Weekend Wrap-Up

I'm just going to say it. Halloween is typically my least favorite holiday  It's dark, cold, spooky (I HATE being scared) and in previous years the kids would get all jacked up on candy and then not feel well.  But honestly, this year was super fun!

Kase and his best buddy decided at the last minute to go to our school's Trunk or Treat. I mean, it was literally out our back door and it was a beautiful night and Kase was still not super excited about it.  He was like, "Do I have to wear a costume?" So they quick threw on Hawkeye jerseys and headed over and ended up having a blast.

 

He ran into his whole gang of buddies. Fun times! Meanwhile, Kylee and a friend went to a haunted forest and had a great time.  Kent and his parents and my parents all went to Kael's playoff game at Valley. It was a bummer to lose but Kael seemed ok with the season coming to an end.  It has been a great year but he was fine with the season wrapping up.

Saturday we had a nice morning going for a walk, getting stuff done around the house, watching the Hawekeyes.  Kael worked and Kylee, Kase and I were so excited to have a free Saturday afternoon to go watch some of the cousins play basketball!

Such a fun day cheering them on and so great to see everyone. My parents had fun Halloween treats for all the kids too which they loved! 

That night Kase had plans with friends before trick-or-treat and Kylee had plans with friends so I snapped a quick picture of them together before they left.  Kase was the Grim Reaper (he didn't have his eyes lit up yet or holding his knife thing, but at least I got a quick front porch photo together!)

Kase and one of his best buddies matched! 

Then this crazy group took the neighborhood by storm.  This was the first year of them going totally on their own and our house was their first check in point. I am pleased to report the boys all seemed to be doing a good job staying on sidewalks, staying together and only taking one piece of candy.  They stopped for a quick drink of water then took off!

Meanwhile Kylee was having a blast with friends.

Kent had our house all spruced up for Halloween! The pumpkins were lit, he had black lights and music playing, we had orange lights on the front bushes and purple lights in our front lanterns.  It looked so festive! 

When Kael got home from work he made plans with a friend to go to the Trail of Terror in Baxter.  I didn't get any pictures from them so I at least took one of Kael and Kent together! Kael and his friend had a great time!

The boys lasted until almost the very end of trick or treat.  Kent and I had the nicest night just sitting in the driveway together passing out candy and chatting with friends and neighbors as they went by.  

When the boys got back to our house, half of them decided to stay here and watch the World Series and trade and eat their candy!

Even though it had been a nice night, they did get chilly and came in to cozy up.  

Before long they were all shirtless and wrestling around and having the best time.  It really was a fun night for everyone! Some of our very favorite neighbor friends who moved out of state a couple years ago surprised us and stopped by! So fun to see them.

The next morning we had brunch at Keith and Cindy's to celebrate the October birthdays.

We all had fun playing volleyball outside then came in to hang out and Kase couldn't get enough of cuddling Krue.  

We even got to stop by Kellen's soccer game after brunch! Later that afternoon Kent did some yard work, Kase played at a friend's house and Kylee had some friends here. Then we had a nice family night watching the Vikings and also the World Series! 

Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful for cozy nights in watching the World Series. I'm also thankful for new blankets!

I'm thankful the Jag volleyball team made it to state!

Short and sweet today.  Have a great weekend!

Weekend Wrap-Up

We had a lovely, much slower than usual weekend.  

Kael started us off with a concert in his room Thursday night after the Jag playoff volleyball game- he's getting really good!!!

 

Friday night Kylee had a friend come to stay the night so we ordered pizza and hung out here for awhile.  It was a super rare night in that none of Kase's friends stopped by and he just had a nice relaxing afternoon and evening.  It was pretty chilly so Kent headed to the last regular season Jag football game at East while I planned to stay home with Kase and watch playoff baseball. Kael got to go in the game and I was so happy for him! Right after I stopped taking video he totally threw a guy down and was so proud.

Kase and I had planned to stay home but Kent texted me saying Riley Moss was there so Kase should come say hi! We bundled up and hurried down and I'm so glad we did.  I was thrilled to be there when Kael got in the game and so was Kase, and of course, he was happy to talk to Riley too!

