Vacation, Here We Come!

 Yep, we are getting ready to head off on vacation again!  Tomorrow we are on our way to Lake Okoboji to spend a week with my parents.  I am looking forward to doing lots of ^^^this^^^ by the lake!  Oh, and Luke was actually laughing in this picture, but it kind of looks like he is crying, LOL.

 Anyway, if you don't hear from me this week, don't worry!  I plan to take LOTS of pictures, so stay tuned!  Have a blessed week!

Love,

The Hollemans

The Big Boy - An Update

 Today, Joshua gets a post all his own!

 Joshua Jace, I am just amazed at the little boy you have become at 2 1/2 years old!  You are a complete HAM!  You have always loved to make us laugh, and will do pretty much anything to accomplish that!  You especially love your new-found talent of making Luke burst into a fit of giggles.

 You have more energy than any other child I have ever met.  You go CRAZY if we are inside too long.  You run, run, RUN all day, and definitely prefer to do so outdoors (Momma prefers this, too, haha!).  You sometimes get incredibly hyper, and we have to remind you and find ways to help you "settle down."

You are such a little smarty-pants.  You know way more than we give you credit for!  You are always trying to find ways to outsmart Momma and Daddy, and much as I hate to admit it, you are often successful!

We recently started playing this game where we pick a category and then we list as many items we can think of in that category.  You are SO GOOD at this!  For example, if the category is "animals," you will list every single animal you can think of, without repeating any!  We have also done the following categories:  vehicles, colors, and foods!  This is a great way to pass time in the car on long road trips!

You LOVE to sing (wonder where you get that from?!?!) and lately you have been belting out the lyrics to "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Hakuna Matata" all day long.

 Some recent Joshua-isms that have just cracked us up:

*Joshua toots*

Grandma Harthoorn:  Joshua, what was that?

Joshua:  FIREWORKS!

Checking out at Wal-Mart.  

Joshua, to the cashier:  Well, hello.  How are you doing today?

Helping Momma put the laundry into the dryer.  Joshua falls and bonks his head on the dryer.

Joshua, while rubbing the sore spot on his head:  What the heck?  (We did sit down and talk about that we don't say "heck," and afterwards Momma snuck into the other room for a quick chuckle...)

Recently, any time Momma changes Luke's diaper.

Joshua:  EEEWWW, GROSS Lukey!  

At Arby's, getting ready to order.

Joshua walks right up to the counter, grins at the cashier and says:  I want chicken, green beans and chocolate milk!

 While you are still obsessed with Disney's Cars and all things "Lightning McQueen," you have recently started loving Toy Story and Buzz Lightyear and Woody as well.  You take your little Buzz and Woody toys and act out scenes from the movies...so cute!

 You LOVE to be a big helper around the house.  You go around looking for scraps of paper, pieces of lint, anything you can throw into the garbage can.  And after you help with something, you always say, "I'm such a good helper!"  Hehehe.

 This is one of my favorite recent pics of you...you have the prettiest eyes!  Yes, I am your Momma, and I can say that your eyes are pretty!  Deal with it!  ;-)

Love you, our big boy!

Brianne's Bachelorette Party

I know these are EXTREMELY late in coming, but here are some photos from Brianne's bachelorette party last month!  We had dinner at a restaurant on the river and then spent the evening enjoying the Chicago night life!



All the girls, all dolled up and ready for a night out!





At the restaurant




 Oh Brianne!

 

 Myself and the lovely bachelorette!  What a fun night!  Mike's mom and two of her sisters came to stay with the boys so this momma could have a night out.  I am so thankful they came!  Although I missed my boys like CRAZY, haha!

My House Isn't Messy...

 Ha!  So true...except ours is custom-designed by a 2-yr-old!

Dirt Magnet!

Shopping

8 Months

 Luke Brennan, you turned 8 months old on the 14th!  We were on vacation, so this is a catch-up post.

 You are SO CLOSE to crawling!  You get up on your hands and knees and rock back and forth, and you can push yourself backwards, but haven't figured out how to move forward just yet...I am sure it will be soon!  Believe me, I am in no rush, haha!  For now you get around quite well by rolling or scooting.

