Thankful Thursday

I'm going to be so thankful when we find Kylee's pink bear. She took it to a sleepover a few weeks ago and it hasn't turned up since. Sweet girl has cried herself to sleep a couple of times.

I'm thankful for reconnecting with old friends. Also thankful their son didn't mind when Kase became his shadow and wanted him to play with him and sit by him all night.

I'm thankful when someone said to me, "Kase sure doesn't lack for personality, does he?" Which is the nicest way to describe him, I think.

I'm thankful for Rock, Paper Scissors games. Kael beats Kent alllll the time and it's hilarious.

With these record breaking temps lately, I'm extra thankful for air conditioning and also showers.

I'm thankful for our pool passes. We have been more than ten times already this year. It's the best thing to do in this heat!

I'm so thankful for my village and all the friends and family who were able to help me get my kids to and from camps all week!

I'm thankful for or the kids spray water bottles. So helpful with some hot camps this week.

I'm thankful American Ninja Warrior is back on. What a fun show for our family to watch together.

I'm so so thankful for our nightly card games. The big kids have been having the most fun learning some of the card games I played as a kid.

I'm thankful the kids sat so well in big church last weekend. Children's ministry is on a break for the summer and I'm so impressed with how he kids are "getting" the sermons. Kylee has made several references this week to the sermon and how it applies to our everyday life.

I'm thankful for trick shot videos that Kent found for Kael to watch on YouTube. Kael wants to show everyone and it has been fun watching him and friends try to recreate the shots.

I'm thankful for our neighborhood. Every year about this time we have some knocks on our door, no doubt from teenagers who hang at the park behind our house. The kids aren't doing anything terribly wrong but they ding dong ditch us and our neighbors.  We hadn't gotten our door knocked on but a few neighbors had and eventually one night, "caught" the culprits. The next day, sure enough, the kid showed up at their door with an apology letter and an offer to help out with yard work or babysitting the kids. Big kudos to he mom of this kid who made her son show his face the next day with a handwritten apology! 

I'm thankful for neighbor fun- this was from the last day of school.

I'm thankful for water balloon baseball.

I'm thankful for Kase's buddy.  She is the sweetest thing and those two make such a fun pair.

I'm thankful for impromptu slip and slide and s'more parties.

I'm thankful Kase is enjoying soccer! The Methodist church soccer program is awesome!

I'm thankful for the kids' tennis camp this week.  I canNOT say enough wonderful things about the coaches for this camp! They are fun and awesome at 9:00 when I take Kylee, and still just as fun and awesome when I take Kase at 11:30.  I think that's pretty amazing, considering they are coaching a bunch of four year olds in nearly 100 degree heat!

I'm thankful for Kael's day with Grandpa Keith.  They ate at Pie 5, went to this amazing race track in Grimes, and had ice cream! And Grandma Jenny got to come along! Kael was in heaven.

I'm thankful for pool buddies.

As much as I'm thankful for their friends, I'm also just as thankful for when my three kids get to hang out on their own.  We had the best time at my mom's the other day on the slip and slide!

I'm thankful Kael finally got the chance to go to the frisbee park in town.  We'd been talking about doing it forever!

You guys.  I'm so thankful Kase passed the swim test a couple nights ago at Cascade Falls.  For once, the pool wasn't too crowded and Kent was with us, so we let Kase try the swim test and he made it! He spent the rest of the evening impressing the life guards by going off the diving board.  Eventually, one of the life guards suggested he try the high dive, so he did! And he did awesome! What a fun night we had. Kael and Kylee were so proud of him too!

I'm thankful for the library reading program.  The kids have been diligent about doing their reading this year and have already earned their first prize- free frozen yogurt! 

I'm thankful for the group of guys Kent is getting to know through his slow pitch softball team.  They had a family tailgate before the game last night and we all had a great time!

I'm so thankful for a thoughtful text from a friend.  Out of the blue last night, I got this text from her.
  I'm so thankful I have gotten to know you better.  I adore your positive, joy filled attitude and appreciate your care and concern.  I admire you as a mom and friend and value your friendship and opinion.  I feel blessed and very fortunate to get to call you my friend!!!  

It totally made my night and inspired me to send similar texts to encourage others!

Happy Thursday, all! 

Weekend Wrap-Up

Summer feels like it's flying by already! Here's how we spent our weekend.

Friday, Kael had basketball camp, then in the afternoon we went to Dairy Queen, also stopped by and visited my grandma.  Later, the kids had a sleepover at Grandpa Keith and Grandma Cindy's.  Kent and I had plans to go out, possibly to the Nadas concert downtown, but it was sooo hot that we ended up going downtown with some good friends, then back to Ankeny for a late dinner at a new restaurant.  Locals, we weren't super impressed with District 36. Have you been?

Kylee has spent a lot of time working on Reading Bingo- summer "homework" from her second grade teacher.  If she gets a blackout, she can turn it in for a prize at the beginning of the school year in the fall! There are some fun things on the list like, "Read under the kitchen table" and "Read to someone who doesn't know how yet".  Here, Kylee did both!

Saturday morning the kids had triathlon practice. Kael loved his new swim cap! 

After that, we headed up to Collins to celebrate "Blaken" which is what Kase calls twins Blake and Brecken. Had fun hanging with them and trying to beat the heat in Aunt Chris's pool!

Came home, then went over to a friends' house to grill out.  It was a family we hadn't hung out with in nearly a year, so it was fun catching up with them while the kids jumped on their trampoline and played in the sprinklers.  