Kase even made it on Twitter- ha! Kent would like me to point out here that he was texting me the picture of Kase and Riley together- he wasn't just staring at his phone and not paying attention.  I had dropped Kase off at the entry and had gone to park the car.

It was a fun night- Kylee and her friends made Funfetti Halloween cupcakes while we were gone and she sent me some funny videos of her (boy) friends wearing aprons while baking.  Happy she feels comfortable having the whole gang to our place. Kael was happy with the win and found out they made playoffs! 

Saturday I spent the day at the mall with Kylee and her friend. They are so fun to hang out with and they got some great Christmas gift ideas! Kent and Kase hung out at home while Kael worked.  

Later that day Kael went for a bike ride with a friend who was doing a long run and Kylee's friend was still over hanging out with us so Kent grilled up some steaks and Kael and his friend came over and we all had dinner. Kase had a friend come over later for a sleepover and they had a blast on the trampoline and in the hot tub.

Sunday after we took Kase's friend home we had lunch with my parents.  We hadn't been over there to hang out in forever! So great to have a day to spend time with them. Even though it was super rainy we took a walk out back!

Later Kylee had fun trying on my old Prom dresses- and my sisters dresses too! She looked so grown up and beautiful!

My mom also gifted us these cozy blankets and Kylee was in heaven.  It was the perfect rainy day for a new blanket!

The boys loved them just as much! Kael snuggled right in when he got home from work.

Later we carved pumpkins! I love that all the kids are still willing to participate even though they are growing up.

When Kylee found out we were going to do pumpkins tonight she said, "Yes! I can't wait to chase my brothers around with the gross pumpkin guts!" Ha.

They turned out pretty good!! Kase's (in the middle) is supposed to be Dracula and Kael and Kylee just free-handed theirs.

We had the nicest family night making deep dish pizza, watching Hocus Pocus and playing cards.  It was great!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful Kael got recognized as Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week! He's been working hard and I am so happy to see him get recognized. 

 

I'm also super thankful that I made the effort to go to Kael's conferences last week.  I don't think many parents go to high school conferences but Kael has been having a hard time in a couple of his classes so I went to touch base with some teachers and they were so receptive and helpful. 

I'm thankful for best buddies.

Kase was thankful to be one of the top money raisers for the Ashland Ridge fundraiser! He was excited to spend his gift card on a new football and receiver gloves!

I'm thankful for dinner out with my sisters last night.  It was so, so good to catch up.

I'm thankful for a blessedly low-key weekend ahead.  Our one weekend with no sports tournaments or games and I can't wait to spend time with my people!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday Kael had a home game so we went up there and we all found friends and family to hang out with.  A tough loss but always a fun way to spend our Friday evenings!

Saturday Kylee had the State Cross Country meet- she did great! 12th out of nearly 150 runners! She gave it her all and was super tired afterwards.  So proud of her. 

Saturday afternoon we watched the Hawkeyes which wasn't pretty.  None of us were too sad that we had plans and couldn't stay home to watch the end of the game! Kase had a birthday party for one of his best buddies, Kylee went to a friend's house to keep her company during her dad's birthday party and Kael went out for dinner with my parents.

Kent and I had fun at the Rotary fundraiser! We were greeters for the first hour then spent the rest of the evening bidding on some super fun stuff! 

Good food, great cause, and small world realizing people at our table knew my mom in high school! Super thankful for Kael who was able to be home to monitor Kase while he was picked up and dropped off from the party and also pick Kylee up when she was ready to go home!

Sunday Kael worked, Kent and I took a long walk then had brunch at the Tap with Kyle and Julia.  So great to catch up with them and fun to see Kael at work! Later Kase had his last flag football game of the season. He wasn't feeling great but played well and we had lots of family there to watch him! Later Kael had lifting and game walk through, Kylee hung out with friends and Kase went to Nitro Circus with some buddies.  Kent and Kael went out for dinner and then saw a Halloween movie.

It was a really fun weekend!