Getting ready for Aurora

 My friends gave me a baby shower the other night, and Aurora received some fun gifts!  I was so excited when I opened this carseat cover...this is a new thing since Josef was born, and I was concerned how a grey and green carseat could ever look remotely girly - thanks to Jodie Aurora will be covered in style:)

 This is Aurora's second quilt, it is beautiful and so cuddley with minky on the back.  I am glad that my mom made a bigger sized quilt, because I think the small size is covered!

 No plain budda's for Aurora...Erin gave her some pretty ones, so now I need to make her more pretty ones, right????

 I made this quilt when Ken was in Iraq.  I didn't think I would ever have a girl to use it, but now she is just a couple weeks away from arriving!

One of our artists

Wilson loves Tin Tin, and he loves to draw...this is his latest piece of art.  He really wanted me to post it on the blog:)

What time do you think it is?

This is picture is taken at 11:45AM!!!  You would think it was late at night... Wilson and Holden had been to swimming lessons, and then had some lunch.  They heard Josef watching a Charlie Brown movie, and joined him!

Otter Pop & a squirt bottle

 It has been SO HOT!  I gave the boys an otter pop and a squirt bottle to go outside and play.  After they had squirted each other, they decided to go wait for cars to go by, and then squirt them.  My boys make me laugh:)

Swimming Lessons

Holden and his friend Jesse.

Holden swimming with his teacher - he is in a blue and green swim shirt.

Annalise, Keaton, and Wilson are all in the same class. The next level class was full for Annalise, so she "gets" to hang out with her cousin and brother.  Keaton and Wilson are swimming back to the wall.  You can see the back of Annalise's head - she is in a pink swimsuit.

Wilson is in the middle of the screen, all the kids are swimming to him - Annalise and Keaton are on the right.

Random Happenings

 Ken and the boys finished put the roofs on the playground.

 We went to Dinosaur Park with Keaton.



Take my picture, mom!

Josef was with me, when I was taking pictures of Wilson at tennis.  I went to sit down and watch he and Holden play, and Josef said, "take my picture mom!", and then posed.  He is at such a cute age!

Tennis

Wilson has been taking tennis lessons for the past two weeks.  Today was his last day.  He has had a lot of fun, and wants to take more lessons.  His Summer is already packed with swimming lessons, basketball camp, and dino day camp - so I am not sure we can squeeze it in his schedule!  It has been fun watching him gain new skills, and I am sure he and his dad will find some time to practice on the court - it is just a couple of blocks from our home.

tennis hockey

flusher

 

I guess it is in the genes

He does have the Voordeckers genes in him...

 This afternoon, I asked the kids to do a quick pick up - I meant picking up toys, but Josef got out the little vacuum, and went to work.

 He found a lot of crumbs to vacuum under the kitchen table - crumbs are what happens when there are 6 little boys here for most of the day!

 Oh, so pleased with himself!

He vacuumed different places (where ever the cord would reach) for about 40 minutes.  I was grateful to have him do it, since it kept him from wanting to sit down and watch a movie, and fall asleep!

FHE Activity

 I am grateful for my Aunt Becky and Uncle Ben, and their patience and help in teaching our children how to work!

 I know his bag looks empty here, but he did end up filling it up to overflowing!

 The boys were so pleased with themselves, when they dumped all of their bags, and saw how many weeds they had pulled.

We have been really trying to teach the boys, especially Wilson, the importance of work.  I can't believe how much work it takes to teach a 7 year old that principle!  I have realized the key is to talk to him after we have finished, and have him look at what he has accomplished



Hogle Zoo

We went to Hogle Zoo this morning.  They opened Rocky Shores earlier this month, and we have all been excited to see it (Wilson had already gone earlier this week with a friend, but he was still excited to see it again!) The new exhibit has Rizzo the polar bear, river otters, sea lion, seals, bald eagles, and grizzly bears.

 I am glad Josef got out of the stroller for this picture, because he didn't get out again until we played at the playground!

 Two of my little eagles in their nest!

 The new Sea Lion.

 Wilson loves polar bears!  He has loved them for years.  I think it started when he got Paulie the polar bear at Build a Bear.  It was fun to see Rizzo today, I guess I didn't get a picture of her....

A two headed tortoise!

Work in Progress

Bart gave us some old fence that he was getting rid of, so Ken has been working to add roofs to the playground.  Josef and Holden really like helping...the love staining...and giving their dad pieces of the fence. 

Backyard Campout

 Last weekend, when the weather was cold, the boys wanted a backyard campout.  Ken talked them into having one on Friday night (Wilson's last day of school!)  They were all very excited to sleep in a tent again!

 Josef and Holden had their mouth's full of grape tomatoes!  Yep, that is what my boys love to eat:)

This video is of Josef running from the house to the tent with a hand full of grape tomatoes.  Wilson had brought some out, and Josef wanted more!  I am so frustated that you can't hear him tell me he has tomatoes (no sound because I have three little boys that mess with my phone constantly!!!!)  I put the silent video in because I love the way Josef runs right now - he has a little skip in his step!