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!

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

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!!!!!

Happy Birthday, Kase!

 Kase is 12 years old today!

It's been a heck of a year for this buddy- transitioning to middle school was probably the biggest thing that changed in his life this year and although it hasn't been smooth sailing every day, he seems to be enjoying school WAY more than he did in fifth grade.  I think getting up and moving around classes during the day has really helped.

Kase has surrounded himself with a solid group of friends and I think there can always be change when go from elementary to middle school but most of his best buddies have remained close to him and I'm so thankful for the village he has.  He can almost always find a friend to play with around the neighborhood after school and that's when he's happiest.

Kase loves a rainy day, peanut butter/Nutella/banana toast, sleepovers, baseball, and owning nice shoes but almost never wearing them and keeping them in pristine condition on his shelves in his room. He hates being alone, falling asleep and homework and putting anything away in its correct spot- ha.

Kase is funny.  He's goofy and lighthearted.  He'll push your buttons then make you laugh. He's hard on himself but is always just one great hit or play away from turning it all around and being bouncy and fired up.  It's so fun watching this kid play ball- the energy he brings is just absolutely electric.  He's the first one to cheer for his friends when they're doing well and quick to try to pickup someone who's down on themselves. He encourages his teammates and also gives them advice when he thinks it can be helpful. 

Since it's baseball season, he and Kent spend a lot of time together but I just love these little pockets of time when it's just him and I.  "Mom- ride my electric scooter and we can race to Orange Leaf!" Then he laughs when I can't even figure out how to turn it on but is eager to show me how to do it. He's growing up right before my very eyes and I am just so thankful God gave this one to me. 

Kase, for all his talents and hard work, never brags.  He has broken record after record at his workout facility for the middle school age group and when he gets home, he never even tells me about them! I have to find out about it when his trainer posts to social media! Love that about him.  Humble.  Works hard in silence and lets his success be the noise. 

I'm so anxious to see where life takes Kase but I'm in no hurry for him to grow up.  Twelve year old Kase is pretty awesome and I'm cherishing every last moment of him being "little" but those moments are very few and far between lately.  

Happy birthday buddy! We love you so much and are so proud of the young man you are becoming. 

Happy birthday Kase!

Kase is 11 years old today! He's the last of our April birthday celebrations and this year especially was a big one with Kael turning 18 and me turning 40.  I sometimes feel by the time Kase's special day rolls around, we are all kind of "birthday-ed out" around here but we try hard to rally some excitement to celebrate the awesome kid that he is! 

Kase is so....Kase.  Equal parts endearing and challenging- he's just so very easy to love and just so very easy to be frustrated with. He's really, really come into his own this year and matured and the challenging parts of his personality are slowly but surely turning themselves into very loveable characteristics. 

I think people think he's so confident.  His self-assuredness has always been something I've been envious of! But the other day in the middle of one of his baseball games, he called me over to the fence and said, "Mom? I think I'm doing pretty good today, right? Do you think I'm having a good game?" Never mind the fact he had just made an insane diving catch and robbed one of his best rival buddies of a giant hit- he still wanted to be reassured by his mom that yes, in fact, he was having a pretty good game. I loved that. But it blows my mind that a kid like Kase (who is often MVP of tournaments, makes all the top teams in our club basketball and football) can still have moments of self doubt. 

It's been a big few months for Kase, making some adjustments at school. I never hide or sugar coat the fact that school is really hard for Kase and this has been his toughest year yet.  It's not the school work that's hard.  He's a smart kid- he just has such a difficult time sitting still and focusing for such a long day. Make no mistake about it- we have LOVED our years at Ashland Ridge but we are absolutely counting down the days until the end of the year.  Kaser is checked out mentally, especially now that the weather is nice.  But Kase tries really hard to please and I know he's going to give it his all because he wants his teacher and friends to be happy with him and I think the changes we've made have been remarkable for Kase.  I'm thrilled with how he's stuck it out when things are hard and was willing to give some new things a try to help him focus. 

He just wants to play ball all.the.time.  He's never without a ball in his hand if he can help it. He played several baseball games last week then asked Kent if they could to straight to Velocity afterwards to put a little more work in on his grounders and his swing.  His commitment to getting better is admirable, for sure.

