5.29.2017

Weekend Wrap-Up

Long weekends are the best, right?

Kase and I have been enjoying our time while the big kids are still in school.  Thursday we had a picnic at Miracle League park and Kase was thrilled that Kent could join us. It was a beautiful day and it was so nice to be outside.

Kase is trying to make a heart with his hands because he's just so happy.



Later that evening Kent asked Kase to take him fishing. It's definitely one of Kase's favorite things to do right now and Kent couldn't be happier about it.




Friday Kase and I picked up some ice cream and went to a park.  I'm going to miss these days with my littlest buddy when school starts in the fall!


Friday afternoon the kids played in the sprinkler with friends after school, then later we headed to Polk City for some live music on the square.  Both of my sisters and their families were there and we just had the best time.  The kids all played so well together at the park and we enjoyed catching up!


Kael LOVES holding Berkley.


Picnic on the square! I'm dying at Huston eating right off his plate!


Saturday morning I sent Kent and Kylee out to relocate a birds nest from under our deck.  I can't water my flowers or step out on our deck without getting dive bombed from a mama bird! So they successfully moved the nest to a different tree right behind our fence. So far, so good. I think mama bird is still tending to them, and I'm able to go outside without getting attacked. 


We spent Saturday afternoon hanging around here. It rained pretty hard for awhile then after the rain, Kent, Kase and Kylee went fishing.  Kael and I hung here and went for a walk. Later we went on a family bike ride then called it an early night. 

We also did a LOT more fishing this weekend! Sunday morning Kylee woke up early and went fishing with Kent, my dad and my brother-in-law.  They caught over 100 fish! She had the best time.


Kent did too!


Meanwhile, the boys and I tried out a new restaurant for breakfast with my mom.


Then we rode bikes to a park and played for awhile.


Then we played around the neighborhood for awhile before heading to Ottumwa.  On the way we stopped at Goldie's for ice cream! 



Needless to say, that was a huge hit.


Then we visited my grandma.  I was so very glad we went. It really meant a lot to me.  We had some good talks and shared some of our favorite memories with her.


When we got to Ottumwa, we went with the whole Patterson clan out to Kaity's parents house to fish!
What a blast! Kylee caught the most fish by far.  She also was able to take several of the fish off the hook by herself!


Kase and Kael caught a few too! 




Kase and Murph.  (Who Kase called, "Smurf").



The best catch! Obviously talking about Kent. ;)




Kael had fun playing football with Kaity's dad.




And Kael especially loved the paddle boat ride! It was just a beautiful day out and we so enjoyed spending it outside!


We went back to Kaity and Kevin's house to grill out and play yard games.  Also, Kase was gifted this amazing crocodile hat so he had fun running around with that.  We also discovered that Uncle Kyle shares Kase's unusual talent of "wolf walking" (running around really fast like a gorilla on all fours).


Kylee showed us a few fun hairstyles while we sat around the firepit. 



And on the way home, Killer Croc fell asleep. I'm so thankful for the time we spend with Kent's family.  The kids just love hanging with their aunts and uncles! And grandparents!


Monday morning Kase slept in until 8:30! That meant Kent and I had time to enjoy a nice walk.  Mid-morning we headed over to my parents' house. It was a perfect day to grill out and enjoy some more family time. The grandkids all loved the picnic on the deck! We played yard games, took turns holding Berkley, and just genuinely had a great time hanging out.  Family time is the very best time.



Then, we headed to the pool! The kids really wanted to get their swim tests done with so they won't have to wait in a long line later in the summer to do it.  They all three passed! Hooray! 



Then, promptly all went off the high dive.




We didn't stay too long at the pool since it was a little on the chilly side.  We did head back to my parents' house to load up the boat and go fishing! Kael stayed home with my mom and they had fun playing tennis with the Simms, then having pizza on the deck.  Meanwhile, Kylee, Kase, Kent, my dad and I all went to Badger Creek to catch some fish! Despite the windy conditions, we were still able to catch quite a few!



It was a good, good weekend.  My kids don't seem to mind terribly that they have to go back to school for two more days, but I'm totally ready for summer! Bring on the fun!

5.25.2017

Thankful Thursday

We I'm thankful for the moments when Kase still wants me to carry him.  He's heavy, but it's so worth it. He always rubs my back when I'm holding him and I love it.

I'm thankful for my grandma's recipe box that my aunt gave to me last weekend. I have so enjoyed going through it.  Just seeing her handwriting brings back such sweet memories.

I was thankful to come home to an awesome surprise the other day- while I was out, Kael and Kylee had folded and put away all the laundry! I was so proud of them!

I'm thankful that we live so close to the school.  I got to see Kylee and her classmates out for Beach Day the other day and could tell they were having fun!

I'm thankful for a trip to Advetureland with Kase and some of our friends.  We have season passes so we intend to go back often with the big kids too, once they are out of school!



I'm thankful for my friends' daughter who mellows Kase out and gets along with him so very well.

I'm thankful for how much Kase loves to fish! He asks Kent to take him almost every night!


I'm thankful for my lunch dates.  We had lunch with Kylee at school on Tuesday so Kase could get some extra practice in before he's there this fall!


I'm thankful for Kylee's cross country group.  She has had such a fun season.  Here she is on the shoulders of one of the older kids in her group- coach captioned this "Kylee is head and shoulders above the rest" for perfect attendance at practice, plus she participated in four races!



I'm so thankful that Kael was recognized as Student of the Week! I know these last few weeks of school seem to be dragging on for him but I'm glad he's giving it his best. He was so excited about the Golden Ticket Award too! Way to go, Kael!


I'm thankful for many fun summer adventures ahead.  Kase and I have been out scouting camping spots- we plan to go later this summer.  He's had fun checking out all the playgrounds! I'm thankful that our summer bucket list is ready, too!



I'm thankful that Kylee loves to help Kase learn his letters.  She was helping him in the bath the other day, and I walked in to see that she had him write his entire alphabet and most of his numbers! She was so proud of him.

I'm thankful when Kent comes home over the lunch break.  It's so fun for Kase and me to see him in the middle of the day.

I'm thankful there are only a few days left of school and also thankful that we have some fun things planned for the long weekend.

I am thankful for a week off of tee ball though.  Kase has been getting a little fiesty out there lately. (Read: getting mad at anyone who gets to the ball before him.)

I'm thankful for a fun story time at Hy-Vee yesterday morning! Kase loved the pizza stories and the fruit pizza for snack afterwards!

I'm thankful for the Mile after Mile race.  All three kids decided to participate and I couldn't have been more proud of them. 



It was Kase's first race ever on a track- he's done some Fun Runs before but not a race against just kids his own age.  He finished in under 10:00! We enjoyed seeing his run/skip combo around the track. 


Kylee has been training with her running club both last fall and again this spring, so it was really fun to see how she has progressed.  I love seeing her out there with a smile on her face, doing her thing! Her coach commented on her good running form and Kylee was just thrilled to run her best mile ever! 6:32!!!


She was the top finisher for girls in her age division!


I love that Kael wanted to run too! He ran well and had a really strong finish! It was just a great night. After the race we ate at Leaning Tower, and everyone was happy.  Love nights like these.




Have a great weekend!