Jonas' 5th birthday

My New Year's Baby is 5 years old now!  Wow!  I can't believe it! Jonas, you came into this world and made a more beautiful place.  It was a rough day on January 1st, 2008 for you and the rest of us in the family, but it was the beginning of a wonderful life.  I'm so happy I'm your mom.  In the book of Psalm, the Bible says: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." He loves you so much! And Daddy and I do too! Happy Birthday Jonas!

December 29th we celebrated your birthday at the cabin in Canada with all your cousins.  You wanted a Star Wars Party.  And you got one!  We started off with games outside pretending it was on the planet Hoth(a planet in Star Wars that was blanketed with snow and ice).  Our first game...AT-AT Walker Race. All the cousins had to get on all fours and race to the finish line.

 Second game...Thermal Detonator toss.  Using snowballs tossing them into sleds.

 Next...Lightsaber Attack

 Last...X-wing and Tie Fighter Battle in which the adults swung the sleds around bumping into each other.  Hilarious!

So many laughs!

 Inside games on planet Alderaan...Droid Duel

 and Destruction of the Death Star, handmade by Auntie Morgan.

Yoda Daddy taking a break! 

 Time for refuel of food. Thermal Detonator Meatballs, Echo Edibles, Vader Veggies, Droid Dip, Lightsaber Pretzels, and Wookie Cookies!

 And just by coincidence, Opa found Star Wars Episode IV on TV and you were thrilled to watch just 20 minutes of it.  Building Star War ships was a must during the showing.  Oh my, Jonas, you were in heaven!

 While Oma worked diligently on decorating a Star Wars cake,

 you opened presents.  Everything Star Wars...sweatshirt, PJ's, lunch box, plate/cup/bowl, Lego set, shirt, and bedding sheets.  Goodness, way way more than you expected!

 Time to blow the candles!

 We were all so full from the food, you were the only one that ate a piece before bedtime.  

Dear Jonas,

You just entered your second part of the year in Pre-K at Highlands Classical Academy. You LOVE school!  You love your friends at school. You love your teacher at school.  You love learning new things and telling us about it at home.  You are doing amazing things from memorizing poems to reciting more Bible verses than I know to studying the continents and oceans to our 5 senses to recognizing what vowels and consonants are to reading words to writing your name and stories to adding and subtracting(which you have just started double digit math).  I love watching you learn and I love teaching/helping you know more about this world.   At 6 months old, people noticed how focused you were on detail and problem solving seem to come natural to you already. So anything that comes your way, you figure it out either by touching it, tasting it, building it, dismantling it, creating it, discovering it, or exploring it. You are a natural learner and the amount of time that you can focus on one thing is out of this world.  

You have such a pure heart.  You want the four of us to always be together and making sure everyone is happy. You request playing Star Wars scenes with Legos or 5 rounds of Uno. You are so gentle and tenderhearted but competitive within yourself. You play with your brother, Silas, everyday with Legos or outside.  I hardly have to intervene because you seem to work out the details with Silas by communicating to him your feelings and help him express his.  As I hear listening to you and Silas in the other room, my eyes fill up with tears of joy.  Every morning, you get dressed and help Silas put on everything correctly.  You two are the bestest friends ever! 

You love grilled cheese sandwiches and hamburgers.  Woody's restaurant is your favorite place to go eat pepperoni pizza. Just like your mom, you don't like donuts but you love a good Starbucks pumpkin scone. Inside of hot cocoa, you would rather have a cup of tea in the afternoon with me. 

You are 38 lbs and 42 inches tall. You always tell me you are going to be taller than me someday.  I'm sure that is very true.

At mealtime, you have started to contribute to the family by setting the table and of course clearing the table is just common sense no matter who's house it is.  You are so polite in that way, it's unreal.  Silas looks up to you so much that he has been clearing the table without reminders too. One more thing that you have enjoying exploring is your prayer life with God. About twice a week, you ask if you could pray.  And I swear those words that come out of your mouth is from the Holy Spirit.  When you speak so eloquently and true sincerity of gratefulness,wow, it's so powerful.  You teach me alot to be thankful because you are so thankful for everything, especially your family.  Thank you!

Jonas, reach for the stars!  You will go to the moon or another planet someday.  I believe in you!  I am praying for you, sweet cheeks! Don't grow up too fast! Enjoy every moment. 

Love, Mommy

Interview with Jonas Helton at 5 years old:

What is your favorite color? Red

What is your favorite toy? Star Wars Legos

What is your favorite fruit? Tomatoes

What is your favorite TV/Movie? We don't watch TV but when you get the movie Star Wars Lego at the library, I like to watch that.

