VACATION!!!!

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.

Goins On

We had a Daddy day today. That consists of a day with Daddy. It wasn't too shabby. We got to pick up the pics we had taken of the kids. (We bought a cd of them, so Michael will post those on Facebook, and you can tell me which ones you want.) They are awesome.
We spent quite a while waiting for our date at Arby's (He showed us up), but while we were waiting, Michael ran through Haelley's ABC's and 123's. Her ABC's were awesome. He coached her right through duvlebew, eck, y, and c. She still goes through her numbers 1,2,4,7. Guess she knows 7 is a perfect number.
Michael assessed Brennan's growling problem today. His results were grim. "I think he's devolving--into a dinosaur. This kid is insane. We got a good video of it that I will have to try to post later. When I've got a year or three to wait on it to upload.
I'm doomed. John just told JP to drop by Mom and Dad's house in the morning to pick up the truck. Ahhh the days of "Michael and Elizabeth's."

The Brens

I don't even know what to say about this pic. I love it.

From this picture, you'd think he liked riding in the car.

He had just been sitting there flapping his arms like he was trying to take off.

Yo, outta da face!

I had mentioned the fried drumstick in the last posts I did, and here is the proof.

More Haelley Bday Pics

She is quite the little mother now. (She is a strong believer in breastfeeding, too. Quite the pro)

She was so genuinely happy with every gift she opened

Haelley hasn't had much "princess" influence, but everyone worked to make up for that deficiency.

Haelley's second birthday cake. She knew exactly what to do.

The Sibs II

This is Jacob checking out his new ipod touch, which he earned by working 56 hours in one week. (roofing, I micht add.)

Nancy and others working on the summer reading program

I would love to say that we all live together in perfect harmony, but this picture proves that that is not always the case


Jared has been dubbed my little elf, because I make him do chores (such as take dirty diapers out to the dumpster and things of that nature).


This is Jason on movie night. He obviously had better things to do.

Happenin in the Holler

My great and wonderful plan just crashed into a million pieces. I was going to spend a quiet evening importing sermons to itunes and updating the blog for our beloved relatives and avid readers. However, due to a shortage of ethernet cables, one brand new ipod touch gen. 2, and the all important Xbox Live tournament, I’m left without internet. The silver lining is this: importing sermons and Microsoft Word do not require the stupid internet. Hopefully, the amazing ipod will finish updating soon and an Ethernet cable will become available. If not, off with their heads!

I do believe our blog name “Home in the Holler” will have to be renamed and become “The Metropolis in the Holler.” My parents and eight of my sibling are living with us until they find a place of their own. They’ve been with us almost two months with about another month expected. This is due to money-loving banks, and raccoons who have a hankering for ductwork. Hopefully, when the appraisal gets sent through, the money-loving bank will realize that ductwork loving raccoons depreciate property value. Anyways, despite nine stitches, severe road rash, several bumps and bruises and cries of “NO, MINE!” echoing through the house, we are doing pretty well.

We have also been joined by two seven-week old puppies. They have not reached the ductwork yet, but between their pee and pearly whites, they just might. They are pit bull mixes and 2 cute 4 words (that’s why I used numbers). Mine is Jess and Dad’s is Logan, named after Wolverine. They are unfortunately enamored with the inside of Brennan’s mouth, much to his (and his mother’s) great chagrin.

Haelley is enjoying every minute of it. She has integrated herself into the pecking order within my siblings and can scream and hit people with the best of them. She loves to ride in Meemaw’s “wan”, and play church with Nancy and Jason. Her first true sentence was “no, Nancy, mine!” This has graduated to “Stop it, Nancy, my baby doll, put it down, go away!” When asked if she would like to go out with Mommy and Daddy, she perkily asks “Meemaw’s wan?” If the answer is no, the thumb goes back in her mouth and her response is “Uh uhm.” She can count to ten, but only if you are counting “1, 4, 7, 10!” She has her own toddler bed now. This became a necessity when I put her down for a nap only for her to climb out and knock on her door asking for release. She sleeps with her baba, pillow, bobo, piggie, drink, book and the occasional new pair of dress shoes.

Brennan has grown so much! He is still such a happy baby, rarely complaining and developing so quickly. He can scoot now and has done some crawling, but not on a professional level. He eats rice cereal and the occasional fried drumstick. After reviewing the wear and tear on his vocal cords, however, the prognosis is dim, he should be mute at the age of 11 months. He tends to growl, be it ever so happily, it still sounds primal. He too, has graduated to a more mature sleeping area. This was decided after we found him halfway in his bassinet and halfway on the dresser fishing in my jewelry box. We went and got the kiddos’ pictures taken for Bren’s six month and Haelley’s second year. They are so good, I’m planning to mail some to all, so never fear.

Haelley's Birthday

She got so many presents, she didn't know what to do.

Bubbles, bubbles, my bubbles!

Hmmmm, pie's not too shabby...

Happy Birthday Stinter Bint