See you in the fall?

Today, we spent the day at the beach with good friends! It was beautiful, fun, relaxing and just what summer should be :)! The kids played hard, laughed, took as much sand home as they left at the beach and fell asleep exhausted!

It may be a while until I'm back here ... maybe the fall? :) ...

But, as I edited pictures today there were just too many good ones to pass up! So, here's a glimpse into just a few of our events this summer! A MASS update!


I feel SO blessed because my kids LOVE to be together! When are days are structured they rarely ever fight and usually are so happy to include each other in ideas and activities! I love it... this was McLleyton's plan- playing in the sprinklers!

 Another fun day with great friends...

 Nothing like an ice cream cone...

 4th of July FUN! Started the day being in a parade in Grandpa's cool truck!

 McLleyton could really throw the candy..

 The parade started at 8:30am ... which was a good thing because it was already SO hot!

 Then it was off to the cottage for some FUN cousin time... (all 14 of them!)

 These two sweet 5 year olds LOVED being together..

 Then it was the start of the First Annual Jonker Family Relay Races! We have all committed spending the week of the 4th at my parents Cottage! So all 28 of us "camp out" there together! It's a blast! Since this year I didn't have a 4 day old baby it was fun to have more time to organize fun events for the kids... and grown ups :)

Here's some fun pictures from our Relay Races!

We had 4 teams! The races started with the 4 Three year olds against each other! Funny!!!

 McLleyton took this very seriously :) He loved it!!

 So did the adults :)

 Uncle Darren catching Monreau...

 Belen, wishing she could catch Lauren :)...

 Nanny was the score keeper and photographer :)...

 The race to fill a bowl of water...

 Race- Run with a partner ...

 Find your team colored rings in the yard (blind folded)...

 Water Balloon toss...

 Then the races head to the pool ...

 Monreau taking on Sophia..

It was a fun day :) ... that we finished with fireworks and a night time swim. Pictures were on another camera :)

A few more fun times from the week...

McLleyton is an amazing swimmer now! He has taken off and can swim across the pool on his own. He is swimming between my legs, jumping in and working on learning to dive! It's so much fun to see him love it!

 A kids scavenger hunt (my costume was part of it :)...

 Looking for Gold in the yard...

 All worn out- movie time...

There is nothing like cousin time ....

In the midst of these busy weeks, Matt and I had two long weekends away without kids. A rare treat :). We spent one in San Diego with friends celebrating the 10 year Anniversary of there awesome ministry. Then two weeks ago we went to Oregon to be with our friends Shea and Mary on their wedding day! Both of them were awesome getaways!! I always come home feeling blessed to have such an amazing husband and renewed to giving the kids my all!!

This is what my kitchen looks like in order to leave the kids :) ... (Thanks to our babysitters!) 

But this is fun :)...

Mary was a beautiful bride and the setting in Oregon could not have been more stunning...

(this shot taken on an iphone as they were leaving :))

 It was a fun to get some time away with my parents too!

 On Sunday we drove up to Crater Lake... amazing!!!

 The kids loved to see this picture of the snow in July!

Happy Birthday Stennson...

I started this post a month ago... and finally getting around to hitting "publish"! It's summer, my absolute favorite time of the year!! My days are filled with four kids :)! I LOVE having Shae home and refuse to even think about how I have to give her and Monreau up in just 6 weeks! We've been having so much fun swimming, biking, crafting, playing, reading ... and loving this HOT summer we have been having! 

One highlight has definitely been watching Stennson grow! He is acting so much older and has such a sweet little personality! His birthday passsed with out much of a celebration ... but it was a definitely a day for me to reflect on what a precious gift we have been given in this sweet boy. He is content, affectionate, smart, easy going and so loving! 

You adore your sisters...

Into everything...

Your favorite food...

Ready for bed...

You love your daddy...

All worn out after a long day of playing you feel asleep on my chest in the pool :) So sweet!

Dear Stennson,
        Tomorrow you turn one! A year ago we were headed to the hospital to meet you. I was so excited to learn who would join our family! I thought you were a boy ... maybe I was really hoping you would be a boy ... and when you finally arrived the joy was overwhelming. We had prayed for you. When the doctors told us we would lose you early in the pregnancy we prayed. As we headed to meet you we prayed. As we fall asleep each night we pray for you. You are a gift!
       Stenn, you have done a great job of staying my baby! You have taken your sweet in growing up! Finally starting to crawl a few weeks ago :) you are on to a new adventure! You are loving your freedom and life in our house just got a lot busier in a wonderful way! I love watching you learn! I love your excitement over animals. The way you love to wrestle your brother. How your eyes light up when Shaelyn comes in the room. The snuggles you will offer Monreau- even when she doesn't ask you for them! I love the rare moments that you and I snuggle and read books together! How you love it when I make up silly songs. And the sweet way you say "Dada dada " when he comes home!
       Stennson we celebrate you today! Your first year and dream and hope for many many more! We commit to pray for you each day and to love you with all that we have. We pray you will always seek Jesus and love Him! I feel humbled and blessed to be your mom! Can't wait for the year ahead ...

