A Walk in the Hollar

Undaunted by our "bear" experience of the morning, we set out on a new adventure. Yesterday it was too muddy (and chilly) to go the long hike up the hill. A cloudy morning turned into a beautiful afternoon and the girls were ready to go again.

Starting out ...

A frog in the little pond. You can barely see the pond for the leaves!

Skyeler thinks she can find the frog with a stick. Granny is worried that she'll fall into the pond which is mostly mud. Tori lends a helping hand, though it looks like she's trying to pull Skye away :)

Aly wants to get on the fallen tree that she and Daddy climbed at Thanksgiving. Elizabeth is trying to get up. What a good friend Skyeler is...standing there...observing...finally Granny tells her to lend Elizabeth a helping hand. I'm surprised they both didn't fall off the bank.

Success! Another fallen tree to sit on.

It's a little more difficult getting down. Granny was there to catch, though Tori was afraid she'd knock Granny over. Lizzy looks like she's hanging on for dear life, but she's just trying to figure out the best way to come down.

Aly was excited to show Tori and Elizabeth all of the things they usually do on the trail. That meant a stop at the grapevine. This is not the best one they've had. It's too close to the tree. But they all gave it a try. Elizabeth first.

Then Tori.

We got ahead of the girls at one point. They were talking on the rock. I wasn't leaving them up there alone, however, you know ... bobcats, bears, and panthers :)

There is sandstone all over the hill. Tori and Elizabeth were breaking pieces off by hitting it against a tree.

Homeschoolers! Who knew sandstone was so fascinating? They all carried pieces down to the house and I could hear them "filing" away as we came down the hill.

We had to pause a moment while Granny extracted Tori's hair from a tree branch. I could have helped, but it was a GREAT photo op :)

The walk is over and here we are back at the house. What are they doing out there? Filing their sandstone! And waving to random people as they drive by the house (a Kentucky thing...everyone waves). Oh, and seeing if they can intimidate the neighborhood boys :) It worked. Dustin rode by on his bike and was too scared to say hi LOL!

So not quite as adventurous as the morning. But I'm MORE than ok with that. One heart stopping moment was quite enough for me!

Adventures in the Hollar

I am sitting here on the couch, in Kentucky, surrounded by girls who like to tell me what to do! I would like to be witty, maybe even funny, but honestly, I can't think straight, so we'll just skip right to the fun. Aly is ready for the nightly ice cream cone, Granny is showing off her new Kentucky Wildcats shirt, and the girls are making sure I get the story straight. And not letting me type what I want :) So here's a small look into what we've been up to today ... a small look, because I'm not including Elizabeth's random pictures of skateboards, street signs, and flowers with dew. AND we haven't even unloaded the OTHER memory card from our second walk up the hill. So welcome to a day in Kentucky ...

It began with rummy playing, in front of the fire. We don't know who won (no surprise there!)

Entertainment...Kentucky style...a man on the side of the road talking with Papa. He had a car on a trailer. OOOHHHH! So they spy.

And here is what they were spying on...a car...on a trailer. WOW. The girl mechanics are checking it out. They are sure they know what is wrong with it...a flat tire and a hole and the sticker on the back was peeling off.

When we get back from our "Adventure" the girls are dismayed...what has happened to the car!?!?

Tori, Skyeler, Aly, and Lizzy (as Papa calls her) in front of Uncle Isaac's church.

We're going on a lion hunt (not snake...eeww). We're not afraid .... Yet! Seriously, we are looking for an old family grave site. Skyeler says "Creepy!" Granny is determined. I'm still worried about the snakes!

