Kase is 14!

So many big milestones this year with birthdays it feels like! My parents are both 70 this year, Kael turned 21 and Kase is 14! He has already passed his driving test (thank heavens for the Skip the Trip option so he could take it online at home!) and is just really starting to grow up.  He recently got his braces off and is looking super grown up too.

Kase surprises me every single day. Just when I have him figured out he'll throw me a curveball (sometimes literally) and I am caught off guard.  Sometimes when I think he'll be tired or stressed after a busy week he's the exact opposite and when I think he would be worried about something (like a broken ankle) he seems totally unbothered. 

Kase has an incredibly wide circle of friends.  The other day he asked me, "Hey can you call me out of school so I can go out to lunch with some friends?" Um...no sir I cannot.  Who are you friends with that their moms are just calling them out of school so they can walk to the nearby taco shop? It makes me realize that I truly am sometimes clueless about his life outside of this house.  Which is not to say he hides things from me, he is just far and away my least talkative child.  Kase is on the go what feels like all.the.time but he definitely requires uninterrupted down time.  He'll often get in the car after a workout and say, "No questions I can't talk right now I just need a minute" and I'm thankful that he's getting mature enough to be able to explain that to me.  But it does mean that when Kase talks I try really hard to listen because it's usually about something that really matters to him or something that he really wants explained. 

Kase continues to excel at anything physical.  He just picked up snowboarding last year and this season he made it to the finals in a local competition.  Last summer he just decided one day (night actually because why not wait until the last second before daylight ends to make it even more exciting) to try to slalom and of course he just popped right out of the water and did it. He makes last second shots, he is the guy you want at bat when there are two outs and the bases are loaded. He thrives under that kind of pressure. 

School, however, is a different story.  Kase HATES school.  Honestly even the social part of it is draining for him most days.  Every year about this time I start a countdown in my head so each day I can let him know just how few days he has to endure getting up and out of bed and thrown into another stressful school day. He comes home exhausted, overstimulated and I truly just can't wait for him to have a break from it in a month or so. 

 

Kase's new favorite thing to do is try recipes he sees on TikTok so I'm forever finding my kitchen full of teenage boys because if you feed them they will come and they sure do.  Some current favorites are crispy beef tacos and spaghetti sandwiches. 

Kase has also decided to pick up golf and tennis/pickleball/ping pong because of course he has, even with a broken ankle he's out there every day hitting the ball against the wall in our garage. And he golfs nearly every night with a neighbor friend in the green space near our house- it's so funny to see them zipping around on their electric scooters- their versions of golf carts I guess. 

I just know big things are right around the corner for this guy. We love you so much, Kaser!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Fun weekend! Friday we went to watch Kael throw at Simpson. No PR's this time but it was a beautiful day and always good to see him.  Later that night Kylee had a church lock-in and Kase went golfing with friends so Kent and I had an impromptu night with our friends at their house.

Saturday Kylee slept alllll day.  So tired from her all-nighter. Kase was back to playing ball! And we played in town which was awesome. It was his first full tournament back and man, was it awesome! His first game he made several great defensive plays, earning him MVP- so cool! 

My mom caught this hilarious picture of Kase spitting during his game! It was great having so many people there watching him and cheering him on and it was a pretty good day for the Crew.  We went 1-1. 

That night we celebrated Kase's birthday at Keith and Cindy's. Kase was pumped about his new skim board! Then he rode his dirt bike up to play sand volleyball with friends and we had a great time hanging out with the fam.  Kylee was there for awhile too then took off to watch the sunset at Saylorville with friends. 

 Kylee was up early Sunday for an all day babysitting job. Kase had a baseball game and we lost so he was done for the day.  We spent the rest of our day just getting stuff done around the house. 

Thankful Thursday

I'm so thankful for Kent and all his hard work.  Last week he accomplished a huge goal of making it to Level 10 Tier 2 in his business and I'm so proud of him but honestly just so, so happy for him. Way to go, love!

Thankful for Kylee's hard work paying off too! She was inducted into the National Spanish Honor Society on Monday and I'm so proud of her! 

Weekend Wrap-Up

Wednesday Kase and I made the trip to Pella for a couple appointments and he humored me with a picture in front of my favorite pink tulips which were already in full bloom!

 

Kylee's been having fun with her youth group friends.

And Kael absolutely CRUSHED it at his track meet Thursday! There was some quick last minute shuffling with meets lately because the weather has been crummy and we lucked out with the most beautiful day!

Kael must have been feeling great because he beat his PR for discus by more than 6 meters and also beat his PR for hammer by over 4 meters! I couldn't have been happier for him. He's been a little disappointed with his throws lately so it was awesome to see him so pumped up. Way to go buddy!!! It was great that Kent and I could be there for the discus and my parents were also there.  We had to go home for Kylee's senior night at track but my parents were able to stay and cheer Kael on for hammer!

It was a fun night with Kylee and honestly it has been so nice this season not having the stress and pressure of racing.  Her hamstring has been bothering her still and she just hasn't been up to competing yet so we have just enjoyed cheering on her teammates!

Kent and Kase headed to Kansas City for baseball. By all accounts it was a fun weekend for them. 

Saturday was my birthday and I woke up to the sweetest note Kylee had left for me. (She had left for Indiana to visit a friend at 4AM Friday morning!) And I had the nicest day- my parents came over to help me sort and organize stuff for Kylee's grad party and they were a huge help. Later Kael came home to spend the day with me. Then he and Emma invited me to join them for dinner so we went to Portofino's and it was so fun.  Super kind of them to include me!

