Weekend Wrap-Up

 We've been filling our Christmas break with even more fun!

Friday we went bowling with cousins.  So fun.

These boys got a little squirrely by the end.  Mostly Kent- ha.

Then Kent, Kase and I loaded up and headed to Minnesota to meet our friends for a little getaway! Kael and Kylee both had plans that afternoon (Kylee went to the mall with her friend and Kael had plans with his girlfriend) so they were troopers and got up super early the next morning to drive and meet us all! I love that they didn't want to miss out on the Patter-hart adventures!

We played board games in the hotel lobby until dinner time and found a fun place to eat then played more games until late at night.  So much fun.

The next morning, Kael and Kylee drove straight to the slopes to meet us! None of my family had skied before besides Kase so we were all excited to try! I would say everyone did well.  Kent and Kael didn't LOVE, love it but still had fun with the group.  Kylee loved it way more than I thought she would!

These girls have been friends forever.  I just love them.

Kase is getting pretty good on the snow board!

Lunch break at the lodge.

We drug them away from the slopes to hit the mall! Kent and Kael had left earlier and met up with Mark and Cooper there.  They watched a little bit of the ISU and Broncos games and when us girls plus Kase got there we shopped for a bit.  Kase had one thing to say about the Mall of America, "I hate it here so much." Bahahaha! I don't blame him.  It was pretty busy and just....overstimulating I guess for him especially! Lucky for him we didn't stay long.

We did fit in a quick game! This place was so fun and we are always playing fun, competitive games with the Rineharts.  So our family vs theirs in a real life game show with real life host was pretty awesome! We had a blast and in the end we won!

The four middles (so everyone but Kael and Cooper) BEGGED to hit the slopes for a twilight run.  With a little convincing and shuffling of peoples and cars and snow gear- Kent took them back and they were SO happy.  I was thrilled for a little break to run back to the hotel and chill with Kael for a bit while Mark and Jess took Coop on a couple rides at the mall.

We had a late but really nice and super fun dinner all 10 of us together.  The whole crew was tired but happy and we finished the night with a few more games in our room before finally calling it for the weekend and going to bed! What a fun weekend full of memories. 

Thankful Thursday

 I love Christmas!  Truly Christmas Eve is always one of my very favorite days of the year.  I know how very few years I have left of having just us five spend the day together and these moments are so precious!

We started the day early.  Kent was ready for the kids to get up so he could make breakfast!

They slept in a little but did eventually make their way down and Kylee joined too just not for this picture.

The kids were excited to give gifts to each other. We don't do a ton of gifts this day so the sibling gifts are always a hit! Kase was very huggy and appreciative this year!

We laughed when Kylee opened her gift from Kase because he said, "Wait that's not all I got for you!" but we couldn't find the second present.  After playing a few family games the kids all went to their rooms to relax a bit and Kase found the missing present and here he is waiting outside Kylee's door- so excited to give it to her. 

Kent loved his bolo tie! Ha! 

Man I love my boys but there is something so special about having a daughter- she kept commenting on how beautiful the wrapping paper was and how I had matched the name tag to the paper.  She also surprised me with several beautiful gifts- earrings, a bracelet and shirt that I truly was not expecting from her and she has such great taste! Kent also surprised me with some lovely gifts as he does every year even though we say we aren't going to get anything! He's the best. 

Kent and I won these moose mugs at a Rotary party and Kase tried eggnog for the first time ever and used the mugs.  He did not enjoy the eggnog. 

The kids went out to jump on the trampoline and I can't remember the last time they did this together.  So fun to see.

We made burgers and tried a new macaroni recipe for lunch that was a hit! 

Love these guys so much.

Possibly the biggest highlight of the day was a family walk. Kase brought along his new remote control car and drove it on this ice! The big kids thought this was hilarious. 

Much to my dismay they also took a few brave (or maybe stupid) steps out on the ice. 

Kael's sweet Emma came late in the afternoon and they exchanged gifts and we had a few for her too.

We set out some snacks and a dessert charcuterie thing and then Kylee's boyfriend came over too and had some lovely gifts for both Kylee and for me.  He's so thoughtful.  

Then, the best part of all- Christmas Eve church.  I don't ask my people to dress up very often but they all know this is just one of my very favorite moments of the entire year.

My favorite.  The one who makes it all happen.

Love all the pictures with different groups- I totally should have gotten one with just my boys too!

We went for a nice (late) dinner at Ruth's Chris.  It was such a fun night.

Christmas morning- Kael was the first one up! Shocked me! Later he admitted to setting an alarm because he didn't want to be the last one up.  Love him. Once both boys were up we let them wake up Kylee.

Santa gifts were fun/funny this year.  We didn't know for sure if Kase still believe so didn't want to ruin it and in the end the morning was perfect.  All seemed thrilled/surprised with their gifts. Kase got a snowboard, Kylee got a massage chair ad Kael got an amp!

We headed over to Keith and Cindy's later that morning.

Is there anything cuter than cousins in matching jammies? Especially when one of them is almost 20 and one isn't even 1 yet?

It was a lovely day spent with the family. I'm so thankful the kids have so much fun with their cousins and thankful for all the memories made this day.  Truly something special. 

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!