HALLOWEEN AND PARTY TIME

As my last post mentioned Madden just turned 3 so on Sunday we had family over to celebrate this sweet little guy.  Here are a few pictures.

Then of course Monday was Halloween so we got the boys dressed up - Talan and Deegan were spider man (they chose to be the same but Talan was the black spider man which little did I know was the bad spider man) and Baker and Madden were as always old costumes of Talan and Deegan's - this time Motocross guys.  Baker didn't want to keep his mask on; imagine that ;)  We headed to a party at church (NCCTK) and also trick or treated at Grandpa and Grandma D's, K's and Auntie Dar's.  The boys had a good night; unfortunately we did have some explosive vomit on the car ride home and no it wasn't from too much candy, although I am sure that didn't help.  Despite warnings from us, Madden bit into his glow in the dark bracelet and it exploded in his mouth - very yucky I guess b/c up came all his dinner and candy - all  over the place.  Ewww.  Such a fun way to end the night.  Immediately when he was done he said "mommy I feel better".  Poor little fella :(

Going..

going...

...gone.   I love Baker trying to figure out who is under that mask.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDEN

Oh my oh my, how is it possible.  How is it that my sweet little baby is 3 years old today?  Doesn't seem possible and actually makes me really sad.  Time is going way too quickly and I don't want my baby to grow up.  Slow down Madden :)
You are a crazy, fun loving, energetic, spunky, strong willed, funny, amazing little guy.  You always have us all laughing and you keep up with your older brothers as if you were their same age.  It seemed like you took awhile to get together clear sentences but you really do great now.  Even people other then mommy and daddy can understand you :)  You still say some of the cutest things - saucy is still means sorry.   Floffy is still our dog Roxy.
Just like Talan and Deegan, you are an amazing brother to Baker.  You give him sweet kisses and you hand him toys when he drops them.  You try to share your food with him even though he isn't able to eat.  You are just so kind hearted.
Yes you can be naughty but then so quickly you show your sweet side.  "mommy are you sad", "I'm saucy mommy", "i yuv u mommy"  oh my goodness, so precious.
You love being outside, riding bike, playing in the sandbox, chasing your brothers in the razor.  Your favorite shows are Chuggington, Umizoomi and Word World.  And you love playing with trucks.
Thank you for being our sweet little baby for 3 years and now we can't wait to watch you grow up!!  Love you so much Madden!!

BAKER'S BIRTHDAY!

Saturday was Baker’s 4th Birthday! It is so hard to believe he is 4, he just seems like my baby yet and 4 sounds so old.

We had a great day together as a family. Right away in the morning we started off with giving Baker his gifts. Deegan was happy to help him open and Baker was very excited for the process and for his fun surprises. We of course had to fit in a family 4-wheeler ride too…all 6 of us on one 4-wheeler :) What a site, but one of Baker’s favorite things. I also had to go to Bellingham to get a friend a baby present and I took Baker with and let him pick out a couple new books; oh and he talked me into a couple other fun little things for him too. He is such a sweet talker I couldn’t resist :)

Yesterday we had family over for a Birthday party. I wanted to make Baker a special cake even though he isn’t able to actually eat it. He loves cars, trucks and trains so I made him a pick up truck cake. I am so far from being gifted with any sort of crafty/artsy ability so this was the best I could do. He looked excited by it and we gave him a piece of cake and he did a great job of squishing it between his fingers. He even brought a big handful up to his mouth – oh how we wish you knew how and could safely chew and swallow! He got a taste of some frosting though and we also put a bunch of whip cream on his tray while we were all eating so he could play around with that and have a taste of something.

Baker you continue to light up all of our lives. At some point pretty much every day I seem to get stressed out and all it takes is a moment with you and you can calm me down and bring me peace. You are the happiest, sweetest child in the world. You want so much to be a part of everything that is going on around you and it saddens us that at times you are wanting to do more then you are physically able. Despite that you giggle and wiggle your heart out and everyone around you loves every second we get with you.

I often think of this cute little poem when I play with you – Precious and priceless, so loveable too; the world’s sweetest miracle baby is you!! Then I just ran across this and thought it was something you would like to tell people: Blessed are those who stop and listen to my chatter. You may not understand me; but I love when people talk to me, for I long for companionship, too.

Praying for many more Birthday’s with you Baker!! We love you more then you could ever comprehend!!

Enjoying the new fishy lava lamp and turtle night light we got him

his cupcake on his birthday...he got to squish this too

The cake

I love this boy!!

