Weekend Wrap-Up

I'll rewind a bit.  Wednesday the kids didn't have school so we spent the morning hanging out at my sister's house.  Came home, decorated a little, then the kids played at my mom and dad's while I did a little shopping.  We also fit in some time to play in the snow with friends before eating dinner out at the Tavern with my parents. 

Thursday morning Kent and I took turns running and going to the gym.  Came home, settled in and watched the Thanksgiving parade before heading up to Collins to have dinner with Kent's family. The kids had so much fun with their cousins!

Friday morning, my dad hung out with the kids while my mom and I did our annual Black Friday shopping.  We had a great time and got some fun gifts for the kids! Later that afternoon we watched the Hawkeye game at home before heading to watch Uncle Kevin's basketball team's game against Centennial. 

Saturday morning was off to an early start with Kael losing a tooth at 4:38! The kids have been getting up so early lately! Neither Kael nor Kylee went back to sleep after that. 

Adding to the excitement, our elf and his pet reindeer came back that morning!

Later that morning I took the kids shopping to buy their sibling gifts.  They have so much fun shopping for each other every year! Kylee even came prepared with paper in hand to keep track of exactly what the boys wanted. 

Spent the afternoon walking in my parent's backyard before trying out a new restaurant in town with them. 

Sunday we went to Bass Pro, not fully intending to see Santa, but the line wasn't too long and Kase was just.so.excited to see him, so we did.  I wonder how many years we have left of Kael agreeing to be in the Santa photo? After telling Santa their wishes, we headed home and had a lazy evening together. 

Whew! We fit a lot in this weekend! How was your Thanksgiving break?

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for garage hockey with Kase.

I'm thankful for how much Kael is using the piano.  He's playing trombone in the band this year and has been able to teach himself several songs he knows from the trombone to be able to play them on the piano.

I'm so thankful for a day off for Kent.  He's spent so many hours studying lately and I'm glad for him to have a day to relax and enjoy some family time!

I'm thankful for Kase's preschool Thanksgiving parade.  It was so cute.  He got to be part of the police car "float".

I'm thankful for this little potato head.

I'm thankful today and always, for the family we have, the friends near and far, the warm house we live in, among many other blessings!   Hoping this Thanksgiving finds you and yours happy and healthy!

Weekend Wrap-Up

When Kylee and Kael came in the door from a short but very snowy walk home from school Friday, I had the hot cocoa on and was making popcorn.  I also had everything set out to make Christmas cookies.  Kylee screamed with joy and declared it the Best Friday of her Life.

This handsome little sous chef had helped me prep some deep dish pizza dough earlier in the day, too.

In between all the eating and baking, we played outside in the season's first snow!

Kent came home from work early and we had plans to enjoy a family movie night and eat pizza.  Just as we were coming inside, Kent had a call from his dad, who needed a ride downtown to the hospital. He'd hurt his back and needed an MRI so Kent spent his evening at the hospital with his dad.  Keith will be meeting with a surgeon later today, so we should know more then.  

Saturday we started decorating for Christmas, which has turned into quite the debate in our house. Kael says it's waaaay too early to decorate but Kylee has been begging to put the tree up for over a week. We compromised by starting to put a few things out, but not all the Christmas stuff is up yet. 

Kase's idea of decorating is a little different than mine. I asked him to carry this wooden sign upstairs and I later found him coloring the white words in with a red crayon. For those of you who remember the Mr. Sketch marker fiasco (I can't remember if I  blogged about it- but Kase colored the couch and the living room carpet with a non-washable red marker) from earlier in the year might not be surprised by this.  

Kael had a basketball game then we spent the afternoon walking around in my parents' backyard. The first snowfall just makes everything look so pretty! Also, Grandpa taught my kids a pretty cool trick- shaking the trees makes snow fall on whomever might be standing under it...

Spent a lazy Saturday evening at home. Sunday after church Kent took the kids sledding while I did a little laundry and cleaning.  After lunch we put up a few more Christmas things and the boys watched football.  Later we went to my dad and mom's again for a walk in the snow.  Kent and the kids and my dad played outside while my mom and I did a little Christmas shopping. 

We wrapped up our Sunday watching Christmas movies together.  It was a great weekend!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for grace.

I'm thankful for The Worlds Best Babysitters (aka: my kids' grandmas and grandpas).

I'm thankful for second chances.

I'm thankful for fancy dinners on a Thursday night.

I'm thankful for pats on the back from Kase. A reassuring pat from a three year old makes everything better. 

I'm thankful Kase has learned (rather, decided to succumb to the nagging/reminders) to shut the door when he uses the bathroom. 

I'm thankful for my mini me, emotions and all. My girl is all or nothing, black or white, heart and soul or I don't care. That type of passion is going to take her far in life.

I'm thankful Kael's homework isn't any harder. It's tough for him to have so much work to do outside of school. He tries so hard and never complains about it. Gosh, he's growing up so fast it hurts. 

