Jacob is 4!!

Hard to believe my first born is 4 years old already! We celebrated his birthday on Sunday after church with a Lion King themed party! His daddy was so nice to make him a special cake for the big event! Jacob love playing lion king as well as watching lion king but coming up with party products for such a party is difficult!! We did the best we could and he was thrilled!! Here are a few pics from the party!

Jacob taking a big swing!

Showing off his awesome cap from Aunt Jayme!

On Monday is actual birthday we had a few presents for him and let him do a few things per his request. He wanted to wear spiderman and go to MVP to play with his best buds Reid and Gabe. Reids Mom was nice enough to bring her face paint and paint Jacob's face up like a Lion for his big day. After MVP we headed to the carousel mall for lunch (Taco Bell) and a trip to build a bear. Grandma thought Deacon should get to make something too!

Favorites of my 4 year old:

Eggo Waffles

Lion King

Spiderman

Books

Barnes and Nobel

Vanila Yogurt

Tinga Tales

Crafts

Building Forts

Jacob you are truly full of it! We never know what you might say or do. I'm always excited and nervous to pick you up from school to hear what you have told your teacher. We love your creative mind and pray for God's plan for what you do with all of your ideas. We love you so much! We look forward to the year ahead and all that is in store for you!!

February 2011

February is a fun month a our house filled with birthday and of course valentines day crafts and treats!! In the winter it seems we do lots of crafting and baking even if it isn't a holiday but its fun to work with a theme. We also attended some Hope College Hockey! The boys love it at first but occasionally the games get a little long for them. Jacob did enjoy making silly faces for the camera while we waited for the game to start!!

One of our heart crafts made with crayon shavings.

Jason turned 30 on the 10th. We had a low-key celebration with my parents and the kids. We went out to dinner at Crazy Horse and came back home for cake and presents. The kids made daddy this beautiful birthday crown out of the packaging for the cake. Jason humored them and wore it for a while.

VALENTINES DAY!! The boys got to pick what they wanted for breakfast. Jacob wanted heart shaped french toast and Deacon wanted heart shaped waffles. Deacon's were pretty simple I just used the eggo waffles from the freezer. Jacob's took a little more work but you can tell he was pretty happy!! :) Later that day we spent some time painting hearts to give away to friends and family. The extras we used to make a heart garland that we hung up in the living room.

BIG BROTHER CLASS: The boys along with their cousins took a big siblings class at the hospital. It was pretty cute seeing the boys try to wrap the doll in the blankets. With boys you just don't see them playing this way. Also they got to see the rooms where we will be once we have the baby and took a peek in the nursery. Can't wait to see how they really do with her.

Favorite things of February:

Jacob's: Reading books by the windows and teasing his brother. :(

Deacon's: Puzzles, Puzzles, PUZZLES, and lion king

Lastly in baby news the boys are working on putting the stroller together for her. It is really fun to push around the house. Deacon is really funny pushing it because it is so much taller than our little umbrella stroller and he can't see a thing.

January 2011

January was a busy and fast month for us. We returned home from an amazing trip to Disney over Christmas with Jason's family and jumped right back into our busy schedules. We had a first for both the boys in January as they were able to try skiing for the first time when we made a quick trip up to Crystal for Grandma Mary's Birthday. Jacob really loved skiing and did very well. Deacon wanted to try to but wasn't as big of a fan. Hopefully next winter I will be able to ski with my boys!! I have so many memories of skiing as a family when I was a child I hope to do the same with our kids in the years to come!!!

Also in January we had another little scare with the pregnancy as I was having preterm labor so the boys got to spend some extra time with Daddy as well as their grandparents while mommy spend a week or so on the couch. Grandpa Joel even took them sledding out by Like Michigan. They were gone for a really long time. Grandma Bouwens even went out looking for them afraid they fell in the lake. LOL

We also moved the boys together into Jacob's room and Jason moved the crib down for our baby girl. We thought we should get a few things ready just encase she made an early arrival.

Jason really didn't mind helping with this project but might not have enjoyed the picture taking part!!!

Deacon

My adorable little Deacon you are growing up so fast right before my very eyes. You have changed SO much since we moved back in May. Two major changes for you have been that you started to talk and that you had your tonsils and adenoids out. Both of these things have made your life significantly easier. You can now tell us what you want without screaming most of the time and you are a much healthier little boy without those pesky tonsils and adenoids.

