4th of July Weekend

Matt's older brother, Tim, his wife Jenn, and their kiddos Jessie and Nate came out from Portland to celebrate the 4th of July weekend with us! We had a WONDERFUL time being with family and enjoying the holiday together. It struck me that 10 years ago, we celebrated the same holiday camping with all of Matt's siblings just 2 weeks before our wedding. It was so amazing to think that 10 years, and a bunch of kids later, we are together again.

Jonah, Nate, Noah and Caleb... Nate did a GREAT job being the oldest boy... the little boys all LOVED playing with Nate. They just idolized him!
Jessie was awesome with the kids, too! I can't believe she was just a baby in a high chair when Matt and I first started dating. Now, here she is, old enough to babysit my kids!

Tim and Jenn brought their super cute dogs, Toby and Shadow... The boys LOVED playing Puppies in their kennel!

Caleb

On the 4th, we headed to Chief Timothy Park and played in the river. It was SO MUCH FUN! The day was super hot, so playing in the river was PERFECT!

Jonah

Noah was our totally fearless swimmer!

Cooling down

Extended Jorgens Fam!

I just can't believe how grown up Jessie is. She was 3 when she was the flower girl in my wedding, now here she is, growing up so fast. She pulled the Little Boys in the wagon as we walked to see the Fireworks.

Caleb, Noah and Jonah getting ready for the show!

Noah, Jonah, Uncle Tim and Nate

Caleb and Mommy being silly

My boys enjoying the fireworks!

They were pretty cool!

Me and My Boys

Tim, Jenn, Kiddos, and Dogs,

Thank you so much for coming out. We had such a great time with you all! I can't wait to do it again!

Bikes and Parks

So, this posting is FULL of pictures! But, I couldn't resist sharing all of these... We had a great day last week when we spent the morning playing outside. Caleb had horse therapy in the morning, so Daddy dropped off Noah, Jonah and me off at the river, and the little boys got to ride their bikes to the park! After we played for a bit, big brother Caleb joined us by riding in to the park on his bike too. We played for a ridiculously long time, then treated the boys to hamburgers and ice cream. It was a great day!

I realized that these first pictures should be last... they are of us heading home, but you get the idea... ;o)

This is pretty typical... Jonah leading the way for everyone. He is such a leader.
All my boys!

Noah and Jonah heading to the park! Are they not the cutest ever?!?!

The Twinados.

Jonah... He is telling me he wants to go play in the river. I know, Sweetie... another day for that.

Noah is just long enough to pedal... he worked SO hard, and did a great job!

Here we come, world!

Here comes Big Brother!

Caleb, you are such a big boy!

Noah loved the rock climbing wall!

So did Caleb! He was really taking off on it, too!

Climbers, Noah and Caleb

Jonah and Noah People all over the world, join hands, start a slide train, slide train!

Double the fun!

Takin' a rest.

Mr. Fix It

When we got back from riding the power wheels, Caleb insisted that he need to "work on" his motorcycle. He ran inside the house to grab his very handy, Handy Manny, tools. Thanks to Grammy, all three boy have their very own tools. They find all sorts of uses for them, and apparently, they do wonders on motorcycles. ;o)

Daddy tightening an actual screw, while Caleb helps.
Jonah and Noah were watching intently, learning how to "work on" motorcycles. (Notice Mr. Giraffe in his prominent place...)

Caleb: "You break it, we fix it!"

Caleb, I am so proud of you!

Power Wheel Fun!

Thanks to a few overindulgent Grandparents, our boys have totally been enjoying their power wheels! The big green Jeep, or "Papa's Tractor" was given to Caleb when we were still in Hawai'i... But I must say, I think 5 is the magical age for the power wheel... Caleb climbed on the motorcycle, and away he went! Jonah and Noah took turns driving the truck, and fun was had by all.

Daddy still had to help keep the Little Boys on the road. ;o)

Big Boy Caleb knew just what to do. Not that I'll be handing over my keys any time soon...

A church parking lot close to our house was perfect for wild man driving.

Holy Vision

We have been enjoying our frequent visits to our parks new fountain. The boys love playing in the water that shoots up all around a beautiful statue that has been a landmark of the park for decades. It was super hot yesterday, and the fountain was busy with lots of kids, and families enjoying the cool down when, Noah (3) looked up at the reverent statue and shouted, to the hysteria of all present:

"I SEE JESUS!"

Mommy and Jonah

All the boys got their very own digital cameras for Jonah and Noah's third birthday... Wow... what a hit they have been! They are SO creative... taking pictures of anything and everything! We love looking through their pictures, and seeing things through their eyes! The other night, Noah captured this one of me and Jonah. It melts my heart...

Making Sense of Adoption...

Mommy: So, did you get to tell Emily about how you have two Dad's?

Noah (3): YES!

Mommy: So, if Daddy is one dad, who is the other?

Noah: Caleb.

Ya. We have some work to do. ;o)

Birthday Fun!

Can you believe that Noah and Jonah are 3 years old, already?! June 5th marked their third birthday, and we, in the tradition started by my mother with Kevin and I, celebrated it BIG! ;o) Each birthday gives me the reminder of how blessed we are. I am taken back to that magical day, three years ago, when the Lord blessed us with the, then, tiny miracles. The day of their birth is still very vivid in my memory, and I marvel at the circumstances... Their beautiful birth mother, Andrea, is ever present in my heart. Without her selfless gift of love to her children, I would not be their mother. Andrea, we love you.

The day was FULL of fun! We started the day blowing birthday blowers, and singing, and listening to Jonah sing/shout "Happy Birthday To Jonah!" They KNEW it was their special day, as we have been counting down for awhile now. They were SO excited for their "Birthday Bash" (as they continually called it). In the afternoon, we had lots of friends come over to join in the party...

Jonah and Noah swinging... We held our party outside in the back yard. YAY for Summer Birthdays! ;o)

We set up our pool, and ALL the kids joined in the fun! Even Baby Etta had a GREAT time in the water! (Isn't she PRECIOUS?!?!?!)

Birthday Bash Pool Fun!

Awaiting Presents!

What could it be?

Big brother, Caleb had a GREAT time, too!!!

The boys were ALL about having a pinata! It was awesome! All the kids thought it was GREAT! My favorite was when Caleb said: "It's a henrietta! It's pinata in Spanish."

Noah put his whole body into his swing!

Jonah taking his turn!

After some help from Bonnie, one of our college girls, the pinata broke open and the mayhem truly began!

And to add to the sugar rush, GIANT cupcakes!

Jonah blowing out his candle.... I didn't think about having the girls take the pictures from the other side, or turning towards the camera... oh, well... The boys loved that they each got their own little cake, and their own birthday song.

Pretty tasty frosting!

I LOVE this picture of Noah!

Noah and Jonah, Happy Birthday my sweet boys! Mommy and Daddy love you more than words can say. We are so thankful for each of you, and the joy you bring to us!

Dreaming

I woke up early this morning to Caleb (5) whimpering in his bed, near crying... I rushed in to him, to find him still sound asleep, but saying:

I NEED MY MAGIC BEANS BACK!