Can my baby really be 5 today!

With every birthday I am amazed on how fast time has went.  I know that everyone feels the same way but I love reflecting with each special day of these boys on their age cause really I can not believe that my baby is 5 today!

It makes me sad when I look at all these old photos because it was such a fun time with them when they were all really small.  It was busy but fun.  And I am not sure I was really thinking it was that fun at the time...

I love how close these brothers are.  Most days they love eachother whole heartedly and other days they can not stand eachother.  I love watching this Baar boy unit play, explore, learn, grow, praise, giggle, and love.  I AM SO BLESSED!!!

Happy 4th Birthday to my baby Jax

Jax- kind hearted, sweet, sensitive, joyful, full of song.

Its amazing to think that 4 years ago this little guy was born into our family. What a blessing he has been to our family of 5. He battles daily to keep up with his big brothers but can hold his own when he wants to.

Here is one of my favorite photos of my mom with Jax. She was so good to my kids and was so helpful. They miss her like crazy and talk about her often. Jax who was not quite 2 when she died just asked 2 days ago, when she was going to come back from Heaven because he missed her so much. I can't imagine that he remembers her that well. When I explained to him that she stays in Heaven and we get to see her again when we go to Heaven he started to cry and asked how long that would take. It was heartbreaking! Yesterday while at Bender fields there was a beautiful rainbow in the sky and the boys are convinced that Nana sent that for Jax's birthday. It is amazing to me how these rainbows show up on important days for us.

Jax's last picture with my mom. Another one of my favorites!

Happy Birthday to my baby who in 4 short years has brought me the world. I know I have talked about it before but this little guy has seen me through so many trials in my life and has shown me light in some of the darkest days. Thank you Jax for your sweet and sensitive nature and your ability to light up a room. I love you more than I can even say.

Happy 3rd Birthday Jax

Crazy to say it but my baby turned 3 today. I can hardly believe that my little guy is this old already. It really does seem like it was just yesterday when we brought him home from the hospital and he joined his brothers who were 3 1/2 and 2 at the time.

This little guy has gotten me through so many tough times. Since he was 6 months old I feel like we have had to deal with so many hard things. He has been able to bring a smile to my face with his sweet sweet personality and his overwhelming hugs and kisses. He has brought such joy to my life and despite my focus being elsewhere at times he remains steadfast in his love for me.

Today we celebrated with donuts for breakfast. The boys have really started to love this tradition and it sure makes for an easy morning for me. We had Jax's birthday party last Sunday and he received so many great toys and things that are all his. How fun for him to finally get things of his own and not hand me downs.

Jax was in a funny mood on Sunday and was very shy and bashful with all of the family over. He allowed Trey to open all of his presents and had a hard time as we sang Happy Birthday to him (most likely due to the fact that he just fell over in the middle of the song and landed on his face on the kitchen floor).

I love to look back on pictures from only a couple of years ago. The boys have grown up so much!

And of course I had to include one of my favorite pictures of Jax and my mom. He was only 4 days old here. She was always so helpful with my kids especially right after I had them. She just loved babies. Here she had just finished bathing him, I remember the day really clearly. I know mom celebrated him in Heaven today. This morning as we were getting ready I noticed the sun was shining out my front window but that it was also raining, we looked out our back window and noticed a huge rainbow right above the trees behind us. The kids were absolutely elated that nana sent that present for Jax. It was so special to them which of course made my day. Crazy how things work out sometimes...

First Days of School... My new nephew!

Kobe is a Kindergartener! This past week he had his first day of school at Bernice Vossbeck. His teacher is Mrs. Olson and he is very excited about this year. Today is his first full day and that makes me alittle anxious as he has to feed himself his lunch and clean up and that sort of thing. He is very self sufficient and organzied so I know I shouldn't worry. He will be just fine...

His favorite part so far is riding the bus which seems so funny to me. I can't even imagine this little boy sitting there with little stranger kids and then getting off to find his classroom. Where did my baby go!?!

