Weekend Wrap-Up

Well, I'd be lying if I said I was sorry to see January go.  I'm so ready for spring! Sounds like we aren't going to have spring-like weather around here this week though.  My crew is totally hoping for a snow day! Anyhow, here was what we did this weekend. 

Kase took a rare nap on Friday. And was super snuggly when he woke up.  

Kylee was dying to go with to the car wash because she knows Kase is scared of it.  So she didn't want us going during the day.  We waited for her to get home from school so she could go along and hold Kase's hand.

Friday night, Kylee got to shoot hoops at halftime of the Jaguar girls' basketball game! She even made a buzzer beater! 

Saturday morning the kids had basketball games (it was Kael's last of the season) then afterwards we went out for lunch with the Patterson crew to celebrate Kent passing all of his tests!

Back to our house for dessert and games. Also, Kase still doesn't wear a shirt if he can help it.

We had a great game of Telestrations where Grandpa Keith was crowned champion artist. Ha!!!

Saturday afternoon we stopped by my sister's house and Kylee literally lost her tooth on the front step on the way in.  That's number seven for this little lady! 

Later that night we went out for dinner with my parents to celebrate Kent's tests (are you seeing a trend here? :)

It's a beautiful sunny day here today and we have no plans so I'm looking forward to a fun day with the kids!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for a sweet, soft little voice that still occasionally says, "Mom, can you rock-a-bye me?"

I'm thankful we have purchased our pool passes for the summer! Dreaming of warm weather...

I'm thankful for some really cool things our kids are doing at school.  From Jump Rope for Heart to Meals from the Heartland, I love hearing all the things they are learning and the projects they are doing.

I'm so thankful Kent passed his test this morning! Time to celebrate!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

A fun weekend 'round here.

Thursday this happened at preschool.  Kase loves it there so, so much.

Friday morning my parents surprised us by stopping by (before school!) with donuts.  So that was fun.  Later in the day Kase and I went and hung out at their house- here's a picture of Kase and Grandpa playing Wii.

Friday Kylee came home from school so excited- she'd had a gum day and an electronic day at school and she was picked for the Hall of Fame (an award at school).  Later that night Kael's buddy had a sleepover here.  They ate junk food and stayed up late, so by all accounts it was a success.

Saturday, Kael and Kylee had basketball games.  I just love watching them play.

Saturday afternoon we spent hanging around here, then a family trip to the grocery store (which is super rare since Kase and I typically get groceries during the week).  

Saturday night Kent had some neighbor guys over to play cards.  Well, to play cards and to play Kael's indoor basketball game.  

Sunday morning we lounged around here before church.  Nothing makes my heart happier than when these three have fun playing together.

After church we went to Olive Garden for lunch, which was a total treat. 

Back here for a little basketball. 

Later Kael had practice, I went for a walk with a friend, and we spent the rest of the evening just hanging out.  A busy week ahead for us.  How was your weekend?

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for a friend who went out of her way to tell me how sweet Kylee is.  A neighbor girl got her feelings hurt (not by Kylee, but by a mutual friend) and I guess Kylee tried to make her feel better when others didn't. You send your kids out in the world hoping they are doing good things and it made my day to hear that Kylee is. And so thankful for my friend who totally gets it and made sure to tell me about it.

I'm thankful that Kael made me dinner the other night.  We came home from a church event and I wasn't sure if I felt like eating anything but Kael offered to make me dinner (everyone else had eaten at the event but I hadn't had time) so I couldn't turn it down.  He's so grown up lately.

I'm thankful for snuggles from Kase that are too few and far between lately! He fell asleep on my shoulder yesterday while we read super hero books by the fireplace.

I'm thankful the kids enjoy family time as much as they do.  It won't be too many years from now they'll be much more interested in hanging out with friends than with us,  We have the most fun together- from family movie nights to paper airplane flying contests, I'm thoroughly enjoying hanging out with my favorite peeps lately.

Short and sweet today.  How are things in your world?

Weekend Wrap-Up

I love, love, love long weekends.  

