Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful that Kael is happy to ride his bike along with Kylee when she wants to run in the evenings. 

I'm thankful that Kael chose to do a final project for a class about Kase and doubly thankful that his teacher loved it so much! It was really great hearing such positive feedback. 

I'm thankful Kase gets to be a station manager at Field Day tomorrow.  He's so excited.

I'm thankful for a successful night fishing!

I'm thankful for Kael's last day of school! I can't believe I have a high school graduate! Bring on summer! So proud of this buddy.

Happy Thursday!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Wednesday night we had Kael's Senior Junkyard banquet.  This was such a special, memorable night and I'm so happy for Kael that he's gotten to spend time with this group once a week since sixth grade!

 

We had a nice dinner together then a few awards were given out.  From the entire group there were only 4-5 awards so Kael was thrilled that he got one! Todd gave him the "Balanced Award" along with a mini level.  He talked about how Kael is always so even-keeled and doesn't get rattled easily.  He spoke about how when the kids were videoing segments for the Walk earlier this spring, many were nervous and Kael just did his calm, cool and collected.  I love this award for many reasons but mostly because it shows me that people at Junkyard just get Kael.  This is totally a Kael award and exactly how I would describe him! Awesome to know that's how he is outside of the house too.

Another huge highlight of the night was when sponsors took turns talking about/to each senior.  It was getting to the end and Kael hadn't gone yet when Doug (the leader) grabbed the mic and started telling a story.  He talked about how when he first met Kael, Kael said, "You know who I am" because, of course, Kael had known who Doug was since he had heard stories of when I was in Junkyard years ago.  And Doug is a great storyteller and made a whole thing about how neat it was that Kael was the first kid of an original Junkyard kid to go through the program and how he hopes Kael never loses his confidence of "You know who I am".  Doug said, "I know who you are Kael, but more importantly, you know who you are, Kael.  Keep being your awesome, confident self and great things are going to happen for you." 

It was really so meaningful and personal and Kael was giving me a hard time for getting a little teary eyed.  Just a really neat night and I'm so proud of Kael.  This is the group of Junkyard seniors who Kael hangs out with!

Friday Kase had a field trip to the Capitol! He had a great time with his buddies.

Friday night Kylee went to a bonfire with friends and Kent and I went to a comedy show with some friends.  Kase and Kael hung out at home and a few of Kase's friends came over.

Saturday Kase had early ball games and they went 1-1 on the day.  Kylee hung out with friends then had a grad party to go to.  Kael worked and later my boys all went to a movie.  Such a nice, relaxing night. 

Sunday Kase had another early game against one of the very top teams.  Our boys showed up to play and ended up upsetting them and winning! It was a huge game for the Crew, a big confidence boost and just so fun to see these boys playing to their potential.

When I went to take this picture of these two who pitched in the big game Ben said, "Stud Alert!" He's not wrong!

His buddy's mom captured a picture of them also!

Proud of Kent and how he coaches this team.

We went on to play another game and lost a close one but we were just fine with that especially since it meant I got back in town in time to make it to Kael's choir concert! It was his very last one and it was fun to see the seniors announced.  Really proud of him for sticking it out and being in choir all these years!

Kylee had volunteered in church nursery then was super helpful around the house getting things done while we were gone (laundry, dishes, watering my flowers) then later she went to her boyfriend's to swim.  We wrapped up our night with a trip to the Creamery which is a favorite way to end the weekend for us lately! 

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for a neighbor who walked by and said he had been at Trailside Tap for dinner and told us what a nice job Kael had done.  I love hearing that.

I'm thankful for Kael playing "Last Night" by Morgan Wallen on his guitar.  You guys, he is getting SO good and it's one of my very favorite songs he plays right now. 

I'm thankful Kase's best buddy is OK after banging up his knee at a wiffle ball game on Monday.  He had to go to Blank for an x-ray and stitches but he will be just fine and back to baseball within a couple weeks! Really thankful for this sweet group of boys who sprung into action getting help ASAP.

I'm thankful for a fun 5th grade track meet! It was a beautiful day and Kase had a blast with his friends and even brought home 3 ribbons!

I'm thankful for the track banquet.  Kael's throwing coach had such nice things to say about him and they really do a very thorough job talking about each senior at this banquet and making some awesome gifts for them. I'm really proud of Kael for such a successful senior season!

I'm thankful for a sweet senior breakfast for all the seniors who went to Ashland Ridge for elementarty school.

Happy Thursday!

Weekend Wrap-Up

I'm thankful that Kael volunteered at our church for Senior Service Day! My dad was also there working with the Fix It Team and I think it's so neat those two got to spend the morning working side by side.  Bonus was that my mom and I happened to stop by at the same time they were there because we were looking at the space to plan for Kael's upcoming grad party!

Our weekend got off to a great start with Kael getting to throw at the District Track meet! We got Kylee out of school early and as soon as Kase got home we all headed to Norwalk to watch him.  The rain and wind rolled in right as he was supposed to throw. 

The weather didn't seem to bother him a bit and he had some great throws! So great, in fact, that he qualified for the finals!! Oh man we were all SO excited for him! I was just so proud and so so happy for him. What an awesome end to his high school track career!

In the end, he was 7th overall which means he even scored points for his team and the Jags ended up fourth place.  Way to go, Kael!

Everyone loves to support Kael!

We hurried back to Ankeny for a baseball and a volleyball practice but the grandparents were all four free to take Kael to a celebratory dinner at Wig and Pen! Kael loved talking with the grandparents and also Brooke, the owner! 

Friday night we all five were home together- just us! It was the best night.  We grilled out, went for ice cream then came home to play light up KanJam and the kids took turns riding Kase's new scooter.  The best night. 