I love you!
Mom

Goodbye Paci...

We have a family rule... on your 3rd Birthday you give away your paci! All 4 of my kids have taken a paci. After their first birthday I am really strict about no paci out of bed. But, 3 seems like a pretty easy age to take it away because they fully understand and can talk it through with you. So, as McLleyton's birthday approached we were having a few conversations about giving it away. He was down to his very last paci because he had been biting them for the past few months. Three nights before he turned 3 I wasn't sure where his paci was as we tucked him into bed (it was under his bed :)). Matt was tucking him in and asked him if he was ready to be done with it ... true to who he is McLleyton said "yes, I think I'm ready!" He went to bed that night without a tear ... or even a word! Matt and I were both shocked! He has not cried or even asked for it once since! Both of the girls had a really hard time giving it up. They cried for the first few nights and really never napped after it was gone. McLleyton didn't nap the first 2 days, but since then he has been!! So, proud of what a BIG boy he is :)!!

He wanted to mail it to his new cousin Adelyn... so we made a package and sent his cool football paci off!!

As a reward I told him he could pick any candy he wanted! Of course he picked the biggest one (which he enjoyed for a few minutes that then forgot about :))...

Here he is ... pretty excited about it!!

I told him to put it in for one last time... he thought that was pretty funny and couldn't stop laughing!

And one more random one from this morning... just because they are cute in their PJ's!

3 !!

Dear McLleyton,
    Today you are 3! No longer my baby... no longer my toddler ... you are now my little boy!! You have acted three for months and now you officially get to claim it as your own! It's going to be a great year! Filled with adventures, learning, laughing, ... and I'm sure a fair share of trouble and discipline :)!

   I am so proud of the little boy you are becoming! You are kind, caring, smart, funny, sweet, daring, adventurous, silly, competitive, curious, handsome, athletic, loving, giving, and NOW 3!!!

I adore your loving side! You give the best hugs! I love when you crawl up on my lap to read a book or even better just to snuggle! You want to wiggle right in and get as close as you can! I love how thoughtful you are and seeing you think of your sisters or others makes me so happy!

You are full of curiosity! You love to learn and want to understand everything! From the rules to different sports to what different trucks do at the construction site. You are full of questions! I can rarely satisfy them with just one answer.

You fill our days with laughter! You love to make me laugh and you love to be silly with me! Your smile is so contagious! I love your dimples that consume each space on your cute face! There is nothing better than hearing you laugh so hard you have to stop to catch your breath!

You, my sweet boy are smart!! I am daily amazed by you! You learn new things and retain them with ease, it always surprises me! Your memory is so sharp! From recalling an even that happened a year ago to recognizing letters and all of their sounds! I am learning to find new ways to challenge you and push you! It's fun to see your love for learning new things and competitiveness to keep up with your sisters! 

As you grow we have so many hopes and dreams for you! But, none are greater than the "basics" that we talk about each day. The two most important things .... #1st to love Jesus ... #2 to love others! I pray each day that you will seek to know Him. That you will Believe. That you will know His words. I am so humbled and grateful that He would allow me to be your mom. I love you more than I knew I could ever love ... yet, He loves you so much more! 

Keep working on loving the people He has placed around you. I pray you'll always adore your sisters the way you do today. That you'll keep working so hard at your relationship with them! That you will always want to hang out in their room for a little while before bed time! :) Be a leader to your brother, but let him walk with you through all things. Seek Stennson's advice. Wrestle with him. Share your friends with him. Talk in bed with him until late at night! Value Stenn's friendship and recognize it as a gift. Loving those the Lord has given you is not always easy, but it will teach you, shape you and mold you into the man He desires you to be. 

McLleyton you are loved and adored! You are the son we always prayed for. You are a gift that each day we are thankful for! I wake up each morning and fall asleep each night praying for you! I love you!!

Love, Mom 

It was so much fun celebrating YOU today!! 

You went golfing with Daddy (one of your favorite things!) and at night we had a little party!

 3!!!

 Gifts from your sisters! Fun!!

 Our family is SO much more fun because of you....

  

Aunt Emy + Mr. Matt ... and a new fishing pole! Awesome :)

 I adore this picture! Stenn looks so old and is totally engaged in what McLleyton and Monreau are checking out... The Jessie that he's been asking for since February!

 It was great to have Matt's grandparents! The kids call them Grandma Joy and Grandpa Ben. It makes me so happy to have our kids know them!

 Anything that has to do with sports is awesome :) This is going to be fun!!

 With Grandpa and Grandma

 A football cake (in Green Bay Packers colors :))... Just what any 3 year old in MI would want :)

 It's been an awesome 3 years!!