Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful Kael got to stop home last night! He was invited to do a panel at Junkyard- so proud of him and always great to see him.

I'm thankful for a beautiful day yesterday.  The sun was shining and it was just perfect out.

I'm thankful for an exciting weekend ahead! Kase's birthday and Kylee running at Drake!

I'm thankful for how Kent handles things. It's not easy being head coach and when there are difficult conversations that need to take place Kent never shies away from them. 

Happy Thursday!

April Birthday Boys

I can't believe this is the last year my April birthday boys will wake up in the same place together.  It has been an absolute joy getting a picture of them together each year and seeing how they've grown. 

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Weekend Wrap-Up

 Wow it's been a fun few days!

Thursday my parents took me out for lunch for my birthday.  So lovely to catch up with them and enjoy this giant piece of chocolate cake! It was amazing.

I also stopped by a cute new little macaron place in town that was right by where we ate to get some treats to share. 

And that evening Kylee had a meet.  I volunteered at the concession stand but then just look at this awesome crowd out in the cold to support Kylee and be with me on my birthday! 

She PR'd in the open 800 in very chilly conditions so I was super happy for her.  She also looked great in the 4x400 and had the fastest split in her group!

Can't get enough of seeing her happy and chatting with friends after the race.

Goooo Kylee!

Love these two. He's always there for her.

Friday my mom and dad went to Augstana to watch Kael throw! I found out last minute he was going to be there and I wasn't able to go because Kent and I had a work event that evening I wouldn't be home for so I was super thankful my parents could go support him and also take him back to Pella so he didn't have to spend the whole weekend out of town. 

It was a windy day and there were lots of scratches but not Kael! He had a great day and was had the farthest throw of the Central guys for discus- yay Kael!

My parents and Kael sounded like they both genuinely enjoyed their time out for dinner and the ride back together so I'm really happy it all worked out. Meanwhile, Kent and I had his Regional Awards dinner and I couldn't be prouder of him. He works so hard and to see him announced up there with the Level 10s- just really impressive how he puts so much time into his business and still pours so much into family time. He's really something special and I'm thankful for the life he has provided us!

Kase had been out for dinner and hanging out with a friend that night and Kylee and her boyfriend went for ice cream then we all went to bed early because Kase had early games and Kylee had an early long run on Saturday morning.  Afterwards she went to watch her boyfriend's baseball games. Brr! These girlies tried to stay warm!

Kase's team went 2-0 on Saturday.  Just love watching these boys play. That night he had a couple buddies over and they played FortNite, sat in the hot tub, messed around in the Crew Lab (our baseball setup in the garage), sat in the hot tub and just had a nice chill night.  We grilled steaks and enjoyed chatting with the boys. 

Sunday morning we were back at it early and Kase played really well.  Threw a ton of strikes, ripped a huge triple (right as my sister and niece walked up so I told them they were his good luck charm!) and had a couple great plays in the field.  We lost both games today but still happy with the effort and attitude Kase puts forth and I know things will keep coming together for this team. 

This buddy was fired up.  He was the happiest, bounciest version of himself which is far and away my favorite version of Kase. 

He spent the afternoon at a friend's house and Kylee was at the mall with her friend. Kent and I went for a walk- it turned out to be a really nice day. Later we celebrated the April birthdays at Keith and Cindy's. Always so good to see the family and they are so good to my kids- fun and special gifts and genuinely happy to see them. Kase was SO tired- lucky Cindy had gotten him a personalized baseball blanket he wrapped up in and spent the afternoon lounging around in it! Kylee and I went to a meeting about a potential upcoming Peru trip so that was interesting and informative.  Kylee is definitely hoping to go! 

Got some big and very exciting news today that Kylee and her 4x800 team qualified for the Drake Relays! I'm SO happy for them and so very proud of her.  She just works so hard and I'm thrilled she's going to get such an amazing experience! Can't wait to watch her on Saturday! 

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for an early birthday dinner at my favorite place.  April is crazy and it's so sweet that Kent makes sure I still feel special for my birthday! Also thankful for the red velvet cake- yum!

Lots to be thankful today on my 41st birthday- hoping for another year filled with health and happiness and I'm feeling just so very thankful for my family and my village of people who care about me.  I'm the luckiest. 

