5 years old. I really can’t believe it. I can’t believe Trek would be that old, I can’t believe we have lived without him for almost 4 years now. Peyton just stared at the #5 on Trek’s birthday cupcake and cried when we sang him happy birthday, and said how he wished we hadn’t been without him for so long. My thoughts perfectly, I can barely bear to leave my kids to go on a date with Jarrett, so 4 years, it’s mind blowing and so very painful.
Every year I feel differently how I want to celebrate Trek’s birthday. This year I wanted it to be fun and for us to do some activities as a family to learn and grow, which is how we view Trek’s life and his impact on ours. That he led us down a beautiful and adventurous path that would have never been opened for us without him.
Here’s how we celebrated his last 4 birthdays:
Trek’s 4th Birthday in Galveston, Texas
Blog post with links to his 1st, 2nd, and 3rd birthday
This year I had a list of hikes with waterfalls for the family to pick from. We picked one and then realized it was a 2 hour subway ride (each way) away, not including our ferry and taxi times. Jarrett and I wanted the day to be fun and relaxing, not full of travel, so I asked the boys what they thought Trek would like to do if he was here. They chose to go to EpicLand, which is a giant play place on a nearby island. I had already got some presents for Trek and the family. I don’t think I have done presents before, but there have been some family activities and learning we have been talking about lately, so I thought this would be a good way to delve into some new family adventures and the kick off was perfect for Trek’s birthday. We got Trek a handmade drum from Thailand with elephants carved into the bottom, so all the kids and even Jarrett, could play on it and we could think of Trek.
at the playplace in the playhouse. I wish our house was big enough to buy her one of these, we had soo much fun playing in it:)
the boys love playing putt-putt with Jarrett, and he with them:)
I think it was meant to be:) Look what one of the activities was called at the play place:)
enjoying the cake batter for Trek’s cupcakes. She totally gets baking and treats, if she comes in the kitchen and the oven is on, she will stand there and cry until I pull out whatever is in it, its so funny and sad-hehe:)
we always talk about learning Morse Code, now we can!
We got a family wood burning kit to make Trek’s name for his birthday, and for the boys to have a fun boy craft to do whenever they feel like it
It was so fun and easy, we all really liked doing it
Vesper got paint and window markers. She made Trek a beautiful picture and then decorated her cute little body:)
Trek’s awesome drum. Everyone has had so much fun playing it.
It was the perfect way to celebrate Trek’s birthday, even though it was so bittersweet as always. We had a very special and fun time.
5 years ago today, best day ever!!! Trek’s day of birth in our driveway in Maui
I just love, love this picture, all 3 of my perfect little boys
We all talked about what our favorite memory of Trek was and Jarrett’s was catching him being born:)
the morning of Trek’s 1st and only birthday, what a beautiful birthday boy!
We love and miss you Trek and hope you are having a wonderful birthday. We had a special time celebrating you here, even though we wished all day, like we do everyday, that you were here.
Happy 5th Birthday Trek Atlas!