Weekend Wrap-Up

The fall fun continues around here!!

Last week we carved pumpkins.  Kylee had fun carving the biggest pumpkin from our garden, while Kase was proud to carve the one he got from his field trip with his class.  Kael didn't feel like carving one this year.

Kael did, however, participate in Mismatch Day at school.  I can't imagine it was very easy walking around in two different shoes all day!

Last Thursday we did the Uptown Trick or Treat since it was so nice out! Then we also did the library Trick or Read event that night.  Kael didn't go to the Uptown thing because he had homework but he joined us for the library.  Right before we left (Kase was a Vikings football player), Kael added a name and number to the back of Kase's jersey so he could be "the quarterback".

Kylee was a vampire queen. Every year she puts her own costume together and does an awesome job!

Friday night some neighbors who moved away a few months ago came back to visit! It felt so good to have the whole gang back together! The kids had fun playing together all night. 

And the moms had a great time catching up, too!

Saturday morning we went to my parents' to help move some sticks for a bonfire.

We love being out in their backyard in the fall!

We headed home, kids played outside with friends, I ran a few errands, then we went to the Ledges! It was a gorgeous day and we always have a great time up there.  We took a few pictures, played in the water, and hiked.

Kent and Kael take a football with them wherever they go.  Even on the hiking trails. 

When we got back to town we went to my parents' for dinner by the fire! We roasted hot dogs and had s'mores.  It was just the best night.  

Later my mom had trick or treat goodies for the kids which they loved! They immediately started trading for their favorites!

Sunday after church, Kent took the kids to Collins for lunch.  I speed cleaned the house and had a quick get together with a friend then spent the afternoon preparing for our First Annual North Park Chili Cook-off! With trick-or-treat falling on a Sunday this year, we thought it would be fun to all hang out before time and have chili.  It was a blast! I wish I had gotten a picture of all of us!!

Here are (most of) the kids: 

Kael had basketball practice, so just Kylee and Kase trick-or-treated. 

When Kael got home, he helped hand out candy.  He was so hoping to scare some trick-or-treaters but didn't want to be too scary, so he zipped up his hood on his Hawkeye sweatshirt and as the kids reached for a piece of candy he jumped and scared a few of them.  He was thrilled.

Kase ran from house to house, but tired out after about a half hour.  Kylee lasted longer, then came home to sort and make lists of her candy.  The apple sure doesn't fall far from the tree!

What an eventful weekend! We have a fun, busy week ahead.  Happy Halloween!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for Kent's flexibility in his job and also my mom's availability when Kase needed to stay home from school last week.

I'm so thankful for Kael's football season this year.  He had a great time, despite many losses! His coach was awesome! Last night we met at Orange Leaf for an end of the season celebration and the coach had signed footballs for all of the boys and given each of the kids a nickname that represented their season.  Kael's was "Hands of Steel" for the catch he made to win the game against the undefeated Seahawks on Sunday!

I'm thankful the kids' passport appointments are done!

I'm thankful for random texts from my bestie's daughter.

I'm thankful for how very much Kase loves to play with "guys". 

I'm thankful for this sweetie.  She and my mom had a fun day together last week!

I'm thankful for my people.  This is our preschool crew!

I'm thankful for my mom and Cindy who helped out running a few errands for me last week when I was busy with Kase not feeling well.

I'm so thankful it's finally starting to feel like fall around here as far as temperatures go.  I spent all the day the other day baking pumpkin bread, apple crisp, etc.  Yum!

I'm thankful when Kent gets to leave work early on Fridays.  What a fun start to our weekends!

I'm thankful for some dear friends that are coming to visit this weekend.  Can't wait to see them!

Happy Thursday, all! 

Weekend Wrap-Up

I kicked off my weekend early with a field trip to the Pumpkin Patch with Kase and his class.  He had so much fun!

We also got Boo'ed, a neighborhood favorite tradition! 

(Earlier in the week Kael had a sleepover at my mom's house and they had the best time. My mom kept Kase and Kylee overnight each a night too- so fun to have Grandma all to themselves!)

Friday night Kael and Kylee ran in the Spooky Fun Run at DMACC.  They did great! Kase had fun cheering them on. It was a cool event and a fun way to spend a Friday evening. 

Later that night we had a family movie night and enjoyed relaxing after a busy week.  Saturday morning I baked homemade cinnamon rolls- I LOVE baking in the fall.  There's just something so cozy about it. Then Kent and Kael had football practice and Kent sent me this awesome shot of Kael before. Fall is the best!

