Weekend Wrap-Up

I'm typing this while I watch America's Funniest Videos with my favorite peeps (a perfect end to a weekend and a Sunday night tradition that dates waaaay back ;), so I'm going to type this in ;list format to make it quick.

Friday

Kids slept over at my parents' house.  

Kent and I enjoyed a rare night out and we I was finally able to decide on a couch for the basement.(Flooring will be installed this week.  Oh the excitement!)

Saturday

Surprised the boys with an early birthday present, a basketball hoop, so we can put it up and have it ready by their actual birthdays.

Check out Kael's reaction in this photo!

And Kase's in this one!

That's one happy kid.

Make that two happy kids. 

Went to an Easter egg hunt.  It seems like it is always cold on the day of the Jaycees hunt and this year was no different.  Totally worth it though! Kase and Kylee had fun (Kael was too old to participate- my buddy is growing up) and Kylee even won a prize.

Kent worked on installing the hoop while the kids and I did some errands- haircuts, picked out seeds for the garden, etc. Also, Kylee and I got pedis with some friends.

Kylee declared this her favorite pedicure ever.

Saturday night Kase ran into a pole at the park (the second time in as many weeks) and ended up with a GIANT goose egg on his forehead.  

Sunday

We always make pancakes on Sunday mornings and occasionally we'll make something fun out of them.  Today, Kase enjoyed his lion pancake.  Please kindly excuse the gal in the ratty Central sweatshirt in the background (um, it's me). 

The kids got to sing in church and were pretty excited about it.  

Kylee is near the middle left, Kael is near the top right. 

Later the Patterson crew came for lunch- the kids were so excited to have their uncles here, especially.  The kids watched out the window for them for a full half hour before they arrived. 

We dyed Easter eggs.  I'm so glad Kael wasn't too old for that. 

Have a great week, everyone!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that a friend passed on some kind words about me from the director of the church childcare group I've been helping out with.

I'm thankful the weekend is near.  Has it been a long week for anyone else?

I'm thankful Kael starts soccer tonight! I'm really looking forward to a fun season for him!

Kase is thankful I let him have a Bomb Pop for breakfast. (Because he has a sore throat.)

I'm thankful for help from Kent.  Kase has been battling a cold, which means he is awake frequently during the night.  I seriously couldn't do it alone.

I'm thankful for plans with a friend tonight.

I'm thankful that I've gotten a decent start on our April busyness.  A few birthday gifts have been bought and a few plans have been made.

I'm thankful that Kase likes to look at books.  Is there anything better than when a little one walks up to you with a book and blanket in his hand and asks, "Can you read this to me?"

I'm thankful it's supposed to warm up at least a little for the weekend.  I'm pretty much over the cold weather.  As in, I've packed up all the kids winter clothes for the year and also have been letting Kael wear shorts to school nearly every day.  (Disclaimer- he wears super long socks so that there is approximately an inch of skin showing between socks and shorts.)

I'm thankful Kylee has been enjoying time with friends lately.  She has a pretty full social life (read: tons of friends who live close by) but often she needs time at home alone with just the fam.  Last year I'd spot the neighbor girls out and tell Kylee she could go play, and often she'd choose to stay inside with me.  Lately, she's been wanting to play with her friends all the time, and they've been getting along really well.

Happy Thursday, all!

Weekend Wrap-Up, Spring Break Edition

I'm going to attempt a quick post to recap our Spring Break fun.  Be prepared for lots of pictures and some of this will be a repeat from last post but I want to have all our memories of the week in once place.

Thursday the kids came home from school so excited about Spring Break! And the weather was decent.  So we played outside, Kylee had dinner at a friend's house then later a bunch of neighbors gathered in our driveway/garage to watch the ISU game and let the kids play around.

