Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful this week is almost over.  No one has been feeling great.  It's been kind of a weird start to 2025.  Why does January feel like it's 100 days long?!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday night Kent and I took Kase and a couple friends to 7 Oaks.  They just love being on the slopes! I actually hadn't been there to watch and Kase was proud to show me some of his jumps.  After we had watched them for a little while Kent and I headed to Ames for a nice dinner then Kase's friends' parents brought them home.  Kylee had left town after school for a church retreat all weekend. 

 

Saturday morning Kase headed right back up to 7 Oaks, this time with his church group, and this time to go tubing! He had a blast with a buddy he doesn't often get to hang out with outside of school so I was happy for him.  They went to Hickory Park after.  Kent and I had a nice morning at home getting some things done, running a few errands, going for a chilly walk and sitting in the hot tub.  Later we took Kase to Keith and Cindy's and they took Kase to dinner and a movie while Kent and I went to his Edward Jones holiday party.  We had so much fun catching up with everyone! Later found out that Kael had played his guitar in a talent show that night- so proud of him! 

Sunday we went to church then picked up Kase.  Kylee got home from her retreat and later Kent took Kase to look at cars and play pool.  It was just too cold to be outside. Kylee had dinner out with Sean and his parents. Later I hung out with my sisters- always good to catch up! 

Monday there was no school.  The kids slept in then Kylee had coffee with some friends and Kase had a pitching lesson.  Kylee went shopping with some friends who hadn't bought their prom dresses yet and Kase and I went to meet up with my parents and my niece and nephew at Putts and Pins to do a little bowling and mini golf! Kase was thrilled to have something fun to do with cousins and it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.  Kylee went for a quick jog then got her nails done. Fun, long weekend!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful everyone is surviving this first full week back after break and hopefully everyone is starting to feel a little better too! 

I'm thankful my parents were able to go down to Pella to take Kael out for lunch earlier this week.  I'm sure he appreciated that!

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday night we all went to Sean's basketball game so that was fun! The team didn't win but he played well.

Saturday I went prom dress shopping with Kylee.  We had the best time with her friend and her friend's mom too.  The girls tried on a TON of dresses, looked great in them all and ultimately both found ones they loved. It was so great spending time with Kylee. 

Meanwhile the boys made their own fun.  Found a place to play pool and another place to race RC cars.  They enjoyed their day together too!

Kase fit in a little sledding with the cousins that afternoon.  Love how happy they are together.

That night Kent and I used a gift card we had gotten for Christmas and had a date night at Lucca- so fun!

Sunday no one really felt great and kinda slept in.  Kael went to Urgent Care just to make sure he didn't also have strep like Kylee before packing up and heading back to school.  Kent and I went to church with Kylee and Sean and later Kase went sledding with some friends.  

It has been SO nice having Kael home.  I know he isn't super excited about going back especially with such a bad cold and we will definitely miss having him around the house! But track season will be starting up soon so we'll be seeing him a little more often this semester.  Later Kent, Kylee and I all went to the gym and Kase went sledding at a friend's house. Kent had a Rotary meeting in the evening and the rest of us had a lazy night in! 

Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful for a fun night celebrating the New Year with my favorite people! We had fun mini golfing downtown then enjoyed dinner at Greenbriar and wrapped our night up at home playing Perudo, Among us and Categories.  Just such a great night and fun memories made.

I'm thankful Kylee was able to get some meds- her initial strep test came back negative but on New Year's Day we found out the culture actually was positive for strep.  Poor girl!

I'm thankful Kase and I went ice skating with my sisters, nieces, nephew and parents! We try to fit this in every year over break and I'm so glad we do.

Cutest little photo bomber.

My favorite look-alikes.

Happy New Year!!!

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!