Weekend Wrap-Up

It was another fun-filled spring weekend for us. 

Friday night, Kael was in the Hersheys's Track Meet. He was so excited to do it and I was happy that some other boys had asked him to be on their relay team.  He ran the 4 x 100, the 100 and the 200.  He finished each race with a smile but his legs have been really bothering him lately (still waiting on some info from our Iowa City visit to decide what our next step will be) and he came in last in every race.  Seriously bless his heart for being out there though.  Seeing him compete and giving it his all, but watching him hobble to the parking lot in pain made me gave second thoughts about letting him participate in the triathlon again this summer. It was a bit of a tough start to the weekend- the weather was chilly and we had a squirmy two year old who wasn't at all interested in sitting still on the bleachers for two hours while we waited for each of Kael's events.  

Saturday morning was off to a much better start as we were all at the park by like 7:15 in the morning.  It was nice out and we didn't have anything going on until the afternoon so we spent all morning outside.  We planted pumpkin seeds in our garden, I pitched a little to Kael in preparation for his game, Kent, walked with Kylee and Kase to the other park across the street- it was wonderful.

Up next was Little League Opening Ceremonies.  The highlight here for Kase was the mac and cheese sample from Z'Mariks and the highlight for Kylee was the face painting. :)

Kael had a game immediately after the ceremony where Kase took a whopping twenty minute nap in his stroller (such is the life of a youngest child).  Two of Kael's teammates showed up literally as the game started and we narrowly missed having to forfeit due to missing players.  The boys haven't lost yet, so having their first loss as a forfeit would have been devastating.  The game was close in the beginning then we pulled out a 14-2 win.  With each win I feel myself getting more and more excited about the season.  Maybe too excited for nine year old baseball.  But it's so fun.

Coach Dad with a few tips for Kael before he was up to bat. 

Kael slides into home! I have zero idea how I accidentally took this picture in black and white.  I need photography lessons. 

Saturday afternoon, my wonderful husband took me and the kids to Tulip Time.  Kent does not love big crowds, and while he does like going to Pella, I know this trip was mostly only for me.  We started off walking around Central's campus.  Right before we had left Ankeny, I had brilliantly, if I do say so myself, thought of throwing in the kids' scooters.  They had the best time zipping all around campus and loved hearing stories from our time there.  Kent told Kael the story of the Lemming Race to which Kael replied, "I'm totally going here for college." 

Tammy, how much time did you spend in Weller?? Such fun being back on campus. 

We headed towards West Market Park and let the kids play for awhile before walking up to the square to eat.  The skies did not look friendly but it didn't rain too hard and we were able to take cover (with a funnel cake, even!) while the rain passed.  In a true act of love, Kent waited in the world's longest poffertje line for me the kids. If I'm being totally honest, I love Tulip Time and I think the tulips are beautiful but I'm really in it for the poffertjes.  Which is why I am absolutely devastated to report that Kase, yes, He Who Loves All Food, didn't like poffertjes AT ALL.  He kind of licked it, then said, "Blah.  Don't like it." And he handed it back to me. Oh well, one less person I had to share with!

Kent's there in a gray t-shirt near the guy in the orange shirt towards the middle of the line.  

Victory!

These two know what's up.  They love poffertjes like any good Dutch kid should. 

He looks like he's going to love it.  But he didn't. 

We wandered around and took some pictures by tulips while Kylee ooh-ed and aaah-ed over them.  Kase broke free from his stroller and ran around like crazy and Kael, whose legs hurt from so much walking, tried to hijack the stroller and was seriously bummed when I wouldn't push all eighty pounds of him around.

Kase loves having his picture taken..

We're better with goofy photos.  The whole "everyone smile and look at the camera at the same time" thing is just too much. 

We had missed the afternoon parade because of Kael's game, but I was hoping I could talk Kent into staying for the night parade.  Kase's short nap was not making it easy for me to convince him to stay to watch a parade that started after our kids' usual bedtime, but he agreed.  Because he loves me.  And because he's a good dad.  And because Kylee almost started crying when I told her we might have to go home before the parade started.  "It's ok, Mom.  I understand.  I just hope we can see even just a couple of the floats in the very beginning before we have to leave,"  she said.   So we decided to stay and I think even Kent would admit that it was totally worth it.

We were killing a little time waiting for the parade and were so happy to run into some of my family.  Kylee loved talking with Matt and Kael couldn't have been happier that my Uncle Cliff played tag with him. 

While we were waiting, Kase became friends with the cheese guys.  Unlike the poffertjes, he LOVED the cheese. 

Kylee appreciated my humor when I said, "That's some good-a (gouda) cheese!" She was also the only one who laughed, when during the parade we saw a cart with people carving wooden shoes and Kael asked, "What are they doing?" I replied, "Wooden shoe like to know?" Ha.  I crack myself up.  

When the Tulip Queen rode by, Kael said, in the sweetest, most sincere voice, "She should totally be Tulip Queen of like the whole world.  She's soooo pretty, right?"  Aww! 

Super Dad!

Sunday after church we went to Collins to spend some time with Kent's fam.  We made a quick stop to see his Grandma and Grandpa Patterson, then swung by Keith and Cindy's for enough time for Uncle Kyle to throw the kids around on the bunk beds, then off to Grandma and Grandpa Dunshee's for dinner/tractor rides/Gator rides.  Kael also enjoyed trying to teach everyone how to ride his Ripstick. We also got to meet baby Noah!

Back in Ankeny, I went along with my dad to a few open houses.  I LOVE looking at houses.  Then back home for a little neighborhood baseball game and park time, then off to Dad's to hunt mushrooms.  It's a little early in the year, so we didn't find any but had fun looking.  

Overall, a great weekend.  However, my grandma has been back in the hospital and had a pretty tough week last week.  My mom had a busy week with her so we're all praying that Grandma feels better soon and that she gets some answers. We would certainly appreciate prayers on her behalf as well as prayers for the doctors making the decisions. 

Here's to hoping for a great week!