The married couple share three children together: sons Phoenix and Camden, and daughter Brooklyn The NCIS: Hawai’i star, 44, recently shared snaps via her Instagram Stories of her family of five celebrating her son Camden, 12, graduating from elementary school. In one picture, Vanessa can be seen kissing the tween on the cheek, as he adorns a stack of lei around his neck sent to him by his aunts from the Aloha State.
In the other picture, the proud mom posed with her husband and fellow Love Is Blind host, 51, and their three children. The Lacheys were all smiles as they surrounded the soon-to-be middle schooler. “Middle school here we come!” Vanessa wrote in text over the second picture. Vanessa and Nick are parents to three children: sons Phoenix, 8, and Camden, and daughter Brooklyn, 10. As a mom of three, things may get chaotic and busy, but Vanessa knows it all comes with the territory.
“We all have fails daily and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent,” she told PEOPLE in April 2019. “We all are constantly struggling daily, but that’s also the beautiful side of parenthood.” The mom of three isn’t fully ready for her kids to become teenagers. During a Friday, Feb. 14 interview with Entertainment Tonight alongside her husband, she was asked how she’s feeling about her oldest son becoming a teenager this year. As soon as the question was read, Vanessa began to get emotional. “That one’s going to get me,” Vanessa said, tearing up. “It’s going to get me because you know that this has been happening in the last couple months.”
“They’re growing! I can’t answer this question, I have on fake eyelashes,” she continued. “I’m not nervous about the next phase, I’m excited. Everybody who has older kids talks about how it gets better. I’m hanging onto them still being little. And they’re still little now. So. I’m going to cry.” Vanessa then became teary as her husband said, “I feel like I’m in Jerry Maguire when Roy Firestone makes Cuba Gooding Jr. cry. You’re not going to get me to cry, Roy!”
“It’s actually really… it’s such a beautiful question because I love — I know you do too — we love our children and we love watching them grow,” Vanessa explained. “But maybe it’s because NCIS:Hawai’i was cancelled and I was so sad. We were so sad we left Hawaii. That was our dream. And the silver lining to that is it’s been able to give us so much time with our kids.”
Although she noted that her older son still acts like a kid for now, Vanessa added there’s so much she’s excited to experience with her kids once they get a little older. “Camden is just…he’s 12 but he’s still like a 12-year-old boy. He watches Bluey with his brother and sister and they’re just still kids,” the star said. “And I’m like really holding onto it because at some point it does change … but I’m excited about girlfriends and boyfriends and driving and whatever.”
As parents, witnessing your child take significant steps in their educational journey is both exciting and emotional. For Nick and Vanessa Lachey, this moment was made even more special by honoring their Hawaiian heritage.
Aloha Spirit in the Air
Vanessa Lachey, star of NCIS: Hawai’i, shared a heartfelt Instagram post celebrating her son Camden’s transition from elementary to middle school. In the photos, Camden is seen wearing a stack of colorful leis sent by his aunts from Hawaii, symbolizing the family’s deep connection to the islands. Vanessa captioned the post with “Middle school here we come!” expressing both pride and a touch of nostalgia.
Leis are more than just beautiful accessories; they are a traditional Hawaiian gesture of love, respect, and celebration. By adorning Camden with these leis, the Lachey family not only celebrated his academic achievement but also connected him to their cultural roots.
Family Bonding Moments
The Lachey family, including Nick, Vanessa, Camden, and their younger children Brooklyn and Phoenix, posed together in a joyful family portrait. The smiles and unity in the photo reflect the strong family bond and the shared joy of this milestone.
Vanessa’s Emotional Reflection
In her post, Vanessa expressed mixed emotions about Camden growing up. She shared, “We all have fails daily and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent,” highlighting the challenges and joys of parenthood. Her sentiments resonate with many parents navigating similar transitions.
A Glimpse into Their Hawaiian Life
Before relocating back to the mainland, the Lachey family spent several years in Hawaii due to Vanessa’s role on NCIS: Hawai’i. During their time there, they embraced the local culture, and the children attended school in Hawaii, further strengthening their connection to the islands.
Looking Forward
As Camden embarks on his middle school journey, the Lachey family continues to support and celebrate each other’s milestones. Their blend of family traditions and cultural heritage serves as a beautiful example of how to honor the past while looking forward to the future.
Conclusion
Nick and Vanessa Lachey’s celebration of Camden’s transition to middle school is a touching reminder of the importance of family, tradition, and cultural heritage. By incorporating Hawaiian customs into this milestone, they not only honored their roots but also created lasting memories for their children.