He is excited about the cake :)

Hmmm, I am going to squish this

He wants to eat it so bad

See he got a little taste of the frosting.  I just had to pull a couple small pieces of cake out of his mouth but he stayed safe and had fun!

TALAN AND DEEGAN ARE 6

Yesterday was Talan's bday and today is Deegan's birthday. Yesterday we went bowling and to their favorite restaurant - Red Robin. Today will most likely include mini golf and maybe the park and a picnic. Can't believe these boys are 6. This coming weekend we will have some of their friends over for bday party. We are so blessed with these 2 boys, they really are remarkable. Hearts of gold. So kind, generous and caring. Talan told me he wanted to give me his birthday presents and that he would share them with Baker and Madden too (before he knew what he got but he probably would still hold to it if we asked, which we won't of course)). He always wants to make others happy. They are THE BEST big brothers in the world. They care for Baker with such love and compassion and they include Madden (most of the time) when they play. Deegan always wants to help me clean and you will often find him vacuuming and picking up toys when I ask. The love to help me dust and want to help in the kitchen. Even though it may be faster and easier on my own I love including them and I can only pray they want to help mommy forever. I get a lump in my throat when I think about how blessed we are with all 4 of our boys but today as I focus on the blessing of 6 years ago and the magic and joy and miracles that came into our lives I am humbled knowing that God chose us to raise and mold them into the best little men we can. THANK YOU GOD FOR our little family!!

WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO.....

Summer always seems busy and goes by so quickly.  Thought I would update on just a few of the highlights from the rest of our summer.
Let's see; since my last post we have done more camping trips starting with a trip to Stanwood with our friends the Brinks and Ahlers.  Small little campground but we loved the park that we could walk to that had such a fun playground and the lake at the campground was shallow so far out so the kids could really walk around and play in it safely.   Love my girls Sara and Kim, first trip camping together but hopefully the first of many.
Then was the Concrete KOA with Jeromy's mom and dad.  We love this campground and the kids always have so much fun.  There is so much to do including the jumpy pillow, pool, mini golf, playground, bike rides, wagon rides, duck races, and then the KOA always has a different theme each weekend (it was mystery theme this time ) so they made face masks, had a treasure hunt and more.  This was a favorite spot for sure.

Jeromy and I headed across the border for the first time with the boys and took a little trip to The Greater Vancouver Zoo.  next time, note to self, take bikes for the boys.  We saw others doing this and what a great idea.  It is a lot of walking for little legs.  We had a couple strollers but not enough for all 4.  They toughed it out and we had a great time there.

Next was Oak Harbor City Park with my parents and my sis and her family.  Another favorite spot of ours.  You can't make reservations so it can be a little tricky but we lucked out and got right next to eachother.  The park is right on the beach so there is lots of playing there, bike rides, great playgrounds and little swimming pools and oh of course kite flying.  This year there was  Drift Wood Festival while were there and Jeromy, Dakota, Kevin and all the boys made a Pirate Ship and they won a trophy. They did a great job and we all had so much fun.   We broke our cheap kites the first day so we went and got a couple good ones and that was some fun entertainment too.

FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN...say it isn't so!  How can my sweet little twinlets be heading off to something that is for big kids?   Sigh, tear drop...they aren't old enough for this are they...YEP they are. The time is here to leave their mommy (for 2 days a week) and go to school.  They are going to have so much fun.  I look forward to hearing about their days and their new friends and the memories they will make.  I am so happy for them and I still have 2 at home and Talan and Deegan will still be home most of the time so toughin up buttercup as my hubby would say.  This is an exciting new adventure for them.   Tomorrow they will ride the bus for the fist time and I can only anticipate what it will feel like watching their cute little faces disappear in that big yellow bus.  Oh the tear drops will follow just as they did when I drove away from dropping them off at kindergarten their first day. 

LOVE THIS MOMENT

There are so many things Baker cannot do and of course we try not to focus on that but sometimes we can feel a little sad for him.  That is why when we find a "normal" activity that can be adapted so he can take part we get so excited!  The boys have had this Razor for a year and they absolutely love it and pretty much drive it every day.  Finally Baker got a ride in it and it was so incredibly special to see.  He has this great Special Tomato chair that has a chest harness and a lift between his legs that helps secure him in place.  This chair can strap in so many things - in fact I have talked about it in other posts.  Well we put it to use in the razor.  It strapped securely on the chair that is there and his legs barely fit behind the bar but they did and he was all smiles.  Talan and Deegan took turns driving him around and my heart melted.  Madden loves to drive this too but we didn't quite trust him to drive around Baker yet so far now he just sat in the back.    Little moments like this can just mean so much and we are so thankful for them.