bag.
We had to do a trail, so we picked marsh, it seemed the most exciting trail. Pretty cool
This is a picture of the marsh, taken from the observation deck. The cattails were my favorite part, I love cattails.
I know, I know, you're not supposed to pick anything, but Haelley has a fondness for blackberries and I figured if the deer could eat em, so could she.
Pretty, but it kinda stunk.
We took a break. Carrying the kiddos can get heavy!
Haelley was so preoccupied with the flower she found, she forgot to keep up.
The hike was just to much for Brennan. He hated the whole camping experience, especially on top of a yeast infection, sore bottom, diarrhea and teething. He was just miserable.
We rented a boat for fishing, but that didn't go so well with Haelley shouting "SWIM!" And leaning over the edge. Brennan isn't exactly the strong sailor type either.
Michael caught a baby bass, but let Haelley reel it in. She had never seen a fish that wasn't on a bun at McDonalds before and wasn't quite sure what to think. She held it together while the picture was snapped but about ran off the dock screaming when the fish started flopping shortly after that.
A little nap on the dock is therapeutic for anyone.
Michael caught one so I snagged this one right out from under his pole. Quite an accomplishment!
After her nap, she came over to cuddle--and wake me up from my nap!
We were on the way out, a little sunburnt and extremely happy.
We made a detour to go see the house we lived in by Springfield. We didn't go in, but got to look around the property. It was nostalgic and at the same time a little weird to bring my husband and kids to a place full of memories of shooting bb guns and starting secret clubs. We then went and visited a friend and got to see her new baby. Precious!
A beautiful ending to our last day of vacation. We were on the way to Terre Haute after dinner and bible study w some friends.