What is your favorite outfit? All of my Star Wars shirts

What is your favorite song? Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

What is your favorite game? Uno

What is your favorite animal? Kitty Cat. I wish we had George again.

What is your favorite book? Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Who is your best friend? Silas(and then Silas overheard and yelled back, "You are my best friend, Jonas!"

What is your favorite cereal? Rice Krispies

What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play baseball as a family

What is your favorite drink? Apple juice

What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

What do you take to bed every night? Roo

What is your favorite breakfast? Waffles

What do you want to be when you grow up? Space man, astronaut, space engineer, or astronomer.

Chirstmas Part 2

Let's take some time to finish the end of 2012 in this post with a little kid-style. Beside the sickness that was being past around in our family of 20, we made the most of our days with a passel of activities. 

Our memories of alpine skiing in the Canadian Rockies has always been a treasure.  This year was even more exceptional.  The cousins were able to strap on their sticks and ski together on the bottom lift while the adults skied too.  There were times where we had to stop and look around in awe at the picturesque views. Epic!

Instead of staying at the Bear Haus that we have stayed at for over 20 years, Opa rented a smaller home for us to stay, the Wolf Haus. It accommodated us perfectly, especially using the hot tub was very convenient. 

The puzzle masters of a 250 piece map of Canada.

Jonas and Eli pointing at Rossland, BC.

Decorated cookies and homemade gingerbread homes during Oma camp.

Sledding was a huge hit for the kids day or night.

Jonas and Cousin Nora always together

Uncle Jesse teaching the cousins how to go fast!

Kate the brave

Silly Syd

Bedtime story read by Uncle Chad

One of the best things we do as a family is the aquatic center in town. We always try to get a picture of all the cousins on the big boat, but this year seemed too crazy.  Maybe we were just having too much fun!

Cross country ski, snowshoe, or snow hiking was a refreshing outdoor activity.  

Picnic in the snow was a new adventure for some of us.

Opa and Baby Emma

So adorable!

Apres ski drink with the cousins

Here's to another year!  New Year's Eve is typically quiet for the Robinson family. But this year, the cousins ramped it up with the Dance Party on the Wii. 

Jonas couldn't stop dancing.  He LOVED it!

Everyone jammed, even Matt.

Along with Oma and Opa...they know how to dance!

The passing of another year seems so bittersweet.  Our time with our little ones is limited and they change so dramatically from year to year.  I always tell Jonas and Silas "I love you this age, don't grow up!" But sure enough, life keeps happening and another year goes by.  I'm so thankful that these memories are gathered here in this blog and in our hearts. 

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2012 Part I

Christmas vacation with the Robinson family up north was another special time! The pictures 'don't do justice' for the memories we hold.

We arrived quickly on a flight of less than 2 hours to Spokane at midnight.  The boys stayed awake the whole time excited to see their cousins and Oma/Opa.

 The cousins immediately picked up where they left off last(last December), and played, played, played.   They didn't miss a beat! Here is Jonas and Nora hiding from the older cousins together. 

 Jonas and Silas were so excited to play in snow since Colorado didn't get any before we left.  

 Christmas Story read by Auntie Jenny at the cousin table on Christmas Eve night.

 Instead of driving all 20 people to church that  night for Christmas Eve service, we decided to stay in and perform our own worship.  Nathan lead us on his guitar while we sang Christmas songs.  It was so stunning to hear all our voices together as a family, praising Jesus Christ.

 Syd(10) and Baby Emma(3 months)...precious!

 The boys were nestled all snug in their beds

Christmas morning the cousins awoke with excitement. 

 After just a few gifts, the cousins were right back out in the snow. This is my parents willow tree in their front yard.  It's so beautiful!

 Snow ball fights is a great way to release some energy for the boys.  Silas and Jonas attacked Eli from both sides. 

 Nora(5) and Syd(10) looking adorable!

 All the cousins and Uncle Jesse, just like one of the kids.

 Pelting Uncle Jesse with snowballs, while he sled by, was absolute laughter!

 One of the moments that Ethan(3) and Silas(3), actually got along...sledding! Listen to their squeals! 

 Christmas evening, Oma and Uncle Nate coordinated the Nativity for the kids.  Jonas wanted to be a shepherd...and 

 of course Silas did too:)  Frightened Shepherds!

 Nora was Mary while Eli played Joseph

 Kate was Gabriel 

 And Baby Emma was Jesus

Tomorrow we drive to Canada...to be continued!