A Late Recap

The week before the 4th we went to Binder Zoo with all the cousins...even Levi from the UP was able to join us in the fun! I wanted to post these pictures just because I actually got some great shots of the boys feeding the giraffes!

In the past I have not been able to capture what this is like but I actually got the giraffe's tongue(that Cameron fondly remembered being long enough to go up their noses) and the boys' expressions! It was really fun!
This was one of the baby ones that was just tall enough to reach the treats(and it's amazing how they curl their tongues around the ropes!)

Of course we have to stop for snacks!
This is all 9 grandkids on the Vruggink side with 2 more cousins to be added in October. Then there will be 11 under 11!

It was so fun to be able to have Levi along with us. He is about 4 months younger than Haiden. Are they cute or what!?
That spot on Haiden's forehead is finally gone. Carpet burn wound from wrestling with Daddy!

The day after the zoo, we packed up and headed to the UP with Grandpa and Grandma Vruggink to bring Levi back and see Tor's brother and sister-in-law who we have not seen since Christmas! I wish I would have gotten a picture of the van and trailer with 4 ATV's, coolers, totes and a bike. We sure did get a lot of looks as we were putt-putting along the highway.
All the guys had a great time waking up in the morning, packing snacks and jumping on the 3-wheelers and quads to explore some trails! We played, relaxed, took walks, had good food and enjoyed spending time with family that we wish we could see more often.

We were blessed to have them ALL sleeping after we stopped for lunch.
So sweet. This made the ride so much easier...for us and them!

Another stop was at the bridge. I am glad that Cameron will remember this now. It is so fun to try to see things through the eyes of a child and get as excited as they are about things as simple as being able to stick your toes in a lake and go over a huge bridge;)

Let's go!


Every morning, Haiden was so happy to not be left behind! You can't see it but he is smiling from ear to ear!

These 2 did not want to get off! We had to be careful because they both know how to turn them on!
CHEESE!!

And this one just gets on and goes. Fortunately he is safe and cautious!

This little one was a little annoyed that he could not drive the big one, so this kept his spirits happy! Fortunately, Levi was willing to share.

We went to a local bear ranch. It was a hot morning and only some were moving, but we still got to see a few up close. Cameron kept asking about when Daddy shot his bear, so we had to "sush" him as we went along the trails! Cameron did get a taste of bear hunting and was able to go with Trent and Torrey to bait bear and go two-tracking.

And after all the excitement and adventure, this is how Haiden felt on the long ride home....
A great mini vacation!

Haiden's First Dentist Appointment

I have A LOT to catch up on here, but I thought I would start with Haiden's first trip to the dentist because the pictures turned out so cute!

I thought it was just going to be a time for him to sit in the chair, see a few things, open his mouth and that would be good. Here he is in the chair. Doesn't he look SO grown up?!
He was sitting there so good, we just kept on going!

All the way back and mouth opened wide!
There is a TV to watch so that did help! I really was surprised that he stayed put for as long as he did, was relaxed, listened to the hygienist and kept his mouth open.

She was able to count his teeth(20!), scrape them, floss and clean them with the gritty toothpaste! I think he was excited to have something that was called bubble gum!
He even let brother help with Mr. Slurpee(which he asked for a few times after he found out how fun it was to have water sucked right out of your mouth!)
He got a little restless waiting for the dentist, but hopped right back in the chair when he came in!
I am so glad that this is one battle I do not have to fight with either of my boys and that it's something they look forward to....one thing they take after me I guess! I LOVE going to the dentist, too!

Hopefully up next....Binder Zoo and our trip up to the UP over the 4th!

Birthday Date

For my birthday this year I decided I wanted to do something special with Cameron. We had tried going to a movie in the theater when he was around 2 and, obviously, it did not go well. So I thought it would be fun to try it again now that he has a bit more sit in him. So, off to see Cars 2. It's funny how birthdays turn out to be more for the kids than for the adults as you get older! But, it was fun to see him so excited to try something new and he thought it was pretty cool that he and I could keep it a secret from his brother. He couldn't wait to get popcorn and pop(OH MY! 10 bucks for a small pop and popcorn...good thing we don't do this often. There is no WAY I would pay that again for a LONG time! How can they get away with charging that much! Well, okay so I fell into the trap but only this once. Next time I will sneak more in!)

