Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for how Kylee often waves to me, hanging by one arm as she spins around on the "spinny thing".  

I'm thankful that Kase did particularly well trick-or-treating Uptown last week and I told him so.  "Kase, I'm so proud of you- how you only took one piece of candy and you remembered to say thank you every time!" He replied, "Thanks Mom.  I'm so proud of you for walking with me.  Good job."

I'm thankful that Keith and Cindy came down on Monday and took Kase out for lunch.  I'm sure he felt like pretty big stuff getting to go out with Grandma and Grandpa all by himself!

I'm thankful that when Kase digs through my cupboard and finds our donut maker, I have time to make donuts with him.  Just because we can.

I'm thankful for some friends who were getting a new TV and gave their old one to us! 

I'm thankful the weather will be decent for trick-or-treat tonight!

Happy Thursday!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for Kael's enthusiasm over a new pen pal in Korea!

I'm thankful for this beautiful fall weather and trips to the apple orchard with friends.

I'm thankful for an almost totally free weekend ahead.

I'm thankful for backyard bulldozers in the sand.

I'm thankful for Uptown trick-or-treat tonight! It won't be the same since my dad's office isn't there anymore but we are still looking forward to this annual event!

I'm thankful for the few Christmas gifts I bought yesterday. Time to get started! I love the holiday season so much.

Have a great weekend guys!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday, I attended the kids' fall parties at school.  Love spending time seeing them in their element. 

Friday evening we ate out for dinner and picked up a movie to watch.  Kent worked in the basement a little bit while the rest of us snuggled up on the couch.

Saturday morning Kent finished up what he needed to do in the basement while the kids and I just hung out.  Here, the kids are washing Hot Wheels. For fun. :)

Saturday afternoon, Kael had his last soccer game of the season and played so well.  I was equal parts proud of and happy for him.  Then he was off to a birthday party.  Keith, Cindy, Kent, Kylee, Kase and I headed off for an adventure downtown.  After a couple other places were too busy, we ended up at Exile.  It was fantastic. Kylee was psyched about the World's Longest French Fry that she found. ;)

After dinner we headed to Gray's Lake.  You guys, it was sooo pretty! The bridge was lit up in the most brilliant of colors. Such a fun evening.

Sunday morning we had our usual pancake breakfast, then off to church where I was in the nursery with Kase. Lunch with my parents afterwards, then Kent and Kael helped my dad work on his bridge, Kase napped, and Kylee had a birthday party to go to. Sunday evening we spent hanging at the park until it got dark out. 

We have a very not busy week ahead and are sooo looking forward it.  What's going on for you this week?

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful the kids both had a pajama day yesterday.  Getting ready for school was a breeze!

I'm thankful Christmas is around the corner.  I'm geeking out over kids' Christmas lists already.  We have had so much fun looking through all the holiday catalogs that have come in the mail.

I'm thankful for a generous gift a couple weeks ago that I can't believe I forgot to mention earlier. You're the best, Dad!

I'm thankful for quiet afternoons while Kase sleeps.  I am feeling so organized lately, largely attributed to his looong naps.  Also, knowing that he'll sleep for awhile makes it easy to spend my whole morning with him, just playing whatever he wants because I know I'll have time to do laundry, cleaning, etc while he sleeps.

I'm thankful for an absolutely beautiful fall day.

Happy Thursday, guys!

Weekend Wrap-Up

What a fun-filled  weekend!

(Rewinding a bit...)

Wednesday night we went to the Fire Station Open house- such a neat event.  The kids got to use the real fire hoses, go inside a (fake) smoke-filled house, climb on fire trucks, and lots of other cool things.  There were a lot of people there but we were there early so we didn't have to wait in lines for too long.  We had a great time.

Thursday, my littlest sous chef helped me bake a blueberry pie.

Friday, we headed to my parents' house for a bonfire.  Kael has been asking us to let him have a party for his half birthday and he wanted to take a bunch of friends over to my parents' house and camp out over night.  It sounded like lots of fun, but honestly, that's more than we typically do for an actual birthday party.  So he settled for inviting one friend over for a bonfire.  Kase "helped" my dad in the afternoon, then the rest of us went over there that evening and made hamburgers, hot dogs and s'mores over the fire.  The kids had fun splashing around by the water and playing hide and seek in the dark.

Saturday we had a nice morning getting a few things done around here, then Kael had a soccer game. He scored a goal and was just so excited.  I was really proud of how he played. Saturday afternoon Kylee and I went to Glitterazzi, a Parks and Rec sponsored event in town where the girls got all dressed up, got their hair and nails done, got airbrushed tattoos, pictures with Queen Elsa- it was really fun.  I enjoyed spending time with Kylee.