Trey started preschool this week at Sonshine Preschool. His teachers are Mrs. Brann & Mrs. Thompson. While he isn't as excited about the school and learning part of things he is super excited to see his friends Talan & Deegan and his cousin Dawson. He told me he has a girlfriend there too but he couldn't remember her name. It should be a fun year watching him learn new things, I just hope he can be as good of a student as he is a social butterfly.

I got the 3 boys to pose together before they went off to school and left Jax alone here with his poor momma...

Yesterday we celebrated the arrival of my new nephew, Trigg Edwin Heutink. He is my sisters 3rd boy and that makes the 9th grandson for my dad who only has 1 grandaughter. It will be so fun to raise all of our boys together and see what kind of men they become. He is so darling and really is perfect! Way to go Kris!

August in review

I feel so far behind with this blogging stuff! I have totally missed all of our adventures in August. So here is August in review.

First off, we set off for another camping trip. This time we went with our dear friends, who happen to be family! We stayed at the Entiat City Park for a couple of nights with Dan & Tawnee Parcher and Chad & Kandi and then met up with Mike & Stacy Nyhoff and Tim & Renae Hanson and Renae's extended Van Dam family in Crescant Bar. We had so much fun and were so warmly welcomed by Renae's family.

Here is Tawnee, Kandi, myself, and Terra Visser... Troy, Terra, Grant, & Maddie joined us for the day while we were in Entiat.

Jax, Trey, and Grant...

Meet Finley Rae Parcher... She stole my heart.

Jax and big cousin Dakota...

Trey and Faith...

Kobe and Easton Nyhoff...

Trey, Carter, Dakota, and Costen getting ready for the "Crescant Bar Games". All the kids in the Van Dam camp and ours competed in teams in a bunch of different little competions. Carter and Trey was teamed up and Carter did such a good job helping out the youngest player of the games.

Carter and Trey competing in the wheelbarrel race. I think they might have actually placed in this event.

Thanks Carter for being so good to my little guy.

Tawnee, me, and Kandi...

Crescant Bar Family picture

Finally after many attempts all week, I finally got a good picture of just the 3 of them.

Secondly, We spent a day at Birch Bay with some of my cousins and their kids. All 20 grandkids of my moms and her sister Kerry Ann were there and it was cool to think they might have been sitting together watching all of us...

Kobe and his best friend Mack...

Trey and his best friend and girlfriend, Brandi...

Thirdly, the Fair! The boys once again loved the fair. We took them Monday night to the Derby and then back again most of Saturday for the animals, rides, and Motocross.

Brandi, Kobe, and Cody getting ready to ride the Wind Glider?

Can't believe my little boy is riding this ride. What a trooper
Don't you just love the expression on my face? We were racing and obviously I was really into it!

Buddies, Kaedan Hermanutz, Kobe, and Trey waiting in line for a ride...

Family picture at the Motocross...

And Lastly, the Willemsen Picnic. We met for a potluck like lunch after some of the family golfed in the morning. It was so fun to gather with all of my family. It was surprising how many of us were actually there. Seems like we have all been through so much together and I know we have formed special bonds because of it.

Sorry it is a small picture, but these are the Willemsen cousins... back row-Jeff Timmer (my brother), Travis Willemsen, Rog Anderson, Gerry Denadel... middle row- Trent Willemsen, Jon Timmer (my brother), Leia Sytsma, Ginger Jones, Gina Staal... front row- Kristi Heutink (my sister), myself, Lanelle VanderYacht, Laurie Benner, and Lisa VanderGriend. Missing- Michelle VanDalen, Karen MacGinnis, and Ty WillemsenAll of the little cousins. These kids would have been my grandparents, great grandkids and even some great great grandkids.
Jax and Garris...Jax and my brother Jeff..


And there is August in a big nutshell... whew!