He's still little.  I love when I hear his voice from his room, "Mom can you tuck me in again?" after I've already been in there talking with him.  I always go back in for one more hug, knowing these days are numbered. 

Kase has such a great friend group.  Truly, I'm so thankful for his little village of buddies in this neighborhood.  Friends' parents often have Kase hanging out at their house so I can go to Kael and Kylee's track meets.  There are constant backyard ball games, sleepovers and just a revolving door of 11 year old boys in and out of this house all the time and I love it because Kase loves it.  There's always someone to play a game with.  It's going to be a sad day when my house isn't filled with this group of kids.  He recently had a couple friends stay overnight because they had the next day off school so they all hung out all day and played ball.  The next day one of his friends' moms told me, "Ben was so tired when he got home! He said the boys were just on the go all day.  Kase has such a motor- even Ben can't keep up!" 

Kase stuck with band and didn't complain about early days but we aren't terribly sad he has decided not to do it next year. Poor buddy is such a typical third child though- he had a concert on Tuesday night and none of us were going to able to go because it happened at the exact same time as Kael's track senior night! Kase didn't mind and totally understood. But in the end we were able to go and were so glad we did.  Kase put on a very animated performance and even had a speaking part. 

He is a picky eater.  So picky.  Right now he is obsessed with cheese quesadillas which I shamelessly make at all hours of the day just to get some calories in him. I feel like I remember my grandma always saying, "Did anyone feed Tammy?" and it's the exact same for Kase since he's the youngest too.  Our days are busy and Kase isn't ever really hungry so sometimes it's 9:00 at night and Kase asks for a quesadilla and I'm like, "Oh my gosh have you eaten anything since lunch today?" and the answer is often no so that is why I say yes to making quesadillas late at night. 

Kase really looks up to Kael and Kylee and it's been fun to see them connect more as Kase gets older.  He loves to ask Kael questions about music and Kael has helped him make a great playlist for himself.  Kylee is always good to Kase- she loves coming to his Crew games and he always asks her to crack his back and show him some good stretches.  

Here are a few pictures of Kase being Kase. 

This one was when his team won the spring wiffle ball league and Kase was voted MVP by his friends. 

Also, please take a moment to enjoy Kase wearing what is evidently his favorite shirt- ha! I was scrolling back through pictures to post and he was wearing this in nearly every single one! He was either shirtless, wearing a uniform, or wearing this shirt.  May as well enjoy it because as soon as summer hits this buddy won't be wearing a shirt again until school starts if he can help it.

Kase makes friends wherever he goes.  He still regularly FaceTimes these buddies he met in St. Lucia.

So expressive.  And so random.  "Hey Mom can you buy a dragonfruit sometime? I want to try it." Spoiler alert it was terrible and he hated it.

This is Kylee's favorite funny face that Kase makes.

Look out, middle school! This gang is coming for ya!

In his happy place.  Ready for a game. 

Above: My mood when Kase has to do homework.

Below: My mood when we are on vacation and Kase doesn't have to do homework.

Some of the friend faves.  Missing one of his best buddies here but these are some good ones.  

Bouncy, happy Kase is the best Kase.  I love when he plays loose and goofy.  And also? His love for shoes hasn't changed.  He got no fewer than 3 pairs of shoes and 10 pairs of socks for his birthday this year.  Sports may be his first true love, but flashy, cool shoes are definitely second! 

Kase, Kaser, Kaser-racer, JB....and all the other nicknames that we call you...we are so, SO excited to celebrate you today.  God knew you were just the right kind of fun, energetic, crazy to wrap up our family and always keep us laughing and on our toes.  You may be the baby of the family but you are a leader on the field and on the court and we are so proud of the young man you are becoming! Happy birthday, buddy!

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

Happy Birthday, Kase!

Happy birthday, Kase!

Not too long ago, a friend texted me out of the blue with a link to the following quote and she said, "Doesn't this make you think of Kase?! It's totally him! And it's totally you and Kent as parents!" 

"My parents let me be me.  They let me run around the house, play baseball, tear up stuff--you know--break a few windows.  My mom would get upset but my dad would say, 'You can't teach that swing, so let it go.'"  Ken Griffey Jr. 