Then Kent and Kael spent all day at a youth group retreat at church.  They had a great time! 

Meanwhile, Kylee, Kase and I watched my niece play soccer.  We even got to see her score a goal!

Then we had lunch with my mom, and stopped by Hy-Vee on our way home- they were having a fun trick or treat event.  The kids were excited about candy, cookie decorating and pumpkin coloring!

We spent the afternoon playing around here.  Kase has recently taken over our living room and pulled toys from all corners of the house.  He spends hours making cars and houses out of Legos for his "guys" which includes everything from Super Heroes to Ninja Turtles. 

Later that night Kylee had a friend over to spend the night.  We had a fun picnic at Miracle League and then baked brownies. 

Today was another fun day- Kael had his football end of the season tournament.  His team didn't win a single game during regular season so they played the number one seed who beat them 49-0 last time they met.  Kael caught the game-winning PAT!! We won 28-27 and Kael's team was so thrilled.  It was so fun to see the guys that excited.  Kael's team played again later this afternoon and even though they lost that game, Kael had an interception and a touchdown so he was thrilled! I was so, so happy for him. 

Later that day I went for a walk with a friend, Kylee did some fun errands with Keith and Cindy, and we spent the rest of the evening playing outside with friends.

It was a wonderful fall weekend that went by way to fast! How was your weekend? 

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful Kase loves his bed and loves to go to bed. I never thought I would see the day! Once in awhile he asks to go to bed and giggles with joy once his head hits the pillow. 

I'm thankful that Kent's hard work has earned us a trip this coming spring!!!!

I'm thankful for a sweet moment I saw between Kylee and Kael the other day- she was super tired and Kael offered to give her a piggy back ride.  She gratefully accepted. 

I'm thankful that Kael says "te amo" (Spanish for I love you) when I tuck him in at night. 

I'm thankful for this cutie. He makes me laugh. 

I'm thankful that our PTO fundraiser was a success! Kylee loved the Jag Jog!

I'm thankful that Kael wants me to drive him to school occasionally.  We have a carpool set up with neighbors but once in awhile he asks it to just be me to take him.  I think it's sweet. 

I'm thankful that for a surprise lunch out and visit from Keith and Cindy on Monday.  So fun to get to see them in the middle of the day! 

I'm thankful for this text from Kael (he was at my mom's house) "Grandma just odelled the football(that means she made an awesome 1 handed catch)". I love that they were playing football together and love that he used the phrase "odelled" as in Odell Beckham.

I'm thankful for the beautiful trees this time of year! Kent and I both noticed how awesome the ones are by Kael's school.

I'm thankful for good conferences for both of my kids.  One teacher said, "Your child is always so nice and polite to everyone- whether it's their best friend or someone they just met, I can always say your child is very respectful and kind."  Really, what more can you ask for?

Weekend Wrap-Up

Thursday was Kael's half birthday. He seemed pretty excited about it so I tried to make it fun! I put balloons in his room and made his favorite dinner, including pumpkin bars for dessert.  I invited my dad and mom over to share them with us.  Kael was so sweet and so, so thankful and declared them to be the best pumpkin bars he had ever eaten.

Friday morning, I came downstairs and saw this. It was a gloomy morning and the kids were all cuddled up, reading, by the fire. 

Friday afternoon was Kylee's class fall party.  I am always happy to go to school on these days.  I love seeing the kids in their classrooms! 

The rest of the weekend was uncharacteristic for us.  We had no real plans and almost didn't know what to do with ourselves! Friday night we laid low around here- Kent and Kael watched Star Wars, which Kase is super into right now.  Kylee and I went to some neighbor's for a fire pit and Kael played Nerf guns with friends. 

Saturday we spent the morning hanging around here, had lunch with my family (Kent had a lunch meeting), then later in the day I took Kylee to Bulldog Ceramics.  She had gotten a gift card for her birthday and had a great time painting a canvas to hang in her room! 

Later that night she had a sleepover at my mom's.  Meanwhile, the boys and I just hung around here.  Kael had been hoping to have more Nerf gun wars with neighbor kids but the weather didn't cooperate.

Sunday we had church, then watched a neighbor's football game before heading to Kael's last regular season football game.  Afterwards, it was Kase's turn to sleepover at Grandma's! Kylee and Kael played with friends, Kent and I got a few things done and went for a walk, then later we all ran errands. 

How was your weekend?