Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for mornings when Kase is up tracing Kent's muscles.  Ha!

I'm thankful that during "Thoughtful Thursday" in advisory, Kael chooses to send me e-mails asking how my day is going.

I'm thankful that Kylee had several opportunities to miss/skip cross country last week but chose not to.

I'm thankful for what a good sport and great teammate Kael is.

I'm thankful Kael wanted me to volunteer at his class party! It was so fun seeing what goes on during his day!

I'm thankful for the sweet Halloween treats my parents delivered.

I'm thankful for how much fun Kael had handing out trick or treat candy the other night.  He had a skeleton mask on and hid behind the door, then popped out with a bucket of candy.  It was so sweet.  He would call to every single person as they walked away from our house, "Have a nice, cold night!" 

I'm thankful Kase didn't want to be out super long trick or treating.  It was COLD! I'm also thankful that Kent stayed out with him even longer than I did!

I'm thankful for all 188 pieces of Kylee's candy.  Wowza.

I'm thankful for our neighbor friends who let Kylee stay out and trick or treat with their daughter! They lasted almost the whole time- 6:00-7:50!

I'm thankful for Kase's neighbor buddy and also thankful for how interested Kase is in coloring and drawing lately!

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Wrap-Up

I have so very much to write about- where do I start? I'll rewind to Wednesday.

Wednesday Kent had the super fun idea to take my dad out for lunch across the street from where his very first Edward Jones office was.  It was a great idea and really fun for all of us and for my dad. 

We stopped at Palmer's for cookies then went back to the office to enjoy them.

The passing of the cookie! Hilarious.

After a very busy Thursday afternoon (Good News Club for Kase, Bingo at the library for Kael, a friend over for Kylee), Kent took Kase to Creepy Capers! Sometimes I feel like, being a third child, Kase misses out on some of the things we did with Kael and Kylee when they were little because we're so busy now.  Kent and Kase had a great time and Kase was thrilled to come home with lots of candy!

Friday night we had plans to celebrate the October birthdays (and half birthday) with the Pattersons. We had the best time at Latin King with the whole family. Kase fell asleep shortly after eating his spaghetti- our sweet waitress had brought him ice cream for his half birthday so Kael and Kylee had to eat it for him.

Saturday the boys spent a LOT of time playing backyard football.  

Meanwhile, Kylee and I went to a Mary Kay party with all our neighbor friends!

We spent the afternoon lounging around, then later went for a walk in my parents' backyard.  It was so nice out and the kids had fun throwing hedge apples. We came back here for pizza then made Kase and ice cream sundae since he'd slept through his the night before!

Sunday after church Kase had his last football game. Kylee was so sweet and made a sign to cheer for him and my parents even brought cowbells! We also had an air horn.  It was hilarious and awesome.

Kase played a great game.

And even got pizza afterwards!

After the game we took a trip to the new outlet mall in Altoona.  Kael, who isn't a big shopper, even admitted, "It's pretty cool here!" 

It was another fun and full weekend. How was your weekend?! 

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that we know such generous people! One of my dad's friends found out that Kael had been into baking cupcakes this summer, and he gifted Kael all of these cupcake sprinkles! We can't wait to get baking.

I'm thankful for the Ankeny schools app that keeps me updated on all the kids' academic stuff.  Specifically when I got a notification over the weekend about an awesome grade Kael had gotten in math.  I loved being able to congratulate him right when I found out!

I'm thankful for the kids creativity.  As it's starting to get dark earlier, the kids aren't able to be outside for as long in the evenings.  Kael came up with the idea to make "song brackets" for everyone in the family to determine favorite songs and Kylee worked on a big poster to cheer Kase on for his last football game coming up this weekend.

I'm thankful for our annual pumpkin carving night.  Monday night was cold and windy so Kent backed the cars out of the garage, turned on the heater and we got to work! Kylee doesn't mind touching the pumpkin guts.

Kael does.

And Kase won't even attempt to touch them. Mostly he just wanted the knife and wanted to carve it by himself.

I'm thankful for how our pumpkins turned out this year! Kylee freehand drew this cat.

She also drew a Hawkeye for Kase.

And Kael chose a football!

I'm so thankful for how sleepy this guy is every night.

I'm thankful that the kids have gotten involved in running and SO thankful for the Spooky Fun Run on Tuesday night! It was cold and windy but the kids still really wanted to race.

Kase could hardly contain his excitement.

Off they go!

Kylee was the first girl finisher of the whole thing, grades K-7!

Kael really kicked it in at the end and ran so hard to the finish!

When Kase heard us cheering for him near the finish he got the cutest, most serious and focused look on his face and sprinted for the finish! 

Kylee got second place last year at this event and only first place gets a medal.  She was SO happy this year to go home with this cool glow-in-the-dark medal! She has definitely been working and training hard!

They called Kael up to receive a medal, too.

But Kael knew one of his friends had finished ahead of him and as soon as Kael had accepted the medal, he found his friend and said, "Hey man, I know you beat me so this belongs to you."  I'm so thankful for Kael's good sportsmanship and for what a good heart he has. I love the young man he has grown up to be!

I'm thankful for this family that we have enjoyed all these running events with!

I'm also thankful the kids aren't too grown up for the Library Trick or Read event.  We hurried home after the race, ate a quick dinner then headed to the library. 

I'm thankful for how little and innocent Kase looks in this picture.  Being a third child, sometimes it seems like he's grown up too fast and I love that he was excited to see Ozzie!

I'm thankful for my sweet little ice cream sundae. 

Lots going on lately and lots to be thankful for!