Early September

A few pictures from the first few days of September, otherwise known as that little gap between Labor Day and the Thursday morning when Jack had a tooth pulled and we thought perhaps it would just be easier if the world ended instead. These few moments were full of smiles!

Having fun on Charlie's bed. From Hollands at Home 2014

Happy Jack. From Hollands at Home 2014

Yellow balloon! From Hollands at Home 2014

Photo by Jack. From Hollands at Home 2014

Applesauce is exhausting. From Hollands at Home 2014

August ends

These four shots to round out the month:

First first-grade soccer game. From Hollands at Home 2014

This nap attack is from the Sunday of Labor Day weekend. The best part is how he quietly woke up, stumbled to the back door and went out to sit on the garage steps and could not, would not explain why.

Sunday afternoon coming down. From Hollands at Home 2014

We brought home a lot of sand. From Lake Michigan

So much blue. From Lake Michigan

Back home

All good things must come to an end, and so Kristie and the boys had to get back home. Max started soccer practice, we had the annual Cub Scouts pool party and a few more days to get the most out of our Six Flags passes. It was a pretty good run for he end of a busy summer.

Even ninja turtles need naps. From Hollands at Home 2014

Cub Scouts pool party. From Hollands at Home 2014

Splash. From Hollands at Home 2014

Conqueror of the kiddie slide. From Hollands at Home 2014

Pool monkey. From Hollands at Home 2014

Past his bedtime, but who cares? From Hollands at Home 2014

So many trips down the slide. From Hollands at Home 2014

"Floating." From Hollands at Home 2014

Through the mist. From Hollands at Home 2014

Silly face. From Hollands at Home 2014

Done with the goggles. From Hollands at Home 2014

First (and only) time on the Scenic Railway this year. From Great America

The only character Charlie tolerates. From Great America

Nap attacks

Lacked the energy to survive a "Harry Potter" screening. From Hollands at Home 2014

Two days later. This time it was "Home on the Range." From Hollands at Home 2014

Food line woes

It was Sunday, June 29. I took the three big boys to the Great America water park by myself. It was hot and crowded and the food lines were long. Charlie was not built to endure this kind of test.

Waiting is the hardest part. From Great America

Nap Attack

Bartender, make mine a double.

June 18. From Hollands at Home 2014

Family time

Kristie took all the boys to Fulton over Spring Break (which, coincidentally, is the last time I truly got caught up on posting) and came back with just a few snapshots. Not a complaint, of course. All those kids are a handful. I just wanted it to be clear they had a fantastic time spending the week with How and the Workman/Cottral clans, even though there aren't tons of pictures to support that notion. Anyway, here are the ones worth sharing:

Showing all sorts of respect for Great How. From How's House

That's more like it. From How's House

Nap attack. From How's House

Catching up with January

So here it is, the waning hours of February, and I'm finally getting caught up on posting January's best pictures. February hasn't been particularly difficult around our house (though this week was crazy on the schedule), but we did manage to get Charlie more or less potty trained, we've learned to expect the unexpected night of little sleep from Isaac and dealt with the worst winter of our lives (that's been statistically proven, by the way, I'm not exaggerating).

Anyhow, we start this post mid-January with our fashion-conscious toddler, who occasionally insists he wants to wear short sleeves or a tank top despite Arctic-like conditions outdoors. Kristie has forced him to compromise by wearing baby legs on his arms and, when he chooses shorts, too, his legs. On the day I snapped these photos he went with a lobster tank top and rainbow sleeves. He's wearing red-, white- and blue-striped leggings under his navy sweatpants as well as brown and orange moose socks. He was not wild about having his photo taken.

Hugs for Mom. From Hollands at Home 2014

The full ensemble. From Hollands at Home 2014

The hat completes the look. From Hollands at Home 2014

If it's not clear, the following photo is Jack trying to console Isaac not only by holding him and bouncing, but using his free hand to show him one of his favorite baby toys, the multi-sensory butterfly.

A resourceful big brother. From Hollands at Home 2014

A nap attack! If I recall, he was asleep with pants on, woke up enough to consent to a diaper change, then assumed this position.

Nap attack. From Hollands at Home 2014

Somewhere in the mix of scheduled holidays and weather-related school closings, Jack got a hair to use his Easy-Bake Oven. The results were not always, um, edible.

Easy-Bake Oven sausage pizza. From Hollands at Home 2014

It's supposed to look like this. From Hollands at Home 2014

Our best photo of Isaac from the middle of the month. Just wait, they get better.

The shirt says "Little Brother." From Hollands at Home 2014

And finally, here is what happens when you send Jack and Max into the basement to kill off the camera battery before a busy Sunday. Make sure you listen all the way to the end.

Post by Scott T. Holland.

December photos

I want to share some really good photos from Isaac's baptism last Sunday, but I also want to maintain chronological order here. In pursuit of that goal, I present a few photos (and a video) from around the house, Dec. 7-Dec. 14.

So big! From Hollands at Home 2013

Hey guys! From Hollands at Home 2013

Ready to ride. From Hollands at Home 2013

Excited about the Christmas tree. From Hollands at Home 2013

Team captain. From Hollands at Home 2013

Dec. 11: Two months old! From Hollands at Home 2013

Napp attack. (Seriously.) From Hollands at Home 2013

Post by Scott T. Holland.

Pre-bath. From Hollands at Home 2013

A kiss from Mom. From Hollands at Home 2013

Pre-baptism group bath. From Hollands at Home 2013

A Sunday with Charlie

Three quick photos from last Sunday with Charlie. The first two are from when he heard Kristie wanted to bake some sort of buttermilk bread. He went straight to the fridge so he could help. First, by getting the "butter":

From Hollands at Home 2013

Then he reached for the milk.

From Hollands at Home 2013

Later on, as one might expect... nap attack in his favorite sleeping chair, even though it doesn't really fit him the way he prefers to doze.

From Hollands at Home 2013