Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that it feels like spring! And I'm not just talking about the weather.  I mean, it feels like spring because my arm is sore from playing football with Kael and pitching baseballs endlessly to Kase.  Being a mom to my two boys means heading outside any day that has a hint of sunshine and playing ball 'til it's dark.  I wouldn't have it any other way.  And don't worry- Kylee isn't left out.  She's usually strapping on her rollerblades and spinning circles and shagging balls around us as we play. 

I'm thankful we finally made it to one of Uncle Kevin's games!

I'm thankful Kael didn't seem to mind when I got his friends' phone numbers for him. Yup. I'm the embarrassing mom.

I'm thankful Kase woke up from a nap to go potty!! He was still dry. This is HUGE! 

I'm thankful we purchased our 2015 pool passes! I'm so ready for summer. 

I'm thankful this warm weather has inspired me to start some spring cleaning!

I'm thankful that this basement project keeps rollin' along.  Hopefully we'll be painting this weekend and can keep doing things each weekend thereafter until it's done!

Happy Thursday, guys!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Every year, part of my mom's Christmas gift from my sisters and me is to plan a hotel weekend for the whole family.  So this weekend we stayed at Stoney Creek in Johnston with my sisters and their families and my parents.  It was such a great weekend- so many wonderful memories made.  Here are some pictures! 

As soon as kids' basketball games were done on Saturday (where Kael "drained a shot from downtown"- his words- that had the whole crowd, both sides, cheering), we met up with everyone at the hotel.  The kids were ready to hop in the water immediately upon arrival! 

One of the best parts of the pool is how you can swim both inside and outside. 

The hot tub is pretty sweet too!

Between swimming and eating we fit in some games.  The boys were playing Slap Jack with the most giant playing cards you've ever seen.

The girls were drawing. 

The bunk bed room was so perfect.  Tons of space for everyone to hang out! 

Our room was right next to a common area where we enjoyed hanging out and fully appreciated while the littles napped.  Before bed we had a rousing game of Family Feud- so.much.fun!

We were all up early.  So we had time for donuts.  To be clear, the donuts were in addition to breakfast.  Like a breakfast appetizer.  We had donuts, then swam, then had breakfast.  

The best part of the whole weekend was watching all the cousins play together.  I've said it before and I'll say it again- for living as close together as we do, I don't see my sisters and their families nearly enough!

Kent came to the rescue when we needed to get a mouse out of the pool.  No biggie.

The kids weren't too worried about the mouse.  They were just excited to be swimming outside in the dark while it was snowing. 

My kids were wiped when we got home- the sign of a great weekend. ;) We were in the pool seven times in twenty-four hours so the kids were tired for good reason.  This little winter getaway is something I look forward to every single year! What a great weekend!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful our basement has walls!  Especially thankful for Kent and his tireless work in getting the basement to this point.  Also to our family and friends who have helped out!

I'm thankful for any day that I'm awake by myself.  There is not another more peaceful time of the day.

I'm thankful for my moms help with the kids this week as our schedule has had some shuffling around. 

I'm thankful for plans with friends this weekend.

I'm thankful for a long weekend ahead. No school Monday!

I'm thankful for weather nice enough to be playing outside (kids) and walking with friends (me).

Happy Thursday, guys!

10 years ago...

... we were having a celebratory dinner with my family and his. We were engaged!

... I had no idea I would say things to our children like, "Please don't eat the carpet on the stairs" and, "Next time, don't brush your teeth with gum in your mouth".

... I probably would have bet that we'd have three kids and be living in Ankeny.

... I knew there'd be sleepless nights ahead, but just not so.very.many sleepless nights ahead.

... I thought I knew it all.  I didn't.

... I hoped that someday I'd be able to stay home and raise our kids.

... I thought, "If we live here in this tiny apartment for the rest of our lives, I'll be happy, because I'm with you."

... I never dreamt we would be living in this beautiful house in this perfect location raising our happily ever after family.




I'm willing to bet there were some naysayers out there when you asked me and when I said yes.  But I'd say it again and again. And I wouldn't change anything about this life of ours.  #happilyeverafter

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that a quote we got for drywall came back less than we expected! Wahoo! Time to get this basement project rollin' again.  Especially since it's too cold to be outside doing anything...