Sunday after church Kael headed back to Pella and I ran to the mall.  The baseball boys had a tough day Saturday for games but Sunday played well! Kylee is still having fun in Indiana and the boys will be getting home here in a couple hours.  Fun weekend! Thankful to all who made my bithday special!

April Birthday Boys

My April birthday boys.  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

2026

Kael is 21!

I am so glad Kael was able to come home yesterday to celebrate his birthday.  We went to Rube's- one of his very favorite places and it was so great to all be together to celebrate him!

Kylee and I were there too- I was taking the picture and she was at the head of the table on this end so I couldn't get her in the shot.

My favorite strong man.

Kael has had a busy spring with track meets and we love going to support him.  So far I think we have had someone at every one of his meets! Whether it's me and/or Kent, or some of the grandparents we are so lucky to have such a village who loves Kael.  And he's so easy to love. Kael is patient. Kael works hard.  Kael lifts heavy things.  Kael loves his family and spending time with them.  

Grandma Cindy brought some fun weightlifter decorations to his party and this is something that Kael is so proud of- his strength.  Getting on the leaderboard at Central was such a big goal of his and I truly couldn't be happier that he crushed that goal! He has hopes to keep moving up that board and I just know he's going to do it. 

Kael continues to enjoy playing guitar and I love when he's home and get to hear him play.  Every time he goes back to school I always say, "Kael it's going to be too quiet around here without you!" Kent loves when Kael is home because Kael is just fun and so easy to be around.  He and Kent love playing video games or watching movies together or even just sitting around and watching sports together, talking about players and stats- which is another strength of Kael's! He is so very knowledgeable about all things sports. He would kill it in any sports trivia game.

Kael has really gotten into poker this year.  He plays often with his friends at school and had a pretty big win last week! We plan to find a time once he's moved home in May to take him to Prairie Meadows and let him try his hand there now that he's 21. 

We love you so much Kael and we are so proud of you! Happy 21st!!!!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday night we got to celebrate Kent and all his work accomplishments with our Edward Jones region. It's always so great to see everyone and catch up and we just have the best region! So proud of Kent and happy to have a night recognizing all his hard work! 

Saturday morning I went with Keith and Cindy to Grinnell to watch Kael throw- my parents came too.  I was only able to stay for hammer throw and Kael was not happy with his throws.  Honestly the ring was kind of different and the weather was so crummy but Kael never makes excuses.  I could see he was disappointed though.  I was happy my parents were able to stay and watch his discus throw because he was much happier with those throws!

Kent and Kase were at baseball where the Crew lost a couple close ones but overall I think it was a decent start to the season.  Kase is, of course, still out with an injury and we had another guy who usually pitches for us who was unable to pitch so I think once everyone is healthy I think we're going to have a great season!

Meanwhile, I was with Kylee as she got ready for Prom with her friends. They had a fun day together and I stopped by with charcuterie for them before we went downtown to take pictures.  Such a sweet group of girls.

Kylee was literally stunning. You guys- I'm not kidding. People's heads were turning everywhere she walked and some random guy tried to hit on her as she was taking pictures with her friends- ha! I loved this dress and I just love this girl.  Beautiful inside and out. 

They had a great night- ate at Tupelo Honey, went to Prom then After Prom where Kylee won big! She got a coffee machine, a 3-tier cart and....a $2500 scholarship!!! Oh my gosh!!! She was so excited and I'm just so happy for her.  She really is putting a bow on her senior year because we also found out this week she was chosen by her peers to get to speak at commencement.  So very proud of her. 

I met Kent, Kase and his friend and his friend's dad for dinner at Sports Page Saturday night then Sunday they were back at the ball fields. Kael got home mid-morning and had fun hanging out playing a new videogame we had gotten him for his birthday.  Kylee got home from watching her friend's baptism and took a looooooong nap. Later that night we celebrated Kael at Rube's which I'll write more about tomorrow but it was the best night!!!!

Weekend Wrap-Up

 We're the luckiest, right?

So thankful for a weekend filled with family.  Kael came home Saturday. He had a very fun (but cold and late night) meet in Pella on Thursday. 

Saturday morning Kent and Kase had baseball practice, Kylee did Pilates and brunch with friends and Kael hung out with Emma.  Later Kase had a friend over and then that night just the five of us went out for dinner at Wasabi then to the new Mario movie.  Fun family night for sure!

Sunday was so great- loved having everyone together at early church for Easter. 

Afterwards we celebrated at my parents' house and also did the April birthdays.  Kael LOVED his Reese's dumbbell! My parents are so fun and creative with their gifts. 

Kase may look serious but he also loved his gifts- the baseball sunglasses especially!!

Kylee staying safe with her goggles on for her Senior Assassin game she's in right now.  Long to explain but basically a hilarious and awesome water gun game the seniors at her school are playing.  There are only 25 people who haven't been eliminated yet so Kylee is proud to still be in the game! 

It was a really fun morning and we added a fun egg toss game this year- Kent and Kase were crowned champions! 

We headed to Keith and Cindy's later that day and had a great afternoon with them too.  Cindy always has fun Easter baskets, even for my big kids!

It was a beautiful afternoon/evening for a fire pit on the patio. I didn't get a lot of pictures of the day but we had a great time playing cards and chatting.  Kase always has a great time playing with Kellen and Krue too!  

Love all the special touches from all the grandparents all day long to make it special for everyone.  We are so thankful for such a fun day with all of our favorite people!!!