First Birthday's ~ compare

Nieko on his 1st Birthday

Tys on his 1st Birthday

Nieko's first Birthday

Nieko is ONE today!
It all started in church last year, I remember it so well, it does not seem like that long ago. We even went out for lunch after church, and then we went home. Rudi worked for a little bit while Tys took a nap. Then Rudi's parents came to pick up Tys and Rudi and me headed to the birthing center at 5pm. It seemed like the contractions had slowed way down. And I wasn't in that much pain. But at 6.30 I started to feel pressure. 15 minutes later I was holding a beautiful, tiny, slippery little boy, Nieko.

What blessing he has been this past year. He was and still is such a sweet baby! And now he's one. He just learned how to crawl and he's starting to "talk". He plays so sweet with Tys, they truly are friends.

We had a fun party to celebrate his birthday on Sunday (yesterday). We kept it small, just family. It was really fun and relaxing. The "big" boys played so sweet and they even got to go into the hottub! They had a blast!

This is a beautiful banner, made by Miriam!

Nieko = the birthday boy!

the "big" boys in the hottub!

Nieko got to have his own cake!

he enjoyed it!

and shared with Tys

yum!

Moriah also enjoyed some birthday cake. She turned one on June 22nd!

rain rain!!!

It was the coldest may since 1912 in Holland. So when we returned home I expected some nice spring weather...

but no,

It's been raining a lot here! it's crazy!!!
I don't like to complain, but it's time for some real nice weather!
We've been busy here on the dairy. The guys have been harvesting in between the rain showers! And Rudi and me have been working on our yard. We are putting in bricks. and then we need to put in sprinklers before we can put in grass. quite a project. It's been a year without a real yard, so it's about time. We bought a sand box for Tys, that we need to put together. He loves playing with all his trucks, tractors and loaders in the dirt.
Nieko is turning one this month, can you believe it!???

Here are a few more NL pics

By all the beautiful tulips

our family

Tys and Nieko and 2 of their cousins in the zoo by the elephants!

My mom and dad put their house up for sale.
Mixed feelings about that, since it's the house I was born and grew up in...

Tys "helping" pake Jacob putting up the sign!