Friday was off to a fun start for us- I took Kase to the Playground for Kids, which is something we haven't done in nearly a year.  He had the BEST time running around there! 

Friday night Kent and Kael went and saw Star Wars in the theater.  We've been having a lot of family movie nights this winter.  Kylee and I weren't interested in seeing Star Wars and it would have been too late for Kase so us three stayed home.  We watched a blast from the past, My Best Friend's Wedding.  It was even funnier than I had remembered. 

Oh, also, here's how her hair turned out from the other day.  So cute!

Saturday Kylee and Kael both had basketball games.  Kylee played against one of her besties, which she loved.  Kael and Kylee both had great games!

Saturday evening we went to the Chili Cookoff at our church, which was a fundraiser for our preschool.  It was so much fun. The kids had fun with their friends and we enjoyed spending time with preschool families! 

Sunday morning, Iron Man made us breakfast.  Later, he served Parking Duty at church in the -9 degree temps! 

After church we had lunch with my family then went over to my parents' to hang out, bake brownies and play cards.  It was a lovely afternoon. 

Today was a no school day for the kids.  We went back and forth about how we wanted to spend the day and ultimately ended up having lunch with my parents, then ice skating in their back yard.  The kids loved it so much! 

My dad has laced up ice skates so.many.times.  He's a pro.

These are three of my favorite guys in the world!
I didn't realize Kent would be getting off work early to join us so he had to wear a mish mash of whatever we could find. 

The family that skates together, stays together.  And yes, Kase is wearing a helmet because, well, head injuries. 

It's been a good one, folks! How about you?!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for the videos Kael sends me from his friend's houses.  And I'm not even being sarcastic at all.  I'm thankful for the technology behind it.  I'm thankful we are able to provide him with a phone.  I'm thankful he's responsible enough to check in.  And maybe most of all, I'm thankful that he still thinks it's cool to send his mom videos of he and his friends having slam dunk contests in each other's basements.  

I'm thankful for time spent with Kylee lately.  Yesterday we had time to go on a walk, just us two and it was so nice.  She was able to tell me all about her day, with all the details important to an eight year old girl without being interrupted by a brother.  Also, the last few evenings we've spent braiding her hair.  She likes to wake up with it wavy.  I just like to spend the time with her. 

I'm thankful that Kase got to see three grandmas yesterday! Cindy came to visit, then later in the afternoon Kase and I went to run errands but made a detour at my mom's at his request, then later she took him to visit my grandma.  What a great day.

I'm thankful for friends.  My neighborhood is the best.  As these winter months drag on, I'm so happy to have friends who will bring their kids to play, meet me at the library or just share carpool duty with.  Love 'em all.

I'm thankful for how schooled I am in super heroes.  Seriously, I know alllll about them.  All of them. Quiz me, I dare ya. Kase and I have read and re-read every super hero book in our local library, watched most of the TV series and several of the movies.  We fill our days pretending to get the bad guys in the basement while dressed as Hulk, Thor and Iron Man.  I'm just so thankful for these moments with him.  

I'm thankful I said yes, eleven years ago today, when Kent asked me to marry him.  In fact, I'm so very thankful he asked. What a ride it's been.

Happy Thursday!

Weekend Wrap-Up

We had a lovely weekend.  The cold weather kept us inside for most of the weekend but we got in some gooood quality family time which was great. 

Friday night my parents invited the whole crew over for pizza.  So fun.  The kids are getting to the age where they can all go downstairs and play together which allows us adults the chance to talk and hang out.  Love it.

Saturday was Kylee's first basketball game of the season.  She did a great job! I didn't get a good picture of her playing, just videos, but I did capture a picture of Kael helping out with Kase and my nephew, Huston.  Kael took them for several walks in the hallway, and while it isn't a great picture, he did a great job entertaining them!

This little cutie lost her sixth tooth and is looking more and more grown up every day. 

Saturday night the kids stayed over at Kent's parents' house.  We had a holiday work party for Kent so my parents were there too. Such a fun evening and I was thankful my sister loaned me a necklace and some boots for the event.  