I had to agree.  Kase is a kid who really isn't interested in sitting still.  He plays hard, sometimes rough.  But athletic things just come easy to him.  He's quick, he's strong, he has a great arm and a great swing and he sees the field/court so well.  He's the pitcher on the baseball team, the quarterback of the football team and the point guard on the basketball team.  

These two photos were taken less than 24 hours apart and to me, represent everything that is Kase. 

 

A couple months ago our whole family went to the Kurt Warmer movie and at one point in the movie Kurt says, "Life just felt better if I had a ball in my hands." It was so funny because we all collectively turned to look at Kase because that quote also describes Kase so well.  There isn't an object in this world that he doesn't view as a thing to be thrown, caught, dribbled...seriously anything.  On a long car ride he'd rather be allowed to toss a football around to himself in the back seat than have his iPad.  When we're trying to watch a game or movie as a family he, without a doubt and much to the annoyance of his older siblings, gets up to shoot hoops on the over-the-door hoop we have near the tv downstairs.  When it's freezing cold out and none of his friends stop by to play he calls them one by one until someone finally gives in, bundles up, and comes over to play football with him in the backyard. 

Kase's love affair with Pizza Ranch continues and on the rare occasion I have just him home, that's always where he chooses to go eat.  This day he ate 6 (!!!) pieces of dessert pizza.  And some ice cream.  Not too long ago we were out for my birthday dinner and were all surprised that Kase actually ate, and ate quite a bit.  (He's really not interested in food and also a little bit picky so anytime Kase eats more than a banana we're all shocked.) Anyhow, after we ate he said his stomach felt a little weird but not like he was sick or anything.  Kylee looked at him and said, "Kase I think you're full.  Do you even know what that means? Have you ever felt full before?" Ha.  So many days have passed when I think of my own grandma who, because Tammy was the youngest cousin and things were often busy when we were all together, would say, "Did anyone feed Tammy?" If I'm ever gone I have to remind Kent or whoever is home with Kase to feed him because he will never remember on his own to eat or ask for food.  On the rare occasion he does want something, he asks, "Can I have some hungry stuff?" which is just a funny Kase phrase we have all adopted. 

Kase is much, MUCH better about going to sleep than he was when he was little but once in awhile he still likes me to come into his room and make him super comfy which involves putting every blanket he owns on top of him.  Then he asks me to help him think of happy stuff to dream about.  I love these moments with him that remind me he's still just a little boy who needs his mom some of the time.

Kase surprises me with his sweet side.  This isn't to say that he's not a nice kid-he is.  It's just you so rarely see the softer side of Kase that when he says something particularly thoughtful or humble or goes out of the way to say something kind it sort of catches me off guard.  He places little value on what others think of him and I often wish I was more like that.  Wear a grass skirt to school on Hawaiian Day even though none of your friends are participating? No problem.  

Kase has grown up SO much this year.  Definitely one of the years I've seen the most transformation in him.  He struggled a little bit at the beginning of the school year to settle into the idea of being back in a classroom 8 hours a day instead of outside with his friends and his teacher contacted us right away. It helped that is teacher is a family friend and also that his teacher happens to be a guy so he and Kase are pretty close.  Anyhow, fast forward to conferences and his teacher actually thought that we had started Kase on some meds to help him focus because of how big of a change the teacher had seen in Kase just in the first few weeks of school.  We hadn't, of course, but it really is a testament to how Kase has matured.  He will likely never, ever be a kid who likes school outside of PE and recess but the fact that he showed so much improvement so quickly was so great to hear. 

Kase is ride or die.  I often joke that I pity the person who ever picks on Kase's best friends once middle school rolls around.  I don't think Kase would ever be the first to start a fight but he is oh so loyal and I don't doubt that he would finish a fight if someone started one with him. Kase is especially close to his bestie who lives a few doors down.  Those two spend so much time together that Kylee considers him her third brother.  

We had a great start to our morning celebrating Kase here and we can't wait to continue celebrating him at his party tonight with his friends.

I wonder how many years in a row we have pictures of Kase opening his gifts without a shirt on?!

So happy about his new bat!

You keep on doing you, Kase! We love you!!!!