This was the only picture I could get out of him. He could barely take his eyes off the big screen!
The snacks were gone pretty much by the time the previews were over, but his smile lasted the rest of the night. Looking forward to next year when I can have a double date with both my boys!

The Face of Summer

Is this not the face of summer for a little one or what?!
Watermelon pieces all over the face and juice running into all sorts of places!

Happy with the little things! I do have to say this boy is quite the cutie pie!


And on another note from the last post about summer friends....while planting some flowers the boys found some new friends to occupy themselves for awhile.....worms of course!
Cameron had the daddy one and Haiden had the baby. They are playing so cute together lately!

Summer Friends

Even though we love animals, we are not a pet family. Although the boys would LOVE a pet or cat, this Mommy does not need anything more to take care of or clean up after.
So, we have been making due by catching these pesky creatures and taking part of a relocation project after some "play time" ;)
We, well Cameron, puts cheerios in the live trap, sets it and checks it quite often waiting for that little door to be closed on it's next victim!

I love this picture! Look at the chippy trying desperately to find it's way out while the kids try to "play" with it! Notice the stick in the little one's hand while it appears his brother is giving him pointers! (sidenote--yes the chippy's DO make it to the local nature trails as long as Haiden keeps the door shut) We have successfully transported 6 of them so far to new and exciting places, once they start moving again after the shock wears off).

And then from school we have become the owners of a hermit crab, Speedy. Which was fun for the first day or two and now mommy gets to take care of it(which kind of gives me the goose bumps for some reason and I am secretly hoping we can relocate this thing somewhere too).
Taking an up close look.

"If brother(budder as he says) can do it so can I!"

It is only allowed to crawl on the top of the cage after I found it creeping on my table!

Summer School

School might be done for me(oh the joy and giddiness I feel when I say that!) but for Cameron, it's just beginning!
He's on to Kindergarten in the Fall, which he is thankful for already when he prays before dinner! He has a good start in knowing and writing his letters and numbers but this teacher Mommy needs to be sure he has some mastery in this household! I gathered some things from school and the Dollar Store and told Cameron that while Haiden napped in the afternoons(and I am oh so thankful he still does) that he and I got to spend some special time together practicing letters and numbers. And although it's just the first week, he is actually asking for me to do it! So, we started with the letter a. We sorted them, played hide and seek with them, worked on the computer with them and then got to practice writing them.

And why not practice writing in pudding! (See his open mouth of concentration!) We hit the capitals first.

Then it was on to lowercase....and a lick after all that hard work!

Of course we had to practice his name.

I am so excited to be able to spend this time with just him during our day.
Next week....the letter b ;)

Graduation--way late update!

Seeing as though Cameron's Preschool graduation was over a week ago I thought I better post something about it quick before the 2 week mark came!

It was a very sweet night. Cameron was SO excited(he even thought that we got pizza for dinner because it was his special day, regardless of the fact that I did not have time to make dinner before we had to go!)
Here is my boy who is looking WAY too big lately.
These pics did not turn out so great which I am pretty bummed about. He put on a little show with songs, motions and verses.
Besides the funny looking eyes don't these little ones seem so proud and happy?! The little boy in front is Cameron's daycare friend. He was in the AM so when he got dropped off at daycare he gave Cameron the scoop on what the snack of the day was!
There was also a little slide show of the places and day to day things the kids did. Once the music started so did my tears!
Cameron with his teachers, Mrs. Kuipers and Mrs. Cole. These ladies have a true Spirit and light of God that shined through to Cameron every day and he was blessed to have them.

Cousin Isaac who was in the same class. These are 2 peas in a pod who you don't want to leave alone for too long! They are just too curious and daring together. I am so glad he gets to see cousins so often!

Now when Cameron prays at dinner he thanks God that he gets to go to Kindergarten. He's going to have to start praying Mommy is ready for that! Kindergarten?!