Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday afternoon a bunch of Kase's friends stopped by to play- it was really nice outside and it felt great having the house and backyard filled with buddies again! Kylee went to a sleepover at her friend's house and after Kase's friends all left, the rest of us made homemade pizza and watched the new Tom and Jerry movie.  The boys thought it was hilarious!

Kase's buddies showed up again Saturday morning and the snow had melted enough for them to start backyard football again.  They were muddy, wet and happy.  I love it. Kent and I went for a long walk and came home to find that Kael had woken up and done the laundry AND the dishes.  What an awesome 15 year old.  It was such a nice surprise and I'm so proud of the young man he is growing up to be! 

Then Kase had a tournament in State Center and on the way, we were able to stop by and visit Kent's grandpa! So glad we got to see him. 

Kase's team went 2-1 for the day.  He played hard and we really enjoyed this season with these boys and their families.

That hair, though.

Styled with sweat.

Coach Kyle is so great with Kase.

We enjoyed a memorable meal out between games.  Great company, terrible service.

Sunday morning Kase and Kylee slept in. Later Kent took Kylee out for a drive and picked up Ziggi's  coffee and looked for houses and lots.  Kael and I played ping pong and looked at boats online.  Can you tell we are dreaming about summer over here?! Then Kent and Kase had baseball camp. Later Keith and Cindy stopped by then Kylee had volleyball.  The boys and I sat in the hot tub, smoked ribs for dinner and had a fun night hanging out.  Here's to a great week! 

Thankful Thursday

I'm SO thankful for the warm weather and the fact the snow has melted off most of my running paths.  I have been able to go for a long run every day so far this week and it feels so great being outside again.

I'm thankful for long, meaningful conversations with Kael.  We sat in the hot tub Monday night and talked all about jobs and where he might like to work once he is 16.

I'm thankful for a family dinner Monday night.  We have all been going in different directions lately and it seems we are never all home together at dinner time.  Monday, we finally were!

I'm thankful for carpooling.  I don't know how we would possibly get our kids everywhere they need to be without sharing duties with friends.

Happy Thursday!

Weekend Wrap-Up

 We had a really nice weekend! We got Kylee's volleyball schedule and found out they didn't play until later in the day Saturday so they didn't have to go up Friday night.  We had fun here- Kylee and Kase both had friends over, we ordered pizza and just hung out. 

Saturday morning Kent and Kylee took off for Sioux City.  The boys and I visited my dad to see how he was doing after his knee surgery.

That afternoon Kase had two basketball games.  Kael came along with me to watch and Keith and Cindy came for a game too. They were 1-1 on the day and Kase played well and had fun with his buddies.  That night Kael had a friend sleepover so Kase and I brought the giant bean bag down the stairs and set up camp in the living room.  I let him pick the movie- Lord of the Rings- and we had ice cream and just had fun spending time together.

The next morning Kase rediscovered his Legos and had fun playing for awhile.  Kael and I played a ton of ping pong.  He's getting so good!

Meanwhile in Sioux City, Kylee's team went undefeated! She played well and had fun with her friends.  It was just the weekend she needed. And Kent had fun getting to know the other parents a little better.

Kase had another basketball game on Sunday. Tough loss for these buddies but they were still happy with their second place medals!

I'm so thankful for another team mom who gets all these great action shots with her nice camera.

By Sunday night around 5:00 we were all finally home together and it was great.  We ordered in some food, watched tv and played more ping pong.  

Have a great week!

Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful my dad is home and recovering and doing well after knee replacement surgery!

I'm thankful Kylee's volleyball team got a later start time on Saturday morning for their tournament so they only have to be gone overnight one night instead of two.

I'm thankful that Kase recently rediscovered the Whatcha Mouth board game.  He and I have had the most belly laughs playing it together lately.

I'm thankful it's starting to warm up.  I'm tired of the cold weather.  Come on, spring! 

Happy Thursday! 

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday after school Kase had several buddies stop by to play.  It was fun having a house full of boys.  One friend even said, "The gang's starting to all get back together again and it's awesome!" This is the usual after school football crew, but due to the weather and basketball/wrestling for some- it had been awhile since they had all played together.  Kylee had plans that night with a friend for a sleepover and Kent and I had dinner out with some Edward Jones friends. So nice to catch up with them and so thankful Keith and Cindy stopped by to hang out with the kids for a bit while we were gone!

And how about this Valentine's surprise for me from Kent?! I couldn't believe when he walked in the door Friday afternoon with these gorgeous pearls for me.  I've got a good one.