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday night we had a chill night here.  Kase had a social after school and had fun there with all his friends.  He came home happy. Garrett came over and did some baseball work in the garage with Kent while Kylee got all her track stuff ready. Then Kael came home! So great to have him around and Kent took one look in the garage/driveway at some point in the evening and just looked at me and said, "My heart is full" and he couldn't have been more correct.  It was a beautiful night, Kael was home, Garrett and Asher were also over and we just were all having fun together hanging around together.  Kael was tossing a football over the house to Asher, Kase was playing Garrett in basketball and Kylee and I sat on lawn chairs in the last bit of sunlight watching them all.  Love our people so hard. 

Saturday morning was Kael's birthday! Kylee was up early and off to the bus to Drake. Kase slept in. So for the first time in as long as I can remember, Kael opened his present with just us watching- ha! He was so happy and thankful for each gift.  He's the best to give gifts to- always gives a great reaction.  And he was anxious to open them too! He didn't want to wait for Kylee and Kase- love that he still gets excited about gifts.

Then we picked up Garrett and all headed to Drake! The grandparents were all there too! It was starting to get warm but Kylee and her team had a GREAT race! They all PR'd!

Kylee anchored and came in with a 2:23.6! She was thrilled with her time.  I could watch her finish an 800 race every day of the week.  Her kick is so strong. I couldn't be happier for her. 

Love so much that Garrett was able to come along! And I love, love LOVE their pink uniforms!

The whole fam.  So thankful for Kael making it a priority to come cheer on his siblings on his birthday! 

Kylee breaks it down with Cog.  He's such a great coach.  (Also I tried to get a picture of how cute her hair looked- her friend did it and it was awesome!)

We came home and Kael went for a birthday lunch with Keith and Cindy.  Kase relaxed and Kent and I went for a walk. Then we loaded up and headed for the ball fields- it was a hot, windy day.  We got off to a bit of a rocky start but we never gave up and ended our first game in a tie and came from behind to win our second game! 

We had a HUGE inning the last game and Kase was just living his best life- so happy and just dancing and joking around.  I love to see him love the game so much.  I told him the very best thing I saw him do all day was encourage some teammates and talk them up and really believe in them.  He hit a couple triples and pitched well, but being a great teammate trumps all of that. Couldn't be happier for my guys. 

Kael had come to watch the first game then went to hang out with his girlfriend.  After a long day at Drake, Kylee grabbed a quick dinner then met up with friends to hang out.  

My parents were able to join us to meet up with Kael and Emma after Kase's games for Kael's birthday dinner! I am so thrilled we were able to have a special night with him amongst all the spring sport busy-ness. 

Love these two.

Kael was proud to show her how to grill the perfect steak!

Grandpa Terry loves Rubes as much as Kael does. 

The birthday boy with his dad.  These two are peas in a pod.  Kent mentioned several times over the weekend how refreshing it was to have someone around the house who "shares his humor and taste in music."  Love that and it's so true!

Emma gave Kael the sweetest photo collage gift of the two of them and we were just so happy to all spend the night together celebrating Kael. 

Sunday morning was Kylee's Walk Celebration! I'm so proud of her in her faith journey and happy so many of us were able to go support her.  

Kylee and her mentor Joy. She has been a big part of all my kids' church lives!

Love, love, love this girl.

Proud of these two both for having done The Walk and love that Kael was able to be home to come watch Kylee!

The whole gang (plus Kael had been there- just left before the photo).

So sweet of Garrett to come.

Confetti finale!

A group of us were able to take Kylee out for lunch and she got some sweet and thoughtful gifts.  Kase's team won their first game of the day- a close one to a very good Johnston team.  Love that the timing worked out for Kent to be able to come support Kylee between games! Kase's team ended up losing their second game and Kylee went to a friend's house to lay out- it was so sunny and hot! Kael went to the gym before heading back to school. Later Kylee went for ice cream with a friend then to play sand volleyball.  We had some Crew dads over to chat baseball and the kids all played around- it was such a nice night out.  

Ready for another busy, fun spring week! 

Happy Birthday, Kael!

Happy 19th birthday Kael! Excluding the first year of his life, I would have to say this is the year of his life that he has changed the most.  

Kael has absolutely thrived as a college student. He's happy, he has great friends, a lovely girlfriend he's having fun with track and working hard at his classes. 

But more than that, I've seen him mature in so many ways.  He is responsible and handles things on his own that I used to have to remind him about. 

