Weekend Wrap-Up

 All the fall sports activities have kept us hopping the last few days!

Kylee had her first team spaghetti dinner the other night- so fun!

These buddies started football practice and had fun goofing around at the park afterwards.

Kylee had her first cross country meet Thursday at our home course.  She set a goal of 22:00 minutes for herself and was thrilled to cross the finish line in 20:12! She has been working so hard- I'm so happy for her.  She was the fourth Jag finisher of 9-12 and the 9th overall out of 168 girls! 

She had a ton of great cheerleaders around the course!

The next day Ankeny Fanatic wrote a nice article and had this picture of Kylee in it.

This buddy got home in time from the race to catch this nice fish!

Friday was Kael's first game of the season!

I could NOT be more proud of how much work this guy has put in and just so excited for his senior year.  So cool to be a part of this all!

Even Kase's friends get so excited to see someone they know up there with the senior posters!

We all had fun at the game and Kylee and Kase had a bunch of friends there too. Wish we would have started the season with a win though.  Saturday morning Kael worked and Kylee had a cross country long run then she volunteered at the volleyball tournament. Kent, Kase and I went up to visit Kael at work and have some lunch there then Kent took Kase and a buddy to SkyZone while I got a few things done around the house and Kylee went to Garrett's for a pool party.  That night we grilled steaks and Kase had a couple buddies stay over and then Kael got some very exciting mail! He opened a letter from Central to find out that he has been admitted! He was just so happy I loved the look of true excitement on his face.  He couldn't wait to call the grandparents to tell them too. Way to go, buddy! I'm not 100% sure that is where he will end up for college but definitely a strong possibility.

The next morning these shirtless buddies slept in big time while Kylee and I went to church and Kael went to work.

That afternoon Kase had a basketball game- we lost and honestly the kids just did not look into it at all so that is probably for the best that 3-3 season is over. 

We picked up Kylee (Kael had team lifting) and headed to the lake to meet our friends.  We try to squeeze in at least one boating date with them each summer which is harder than it sounds since we both have three busy kids! We always have the best time with them and it ends up being one of our favorite days of the summer.

The kids are always dying to catch one of those giant carp by the dock!

The kids all had fun tubing together even though it was a little rough out there today!

We came home tired and happy and Kent was ready to spend some time with Kael chatting about music and listening to Kael play his guitar then they watched a movie together while the rest of us went to bed early! 

Welp, Kase is already saying, "Ugh. School tomorrow." So, that seems awfully early in the year to not wanting to be getting up for school!! Ha! That kid just loves summer. Here's to a great week! 

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for Back to School! It was my last "First Day" at Ashland Ridge after 11 years in a row of dropping kids off there!!!

I'm thankful for the annual Big Creek Back to School Beach Bash! Kase and his buddies have been doing this on the last day of summer for several years now!

I'm thankful for after fifteen years of driving *someone* to school- I no longer have that responsibility! Both Kael and Kylee drive themselves and Kase just walks to school!

I'm thankful for this guy! Senior year!! I hope it's his best year yet. He's got open campus and a class off next to his lunch hour so I think I'll see him occasionally during the day this year and I am looking forward to that!

I'm thankful that the first week of school is almost over- all things considered it's been a good one!

Weekend Wrap-Up

 Kent and Kael went to Hairball at the State Fair.  These two have so much fun together.  Meanwhile, I didn't get any pictures, but Kase was tearing it up on the basketball court! He played so well!

Thursday was our last Meet the Teacher night at Ashland Ridge- we've been doing this for 11 years now! Kase is so excited to have Mrs. Harrington who is a family friend that I've known for a long time!

Kael had the Gatorade scrimmage.  Love kicking off the fall sports season and am so, so proud to see him out there!

Kase was pretty proud to have a big brother out there and couldn't wait to talk to him after the game.

Kylee and her friend Emma went to the Kane Brown concert at the fair.  How cute are they?! This is the third concert these girls have been to together- just love their friendship. 

Friday was a weird day- the weather made for some last minute plan changes but Kase spent the afternoon playing baseball at Miracle League with his friends. Later Kael was supposed to have a scrimmage at Dowling but storms rolled in and they postponed it which turned out to be lucky for Kent and Kael- they had tickets to Disturbed at the State Fair and the storms had cleared out by the time they wanted to head down there! Kylee had a chill night at home and I ran Kase to Pizza Ranch which is his favorite place to eat but decidedly one of my least favorite places to be on a Friday night, or ever.  

These two sure have fun together though and love to rock out!

Saturday morning Kent and Kase took off for Clear Lake to go fishing with my dad.  The fishing there was a bust but they had luck at my grandpa's pond! Kylee had an early morning cross country long run and I went to Kael's football scrimmage, then later Kylee and I went to the mall to get a few things for back to school.  That evening Kael worked and Kylee, Kase, Kent and I went to hang out with some of my book club friends and their families! Kase had fun running around with the boys and playing in a new batting cage.

Sunday Kael worked, Kylee and I went to late church (Kase wasn't feeling great so Kent stayed home with him so he didn't be loud and hacking during church) then later Kase had a couple basketball games then basketball tryouts.  Kael hung out with a friend.  Later I went to my parents' to have a chat about a potential upcoming trip and we had such a nice time talking- just my sisters, parents and me. Kent and Kase went fishing, Kael had football team lifting and Kylee hung out with her boyfriend.  Later we all played some KanJam (I went undefeated- this never happens!!!), Kent had a football coaches meeting with a friend so his kid hung out at our house and a bunch of other neighbor friends stopped by to play too. A fun, busy end to our weekend! 

Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful for the football season kick off and hog roast on Sunday! I am happy to be part of the parent board this year and loved seeing Kael with his buddies.

I'm thankful that Kent sponsored the football team! Kael was proud to deliver him this poster with his logo on it.

I'm thankful that this buddy has continued to love fishing and has had some great luck!

Even in the rain.

I'm thankful when cousins come to join the fun!

I'm thankful a friend's son's surgery went well on Tuesday.  That was a big hurdle to get over!

I'm thankful for a fun volleyball season kick off on Tuesday! 

I'm thankful for Kael.  He is just such a good, dependable big brother. The other morning I was waiting for Kylee's new dresser to be delivered but she had a couple Starbucks birthday gift cards she wanted to use so Kael offered to drive them all to Starbucks.  So sweet.  Also thankful for Kylee who was willing to spend her gift cards on her brothers too! 

Happy Thursday, all!