Saturday Kylee had a grad party to go to, Kael had a choir clinic and Kase had a tournament.  He played against one of his buddies who he played at Nationals with last year and ended up a tie! Then he was pitching great in the second game and it got called off for rain. 

Kylee went axe throwing with friends, Kael had a friend's grad party then work. Kase spent the evening happily playing with friends.

Sunday the kids all slept in and I opened a few gifts before church.  I loved my new shoes, all weather blanket and gray hoodie! Hilariously Kent put one of my gifts in a bag that said "Good Boy Vibes". After church we headed downtown- we were on the waitlist for HomeGrown but there was still quite a wait when we got there so we ate next door at Big Grove.  Then we came home and watched Sandlot together- it was such a nice, relaxing day!

A sweet dandelion bouquet from Kase and also he had made a gift for me at school he was so proud to give!

Sunday evening we had our 9th Annual Girls Dinner! We ate at a fun, new Mexican place in town and then especially enjoyed going back to my mom and dad's house afterwards to look at pictures and reminisce over some great memories (and clothing choices- ha!) Super thankful for all these ladies in my life and so thankful they live close and we are able to see each other and make time to spend together on Mother's Day!

While we were away Kent visited his parents, Kase played with friends and Kael was at the gym.  We ended the evening sitting in the hot tub- it really was such a lovely weekend!

Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful that Kent's mom was able to help transport Kylee to an appointment this week.  So nice having so much help in town.  

I'm thankful my parents were able to plant Kase's sunflower at the A frame! Kase had brought one home from school a month or so ago and said he wanted to plant it there which I thought was so sweet.  It was getting pretty big for the little cup it was in here so my parents were heading that way and planted it for him.  

I'm thankful for Kael's amazing memory. Kase was a little (ok, a lot ) behind on his book club book the other day and Kael happened to see him reading it and said, "Oh man, I remember that book! I loved that one!" and then he was able to fill Kase in on a few main points and help him get caught up in understanding it.

I'm thankful for a wonderful email from Kase's teacher saying he is making big improvements on his test scores lately.  Woohoo!

I'm thankful for sweet messages from some close friends about how nice and polite Kase was when he went to their house the other day.

I'm thankful for friends who take Kase for ice cream.

I'm thankful for little moments between the siblings that I catch.  Kael picked up his guitar the other day and started playing and Kylee ran into his room and said, "Oh my favorite song!" and sat with him for awhile and listened to him play.  (It was a country song she knows well.) She also told him that sometimes when he's playing and Garrett is over he comments on how well Kael can play.  So sweet. 

I'm thankful for a nice message from Cindy about Kase the other day- we all laughed about how Kase was pitching while blowing a big wad of bubble gum with his shirt half untucked...oh Kase.  I'm thankful for so many people who appreciate his spunky personality. 

I'm thankful for a very unexpected text from a couple we met while in Belize saying they are missing us on their current Jones trip. I haven't talked to them in years- it was so sweet they thought of us. 

Have a great week!

Weekend Wrap-Up

 Lots to report as usual from here!

Thursday Kael and Kylee had their conference track meets. There was one discus thrower who had secured his spot for Districts, but the second spot was up for grabs and it was a good old-fashioned throw off between Kael and a few other guys.  So happy to share that Kael had the best throw that day and gets to go to Districts next week! Love when things go well for that guy- he totally deserves it and is such a hard worker.  Kylee had a great first race at conference- coming from behind as an anchor in the 4x800 and brought home the victory for her team while also getting her PR for the season!! Her next race was tougher and she had been listed as an alternate so didn't think she was going to run it then got thrown into it last minute and I think just wasn't prepared.  Loved seeing her so happy after her first race and getting PR and a win in the same night was awesome! We celebrated both their accomplishments with a nice dinner out on Friday at AJ's Steakhouse!

Also Kase was voted Safety Patrol captain this week so he also had an accomplishment to celebrate. But he was even more excited that we found out he made the team and gets to play at the USSSA All American games in Florida this summer for baseball! Huge congrats to him for a successful tryout last week and looking forward to watching him play!

Saturday Kael worked and trained as a barback which means he does dishes in the bar area- he works with his friend and get some tips too so he enjoyed that.  Kase and Kylee both had tournaments.  Kylee really wasn't looking forward to volleyball- she's been missing a few practices because of track and her knees have been sore and she wasn't feeling super great but I'm thrilled to  report that once she got there she fell right back into place and played really well.  Kase's team had a rough outing.  We went 0-2 on the day and just made tons of errors.  The boys still had a fun night afterwards while Kylee and I were still at volleyball just hanging around the house, ordering pizza then going out for ice cream.

Sunday Kylee had early games.  They played well but went 0-2 on the day so we got back in town in time to see Kase's team play.  They went 2-0 on the day and Kase pitched great! Fun end to the tournament for them for sure.  Kael was working this day too. Later Kase went for ice cream with a friend and Kylee went swimming at her boyfriend's house.  Great weekend!

Thankful Thursday

 I'm thankful for my first dandelion bouquet of the season.  From my nephew and then from Kase!

I'm thankful for Kase's absolute joy over a rainy morning last week.  He was so happy. 

I'm so thankful that Kael did all the dishes and cleaned the kitchen for me when we had a late night at the ballpark last week.  Kylee had rushed in and out of the house from track to bible study while we were gone and Kael even cleaned up her dinner things! He is really such a good kid and maturing so much even in these last couple months! 

I'm thankful for my sister showing me some tips on how to keep baseball pants white! 

I'm thankful these two have had some free time together lately and have been having a lot of fun together!

Happy Thursday!