Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful to be back in the preschool world again.  This week is our preschool camp and I am having so.much.fun! Hope the kids are having as good of a time as I am!

I'm thankful for a break from the heat.  It was so nice to be able to play outside yesterday and not feel like going to the pool was our only option.

I'm thankful for plans tonight with Kent's brothers.  It's fun having a reason to go out on a Thursday night!

I'm thankful for summer.  We're crossing things off our bucket list left and right and I'm loving trying to make the most of these days.

I'm thankful for a long weekend ahead.  We don't have any concrete plans but I'm looking forward to spending some time hanging with my favorite peeps!

Weekend Wrap-Up

What fun we've had over the last week! Here are some pictures and stories!

Thursday afternoon Kylee and her friend crossed an item off their Bingo by reading while eating snow cones together.  Later that night, Kase had a (very hot) soccer game, then Kylee and her friend went to the drive-in to see Finding Dory. 

Earlier in the week we had celebrated a good friend's birthday with some s'mores and volleyball in their backyard.  Reason #867,436 why I love our 'hood.

Kase passed his swim lessons with flying colors! He was thrilled to be allowed to do the lily pads on "game day". The life guard watched him for about thirty seconds before looking at me and said, "Wow, he's not afraid of anything, is he?" 

Thursday morning after Kylee's volleyball camp we loaded up and headed to Kansas City for the Edward Jones summer regionals.  How lucky I am that my dad and mom are a part of this too! My dad and Kent rode down earlier in the morning so my mom rode with us.  The kids were great riders!

The kids thought the hotel and food were great.  They also had a fun time meeting lots of new friends.

There was a big pool party the first night just for Edward Jones kids and it was so much fun.  Kase decided he would hang in the big pool with the big kids. 

A great picture of my dad with Kent at his first summer regionals!

And a hilarious photo bomb by Kael.

There were so many fun things going on for the kids this weekend.  For example, these baseball style trading card for all the kids! I hear there were 56 kids registered for the kids events, so this was a neat way for them to all get to know a little bit more about each other. 

Kase had fun making a comfy spot in the hotel.

The fountain in front of our hotel was so pretty!

Kylee especially enjoyed the kids' events.  There were crafts, games, and lots of other fun things!

I had the best time hanging out with my mom! 

We did have some free time, so we hit the aquarium.  Kids loved seeing sharks and getting to touch star fish.

Ice cream in a helmet afterwards was pretty cool too.

Kansas City is so pretty.  We loved all the fountains!

We played a lot of Guess Who on the balcony of our room.  What an amazing view of the Plaza!

The family dinners were so fun.  Friday night we enjoyed Bingo, then all the kids had a chance to have a caricature drawn of him! Kael was actually having fun- just didn't want his picture taken which is why he has a scowl. ;)

Saturday morning, my mom and I took the kids to a big park while the guys were at meetings.  Kase was throwing a football and got it stuck on top of this pillar.  Luckily, ninja Kylee was able to climb up and save it!

We had lunch at a super fun and funky Mexican restaurant. 

Then got cultured at the Art Museum. Thanks for the recommendation, Tam!

The art museum was so cool.  Lots of staff standing in each exhibit, able to explain the art.  Kylee said, "I feel soooo smart after learning all this, Mom!"

We spent some more time at the pool.  I was so thankful that all my kids found other kids that they connected with. 

Saturday evening was the awards banquet.  The kids were excited to go have their pizza and movie night.  They also got to make some cool crafts and had a limbo contest! Meanwhile, we had fun getting dressed up and being a part of a really cool night. 

I was so, so thankful to be there to watch my dad get honored, as well.  He's always been pretty special to me, but it was neat to see that everyone else thinks he's pretty great too!

It was such a memorable weekend.  I am so proud of Kent for all the hard work he has put in to allow us to be part of such a neat company and all the opportunities it's already given us.  I was happy my kids enjoyed it and proud of how they behaved.  And, of course, they loved as much as I did that Grandma and Grandpa were there, too!

We have a fun week ahead.  It's been a great summer so far!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for our first tomato grown here at our house.  It's so fun harvesting our own food!

I'm thankful Kase was OK after a wasp flew up his swim trunks the other day out on the boat and he got stung- twice.  Ouch!!

I'm thankful the kids passed their swim tests a few weeks ago.  I forgot to write about it then but the line those first couple days at Cascade Falls was CRAZY- but the kids stuck it out and got their tests done for the season!

I'm thankful for a weekend getaway.  Looking forward to getting out of town for a bit! Also thankful for my sister who's going to keep an eye on my place and water my flowers while I'm gone.

I'm thankful neighbors that feel like family.

I'm thankful that summer has gone so well.  The kids have all been staying on top of their chores, things with their friends are going well and we seem to have a balance between work and play.  So far, so good.

Have a good weekend, all!

Weekend Wrap-up

We had a great weekend celebrating the main man in our lives! Here's how we spent our weekend.

Friday the kids and I spent the morning hanging out with cousins. They came here and played with water, played at the park, and helped Kase wash his gator. Love, love LOVE getting the cousins together.  They had so much fun!

Later that afternoon Kylee went to the pool with a friend, the boys and I ended up at a different pool, then we all met up for Tropical Smoothie. Friday night we had Kent's old co-worker and family over. Had a great time grilling out with them. 

Saturday morning was busy.  Kent and I had a meeting for our upcoming trip, the kids had triathlon practice, and Kent volunteered for the Miracle League angels in town . After a quick lunch we headed to Ottumwa to see Kevin and Katiy's new house! We had so much fun visiting them.  Kent helped with some outdoor work, the kids and I played at a park very near their house, then we went for ice cream and the kids swam at the hotel pool with Keith and Cindy while Kent and I hung out at Kevin and Kaity's for awhile and got to know some of their friends who will be in Key West with us for the wedding! Grilled and hung out on their awesome deck and beautiful backyard.  So happy for them- they've got a great place! Also we were glad to get to see Keith on Father's Day weekend- as far as fathers-in-law go, he's pretty much the best!

I failed to get many pictures that day but I did get a picture of these buddies.  Kael and Kase have been really close lately and it's so sweet.  Here, Kael let Kase wear his favorite hat.

Kase was awfully sleepy on the way home.

Sunday, Kylee could hardly wait to wake up and give Kent his Father's Day gifts.  She makes every holiday so special, you guys.  She has logged hours up in her room making "My Favorite Things About Dad" books and papers. Just love her giving spirit.

Had to have our traditional Sunday morning pancakes that Kent always makes.

He loved the sunglasses we got him.

After church, we celebrated with my family! We just hung out here and ordered pizza, in addition to this t-bone Kent grilled for my dad.  By the way, is that the cutest little photo bomber in the background or what?! Loved getting to spend extra time with her and my nephews over the last few days!

Late Sunday afternoon we headed out on the boat.  It was fairly rough out on the water but the kids had so much fun tubing. Also, Kent skiied and I won't post a picture, but he hilariously surprised us by wearing his (joke gift from his mom) American flag speedo under his trunks and when he popped up out of the water, he had removed his trunks and skiied around in the speedo.  Ha!!!! I thought the kids were going to die!

Spent our Sunday evening with a family game of kickball and relaxing on the deck.  Later we watched the NBA finals and Kent and the kids did trick shots.  All in all, a great weekend! I'm so thankful for the fathers in my life- Kent, my dad and Keith are the best dads the kids and I could as for! How was your Father's Day weekend?