Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful Kael asked a kid at school named Cael Patterson to dress alike for twin day at school. Hilarious!!! I love my Kael's sense of humor!

I'm thankful Kylee gets excited about dress up days for Homecoming week.

I'm thankful Kent is home.

I'm thankful the weekend is near. And also thankful the kids are having a sleepover with Keith and Cindy on Saturday! The kids are so excited and I'm excited for a night out with Kent to celebrate our anniversary! 

Weekend Wrap-Up

It was kind of a funny weekend around here.  We had a few plans but not too much going on which felt so strange considering how busy we've been lately.  Here's how we spent the last few days...

Earlier this week was an Ashland Ridge night at the volleyball game.  I'm so thankful for this friend Kylee has made in her class this year who seems to be into a lot of the same things Kylee is.  That was a fun night.

Friday afternoon the kids and I played at the park, Kent came home early and we thought about boating but kind of ran out of time as it's getting dark so early lately.

This picture makes me smile.  Kylee and Kase balance all these little toys on the fireplace and it cracks me up.

Back to Friday night.  Kylee had a birthday costume party to go to so she had a great night.

Meanwhile the boys and I went on an adventure to find hedge apples.  It was fun, but hot, muggy, buggy and sticky.  Everyone was glad to get home for a shower-ha!

Saturday we got a ton of stuff done around the house in the morning while kids played with friends. Then we watched the Hawks (barely) win, and played around the neighborhood some more.  Kent was itching to go do something fun but I think since we've been so busy lately the kids just really wanted to hang around home.  Later some of our besties and their kids came over and hung out, which was fun as always.

Sunday after church, Kent left for St. Louis for a few days.  Keith and Cindy came down to take the kids and me out for lunch, then go to Kael's football game.  Crazy how it was 90 degrees yesterday and a very windy 70 degrees today! 

The kids and I are just enjoying lounging around the house this evening.  It was a pretty uneventful weekend which was kind of nice!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for when Kase said the other day, out of the blue, "I love you, Mama." 


I'm thankful for friends and family who come to support my kids at their sporting events.

I'm thankful for the warm weather, but I'm also ready for hooded sweatshirts and jeans.  Come on, fall!

I'm thankful the kids are all off to a great start to the school year.  They all seem happy and have settled nicely into their routines.  What more can I ask for?

Short and sweet today.  Lots to do.  Have a great weekend! 

Weekend WrapUp

Our weekend was off to a great start when Kylee got home from school Friday and announced she had been chosen as Main Event at school!

Friday night we hung around here and laid low. Kids played at the park and later watched a movie.

Saturday was a nice combination of getting things done and relaxing. The Hawkeye loss was definitely a downer, but we still had a good day.

I got some extra steps in while mowing the yard. Kids played with friends and had a blast with Nerf gun wars.

Kylee spent the better part of the weekend with a friend. 

Saturday evening we all went to a work thing for Kent and I was delighted when we got home and Kael showed me this picture had had taken of himself and Kase. They both just look so happy.  We had a great night hanging out with all the Edward Jones Ankeny people! 

Sunday after church we had lunch at Jethro's with my family. Kent even got a big piece of chocolate cake for his (belated) birthday and even let me eat (almost) all of it!

Sunday evening Kael had a football game and did a great job at QB.  

Kylee had a great seat on Grandpa's lap.

The weekend went by way too quickly but we're ready for a great week! 

Thankful Thursday

I'm so thankful that Kent and Kase went fishing the other night. Kase asked me during the day if he could call Kent at work and when he did, he said, "Dad can you come home and go fishing with me?" So later that evening, those two took my dad's boat out to Big Creek and caught this whopper! 

I'm thankful for the gourds Cindy brought me the other night and the mums my neighbor got for me the other day. I'm ready for fall!

I'm thankful for our Wednesdays.  Kase and I don't have school on Wednesdays so we make that a fun day together.  Yesterday, we rode bikes, played tennis, made a Ninja Warrior course out of Hawkeye park and I pretending to be the commentator as Kase pretended to be all our Ninja faves. When we got home he asked for "frosting cookies with sprinkles" so we made some pumpkin-shaped sugar cookies.  I'm realizing that kindergarten is less than a year away and I'm trying to make the most of our days home together.

I'm thankful for this beautiful weather.  Come on- does it get any better than this?! I think not.

I'm thankful that Kael's phone was at Miracle League park when we went back to look for it the other day...