Sunday after church we had a quick lunch with my mom, then Kent and I went to a memorial tree planting for a friend while the kids played at my mom's house.  Picked them up and headed straight to the pool, where we spent the better part of the afternoon.  It's crazy how hot it is already this summer! After dinner, we had a family game of kickball then headed to some neighbors for more water fun.  Slip and slides and water guns helped keep the kids cool! Also, had our first s'mores of the summer! Safe to say, Kase enjoyed his.

We had some happy, tired kiddos by Sunday night! We have a super busy week ahead as it seems like every camp I signed the kids up for falls during this week.  Also, the forecast is HOT again, so I'm sure we'll be spending all our free time at the pool! How was your weekend?

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful I haven't had a reason to wear makeup in over a week.

I'm thankful the kid I ordered from last week at a new restaurant didn't get annoyed when I asked him "and what's all on that" twenty times. 

I'm thankful Kase was alright when he got whacked in the face with a swing at the park.  On the very first day of summer.  He's got a decent black eye to show for it though.

I'm thankful that summer is off to a fun start! The kids seem pretty content to hang out with neighbor friends, go to the pool, and go to the library.  They also have a few camps coming up next week and they are looking forward to those too.

I'm thankful the kids have been sleeping in a little! Especially Kase!

Happy summer, all!

On to middle school

You know what's just as hard (as a parent) as the first day of kindergarten? The last day of fifth grade. 

I watched Kael walk to his elementary school for the last time yesterday.  It was the last time he was be able to walk out our door and the last time I was able to watch him walk the entire way to school. He was walking confidently, with his pepperoni pizza backpack, excited as could be for the last day. Myself, I was feeling a little sad about it. 

It was the last time I was able to look out my window and see him catch a touchdown pass at recess, like I saw him do just seconds after I took this picture yesterday.

I watched him at recess until the very end.  He's always the last one to line up because he always runs out to the field to shag the balls left there by other kids. Sometimes if he sees me on the deck while he's at recess he waves, and sometimes he doesn't.  Yesterday, I didn't think he even saw I was on the deck, then at the very last second before he got into the building, he looked over at me and waved.  It made my day.  After school he ran through that back gate with such joy and I hope I never forget the smile on his face at that moment.

I'm proud of the young man Kael is becoming.  At his soccer party last night his coach commented on how Kael hustled during practice and never complained.  I love hearing that.  Kael also brought his report card home yesterday and his face lit up when he saw the band section- all "E's", which is the best you can get.  He worked hard learning to play the trombone and practiced almost every day.  I love that he's making the connection between hard work and success. 

Kael has such a special gift- spending time with my grandma is one of his favorite things to do and he often asks if he can volunteer where she lives.  He likes to visit other great grandparents and great aunts as well.

It's been a pretty great six years of elementary school and I can't wait to see where the next seven years of school take him! I'm sure by August, I'll be saying that the first day of middle school is hardest of all, but right now, I'm really looking forward to spending the summer with my pretty special oldest kid! Love you, Kael!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday Kase and I ran a couple errands, one of which included picking up a thank you gift card for a coach, and happened upon Free Donut Day, so that was a fun surprise! Later we met a friend at the splash park. 

Friday afternoon Kael had his Fifth Grade Award ceremony.  It was really neat.  He got some special awards and I was so proud of him.  He's had such a wonderful experience at Ashland Ridge, and I know he's ready for middle school but hearing his principal give some closing remarks about his class got me a little teary eyed! It's hard to believe elementary school has come to an end for Kael. 

Here he is accepting his Citizenship award from his teacher.

He spent Friday afternoon out with my parents on the boat.  My dad had taken Kylee early out of school a couple months ago and they had gone to the state basketball tournament, so he wanted to take Kael out of school early for something fun, too.  They didn't catch any fish, but they did have a great time!

Friday evening we went to a neighbor's graduation ceremony, where again, I couldn't help but think that we'll be doing this with Kael in seven short years!

Saturday morning, Kael had his last soccer game.  He scored a great goal right over the goalie's head.  What a fun season it's been for him.  Kylee had triathlon practice very near Kael's game, so we were able to watch her too!

We had lunch on the patio at Zombie Burger with Kent's parents after the game.  It was so fun.  After that, we went for a bike ride and Kase went four miles on the tagalong we recently got!

Saturday afternoon, Kent took the kids to the pool while I got them all packed up for a sleepover with my parents at my grandparents' A-frame house on the pond in Sheffield! Kent and I had a preschool teacher and spouse get together. 

The kids had so much fun.  

The age difference between Kael and Kase has been fun lately.  Kael loves being a big brother. 

Beautiful sunrise!

Kylee swam at 5:20 in the morning.  Oh, Kylee.  A girl after my own heart and a fun bully in training, ;)

 

Fishin' in jammies. Nothin' better.

Sunday morning we drove up and joined them, and my sisters and their families did too! Here are some pictures (in no particular order).

The fishing was a highlight for sure.  Kael was baiting his own hook and taking fish off like a pro! Kase and Kylee had fun catching fish after fish right off the dock!

The swimming was a hit, too!

Water fun on the deck.

Kase jumped right in!

Root beer floats after swimming.

Cuties.

Kael was the captain of this boat.  He wanted to give everyone a ride and tried to help out with all the littles who didn't want to jump right into the water.

That view, though! (Above and below ;)

I LOVE Kylee's face in this picture! 

Full dock.  Full heart. 

Kase "pushed" Kent in. 

I certainly wasn't going to miss out on the swimming fun!

Patterson family jump.  Kael hit the water before I even got off the floating dock. Ha! 

Kent and I got it though!

And the sisters too!

A water gun sneak attack on the fishermen.

2/3 fell asleep on the way home.  Tuckered out for sure.

So, the kids have to go back to school tomorrow.  They're not complaining at all- they're such troopers.  Only two more days of school!!! I'm ready for even more summer fun!