Weekend Wrap-Up

 Friday night Kent and I had his Edward Jones awards dinner.  It was a great night out and we love the people in our region.  So proud of Kent for being recognized for all his hard work and accomplisments!

While we were gone Kase had a social at school then went fishing with his friends and Sean. Kylee was at Drake cheering on her teammates!

Saturday Kase's team went 2-0 and Kase got MVP! Super fun day.  Kylee was at Drake again.

Sunday Kase had an early game but got up in enough time to open his gifts before we left- he loved his tennis shoes, Three Nails clothes, fishing trip plans, RC car and several other things. We lost a tough game to SEP but had a great surprise that Kael came to watch the game! So sweet of him to show up! And when we got home that day Kylee and Sean had made a really nice card for Kase and took him fishing. 

Kase and his friend Caden are birthday twins! Fun to celebrate together at the ball fields.

Later Kent took Kase to get his haircut! He's been talking about getting it buzzed for awhile and he was really happy especially when he got home and Kylee told him she really liked it!

Kent and I took a walk up to the sports complex to watch my niece play softball and my nephew play baseball.  So nice they were in town so we could see them! When we got home, almost the entire baseball team was at our house hanging out with Kase.  I was so happy for him- honestly it's probably the most fun way he could have picked to spend his birthday- playing around the neighborhood with buddies. Later we went out for Mexican and Kase's friend came with us.  Then they went to The Creamery- the perfect end to a birthday!

Kase's 13th birthday

Every year the kids get older and every year it gets harder to believe.  Maybe especially because he's my youngest.  I now have no one younger than a teenager in my house! Our Kaser is THIRTEEN!!!

This buddy continues to be a joy to raise.  His ADHD can be challenging for him at times (and sometimes for me!) but I am just delighted at the way he looks at the world and I constantly find myself trying to see things from his point of view.  He's the only person I know who can leave his cell phone and shoes on an airplane but can spot a cool car a mile away and be able to spit out a million facts about that specific car. The other day in church (after trying so.very.hard to sit still) he told me, "Hey Mom did you know that song had 247 words in it?" I just love how his brain works. 

He is unbothered by many things that consume other teenagers.  He doesn't seem to care if he gets invited to all the parties-he'd rather be in the backyard with his buddies playing wiffle ball or at the nearest pond with a fishing pole in his hand.  He is not interested in being on his phone and texting all his friends- in fact when he gets messages he just rolls his eyes, hands me his phone and says, "Mom can you deal with this please?" Ha.  When he does finally feel like relaxing he's usually watching baseball or car videos and occasionally playing Clash but he is most definitely not a video game kid, which I love. 

Kase comes across as tough.  He is a man of few words if he can help it at all. But honestly there is such a sweet side to Kase.  He often out of nowhere says, "Mom you look so pretty today" or just thoughtful things like that.  

Kase LOVES fishing, playing baseball, riding his dirt bike, Tropical Smoothie, shooting baskets, time with his friends and being comfy. His two favorite parts of the day are when he gets done with school and then later at night when he can take his socks off (which is his unofficial signal that he is done for the day and will not be going back outside to play anymore or anything like that).

Kase HATES school.  He tolerates it at best and he never complains about going but I know it just drains him.  He's usually pretty exhausted after school and I'm always thankful when this time of year rolls around and he's so close to being done for the summer.  Other dislikes include eating at restaurants and cleaning up after himself. 

Kase is athletic.  So many things come very easy to him and he's just so fun to watch.  He's a total playmaker- you know when the ball is coming to Kase, something's gonna happen! 

We love you so much Kase!! Happy Birthday!!!!!

Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful for the beautiful weather lately!

I'm thankful for walks with a friend.

I'm thankful Kylee gets to go to the Drake Relays this weekend.  She's excited to be an alternate and spend the days cheering on her friends. 

Happy Thursday!

Weekend Wrap-Up

We had the loveliest weekend! I love when all my people are home together! The fun started with Kylee's track meet on Thursday- so fun Kael could be home to cheer her on with the rest of us!

Friday I woke up to the sweetest surprises from Kylee.  Everyone should be so lucky as to have a daughter like her.  People say the teenage years can be rough but I say bring them on.  

Kent went to Kael's meet at Augustana and when they got home we all (plus Emma and Sean) went to Simon's (my favorite restaurant) to celebrate! Seriously it was just the best night. The food was great, the company was great...I'm just the luckiest. 

We spent the rest of the evening back home together playing Among Us! Also I had received some amazing gifts from my family earlier in the day- a new pair of running shoes and a super nice purse I had been eyeing! 

Saturday we just got things done around the house in the morning and Kylee had a long run.  Kase played with friends and Kael and Emma celebrated their year and a half anniversary by going out for lunch and also stopping by Pella to take some pictures by the tulips! 

Later we celebrated birthdays and Easter at Keith and Cindy's house.  What a great day getting to see everyone. So thankful everyone could make it and we enjoyed an egg hunt with the little kids and also the April birthday boys were happy with their gifts!

Later Kase had time to play with a few friends and even did some late night fishing!

Sunday we went to church (the kids also got their Easter baskets- mostly gift cards and candy!) .  It was especially great to see Kylee in her element there.  So many people stopped her to say hi or compliment her on her dress- she just seemed happy.  And thrilled to have Emma get to go with us too! What a special morning. Then we went to my parents' for Easter lunch and our annual egg cracking contest! The weather may have been gloomy but we had a great day! Kase was the big winner this year for the egg cracking! My boys also both received their birthday gifts so it was fun to celebrate them too.  We got to play lots of card games which is always a highlight!

These two are buddies. 

What a great weekend with so much time spent with family- there's just nothing better!

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

2025

Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful for the warmer weather lately!

I'm thankful for a night out with my sisters.  So good to catch up. 

I'm thankful for a fun, family weekend ahead!!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Thursday Kent and Kase left for Branson and went fishing! They spent the rest of the weekend with our baseball fam- playing ball and having fun between games. Love that Keith and Cindy were able to go to Branson for the weekend too!

Friday I wrapped up Jury Duty! It was a super intense case and I am thankful to have been able to get it done last week and not have to carry over to this week.

Friday night Kylee and I had an early night so she could get up to run at Drake Saturday.  My parents were able to go watch her which was awesome! She ran the 4x800 and then was there the entire day and a half hour before the final race, one of the 4x 400 runners was not able to run so Kylee filled in.  Happy for her that she was able to step in at the last minute! 

I spent the day in Grinnell with Kael- a long meet but I so enjoyed just getting to chat with him all day.  He's such a good one. 

Kylee and I went out for Mexican when I got back to town then we had another early night- both tired from our long days at the track!

Sunday Kylee slept in so I watched church online then went for a walk, did some errands and cleaned. When she got up we went for brunch- it's been nice to be able to spend so much time with her this weekend! Later I watched Kase's team on Game Changer- they won so they got to play another game! Kylee did homework then a bible study with a friend. Later Kylee had dinner with a friend, I went for a walk and grabbed dinner.  It was a great weekend!