Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful Kylee's caterpillars actually did turn into butterflies. Success! Santa brought her this Butterfly Garden for Christmas and I was so pleasantly surprised how easy and fun it was! Nine out of the ten caterpillars we received turned into butterflies!

I'm thankful for my parents' neighbor who brought over the nicest bouquet of lilacs.

I'm thankful Kase was such a trooper when he got sick on his birthday.  Poor guy didn't even get to eat his birthday dinner or his birthday cake!

I'm thankful Kase is old enough to know how to hit the bucket when he's sick.

I'm thankful we live close to the school.  The other day Kylee forgot her lunch and Kase and I were able to walk it up to her.

I'm thankful for family and friends who come support our kids playing sports! (Shoutout to the Brothers Patterson and Jordan who braved the chilly temps to watch Kael!)

I'm thankful for this next picture for several reasons.  First, I'm proud of Kael for scoring two goals. Second, the mud he put all over his face is hilarious.  Last, are you dying at Kase trying to steal Kael's snack?! 

I'm thankful Kase is old enough to start playing Blast Ball this year.  Kent is coaching, too. I canNOT wait to watch this weekend!

I'm thankful that the fourth graders receive little evergreen trees from school.  Kael and I planted his the other day!

I'm thankful our couches are for playing.  Kase makes a fort of some kind every.single.day.

Happy Thursday, guys! 

Weekend Wrap-Up

What a great weekend we had celebrating the April birthdays! (Yes, again. :)

Saturday we spent the day in Collins celebrating all the April birthdays there- Kael, me, Cindy, Kase. Cindy did such a wonderful job throwing a great party- making it special for all of us! And I was so appreciative for how much of the extended family show up.  I know everyone is busy and the effort for everyone to stop by was awesome! 

Grandma and her April birthday boys.

Buried in presents. :)

Somehow Kylee snagged a new-to-her bike out of the day even though she's not part of the April birthday crew.  

I didn't get any pictures once the gifts were opened but a favorite of the day was a shot return thing to hook onto our basketball hoop.  Everyone loves it! 

Kent's cousin Kate makes the best cupcakes for our family birthday get togethers. How adorable are the John Deere tractors? And they are delicious too. 

Kael's favorite MLB team is the Pirates and he was pretty pumped about this new shirt. 

The kids table.  Every time we see the cousins I find myself wishing we saw them more often.  They all had so much fun together. 

After the party we had to get back to Ankeny because Kael had a soccer game.  It was cold and rainy but it was a great game.  Kael scored two goals! I just love watching him play soccer.  

Sunday after church we celebrated Kase's birthday with my family.  We ate brunch at Jethro's, where Kase ate almost no real food in anticipation of chocolate cake.  It was epic! 

We headed back to my parents' house to open gifts and play around in the backyard then capped off the afternoon with some homemade ice cream- everyone's favorite. 

He's funny. 

New truck (or police car, or ambulance) = happiness. 

A little help from his big sister.  

 Monday morning Kase slept in later than usual then remembered he had promised to wake Kylee up as soon as he got up.  So he raced to wake her up then headed downstairs to see his cake.  For the past month I have asked him what he'd like for his birthday and his only answer has been, "a basketball cake".  I sure hope it lived up to his expectations!

He opened gifts before the big kids went to school. He was most excited about his Rubble from Paw Patrol toy.

He and I spent the morning playing outside- it was so nice out! We ate lunch outside then he took a long nap.  I should have known something was up because he slept in later than usual and took a longer nap than usual. Sure enough, when we were outside in the afternoon Kase threw up at the park.  What a birthday bummer! Poor guy didn't get to eat his birthday dinner or his birthday cake that night.  He was feeling pretty crummy. We spent the rest of the night on the couch watching TV. Here's to hoping he'll feel better soon so he can eat that basketball cake he's been wanting so badly!

Kase is 3!

"You haven't posted a Weekend Wrap-Up or a Kase birthday blog yet?" Kent texted me earlier this morning.

No, not yet.  I was too busy spending every possible waking minute with Kase, soaking up every last second of his two year old self. It is the most beautiful, sunshiny day and my littlest buddy and I have spent the entire morning in the backyard, just us two.  We have played trucks in the sandbox.  We have raced around the house.  We have played soccer and hit more baseballs than you could possibly count.  And that was all before 9:00.

April 27, 2012.  1:52 PM. A time I will never forget.  Perhaps you recall that's the exact minute we got on offer on our house before we moved? Or maybe you remember the story of how my mom was babysitting my niece, cleaning my house for a showing, picking up my kids from school and playdates, and having them show up, perfectly dressed in their Big Brother/Big Sister shirts when Kase arrived?

Kase.  My Kaser.  How is it possible that was three whole years ago? The baby of our family isn't so little anymore.  Especially in the last few months he has really grown up.  Fully potty trained, napping only occasionally, and he ditched his beloved pacifier on his own...and he is ready for preschool.

I am so enjoying watching him grow up. I spent many sleepless nights when he was a baby, holding him, rocking him, through his tears and my own, wondering, dreaming about the person he would become.  He has certainly developed a personality all his own.  A total sweetheart with a million dollar smile.  And a tan that makes the rest of us crazy jealous.

"He's just all boy, isn't he?" I hear so often at the park when people watch him play.  It's not that he's rough, he's just...well, he's just all boy.  He will climb anything.  He will jump off anything.  He will fall down (hard) and not even flinch.  Kase is tough.  He keeps up with his big brother and sister to say the least. Despite the big age gap, he can totally hold his own against his Kael and Kylee.  They protect him, they love him, and they don't let him get away with a-n-y-thing.  He's quick to bop you if you don't do what he wants but just as quick to apologize.  He's learning to share and becoming best buddies with a neighborhood friend.