These two were best buddies all weekend.  Actually, just always.  Kase is Kent's shadow lately so it just makes sense that they dress the same.  Ha!

Sunday we spent the whole day at home until Kael had basketball practice the rest of us ran a quick errand and picked up a movie.  Back home by 6:15, all kids showered and in jammies for a movie night.  Kael and Kase actually both fell asleep before the movie was even over- we were a tired bunch!

We had a pretty "normal" week ahead- just a few practices and not much else going on.  Looking forward to some more time hanging out with my faves.  How was your weekend?

Thankful Thursday

Today's one of those days where I'm trying to choose to be thankful/happy.

The reality is that no one is super excited about being back at school.

A neighbor got some sad news about her mom's health.

Kase has a cold that won't go away which means we are often up with him many times each night.

My grandma did get to leave the hospital but she still isn't feeling great.

The weather is blah.

Our moods are blah.

So.

Today, I'm thankful for how close we live to the school so the kids can get home quickly in this weather.  Also thankful I don't have wait in the car line every day.

I'm thankful that Kase napped yesterday (at 9AM, no less) because it gave me the chance to sit in the rocking chair with him and smother his face with kisses.  Ones he won't let me give him when he's awake.

I'm thankful for how very excited Kase is when Kael and Kylee walk in the door from school each day.  He starts watching for them about five minutes before school is out.  He sees them come out the school doors and watches them all the way around and stands at the door near our garage- just waiting for the door to open.  When it finally does, his face lights up, "Kylee! Kael! Mom, they're home!"

I'm thankful there were no cars coming when Kase ran away from me in the parking lot the other night in the dark.  A lot thankful he was safe and a little mad it happened.

I'm thankful for this guy who is just putting in so many hours for our family.  He works all day and comes home to jump right in to whatever happens to be going on around here.  Typically that means he and Kase go downstairs to play superheros until I can get dinner on the table.  He also squeezes in a game or two of basketball with the big kids.  And if it happens to be nice out, he takes them all outside to play.

I'm thankful for my Fit Bit.  By thankful, I mean obsessed.  Cindy gave it to me for Christmas and I am having the most fun seeing how many steps I take each day and how well I sleep, etc.  Seriously. Go get one.  They're fun.

I'm thankful for my mom.  She's been busy helping with my grandma, all the while keeping a smile on her face and offering to help us out any way she can.  She's a trooper.

I'm thankful for my dad and the opportunity he's given Kent.

I'm so thankful that my father-in-law is doing well after his back surgery on Tuesday.

Well, just as I suspected.  I have a lot to be thankful for.  How about you?

Weekend wrap up

It was another good weekend around here! 

Looking back to Thursday- we had a nice afternoon around here then spent the evening at a friend's house playing cards.  The kids all had fun together.  Kase fell asleep at our friends' house, we came home around 10:00 to tuck him in his own bed and the rest of us all stayed awake here together until midnight! 

New Year's Day Kent and my dad put together Kael's basketball hoop he had gotten for Christmas then we proceeded to spend the rest of the day playing.  We had family over for the Hawkeye game and drew up brackets to play basketball.  It was so fun.  Wish I could say the same for the Rose Bowl. Eek!

Saturday the kids played outside quite a bit.  They are just loving this snow.

Sunday we went to Collins, visited Kent's grandparents and had fun playing on a giant snowpile with all the cousins! Also had some fun pulling a sled behind the gator.  The kids loved it. 

Sunday night we had a dinner out at nice restaurant in Ames.  It was so lovely.  I ate all of my food AND dessert.  As far as I'm concerned, New Years resolutions regarding diets should always start on the Monday after New Year's, not actual New Year's day. Ha!

Back to school today, and so far it seems like everyone got along just fine.  Myself, I'm ready for spring. The snow I don't mind terribly, I'm more ready to dig in on some spring cleaning-type organizing around here.  Our living room still looks like it exploded!

We have a few fun things going on this week- a belated holiday party this evening, another night out on Saturday and in between it's back to basketball practices and school meetings.  It does feel good to be back to a little bit of a routine.  Have a good week, all!