Truck Parade

Deacon you continue to challenge mommy every day with your unique personality and strong will. Mommy reminds herself often in the challenging moments what a gift your strong will truly is. On the flip side of your strong will you are a the sweetest little mommas boy ever. You sit on my lap and cuddle during music class and when we are in many other new and different places. Mommy loves that you feel comfort in her being near.

Riding the Lion at the meusem

Things Deacon loves and is learning right now:

Cars, Trucks and Trains

Lions

Pretending whatever Jacob is pretending

Painting like his big brother

Deacon is enjoying learning many letters with his big brother

Deacon is beginning to say his prayers with us at bedtime and dinnertime (a precious event for a child who a few short months ago had no words) Praise God for Deacons improvement!!!!

Reading with Mommy in his room

"Dinner Time" It is always dinnertime for Deacon it seems ever time he wakes up or comes home from anywhere even Dinner he says it's dinner time and expects to eat. Funny Boy!!

Learning his colors

Snack time with Daddy!

Back to the Blog? Maybe!

I've been thinking about it for a few weeks and would really like to get back into blogging for my kids sake and to record the memories of our everyday life. So since its been a while I will try to do a quick update on Jacob today and Deacon another day. I'm sure I can't do the last 6 months justice but here's my best shot.

Biggest change for this guy besides the move to our new house in May has been starting school. Jacob is in the Spanish immersion program at Zeeland Christian and LOVES it!! I'm so excited to see him learning about the Lord as well as another language while he is at school!! Other exciting things for Jacob have been that he was on his first organized sports team this fall. Jason coached his soccer team at a park near our house. Jason did a great job and had a lot of Patience!!

The Coach and his TEAM!

Jacob at the Children's Museum

We also enjoyed all of the other normal fall activities including apple picking x2, pumpkin fest, trick or treating, and racking lots of leaves in our new yard!! Anyone who is looking for something to do I'm sure Jason would let you help with our leaves!!!

Things Jacob Loves right now:

Crafts/ Painting/ making things for the new baby

Singing

Playing Spiderman

Climbing

Making Forts

Reading Berenstain Bears

Teasing his brother

Planting Bulbs and Mums with Mom and Dad on a warm Saturday Afternoon!

Easter Festivities

Family Pic at my parents for Easter Lunch
Boys opening up their eggs

We started celebrating Easter last weekend with Jason's parents by having a little Easter Egg hunt in the front yard. The boys had fun and it was good practice for the egg hunt on Saturday at the gym.
Easter Morning before church

At the gym the kids did a few crafts, hunted for eggs, visited the bunny (Jacob), and had pancakes! Deacon wasn't sure he really enjoyed all of it but I'm hopeful that by next year he will be more adaptable. :)




We also visited the bunny at the mall per Jacob's request. Deacon again wasn't a fan but we have the memory for sure. Friday night after church we colored our Easter eggs another thing Jacob loved and Deker didn't Easter morning we enjoyed a beautiful service at church before lunch at my parents and big naps for the boys in the afternoon!

All the bunny stuff and eggs were fun but the most amazing part was seeing Jacob begin to understand why we celebrate Easter. We watched a neat video that really explained the sacrifice Jesus made as well as read the Easter story in the bible. He also came home from Sunday school with many good questions after our Good Friday service and our Easter morning service. He also learned some new praise song that he loved singing for both his grandparents!! We are so thankful for Jacob's growing love for our Lord and savior as well as for our church that helps him grow in his understanding of the faith.

Disney/Florida

We did it we took the kids to Disney and boy did we have fun!! I think Jacob loved it the most and his Daddy was a close second!! The weather was chilly but the sun was shining and we were able to do a ton. We spent 2 days enjoying the excitement that Disney has to offer. We spent a half day at hollywood studios and then met up with Grandma and Grandpa DeWitt to see the Animal Kingdom and go on the safari!! We spent the next day at the Magic Kingdom with both sets of Grandparents. It was great having all the extra hands with us in the parks to keep track of the little ones. We also did a character breakfast before we left the last day which was highlight for Jacob!!! He loved having his picture taken with the characters and always wanted to get a kiss as well. Ha Ha!!!

It's a Small World!Lightning McQueenDeacon watching the parade! The whole group with Woody and JessiePlayhouse Disney LiveJacob loving a dino ride with Grandma Mary!I guess they all wanted to ride together because the winnie the pooh ride was so scary!

Jacob in the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids Playground"

After our time at Disney we headed down to Ft. Myers beach for a week were we enjoyed a little time on the beach. The weather wasn't the best but the boys still had a few chances to get their toes in the sand and do a little digging.