One thing Kent and I have talked about lately is how much we appreciate Kael's calm and steady attitude.  He's never really up or really down.   Anything stressful going on? Shrugs his shoulders and figures it out. He's so easy to please and just a joy to be around. 

He works hard at track and never seems to put too much pressure on himself.  We love watching him compete and get better each time.

He still loves his long hair and playing guitar. He and Kent talk music all the time and are going to another big concert next month. He's found some friends who have similar interests at school which makes me so happy for him. 

Kael is Kent's very favorite person to take out for dinner because he's not picky at all and is genuinely appreciative of good food.  He's great company too! 

Kael loves to be around the family. He was excited to come home this weekend to be able to watch Kylee run and also watch Kase's baseball games. Grandparents, cousins- he just loves to spend time with everyone and he's so easygoing and can have a conversation with anyone. 

Kael will do anything for you.  Seriously- he would give you the shirt off his back (and he has offered, many times when I'm chilly at a track meet or anywhere with him!) He's also never cold.  Ever.  He's the guy walking to class in the middle of winter wearing shorts- ha! 

I'm so happy that Kael has had such a great college experience so far but I'm also really excited to have him home for the summer.  The house just feels fuller when he's here and I just so enjoy his presence and hearing guitar sounds float down from his room. He's a great brother and enjoys asking Kylee and Kase questions about school and their lives.

I can't wait to spend the day celebrating my amazing first born! We have a day filled with track and baseball but tonight we plan to take him to dinner at one of his favorite places and I'm so happy we are able to make time to make him feel special amongst all the spring sports craziness!

Happy, happy birthday Kael.  You deserve every good thing that happens to you and may this coming year be as wonderful as this last year has been for you.  We love you so much and are so, so proud of you! Keep being great, buddy!  

Thankful Thursday

I'm so thankful to see Kylee smiling and happy after a great race on Tuesday.  She PR'd in the 4x800 and the open 800 and almost PR'd in the 4x400! Her 4x800 team was one second away from qualifying for Drake and her 4x400 team (distance JV girls) was one second away from beating Varsity! What a night! She has been going through some stuff lately and she just deserves every good thing that happens to her.  

I'm thankful for nice weather! I think spring is finally here!

I'm thankful for a twilight bike ride to Orange Leaf with my little buddy.

I'm thankful Kylee was recognized as Athlete of the Meet for Tuesday! Her relay teammate Bella also was and her 4x800 team had a really great write up in the Ankeny Fanatic.  Way to go, girls!

Have a great weekend, all! 

Weekend Wrap-Up

Busy spring week and weekend around here! Kylee had a great (long) meet on Thursday. She wanted a better time in her 4x800 but was happy with her mile time! She hadn't run that race in two years so it was fun to see her do that.  She had a long time between races so Kent and Kase were able to go to baseball between and still see both her races. 

Congratulating a friend. 

Hugs from brother post-race.

Saturday I went to Waverly to watch Kael throw! Emma and her parents came to watch so it was nice for me to meet them. 

It was a super windy day but Kael was happy with his throws.  I'm always happy when I get to see him!

At home Kylee had a long run then went to Garrett's baseball games.  Kase played around the 'hood with friends. Later Keith and Cindy took Kase and Kellen and Krue out for dinner so Kent and I could have a date night! Kylee was at a church youth panel then hung out with her bestie Emma and they even came back to our house later to make slime like they used to back in the day.

I didn't take any pics of me and Kent but we had a lovely dinner and even had time for dessert.  He made my night by taking me to Greenbriar and ordering three desserts! Ha! The wait staff just loved it and thought it was so sweet (ha, pun intended) that they brought out a candle for me since it's near my birthday and even gave me a gift card to come back again soon! What a fun and special memory.

Sunday we had baseball! First Crew tournament of the year. We thought it was going to get rained out but the weather held off and we got to play.  The boys looked great and everyone just seemed happy to be there.

Kase is always happy with blue Big League Chew in his mouth. 

We went 1-1 on the day!

We were supposed to play one more but the rain moved in and while we waited it out the boys all crowded around and watched the start of the Hawkeye game. 

In the end we got rained out but we made it home in time to watch the end of the game and Kase had some friends over.  Kylee had been at a church meeting then out to Saylorville for a walk with a friend. 

Later Garrett came over, we ordered pizza and watched baseball.  Such a nice night!