Friday, Kent had the day off and we decided to head to the Science Center.  Kids loved the IMAX movie about sharks and had lots of fun with the bubbles area in the actual Science Center.  Walked to Spaghetti Works for lunch, where Kylee ordered a peanut butter and jelly pizza that she was over the moon about.  Spent the afternoon playing with friends, then headed over to Dad and Mom's for dinner and to play around in the backyard.

Saturday we did a few things around the house then Keith and Cindy came, we had lunch, a quick stop at the new elementary park, then off to ride bikes at Cherry Glen.  I was so happy with how well the kids rode and how much fun they had.  Capped off our afternoon at Dairy Queen where Kase decided to swap his twist cone for my strawberry cheesecake blizzard.  I can't believe I let him get away with that.  ;) Back home, Kylee and I walked to her friend's house to pick her up to play at the park.

Sunday we went to a neighbor's birthday brunch.  We had such a fun time celebrating their {current} littlest cutie before their baby boy arrives in a month! Spent the afternoon playing outside.

It was so sweet of Mark to let Kael help be the pancake chef.  

Monday the kids hung out with my mom and visited my grandma while I did a few errands.  Met at Los Charros for a funny lunch then home to play outside in 80 degree weather! Sure did set up the water table and Kylee had a friend over to play.  Kael has been playing lots of basketball at the neighbor's house lately and I hope he's excited that we (shhh) got him one for our house for his birthday! Later that night we went to Dairy Queen as they were giving away free cones.  You know we weren't gonna miss out on that.

Tuesday was St. Patrick's Day.  This is not a holiday I'm super excited about at all.  I wear my green, but that's about it.  Kylee, however, get so excited for this day.  The leprechaun left some gold coins and a few other things for the kids and she was super excited.  Then Mom went with us to Chuck E. Cheese- the kids LOVED it.  Also stopped by the mall to see the Easter Bunny, play at the playplace and ride the train.  Another fun stop.  Kael had an afternoon appointment with his sports therapist (his legs have still been really bothering him).  Later Kylee had a sleepover at her friend's house so Kael invited a friend to stay here. 

Wednesday the boys and I picked up donuts for breakfast and just hung out.  Kase and I baked cookies, Kylee went to the Indoor Playground with her friend then late afternoon we loaded up and headed to the Bucs Arena for some open ice skating that Kylee's friend had told us about.  I knew Kylee would have a friend meeting us there, but Kael was pumped that one of his buddies was there too.  It was one of those things that turned out to be way more fun that I anticipated so that was awesome. Hoping to do some more ice skating soon!

Thursday Kael had a March Madness basketball thing that the Parks and Rec puts on every year over Spring Break and it's something he really looks forward to.  He had a great time. Meanwhile, Kylee, Kase and I stopped by Mom's house to play- she was babysitting Huston since my sister is in France so we wanted to go over and visit while she had him there.

Friday Kent had the day off again.  The painters had finished in the basement so Kent spent a good part of the day putting on door knobs, light switch covers, etc.  The kids and I spent the day playing outside then later my dad stopped by so he, Kent, Kael and Kase took a bike ride out to Cherry Glen.  Later some friends stopped by to watch the Iowa game.  We have been more into March Madness than ever before this year.  So fun!

Saturday morning we hung out at my parents' house "helping" collect sticks for a bonfire.  The kids enjoyed loading up the trailer and Kael had fun driving it.  Later that afternoon we met Keith and Cindy at a hotel in town! We had the best time swimming and just hanging out.  Went out for supper, swam some more then Kent and I brought Kase home while the big kids got to sleep over. 

We were missing Kyle and Kevin for our pool tower this year! ;) And please excuse Kent's growly look in this picture.  Honestly, he was having fun.  I don't know how/why he looks upset here?

Kael is getting so grown up. (Above) But I love that he still has a goofy side. (Below)

Sunday we met back up at the hotel for breakfast and more swimming.  Then Cindy and I Easter basket shopped for the kids and later went to Kyle's Bikes to have Kael fitted for some new shoes that can hopefully help his heels feel better.  Later Tammy was home so we went to visit her and she had brought us some chocolates from France that the kids were super excited about.  Also had a blast letting the kids run around the backyard before sharing some of her Welcome Home cake. ;) Back home, I went for a loooong walk with my neighbor besties and spent some more time with the kids playing outside, basking in the last few hours of our Spring Break week.

