Weekend Wrap-Up

I have so very much to write about- where do I start? I'll rewind to Wednesday.

Wednesday Kent had the super fun idea to take my dad out for lunch across the street from where his very first Edward Jones office was.  It was a great idea and really fun for all of us and for my dad. 

We stopped at Palmer's for cookies then went back to the office to enjoy them.

The passing of the cookie! Hilarious.

After a very busy Thursday afternoon (Good News Club for Kase, Bingo at the library for Kael, a friend over for Kylee), Kent took Kase to Creepy Capers! Sometimes I feel like, being a third child, Kase misses out on some of the things we did with Kael and Kylee when they were little because we're so busy now.  Kent and Kase had a great time and Kase was thrilled to come home with lots of candy!

Friday night we had plans to celebrate the October birthdays (and half birthday) with the Pattersons. We had the best time at Latin King with the whole family. Kase fell asleep shortly after eating his spaghetti- our sweet waitress had brought him ice cream for his half birthday so Kael and Kylee had to eat it for him.

Saturday the boys spent a LOT of time playing backyard football.  

Meanwhile, Kylee and I went to a Mary Kay party with all our neighbor friends!

We spent the afternoon lounging around, then later went for a walk in my parents' backyard.  It was so nice out and the kids had fun throwing hedge apples. We came back here for pizza then made Kase and ice cream sundae since he'd slept through his the night before!

Sunday after church Kase had his last football game. Kylee was so sweet and made a sign to cheer for him and my parents even brought cowbells! We also had an air horn.  It was hilarious and awesome.

Kase played a great game.

And even got pizza afterwards!

After the game we took a trip to the new outlet mall in Altoona.  Kael, who isn't a big shopper, even admitted, "It's pretty cool here!" 

It was another fun and full weekend. How was your weekend?! 

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that we know such generous people! One of my dad's friends found out that Kael had been into baking cupcakes this summer, and he gifted Kael all of these cupcake sprinkles! We can't wait to get baking.

I'm thankful for the Ankeny schools app that keeps me updated on all the kids' academic stuff.  Specifically when I got a notification over the weekend about an awesome grade Kael had gotten in math.  I loved being able to congratulate him right when I found out!

I'm thankful for the kids creativity.  As it's starting to get dark earlier, the kids aren't able to be outside for as long in the evenings.  Kael came up with the idea to make "song brackets" for everyone in the family to determine favorite songs and Kylee worked on a big poster to cheer Kase on for his last football game coming up this weekend.

I'm thankful for our annual pumpkin carving night.  Monday night was cold and windy so Kent backed the cars out of the garage, turned on the heater and we got to work! Kylee doesn't mind touching the pumpkin guts.

Kael does.

And Kase won't even attempt to touch them. Mostly he just wanted the knife and wanted to carve it by himself.

I'm thankful for how our pumpkins turned out this year! Kylee freehand drew this cat.

She also drew a Hawkeye for Kase.

And Kael chose a football!

I'm so thankful for how sleepy this guy is every night.

I'm thankful that the kids have gotten involved in running and SO thankful for the Spooky Fun Run on Tuesday night! It was cold and windy but the kids still really wanted to race.

Kase could hardly contain his excitement.

Off they go!

Kylee was the first girl finisher of the whole thing, grades K-7!

Kael really kicked it in at the end and ran so hard to the finish!

When Kase heard us cheering for him near the finish he got the cutest, most serious and focused look on his face and sprinted for the finish! 

Kylee got second place last year at this event and only first place gets a medal.  She was SO happy this year to go home with this cool glow-in-the-dark medal! She has definitely been working and training hard!

They called Kael up to receive a medal, too.

But Kael knew one of his friends had finished ahead of him and as soon as Kael had accepted the medal, he found his friend and said, "Hey man, I know you beat me so this belongs to you."  I'm so thankful for Kael's good sportsmanship and for what a good heart he has. I love the young man he has grown up to be!

I'm thankful for this family that we have enjoyed all these running events with!

I'm also thankful the kids aren't too grown up for the Library Trick or Read event.  We hurried home after the race, ate a quick dinner then headed to the library. 

I'm thankful for how little and innocent Kase looks in this picture.  Being a third child, sometimes it seems like he's grown up too fast and I love that he was excited to see Ozzie!

I'm thankful for my sweet little ice cream sundae. 

Lots going on lately and lots to be thankful for! 

Weekend Wrap-Up

I started my Friday off with a beautiful fall walk with my friend.  Locals, the paths out by Saylorville are just gorgeous right now!

We spent Friday afternoon and evening just hanging out.  The boys played some backyard football and Kylee had some neighbor friends spend the night!

Saturday morning they helped me bake coffee cake.

Then Kylee had her last volleyball game of the season! It was such a fun match.  The girls played so well and we were sad to see the season be done!

Kylee played against one of her close friends.  

Then Saturday  night was our annual Preschool Chili Cook-off Fundraiser! It's always such a fun night. The chili was good and the company was great! 

Well, the hot dogs were good too.

Kylee and her friends helped decorate the tables. This their third annual chili cook-off rainbow.

Saturday night Kael had a friend's haunted house (garage) to go to, so he had fun shopping for this awesome mask. The blue lights up in the dark! Sadly, it was super stormy that night so the party was postponed.

Sunday morning (and all weekend, really) I wasn't feeling great.  Sweet Kylee ran up to her room and said, "Come up in just a few minutes, Mom!" I went upstairs to find this sign on her door.  She had her bed all situated to give me a back massage and also had googled "soothing music" on her iPad and had harp music playing softly.  She had scented lotions- the whole thing.  It was just so thoughtful of her. 

Sunday Kylee had a cross country meet- Kent was able to go this time and watch her! 

She said it was a tough course with lots of big hills. 

But she had fun and even cut off about a minute and a half from her last race!

Keith and Cindy were there to cheer her on too! They all went out for ice cream at Hickory Park afterwards. 

While Kylee ran, Kase had his football games and Kael had his first basketball practice of the season.  Kast has so much fun playing football.  He scored four touchdowns but if you ask him, he'll tell you he scored eleven.

After his games I took the boys out for ice cream too, then they played football with friends.  Once we were all home, we loaded back up and went for a walk out at Saylorville.  The fall colors were just beautiful and it was such a nice night out.

I so enjoyed the family time in the beautiful weather.  We finished up our weekend having dinner out with my parents, then coming home to watch AFV.  We love fall!