We didn't find the grave site, but did find a big dead tree. Skyeler is going on and on about how we are in the woods, looking for a grave site, and isn't this foreshadowing or something. Then she starts going on about us being stuck out here in the middle of the night. Tori (being practical) says why in the world would we be out here in the middle of the night. I (still scared of seeing a snake) reply that we DEFINITELY won't be out here in the middle of the night because they've seen bobcats, and panthers, and one person saw a bear around here. Well, I turn around and see a brown face in the brush not too far away from me ... and scream bloody murder!!!!!! I thought for sure a bear was in the brush. It was Coe Ray's dog (a boy down the hollar). But how was I supposed to know that, I just got done talking about bears for crying out loud!! Tori yells, "WHAT!" Elizabeth just keeps on taking pictures. Skyeler yells, "WHAT!" Elizabeth just keeps on taking pictures. I scared Aly to death. She was shaking and crying and screaming she wanted off the mountain. Granny was trying to get back over to us to see what in the world was going on. Elizabeth just keeps on taking pictures. Not bothered in the least. Tori and Skyeler are laughing hysterically...at me...and I was trying to calm Aly down. She was hysterical for a couple minutes.

And Elizabeth just kept on taking pictures, like this one of the "bear" that made me about pee my pants! Oh, the adventures that happens at Granny's house.

After the excitement was over, Tori was amazed that there was just a car on the side of the road. She said that people just couldn't leave cars on the side of the road! But this is Kentucky. Granny and Tori wondered if there were any dead people in the car. I said there were probably snakes in there! Elizabeth took this picture :) That child is not phased by much!

Ok, I did put one of the road sign pictures in. Skyeler took this picture. It looks like Granny is holding up the sign. It really is attached to the ground.

Still alive and unmangled, safely back home from the first adventure of the day!

Stay tuned for the next exciting installment of "Adventures in the Hollar."

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - You CAN train a cat

Skyeler created a Mii for her cat on the Wii Fit Plus. She's been trying to do his Kitty Fitness Test on a regular basis. Because Sparkles likes to bite, Skye makes him wait till AFTER to get the kitty treat. He knows that when she pulls out the big green mat that it MUST be time for a treat. Here he is, waiting not so patiently, for her to be ready for him.

Aly's New 'Do

Aly decided to try out some ... BANGS! She's been thinking (agonizing) over this decision for a few weeks now. Once she made up her mind, it had to be done NOW (in typical Aly fashion). This morning we went and got it done :) She had a shampoo, cut, and blow dry. She LOVED having her hair shampooed (so do I!). Along with the bangs, we got it a little angled down under her chin and about an inch taken off the back. My hairdresser said her hair was healthy so we didn't need to take more.

She is so excited and I think it's too stinkin' cute! Totally frames her face perfectly. I don't think these pictures really do it justice...

December Montage

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I have seriously neglected the blog in the last six weeks! The Christmas season has come and gone in a flash and I'm left wondering if I had time to enjoy it. Beginning with Thanksgiving Break at my parents with Cheryl and her family, our holidays were packed with our church's Christmas Drama, time spent with friends and family, and lots and lots of shopping. My parents came up for Christmas and then we traveled to an Indoor Waterpark to celebrate with Dan's family. I'm still recovering from New Year's Eve at our good friend's house last night. They kept me up till 2:30 a.m. playing cards...guess who's been grumpy today :) So here is a small montage of pictures from our month of December, and here's to being more current on the blog in 2010!

Our search for a Christmas Tree took us to ... Lowes! The girls chose it out and then we began decorating it as soon as we got home.

Dan gives Aly a lift to put the Angel on the top. This tree is a tad bit taller than last years, we think.

We FINALLY got a little bit of snow. A very little bit. Aly found enough to make herself up a snowman. I had to go out and help with the bottom. She had it so big that she was stuck half-way up the hill with it.

We celebrated Christmas with our dear friends the week before Christmas. It was officially dubbed "Christmas with King Julian" and we not only opened presents and had some yummy food, but watched a "Madagascar" marathon. From left to right: Lewis, Elizabeth, Riley, Skyeler, Calleigh, Aly, Victoria, and Hadley.