Happy Thursday, all! 

Weekend Wrap-Up

The weekends go waaaay too fast, no? Seriously time feels like it's been moving in fast forward lately. Here's what we've been up to.

Thursday was Kent's birthday. He opened a couple gifts before work, with the kids' help, of course. I wish I could say we made the day super special but honestly, there were dentist appointments and kids' sports practices- it was kind of a busy day!

My bike riding buddy and I rode to school that day. 

Friday morning we started the day with donuts. Every single Hawkeye fan that walked in the door tried to give Kase a high five or comment on his Hawkeye attire but he was just too into his donut to make small talk. 

Friday evening Kent helped his brother move so the kids and I picked up a pizza and Kent got home in time for a family move night. A perfect end to the week on a rainy evening!

Saturday Kent and Kael had early football practice then Kylee had cross country. We also watched a friend's baseball game at Miracle League then Kent (and Kase) helped his brother move. Later there was a fun backyard football game with all the neighbor boys.

Then it was time for the Iowa/ISU game! We had blocked off our street and made it a whole neighborhood get together. The neighbor projected the game up in his garage- it was awesome! The kids had a great night getting to ride their bikes in the street and enjoyed an "epic" game of cops and robbers with glow sticks too! 

The Spikeball matches were pretty intense! Kent and I claimed the title this time!

And the Hawyeyes won big so that made it even more fun!

Sunday morning after church we visited my grandma then Kylee played with friends, Kent and Kase went on a long bike ride and Kael watched football. Later that day he has his first flag football game! Love our crew who came to watch him play. He has a good game, and most of all, really enjoyed being out there. 

These two had the most fun with their wagons. 

After the game, Keith and Cindy stayed with the kids while Kent and I went out for dinner with some friends to celebrate the Spetembee birthdays. We had a great night out. Just what we needed to recharge for the week! 

Kent might have been the one holding it, but I was the one who ate every last bite of this chocolate cake- yum!

Heading into another fun filled week! How was your weekend? 

Thankful Thursday

I'm so thankful for Kent. Today is his birthday and I'm convinced that 34 will be his best year yet!

I'm so thankful to be doing life with him. Kent is always willing to help out- from helping anyone and everyone with all things techie, to volunteering in our church youth group, to anything involving heavy lifting, Kent is the go-to guy. 

I'm thankful for all the hours of work he puts in to support the family and I'm also just as thankful that Kent appreciates all that I do on the home front. He is continually giving me credit for keeping things running smoothly around the house and I love that he makes me feel appreciated. 

As far as parenting goes, he's totally the fun one. He's always taking the kids on little adventures and starting up family/neighborhood games of kickball. 

If he could be anywhere today, I know he would choose to be out fishing or skiing, but instead, he'll be at work all day then coaching football tonight. Looking forward to celebrating this weekend- hopefully with a Hawkeye win! 

Happy birthday, Kent!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

We were soooo ready for a long weekend.  Here's how we spent it!

Friday night was Ankeny Junior Football league night at the football game.  It was also our city rivalry- Jags vs. Hawks! We had a great time at the game and were lucky to have found some seats! Also, Jags won!

Saturday after Kylee had cross country, we went to my parents' to hang out for a little while.  The kids enjoyed having some dessert and watching tv on their deck.  Later we went for a walk out back and played on some of the ninja course things.  

Later, we watched the Hawks win! Kent took Kase and Kylee over to some friends' house to watch part of the game while I got caught up on a few things around the house. We wrapped up the night by watching the ISU/UNI game in our garage with some neighbors. 

Sunday after church we went to Collins to celebrate Kent's birthday (early) with his side of the family.  Nearly everyone (all extended family included!) showed up and it was great to see everyone. We had fun playing outside since the weather was so nice.

Monday morning Kent went fishing early with my dad.  Kylee, Kase and I met up with them later.  It was a beautiful morning out on the water.  

After we picked Kael up from his sleepover, we went to my parents' house to celebrate Kent's birthday with them.  My sister and her family joined us and the cousins all had fun playing together. 

Kent requested apple crisp instead of a cake.  Yum! We're totally ready for fall around here.

Even long weekends can be exhausting and when we got home Sunday afternoon everyone was hot and tired.  We relaxed for a little before I convinced Kent to help me clean windows (he does much better on the high ladder than I do) then we wrapped up our evening by taking the kids to the Miracle League Park. We've got a(nother) busy week ahead!