Nearly allll of the girls there chose an "Elsa" style for their hair.  Kylee (who rarely just "follows the crowd") opted for one of the"Anna" styles. It was super cute.

When we got home Saturday afternoon, the kids were so excited that their uncles were coming over! We had fun celebrating his early birthday with a bunch of family at El Azteca, then everyone came back here for ice cream dessert. The kids (and Kent and I) thoroughly enjoyed spending time with the extended family that we don't see as often as we'd like!

Sunday after church, Kent got started on some work in the basement.  Kylee and I headed off to Target for some major birthday gift shopping (I think we have five birthday parties in the next week and a half). Kael had his last football game of the season.  They got the win and finished 5-1.  A great season for Orange Crush! :) Kylee, Kase and I headed to the pumpkin patch for a neighbor birthday party.  It was so fun!

Monday, we had a nice lazy morning then Kent (who had the day off too) worked in the basement. He got the vent in the bathroom which means we are one step closer to drywall! Wahoo!

The kids and I had such a nice day.  Kylee was up early so she helped me bake coffee cake, and later we did some glitter crafts.  I played Monopoly with Kael, trucks with Kase and just had the loveliest day.  Both Kylee and I were wishing we had an extra "day off" every week.  

It's Kael's last week of soccer, so things will slow down for us considerably after this weekend.  Hope you all had a nice weekend!

Thankful Thursday

After a whirlwind of doctors appointments, I'm thankful that all the tests are coming back OK.  I haven't been feeling the best lately and just wish I knew why.  But so thankful they're ruling out some major things.

I'm thankful that when I went downtown for an appointment on Monday morning, I returned home to find that Kent had vacuumed the entire house for me.  He's a keeper.

I'm thankful for my littlest bike rider and his snazzy new helmet.

I'm thankful that Kylee finds new ways to use our old dress up clothes. 

I'm thankful for breathtaking sunrises.

I'm thankful for the Fire Department story time at the library the other day!

I'm thankful for a Jaguar volleyball win on Tuesday night (and thankful for my mini-me).

I'm thankful for a totally spontaneous trip to the zoo with Kase yesterday.  The weather was beautiful, and we had an uncharacteristically free morning so off we went! We had the nicest time.  I bet we spent fifteen minutes just watching the sea lions- it felt so good to not be rushed! 

Enjoy your weekend, guys!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday night Kent and I had plans to celebrate our anniversary.  I'm not sure who was more excited- the kids, who got to sleep over at Keith and Cindy's, or Kent and I, who rarely go out by ourselves! Keith picked the kids up shortly after school Friday, then Kent and I checked out Confluence Brewery.  It was a fun way to start our evening.  Then we headed to Malo which was super cool.  I felt so downtown-y.  ;) We just had an appetizer there, then headed to Centro to eat.  It was a perfect evening.

Saturday Kent and I ran a few errands before the kids got home and wandered around The Attic where we found a kitchen table we're still thinking of getting.  Keith and Cindy had taken the kids to Early May Pumpkin Fest, so we met up with them there (and most of my fam was there too)! Kids had fun riding the horses, getting faces painted and decorating cookies.  We go nearly every year- such a fun, fall event so near our house!

Kael had a chilly soccer game, then we spent the rest of the afternoon/evening hanging around here. Sunday morning we met my sister and her kids and my grandma over at my parents house for breakfast.  I taught Sunday School, then we all went out for lunch at Chip's before Kael's football game. I wrapped up my weekend hanging out with my sisters.  Such a rare treat for us to get together! We had fun chatting for a couple hours and promised to get together again soon.

Have a great week, guys!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for our anniversary.  Nine years! Looking forward to celebrating with Kent on Friday night while the kids have a sleepover at Keith and Cindy's.

I'm thankful for a rainy day, which fell on a late start day and Kael actually slept in past 8:00! This almost never happens!

I'm thankful that Kylee seems happier with each week that passes.  She still says she doesn't like school this year, but we're seeing far fewer tears in the morning.

I'm thankful that my kids are as excited for Christmas as me.  Kylee asked us to get out her Christmas bears the other day and Kael asked if we could set up his little Christmas tree in his room soon.  They also both started working on Christmas lists.  Love it!

I'm thankful for the haircut I fiiiiinnally got last night.  I think it had been over a year and I was in desperate need of one. Also thankful to be able to donate it to Locks of Love.

Have a great weekend!