Papa getting a great big hug from Aly, and me getting a wonderful, spur of the moment snapshot of it :)


Toby and Sparkles checking out the treats that they will find in their stockings on Christmas morning. Granny gave Skyeler and Aly an early Christmas present by letting them take Toby to PetSmart. He wasn't too sure about it until he figured out that he wasn't going to the vet AND they give you treats at check out!


Toby wonders if Sparkles has the better treats.


Opening stockings on Christmas morning...




The girls truly seemed to like their gifts. It was a wonderful Christmas. Skyeler doesn't like to pose for pictures with her gifts like her younger sister, so I had to grab a couple snapshots.


Mommy taped the boxes just a little bit too much.


Aly's big present ... a Nintendo DSi

Skyeler's big present. A special jewelry box engraved with her name and favorite quote...for the diamond earrings Papa and Granny bought :)

Granny, Toby, and the girls

Papa and his girls

Aly and Elena at the Syrek Family Christmas. This was after two hours at the indoor waterpark and two hours of dinner. Both are looking a little tired but can't wait to open presents.

And last, but not least, Zac and Skyeler. Where has the time really gone!!?? Days away from being 17 (Zac) and 15. I remember dragging the two of them with me and Cheryl on mega Wal-mart shopping trips and watching them play together with Zac's Power Rangers. *Sigh*

It truly has been an amazing year. I am so glad of all the memories we made, time spent with family and friends. May you be blessed in the upcoming year!

Thursday's with Larry

Skyeler has been spending her Thursday afternoons with a handsome fellow. Horse fellow, that is. Her riding lessons in September were a reimbursement for babysitting over the summer. She enjoyed it so much that she wanted to continue, so we signed her up for the camp's Equine Prep School. The horse is matched up with the rider according to personality. But not the same personality. Skyeler's instructors know her timid personality...totally non-confrontational. So they gave her Larry. Larry pushes the boundaries. Larry wants to see if Skyeler REALLY wants to be in charge. It's been just an awesome experience for Skye. It was nice to get out today and take a few pictures of this fun relationship.

Larry out in the pasture

Skyeler has to go out and bring in Larry from the pasture. Larry is no problem. Choco (not pictured) is. He escaped out of the pasture a few weeks ago and refused to go back. :) Sunny is the Arabian behind Larry.

Bringing Larry from the pasture to the arena, he'd rather eat some grass!

Larry gets a cleaning before class begins. Skyeler does this all on her own. Larry likes to see if he can nip Skye some days. It keeps Skye on her toes.

Larry knows there are treats in Skyeler's pocket.

Mounting up. Larry likes to play "Do You Really Want to Get On Me?" with Skyeler. Her instructor, Juli, tells her to let him know she really means it.

Up and riding

Trick or Treat

This past summer, Bryce, Carter, and Aly discovered the world of "Harry Potter." Those yahoo's immediately started planning for a Halloween "Harry Potter" trick or treat fest! Yesterday we drove the 2.5 hours up north so "Harry," "Ron," and "Hermione" could trick or treat together. Cheryl bought them all brooms and also cauldrons to carry their candy in. I knitted the whole week to get Aly a Gryffindor scarf to wear with her robe. After a frantic rush to finish the scarf (minutes before trick or treat began), a scare that Bryce had lost his robe, teasing Aly's hair to stand up (because we didn't bring the right crimper tool), and plenty of pictures, we hit the streets. I was surprised at just how many people knew who they were. They had a ball. Heck, we had a ball watching them :) We were just doing what Papa always tells us is so important...Making Memories!! So whether you like "Harry Potter" or not, you can't deny how stinkin' cute they look :)

Aly as "Hermione"

Hermione with Harry (Bryce)

Hermione, Harry, and Ron (Carter, of course...gotta love that wig!!)

Aly's loot :)

And a picture that actually includes my older child...the one who didn't want to dress up to trick or treat...but is still staring longingly at the candy pile. LOL! Aunt Cheryl had mercy on her and gave her the boy's candy basket to eat out of for the night. I can guarantee that there are no more Sour Patch Kids in that basket :)