30 years ago today...

Anna Catharina Emma Goossens Voordeckers "Emma", the Moe to most people, passed away. She was born December 7, 1908 in Herentals Belgium. I was nine years old when she passed away, and unfortunately I don't have many memories of her. I do remember going to her house, in La Mesa for family dinners, and we always having a romaine salad with roquefort dressing. Moe and my dad in the back yard of their home in Levis, just across the St. Lawrance river from Quebec. My dad was taking her for a ride on the handle bars of his bike. Moe was up for any adventure! I like this picture of her, because everyone always talked about her sense of humor, and obviously something was making her laugh. My dad told me that this picture was taken in Ensanada Mexico outside of a cathedral. My dad said that they had gone into the cathedral and were looking at the paintings and sculptures, and Moe said that Christ looked miserable. She then commented that it must be because he was looking at all of the poverty around the town, then she got the giggles and had to leave the cathedral. Moe, Boempa, and my dad when he graduated from training in Fort Ord. It still amazes me that my dad wasn't a citizen, he was a legal resident, and he was drafted into the Army. Boempa, Moe, and Timmy (their dog) at their home in La Mesa.

Moe, Eric, and me at their home in Pacific Beach before they moved to La Mesa.

Her surprise birthday party at the Marine Room in La Jolla, I think she definately looks surprised! Boempa looks pretty happy.

Eric, Dad, Mom, and me at the surprise party.

Do you recognize this little girl?

This sassy, little girl is one of my favorite people. She has grown up to be such an amazing woman. When I lived with her, she had just turned 12. She loved to have fun with friends, was the life of the party (and still is :), and school and homework cramped her style! I was shocked when she matured into such a focused and driven student in high school and now college. She loves to cook and bake (is great at it too), and is a great help to her mom (who I am sure taught her everything she knows) in the kitchen. She is such a HUGE BYU fan, and can be blamed for some (a lot) of the brainwashing my boys have been subjected to! My boys love it when she comes to dinner, and they can talk about Harry Potter.

I think the picture was taken at Disneyland in about 1994. I didn't go, because I had just moved to Utah and was looking for a job, but my mom, dad, and uncle Stan joined this family (and lots of extended family) for a day of fun. I only know that because there are more pictures to come from this day at Disneyland!

It is Heidi Holmes...

Heidi, Holden, and Wilson AKA Hermione, Ron, and Harry

Oh, Holden

Holden came home from church, and this is what he changed into. He was red from the tip of his toes all the way to the tip of his nose (yes, that is a Rudolph nose). He had red slippers, sweatpants, red Batman shirt, black with red flames baby legs on his arms, red cape, and red Rudolph nose. He has the funniest little smile under that nose, what can I say....he is a character!

Wilson took this picture of Holden, oh how I love that nose and eyes! How appropriate that in the background you can see his chick chick and blanket.

Josef can...

Josef climb over the barrier to the kitchen, got into the pantry, found a fruit snack, opened it himself, and then sat down and enjoyed it - ALL BY HIMSELF! Wilson and Holden still cannot open a bag of fruit snacks all by themselves:)

Wilson's Spirit Day

Wilson has been talking about his spirit day all week. He told me on Monday that he needed to wear his church clothes to school on Friday. The flier stated that the school council had chosen to wear their "best" clothes on Friday to show school spirit. Wilson reminded me yesterday, so I showed him the clothes he could wear. He told me he needed to wear a tie too, but I convinced him that the sweater vest was just fine. This morning I asked him if he wanted to wear his boots or church shoes, and he informed me he needed to wear his church shoes too, it was ALL church attire!

Wilson has matured so much. He is such a good boy, and likes to strictly observe rules. I am so pleased to have such a wonderful son!

When Josef saw Wilson getting his picture taken, he wanted to be in the picture. First he stood by Wilson and then they both slid down the wall. Wilson adores Josef, and I am pretty sure Josef feels the same way toward Wilson.

Cousins

Josef and Stone are the cutest little boys. They are so funny together. This afternoon Sam, another little boy I watch, was sitting in the highchair, and Josef and Stone wanted a snack. They both sat on the floor with their sippy cups and ate crackers. Oh, how I love these little boys!

I couldn't resist adding this picture, I had to crop Stone out, because he just moves too fast!

Grandma & Grandpa's

Josef playing games with Grandpa while we eat lunch outside.

Picking avocadoes for us to take home, yummy!

Grandma, Grandpa, and the boys before we left to come home.

Ken changed jobs, so he proposed that in between jobs we make a quick trip to Carlsbad. That is a HARD proposition from me to turn down, so we left on Tuesday at 6pm, stayed in St. George Tuesday night, and rolled into Carlsbad at about 2pm Wednesday. It was a great get a way for the whole family.

Oceanside Pier

Checking out the waves and the surfers!

The weather was suppose to be rainy and cold, but we were lucky again with some sunshine!

Coaster, Old Town, & Mormon Battalion Vistors Center

Waiting for the Coaster to come...


Riding the Coaster...

Testing the covered wagon...

Rocking in the chairs at the Visitors Center.

Panning for gold

Holden wanted to be alone in this picture. This is so him right now, it is impossible to get him to LOOK at the camera when taking a picture...

Ken and Josef having lunch at the park.

We took the Coaster down to Old Town to go to the Mormon Battalion Vistors Center. The forecast was for rain, but we lucked out again with beautiful weather. The boys had fun panning for gold, and going through the interactive presentation with the sister missionaries. At the end, we looked up an ancestor that was part of the Mormon Battalion, George Wilson, I think we would be my 5th great uncle, probably brother to Guy Carlton Wilson. I am so grateful for such faithful ancestors. I think it is funny that later in life George helped to settle Holden, Utah.

George Deliverance Wilson
Born - December 28, 1807; Shelburne, Chittenden, Vermont
Enlisted - July 16, 1846
Description - 5 feet 11 inches tall, blue eyes
Occupation - Wheelwright
Family - Left a son in the care of a relative.
Significant Facts
Discharged - Member of the Willis Sick Detachment, which left the Rio Grande River in New Mexico on November 10, 1846. Arrived in Pueblo on December 20, 1846. Arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847.
Later Life - Helped to settle Monroe, Marysvale, Scipio, and Holden in Utah.
Died October 18, 1887; Hillsdale, Garfield, Utah
Quote - On arriving in Pueblo in January 1847 as one of the last stragglers of the Willis Sick Detachment, he wrote, “This was the nearest death by cold and sickness and oppression and the narrowest escape of my life.” While in Pueblo, he wrote on April 6, 1847, “The last few months have been those of the greatest persecution I have ever experienced.”

LEGOLAND

Grandpa, Ken and the boys at their favorite place, LEGOLAND!Johnny Thunder and two of his biggest fans!

No Junior Driving School for Wilson this year, yippee!

Dad and his boys on the DUPLO Train.

Harry Potter and Hagrid, that was pretty exciting!

They found another favorite character, Indiana Jones!

Dino Coaster

A trip to Carlsbad is not complete without going to LEGOLAND. We all had so much fun. There were some firsts for the boys which made it even more exciting! Wilson got to go on the TECHNIC Test Track, Aqua Zone, and Driving School. Holden got to go on the Dragon, Knight's Tournament.

Gotta Love the Beach

We arrived in Carlsbad at about 2pm, so there is not better time to go and check out the beach. The weather reports were saying it might rain on and off the rest of the week, so we changed the boys and off we went!