FIVE!

Jack Clemens you are FIVE! I can't believe Joe and I have been parenting him for five years! The years have just flown by!  Jack was  SOO excited for his birthday this year! We made a paper chain countdown and he asked daily "How many more days until I am 5!?"

Joe still does the Birthday breakfast tradition but he decided when the kids turn 5 he will start doing mass before breakfast on their birthday morning! Jack enjoyed this special time with Joe!

Jack has grown up so much this year! Definitely not a toddler anymore!

Jack has always been a very caring boy but he is taking his job as a big brother to 2 sisters very seriously! He is always looking out for the girls and asking to babysit Josefine while I get some stuff done.  He is loving and will play with them, read to them, draw pictures for them, and cuddle them! He still often asks for "Mama snuggles" which I happily will give and he tells me all the time "Mama, I will love you and hug all over you until I am 14!" - Ill take what I can get!!

Jack has been obsessed with books since he was a little guy and that has not changed! He gets so much joy out of books and books on CD and magazines! He still really loves to dress us, play with legos, build train tracks, play with dinosaurs and animals and play in the dirt outside with his trucks.  He likes to help me cook and loves to help in the garden.  He started creating more games this year for the kids to play outside.

Jack became much more comfortable in the water this year and riding his bike! He is adventurous and creative! He has a wild imagination that goes everywhere with us and I love that about him.

We planted this tree at our old house right around when Jack was born and I can't believe how big it has gotten (just like Jack!)

Jack will spend hours doing art work! He has always enjoyed art and writing and coloring.  His drawings have developed so much this year!  I did an experiment a few months ago where I asked him 3 weeks in a row to draw a rocket ship (one of his favorite things to draw) and I couldn't believe the improvement between the 3 pictures in just 3 weeks!

 

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

He also loves to draw castles and super heroes!  So much fun to watch him develop passion for things and watch his creativity explode!

Jack continues to be in the Catholic preschool program, German school and homeschool preschool this year! We will do that for the 2018/2019 school year until he attends Kindergarten next Fall (ahh!)

I find myself just soaking up this time with my three babies home this year.

Jack, you are such a great combination of caring, creative, determined, hard working, faithful and innocent.  We are so proud to be your parents and to raise you into the boy you are!  Thank you for making us parents FIVE years ago.  We love you Jack Clemens! Happy 5th Birthday!

THREE!

A few months ago a very special little girl turned three!! Elisabeth was so excited for her birthday and loves being able to tell people now that she is 3!

Elisabeth has grown so much this year! She is so motherly to her sister and cousins, she is very independent and always quick to help! She dresses herself, puts her shoes on, stopped wearing diapers at night, sleeps in a bunk bed with Jack, feeds the dog each day, plays on a soccer team, and has attended her first camp this summer without me! She is so proud of herself

She is so full of energy and excitement! She keeps us laughing and always makes the silliest faces! She knows how to make a crowd laugh and often runs the show at home with Jack.  She is the quirkiest cutie ever!

She is always up for games with Jack but also plays really nice on her own at this age.  She enjoys books, lego, dinosaurs, trucks, riding her bike and playing baby and doctor.  She often says "when I grow up I want to be a babysitter and a nurse like Aunt Stef!"

She still loves her blankie and is found cuddling blankie and baby tightly in bed while she sleeps.  She loves to dress up and accessorize whenever possible! She picks out her outfits (most days) and likes to mix patterns and colors!

She is rarely shy and can be quite stubborn.  She can scream very loudly but in the next breath can be the sweetest little girl - welcome to 3!

We love our little 3 year old! Blessings to you sweet Elisabeth Jane! May you continue to grow into an even more loving, caring and quirky girl this next year! I could listen to you talk and tell me stories all day and I hope your obsession with your Mama and Papa sticks around a lot longer!  Happy Birthday baby girl

South Haven, MI

We took the best trip with the family (minus Amy and Zhenya) to a Michigan beach house! We were so impressed with South Haven, loved the house we stayed in, and felt like the whole trip was equal parts relaxing and adventurous! We will definitely go back!! 

Our house was a block from the beach and two blocks from downtown - a perfect location! 

One afternoon Omi stayed home with 6 sleeping babies while the adults hit the town for a few local brews! 

We got to celebrate a special 5 year old and almost 3 year olds birthday one evening!

Stefanie and I had a special afternoon together at winery! 

The kids just play soo well together and are always so silly! Love this crew!

This was the beautiful view at the end of our street! 

What a perfect trip!! Sooo many wonderful memories made! Grateful for these people we get to call family and are lucky to travel with! Michigan, we will be back!