That's all for today.  I'm off to start the task of moving things out of the basement.  Have a great weekend, all!

Cold day!

We knew early yesterday evening that the kids wouldn't have school today.  I think I was as excited as them! I know we just had two full weeks off school but I'll take any extra time with my kiddos that I can get.

Started off the day by baking coffee cake. Seriously yum.

Kylee made this bowl out of perler beads. 

We are lunch at Godfather's.

And while our day included plenty of lounging, I was fairly productive as well.

I prepped some meals for the rest of the week and also dug into some deep cleaning tasks. I finished and ordered the kids 2014 photo books. Kylee played at a friend's house and Kase took a good nap.  It had all the makings of a great day.

One thing has been weighing on my mind however. 

Kael.

I love a lot of things about him being nine. 

The texts I get from him after I've tucked him in. "Mom, I'm starving up here!"

His independence. "Mom I can fill my own plate (at Godfathers). I'm nine, you know!"

How he set the table the other night without being asked.  "Mom, I heard you say you were going to set the table soon so I just did it for you." 

How he has a vast knowledge and interest in sports statistics.  "Hey Mom, did you know....???" To which I usually have to reply, "Nope. I had no idea."

How he can school me in chess.  Every.single.time.  I beat him once, by accident.  "Hey Mom, do you realize you could get my king if you move this?"  Umm...nope.  Hadn't realized that at all.

How he can play with Kase like no one else can.  He is a lifesaver among the hectic after school hours around here.  "Hey Mom, can Kase just come up to my room and play with me for awhile?"

There are, however, a few challenges.  Talking with friends, I'm realizing that some of these things are typical "pre-tween" (is that a thing?) behavior.

His sense of entitlement. "It's my iPad so I should be able to play it when I want."

His affinity for messiness.  "My friend has candy wrappers all over his floor.  And clothes.  You can't even see his floor actually. I'd like my room to be like that."

His disregard for most manners.  Maybe that one's just a boy thing.

But far and away, the most challenging thing is something I can't even sum up with one word. Agreeableness maybe? I did just check to make sure that's a real word.  It is.  And turns out it's one of the Big Five personality traits.  Who knew?

I struggle with Kael when I ask him to do something and I'm met with either a "why" or an explanation of why he shouldn't have to or maybe he just outright ignored didn't hear me.  I find myself saying over and over again, "When I ask you to do something, just say OK then do it!" Don't argue it, don't debate it, just do it.

I have also been working on how to get him to speak respectful words in a respectful tone to both myself and Kent.  He often just says whatever he is thinking (a trait most likely inherited from yours truly) and it comes out sounding awfully harsh or just plain rude.

The rocky middle school years are not far away and I'm trying to lay some groundwork before we get there.  I found myself telling him today that this is the first time I've ever parented a nine year old boy so I'm still learning a lot, too.  I know this too, shall pass, but in the meantime, you better believe I'm brushing up on my chess skills and sports stats.

Happy New Year!

It's been a fun, family and friend filled week around here!

NYE we went to the library for their Noon Year's Eve, then later we went out for an early dinner.  We spent the evening at our neighbor's house playing games.  When we got home, Kase went straight to bed but Kael and Kylee stayed up for awhile with me.

New Year's Day we spent hanging at my parent's house and my sisters and their families were there too.  Such a fun day! Sometimes last minute plans end up working out for the best!

We watched the Hawkeye game on Friday with friends then ended up hanging out with them all here at our house til it was all the kids' bedtime.

Saturday Kael and Kylee's basketball seasons got officially underway! Both had fun at their games. Saturday night we went out for dinner with one of my sisters and her husband and had such a nice time.  Already looking forward to the next time, when hopefully all 6 of us (my sisters and their husbands) can go out!

Yesterday was the laziest day we've had around here for as long as I can remember.  The kids and I didn't leave the house all day and we spent the majority of the day lounging around watching football.  It was heavenly.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little excited for the kids to go back to school today.  Not because I wanted them out of here because I love, love, love having them around, but my Type A personality was dying to get everyone back on a schedule.  We didn't set any major New Year's resolutions around here, but have a couple things we're working on.  Some easy (eat more veggies), some not so easy (potty train Kase and take away his pacifier). Here's to the start of a great year!