His current likes (loves) are tractors, trucks, sports (all of them), watermelon and macaroni. (See below.  Macaroni picnic for lunch today.) Current dislike- smiling for the camera (as in, looking directly at the camera without making a goofy face).  He's just a cool kid.  The other day, I was sitting in a rocking chair with him and I asked him if he wanted me to sing him a song to go to sleep.  As in, a lullaby.  He immediately responded and said, "Yeah, Mom.  Can you sing me Centuries?" As in, the popular song by Fall Out Boy.  I'm guessing not many other toddlers out there are requesting Centuries as their bedtime song?

Kase, we love you! I can't wait to see what this year has in store for you!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for an impromptu lunch with my mom.  Why don't we do that more often?!

I'm thankful that our basement blinds get installed today! #OneStepCloser

I'm thankful Kase's three year pictures went well.

I'm thankful for the library after school programs.  Both Kael and Kylee go to a few events each month and love them!

I'm thankful when Kase sleeps in past 7:00.  What a game changer!

I'm thankful for my brother-in-law who let Kael borrow some Michael Jordan stuff for school today for a project Kael is doing.

I'm thankful we found some mushrooms last night at my dad and mom's!

I'm thankful for a fun birthday celebration ahead this weekend! Looking forward to going to Collins on Saturday to celebrate four April birthdays! Happy Birthday today to Cindy!!!!!

Have a great weekend guys!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Another fun-filled April birthday weekend in the books!

Thursday night Kael had a soccer game.  I love how happy he is when he plays.  He did a great job at goal keeper, but the thing I am most excited about is that he said his legs felt "better than ever" after the game.  He has been in a lot of pain for a year and a half and I'm so thrilled he's starting to feel better!

Flexing.

Stopped it!

At the game, Kylee lost her fourth tooth! 

Friday Kase went to my Dad and Mom's to "help" in the backyard and play with his cousin Huston.

Later that evening, the kids all went to Dad and Mom's so that Kent and I could go out for dinner with some friends.  There was an Uptown Ankeny event going on and we ate at Ranallo's.  Such a lovely night.  When we picked the kids up, they had a bouquet of tulips for me as an early birthday present.

Saturday morning I was showered with gifts.  Kylee made me some very special cards and bracelets.  The joy on her face when she gave them to me was something I will never forget.  The boys made me some sweet cards too!

We were out running errands and stopped by Dad and Mom's.  They had a surprise cake for me so we ate some with ice cream at 9:30 AM.  Great start to the day!

We spent the rest of the day getting stuff done around the house, had lunch at Chips with my parents, and Kylee and I went to my niece's birthday party (it was so sweet!).  Later we all five went to a movie (Home) for the very first time.  I was so proud of the kids- they did great.  Cute movie too! Here are a few pics from our weekend.

We love the carpet in our basement! 

Saturday Starbucks samples with my girl!

Can't find Kase!

My birthday morning. 

Movie theater!

Back home, Sunday night mini ice creams and AFV with my faves. 

Thanks everyone for a wonderful birthday weekend! I had some of the most thoughtful messages from friends, family and neighbors.  Makes a girl feel special!

Thankful Thursday

I'm so thankful they got rid of the dead tree behind our fence! It was technically on school property, not ours, and it was blocking the gate between our house and the school playground.  I'm so happy it's gone!

I'm thankful Kylee's caterpillars are growing! She got a net for Christmas with a certificate to redeem live caterpillars that *should* turn into butterflies.  So far they seem to be right on track and it's been fun watching them!

I'm thankful for Kael's teacher's help in his Science Project.  Having a big project like this at the end of the year is tough for him.  He's so ready for summer.

I'm so thankful when Kase comes down the stairs, having dressed himself, saying, "Did I do it right, Mama?" If they could just stay little.

I'm thankful for the awesome weather- looks like the next couple days will be perfect!

I'm thankful for fun plans tomorrow night with friends, then a low-key Saturday and Sunday.

Have a great weekend, all!

Weekend Wrap-Up

What a weekend! Friday our countertops got installed in the basement which meant Kent spent the better part of Friday evening hooking up the sinks.  My parents stopped by, and also Tam and her family came over and ran around at the park with us.  Love watching the cousins have fun together!

Saturday Kent worked a little more in the basement while I did errands.  Kylee hung out at my mom and Dad's for awhile, then Keith and Cindy came to see the basement progress.  Then we all loaded up and headed to Kael's first soccer game.  Despite a tough loss (to the tune of 11-0), I was so SO proud of Kael and how he never gave up.  

After the game we had plans to celebrate Kael's birthday with my family.  The place was decorated so nicely and I'm sure Kael felt pretty special.  Here are some pictures. 

He insisted he was old enough to light his own candles. 

He did a great job!

10!

Kael was so happy to open a (pizza) box full of money!

Each of these balloons was filled with a dollar bill.  Kael's reaction was priceless! 

Here, he's thinking hard about how to spend all that birthday money. 

Sunday morning I taught at church then we joined (almost) my whole side of the family for brunch.  It was totally unplanned which made it even more fun! Sunday afternoon we decided to load the kids up and head to Homemaker's as we still didn't love the furniture situation in the basement.  We were there nearly three and a half hours, you guys! With all three kids! I could not have been more proud of how well they behaved, nor could I have been more happy with what we ended up picking out! A highly successful day.  We capped off the evening by watching America's Funniest Videos together in the basement.  The newness hasn't worn off yet. ;)

Monday we celebrated Kael!

He thought it would be funny to put every gift he opened on his head.  He's such a ten year old boy.

We really had a nice day.  A totally Kael day.  There was pizza and ice cream, there was Wii and family time.  There were birthday gifts and birthday phone calls and lots of little things to make him feel special and grown up! Hard to believe he's ten already!