 

Saturday morning Kase had basketball and his team went 1-1.  Kase says he still loves it but I can tell we're getting towards the end of the season and I think everyone's excitement is starting to fade a bit.

Meanwhile, Kael and Kylee volunteered at the Junkyard Day of Love.  I'm so proud of them and so happy they love doing this every year! Kylee got to go to Blank Park Zoo with some friends to do some painting and Kael was at Habitat.  Both had a great time. 4

That afternoon Kylee had a volleyball team outing at Smash Park.  She had a good time!

That night Kael was staying over at a friend's house and we heard that Kellen and Krue were at Keith and Cindy's so we stopped by to see them for a few minutes.  Came home and watched a movie and all went to bed early.

Sunday morning we picked Kael up from a sleepover, picked up Dunkin' and drove around looking at a few properties.  Then we came home and I gave the kids their usual Valentine gifts- their photo books! They love looking through these each year.  

Sunday afternoon Kase had baseball camp. He had a great time! Kent stayed and watched the whole camp and had an equally great time.  Kylee had volleyball later that night and the rest of us had a nice lazy afternoon and evening at home.

 

Monday was a no school day.  The kids and I spent the morning playing ping pong and some board games then we decided to run a couple errands, pick up McDonald's for lunch then head to Get Air! I feel like we usually bring friends/cousins along for stuff like that but since we were already out and about and had gift cards to spend there, we just went and I think my three kids actually had a ton of fun playing together, just those three. When we got back to Ankeny Kase had a private hitting lesson then later in the night he had his first team baseball practice.  Nothing like jumping back into baseball season, full swing! See what I did there?!

Welp, I just found out it's a late start tomorrow due to super cold weather...so I guess the kids and I have a few more hours together in the morning! 

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! So, this year I didn't force the red shirts.  Instead we picked up Kael from a sleepover, got Dunkin' and drove around looking at houses.  Here's to new traditions I guess! At least they were sitting in the same order...

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful for a fun library program that my neighbor told us about and even hand delivered the gift bags!

I'm thankful for the elliptical at Kent's office.  I keep holding off on joining a gym hoping it will warm up and stop snowing soon but in the meantime I can at least still get a workout in.

I'm thankful for a nice relaxing last few days after a busy weekend last weekend!

Have a great day!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Our weekend got off to an early start with Kylee leaving school early on Thursday with a friend to try to get ahead of the snow and wind on their way to Omaha for a volleyball tournament.  I ended up leaving shortly behind them and was very glad to make it there just as it was starting to get dark- the roads weren't great! Kylee and I had dinner at the hotel with some teammates and had a fun time getting to know everyone a little better.

Friday morning Kent was in charge of getting the boys up and off to school.  He sent me this picture of Kael looking so grown up! (And, wearing pants instead of shorts which never happens!)

The boys got their homework done after school. 

Friday morning Kylee's team had the early shift for games. They played well and went 2-1 on the day!

A highlight for her was seeing her bestie who had moved from Ankeny to Omaha last year. We miss you, Taya!

The girls and parents enjoyed team dinner at Spaghetti Works. 

Saturday morning we were back at it early! We went 1-2 for the day.

We watched some friends' teams play, the girls sat in the hot tub and had fun running around the hotel and skywalk. That night we all ordered in and played Jackbox- parents and kids.  It was SO fun and we enjoyed the team and parent bonding!

Sunday morning we played early again and the girls got the win to send them to the Silver Bracket Championship.

They battled it out and it went to a third set- we won 15-13!! Love seeing these girls get so excited and come home with a big win!

I felt so lucky to be spending the whole weekend with this girl. This season has taught her a lot and I am just so proud of her.

Meanwhile at home, the boys were having sleepovers (Kael's friends at our house, Kase at a different friend's house) and Kent took some time to teach Kael some valuable guy skills.  Like, shaving!

We were greeted with a welcome home sign from Kael on the door and Kylee got a big hug from Kase.

The house was spotless, the laundry was done and Kent even had some fun Super Bowl snacks and drinks for us! Not to mention flowers and a candle! I was so impressed.  Kase had also written the sweetest, "I missed you" note. How lucky am I to go away for the whole weekend and come home to all this?!

We spent the afternoon unpacking, doing laundry, and of course Kent immediately washed my car which was dirtier than it had ever been and I think was about to give him a heart attack-ha! Later my parents stopped by with some cake and we had a present for my dad since his birthday is tomorrow. They enjoyed hearing about the volleyball weekend. We had a great family night playing a few board games then watching the Super Bowl with some fun snacks. Hope you all had a great weekend!