The Nephew's Birthday

He's 12!!

It's hard to believe.

My first nephew.

The first one to be spoiled LOVED! :) 

I saw him before he was 24 hours old......and I immediately fell in love with him. 

His bright bright eyes. His long fingers. His tiny little nose. His unique ear--that is now totally normal. :) 

I stayed with my sister for week after he was born. Just to spoil him--because my sister said "she didn't need any help!!" Whatever. I didn't care how it was said, just so long I got to hold him. :) 

I remember him as the long, skinny baby screaming at his mother and I as we tried to get "just one cute photo"....{okay, so it really was more like 50!}....*sidenote: After many many photos, he is turning into quite the pro at posing for photos! I'm proud of him. :)

Now he's growing up. Actually he's been grown up for quite awhile now. He always was a mature kid. 

And then life made him grow up faster than I would have liked to see. 

But he's a sweet kid!! :)

Compassionate. A perfect big brother---always looking out for and protecting his little sisters. Generous. Kind. Creative. Smart. Funny. A soccer player. A warrior for Jesus.

I love my nephew!! :)

We continued on with the tradition of letting the birthday person decorate the cake. 

The little sisters were kept preoccupied with decorating cupcakes.

This made for less arguments over who got to be in charge of decorating the cake....and for less hands trying to all decorate a 9x13 cake at once! ;-)

In keeping with Dutch tradition, the kitchen was decorated the night before the big day...after the birthday boy went to bed. A birthday banner was hung. And balloons were decorated and hung. 

All by his adoring sisters. :)

{A special thanks to the dear friend who started this tradition! You are remembered! And missed!!!}

The finished cake. 

A soccer/football field :)

The best part...in the eyes of all little birthday people....the gifts :)

Opening a gift from his little sister...of things taken from her collection of "special things".

[What a generous girl she is!!]

Happy Birthday!! 

May God give you strength, grace and His peace as you face the coming year!