Also, my littlest buddy got himself a cool new 'do this morning.  Love it! We are so ready for spring!

All in all, it was a GREAT one! How was your break?

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for this blog, Vine, Instagram and things that keep record of our lives.  It's so fun going back through them and reliving moments.

I'm thankful the painter came yesterday! Kent was so bummed when we found out the tile is still going to be awhile but was happy the painter had an opening and could come earlier than expected.

I'm thankful for the season's first bike ride.  We rode from Cherry Glen to the Butterfly Garden and back and I was so proud of how well the kids rode! We had a really great time.  Hopefully there are lots of family bike rides in our near future!

I'm thankful for free cones at DQ.

I'm thankful Kylee's excitement St. Patricks Day.

And Kent's.

I'm thankful for my mom who took us to Chuck E. Cheese, and then hung out with us (entertained the kids at the play place so I could super secret birthday and Easter shop) at the mall.  The kids had fun riding the train and 2/3 of the kids had fun seeing the Easter bunny.

I'm thankful our old end tables and lamps went to a new home! Kyle, can't wait to come see your new place sometime!

I'm thankful for one last Spring Break hurrah at a hotel with Keith and Cindy this weekend!

I'm so very thankful the kids had fun sleepovers with friends.  Kylee went down the street to a neighbor's house and one of Kael's buddies stayed here.  A fun time was had by all.

Happy Thursday, all!

Thankful Thursday

I'm so thankful Kase has given up his pacifier.  We were down to only one in the house, and it got a hole in it.  Kase decided he didn't like it anymore and has been without it for nearly a week now.  As predicted, he's not napping consistently since giving the pacifier up.  However, I don't think he truly needs a nap every day, and with the time change, it seemed like a natural shift to drop the naps. I think he will still nap occasionally as the weather gets warmer and we're out all morning- he might get tired.  But a major bonus has been that he falls asleep much easier at night aaaaaand has even slept all the way through the night a few times lately.

I'm thankful Kent deals with all things insurance in our household.  Kael's legs have been really bothering him again lately and Kent took care of scheduling him an appointment at a sports medicine place in town.  Here's to hoping we can get Kael some help.

I'm SO thankful that the weather has warmed up! Kase and I have even gotten the water table out on the deck a couple times.  It just feels so good to be able to open up the windows and let the sunshine in!

I'm thankful it's Spring Break! We don't have any big plans but I always look forward to spending extra time with my own kiddos and Kent is taking a couple days off too so we'll have some little trips here and there.  Love it!

Have a great week, everyone!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful there are some warm temps in the seven day forecast.  Wahoo!

I'm thankful for Kent's cousin and wife who pass on super cute clothes to Kase and thankful for my mother-in-law for picking them out and buying them.  He scored some new monster truck boots that he hasn't taken off for days.

I'm thankful Kent vacuumed my Acadia the other day.  It desperately needed it! 

I'm thankful for friends in and out of the house last weekend.  Sunday it was warm-ish and Kylee and company made friendship bracelets in the bed of Kent's truck, then came inside to play.  One of Kael's buddies who we haven't seen much of lately because he plays club basketball, came over and hung out for awhile, which Kael was thrilled about.  

I'm so thankful for family.  Last weekend we had a house full of people, unexpectedly.  I love that about family.  Anyone stops by at anytime and everyone is welcome always.

I'm thankful for a huge cheering section at Kael's last basketball game last weekend. Grandpa, Grandma, aunt, uncle and cousins were all there.  Love it.

This shot went in!

Our cheering section!

I'm thankful for help last night carrying our new cabinets downstairs. Also a good excuse to see my sister and her fam on a weeknight!

Happy Thursday, all!