Weekend Wrap-Up

Happy New Year!

We have had the most wonderful Christmas break.  Here are a few more pictures of how we spent the last couple days!

Had a blast at SkyZone.  Loved watching Kael help protect Kase on the dodgeball court.

Had dinner out with my dear friends and even ran into a high school friend while we were out! Had a lovely time but we were very much missing one of our good friends who was home sick.

Meanwhile, Kent and the kids had a farewell dinner out for Kelsey with all of the family.

New Year's Eve was a blast.  We decided to spend the whole day and evening just hanging out.  The day started with the kids popping a balloon to find a piece of paper inside that said, "Go out for breakfast".  We continued the fun all day with the balloon popping to find fun things written inside!

Later in the day, Kent built this amazing Nerf gun storage! The boys were so happy! Just look at those smiles!

A big highlight of the day was when we played Cupcake Wars.  Have you seen the show? Kylee just loves it and she got some fun cupcake decorating things in a gift exchange over the holidays.  So on New Year's Eve, we went all out and did a full Cupcake War challenge.  Kylee made several different versions of cupcakes, while Kael was Master of Ceremonies.  Kase was Kylee's kitchen helper.  You guys, it was so hilariously awesome.  Kael was calling out, "Bakers, ten more minutes!" while Kase was scurrying around adding chocolate chips to everything.  Kylee turned out some pretty impressive cupcakes to the judges (Kael, Kent, who was acting as Florian if you've seen the show you would have totally appreciated Kent's French accent during the judging, and Kase also judged even though he helped bake.) It was such an awesome memory. 

My little storm trooper.

Kase made it until 8:00 on New Year's.  The rest of us didn't make it until midnight either, but had a great evening watching movies and playing games. I'm just so very thankful for our time together.

New Year's Day was our Christmas celebration at my grandparents' house in Sheffield.  It was great to see the family and the kids had a great time together. Love getting to see all the extended family and always leave saying, "we should get together more often!"

Look! All of the kids (mostly) smiling for the camera! 

These three musketeers are absolutely hilarious. Oh, boys.

Had some (well, at least one) tired kid on the way home.

Later that evening we had a family game night with some of our good friends.  It had been far too long since we'd gotten to hang out! We had a fun night beating the boys in Pictionary!

We're all feeling a little sad that today is the last day of break.  Hoping to spend the day getting organized for the week AND cheering the Hawks onto a victory!

While it's been an awesome couple of weeks, we're definitely needing to get back on schedule as far as regular bedtimes and eating a little bit healthier.  Thankful for all of our blessings in 2016 and here's to a happy, healthy 2017!

Thankful Thursday

I'm so thankful for Alexa.  Kent got an Echo Dot at a {super awesome} gift exchange game at Keith and Cindy's.  The kids are having SO much fun asking her to tell them jokes.

I'm thankful for a wonderful Christmas break. It's going by way too quickly but we've had a nice mix of doing fun things (SkyZone, movie, Miracle League park, Rocket Fizz candy shop, lunch out with Grandma), getting stuff done around the house, and just relaxing.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your break!

Weekend Wrap-Up, Christmas Edition

Oh, I have SO many fun stories and pictures to share with you.  It was just such a lovely, wonderful, fun, happy Christmas.  We had the joy of spending the last three days celebrating and are thankful for all the time we got to spend with family!  Here's a quick recap with TONS of pictures.


Kase spent some time with my dad and mom last week so I could finish up some last minute shopping.  My dad made him this awesome bazooka while Kase was over there!

And, since the big kids were still in school, Kase and I joined a friend, went to SkyZone and we even saw Santa there!

Kael had a fun winter assembly with a pretty cool guest speaker- Fred Jackson!

I got to go to Kylee's winter party at school.  I'm always thankful to get to see my kids in their classrooms doing their thing. 

Friday the kids didn't have school.  As if perfectly on cue, the snow fell in big, heavy flakes all morning long.  We had the most fun playing in it!

The kids and I also watched Polar Express and had hot cocoa and popcorn while we waited for Kent to get home from work.  He had a morning meeting but came home early in the afternoon so we could do our own family Christmas celebration. 

The kids were so very excited to give gifts to us and to each other.  It was such a fun day.  They were all so sweet and thankful for all of their presents.

We had breakfast for dinner, then headed off to candlelight church service.

When we got home, we had our traditional chocolate fondue.  A favorite every year.

Christmas Eve we spent with my family.  These three musketeers had the most fun together all day long.  I so wish I had gotten better pictures of the foam sword and laser guns they all got and carried around all day.  They were the cutest. 

We played some fun gift exchange games!

The kids were thrilled with all their gifts.

So was Kent. And me too!

We three took a walk out back and saw lots of deer.  

While the boys played pirate ships. It was a great day.

When we got home, Kase fell asleep early, but Kael and Kylee made sure to set out cookies for Santa!

Christmas morning, Kael and Kase woke up at 4:40.  They patiently waited until 5:30, which was when I told them they could wake Kylee.

 Kael led the way to the Santa presents.  Kylee was next, but too quick for me to capture on camera.

Kase wasn't far behind!

It was a great morning.

After the kids had played with some of their new things for awhile. we loaded up and headed to Collins to spend the rest of the day with the Pattersons! The kids were over the moon excited to meet King, Kevin and Kaity's new puppy! Kylee followed him around allll day and was so snuggly with him.  It was adorable.

Brothers!

Present time!

xBox!!!

Between rounds of gifts, we played some Minute to Win It games and they were hilarious! So much fun.  Girls win, of course!

Kylee loves her annual Christmas bear.

I'm so thankful that Kyle liked his portable pizza pouch that we gifted him (with a gift card inside...) All of our white elephant gifts were strong this year!

Storm troopers don't have to wear shirts, right?

 The brothers Patterson worked tirelessly on this Kylo Ren Lego for Kase.

Success!

We love Aunt Kaity!

My heart is so full and happy.  We are lucky and oh-so-thankful for all the family who made our Christmas extra special this year.  It's been a great few days and I'm looking forward to spending some time relaxing with the kids this week!