 You love playing in your pool or taking a bath!

 I don't think any of these photos show it, but you got your first tooth this month!  It's the front bottom left, and oh so cute!  It looks like the front bottom right is also trying to make an appearance!

 You are starting to really love food now.  It's so funny though, because EVERY time I feed you, even when it's a food you really like, you make a sour face with the first bite.  Then, you decide it's delicious and devour the rest!  But that first bite is just too funny!

 You are seriously such a ham!  Just like your big brother!

 Everyone keeps asking me what you weigh now, but I have no idea.  We don't go to the doctor for a few weeks yet.  I am guessing around 22 lbs.  You are moving into size 18 months clothes, which means I am having to buy some things - your brother didn't have many summer clothes in size 18 months!  You are still wearing size 3 diapers, but I think after we finish off this box, it will be time to move up to size 4!  Hopefully we can get that big brother potty trained before you catch up to him and are wearing the same size diapers, haha!

 Little buddy, even though it sometimes makes me sad how quickly you are growing and changing, I just adore the little boy you are becoming!  You bring such joy to our family!

We love you so much!

Love,

Daddy, Momma & Joshy

Pella Camping Trip 2012

Here they are, the photos you have been waiting for from our trip to Pella!  We had such a fun week, despite the heat!  We were TV and computer free all week, and I LOVED it. 

The big boy slept in the first morning...after waking up SIX TIMES in the middle of the night!  That is so unlike him...I think some of the noises and lights in the camper were throwing him off.  Thankfully, as the week went on, he adjusted and started sleeping a little better.

Baby boy napped a LOT the first few days...the heat really wore him out!

The boys spent plenty of time in their inflatable pools keeping cool.

 This *little* guy just wore his diaper most of the week...who needs clothes when it is 100+ degrees outside?!

 Chillin' with Daddy

 We spent lots of time in the shade playing cards.

 Due to the heat, Lake Red Rock was full of ecoli and unsafe for swimming, so we ventured into Pella a couple afternoons to keep cool in the pool!

 Joshua LOVED the pool...there were sprinklers, slides, a lazy river, and tons of kids to play with!  He could have stayed there all day long!

 I love this photo...look closely...his feet aren't touching the ground!  He was having so much fun he just kept jumping up and down!

 When the girls decided to set up the badminton net, Joshua grabbed the directions and sat down to tell them what to do!  So cute.

 *Helping* Abby and Sarah set up the net.

 I swear, this child is a DIRT MAGNET.  He loves it.  He COATS HIMSELF in it.

 The dirtier the better!

 Once upon a time, I probably would have freaked out and immediately set out to give him a bath.  But, being a momma of boys, I have learned that a little dirt can't hurt.  And he was having such a good time, I just couldn't bear to ruin his fun!  Don't worry, we did eventually rinse him off.

 One of the best parts of the week was when we had our own "Pella Summer Olympics 2012!"  We had a tournament of Bean Bag Toss, Spin It, and Badminton.

 The peanut gallery.

 I love this photo of Nick, LOL.

 Mike and I were eliminated pretty quickly from all three games, but it was so much fun watching everyone else play...and, hey, there's always next year!  We have plenty of time to practice up!

 These photos are the only evidence I have that I went on the trip, haha.  I am usually the one behind the camera.  Lukey had just as much fun as his big brother at the pool!

 Grandma Sharon bought Joshy a yummy cookie from Jaarsma's bakery.  He didn't eat much of his supper that night, but he sure demolished that cookie!

 One of the best parts of camping is sitting around the camp fire!  Even though it was hot, we managed  to get a couple good camp fire nights in.

 After a hot, busy week, the boys were beat!

Snoozing while we were loading up.

 What a terrific week of fun, food and fellowship!  We head off on our next vacation in just 4 days...yikes!  I had better get busy unpacking so I can get busy packing, haha!

Hope you are finding ways to keep cool!  Love and blessings!

Mike, Krys, Joshua and Luke