I'm thankful for items that are not Hand Wash or Dry Clean only. My washing machine has been a work horse lately. So.much.laundry.

I'm thankful for my warm bed on this chilly night.

I'm thankful for Kent. So very thankful. 

I'm thankful for the snow that's coming tomorrow. It's still coming, right? Nothing beats the first snowfall of the season.

I'm thankful for plans tomorrow night with friends we haven't hung out with in awhile. Or, should the weather force us to cancel, I will be just as thankful for a lazy night in with my favorite four.

Oh friends. Sometimes the days are long. But these years are short and my heart aches for the people who have real problems. Not just My Kid Won't Shut The Bathroom Door type problems. Choosing to be thankful tonight. How about you? 

Kase

He wakes, screaming.

"I don't want a pull-up on! I won't potty in bed so don't put a pull-up on me anymore!"

Good morning, love.

My kisses are refused; wiped off.

I give them anyways.

I offer milk, he wants water. I offer Daniel Tiger, he wants Ninja Turtles.

I oblige.

He hits a sibling.

I discipline. Too loudly, probably.

And I hate it and I love it and I miss his baby-ness and I miss his freely given hugs and kisses and I want him to stop.growing.up but start growing out of the stubbornness. 

I'm sad for the times I'm angry with him because he can't help being a threenager. But it's hard and I'm tired and  I love him all the time and so very much.

We survived the sleepless, colicky baby days and nights. We will get through these tough days too. 

My littlest buddy occupies such a giant part of my heart.  Oh how I love you, Kaser.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Hey! Wanna see a bunch of iPhone photos of our weekend? Oh good, I was hoping so. :)

Friday we had the privilege of cheering on our beloved Jaguar volleyball team to a(nother) State Championship! A big shoutout to my parents for letting us ride with them, and for providing some treats during the game for my kids.  

 

A neighbor sent me this picture- that's Kael there in the orange! My neighbor saw him on TV and sent me this picture!

Later that night we met up with this cutie at the celebration ceremony.

Kael's pretty much perfected the "smolder" look.

Later that night I had a PTO dinner while Kent and the kids had a movie night.  We heart Friday family movie nights around here! 

Saturday morning we were a part of history along with 42,000+ other wrestling fans as we watched the Hawkeyes wrestle Oklahoma State at Kinnick.  It was the most beautiful day and we had the best time with family! 

Breakfast before the meet.

Kase would tell you his favorite part of the whole day was playing football with Blake and Brecken! Kase calls both of them "Blaken" by the way. :)

While Kent, Kase and I were in Iowa City, Kael was back in town having the basketball game of his life! I guess he scored quite a few baskets and even a three pointer which totally made his day.  I was sad to miss the game but so proud of him! Kylee was at a birthday party, so she had some fun of her own!

Saturday night we made homemade pizza and let the kids eat downstairs while watching the Hawks. 10-0, baby! 

Sunday some neighbors helped Kent and my dad move the piano from my parents' house to our house.  I am the one who took lessons for the longest and my mom has always told me it's mine when I wanted it.  So, she was ready to get rid of it, and we put it in our front room.  The kids have had the BEST time playing it! 

Oh, also Kylee helped Kent fix the Christmas lights that had been blown in the wind the other day.  Can you find her?!

What a FUN weekend! How was yours?

Weekend Wrap-Up

I spent the better part of Friday Christmas shopping! Kase hung out with my Mom and Dad while I got a great start on my shopping. I feel like everyone around me has already ordered holiday cards, put up their trees, etc. I'm thinking we will be doing all of that soon, but I just haven't been ready yet. I was, however, thrilled to get a lot done on Friday!

I also had lunch at school with Kylee since she was Star Student.

Later that night we had dinner out with my parents at our favorite local pizza place.  Headed home to have a family movie night. It was a great start to the weekend! 

Saturday morning the kids actually slept in- Kase was when in bed until 7:45!! Kael had a basketball game, then Kylee went to my parents' house to help my dad in their backyard. Kent went into the office for a bit. The boys and I went home and had a super productive morning- I cleaned the house and Kael got ahead on a bunch of homework. We spent the rest of the morning playing football in the backyard.

Once everyone was home, we watched the Hawkeye game and played outside with friends. A lovely little Saturday.  When we came back in that night, the kids were all kind of wrestling around in the living room. Kael picked Kykee up and accidentally knocked out her loose tooth! 

Sunday morning is pancake morning around here.  2/3 of the children in footie pajamas, 1/3 in shorts and sleeveless.  Ha!

After church, we had lunch with my grandma and parents, then headed home to spend the rest of the afternoon outside.  Kent put the lights up while the kids and I hung out with neighbors.  It was so nice to be outside all day!  Also it feels great to have our lights up! 

Have a great week, everyone!