Kayson - Last day of 3rd Grade!

And just like that...  Kayson is done with 3rd Grade.  Unbelievable.  (my post from last year is probably exactly the same).  The year went fast. 

He seemed excited to be with his friends today and he said "we'll probably have to help Mrs. Flack clean up!"  I told him - be her helper, the day will go quick!  ha.

He's excited for summer... he'll still do the summer program at BTB, so that'll be great. 

 

 

We happened to walk in with Hudsen this morning - Picture for sure!

Memorial Day 3-day Weekend

We had a super busy, hot, sticky 3 day weekend.  The heat in Iowa is at a record high - it's normally super great weather the end of May - but we have been hit with terrible humidity, and 90+ degrees.  As Kayson said last week - "Did we skip Spring?!"  Pretty disappointing for several reasons!

Friday:
K was scheduled for a baseball game... but the other team didn't show.  So...  since the kids were all there (and even tho it was super hot at 5:30), we stuck around, and the kids had chances to hit the ball and kind of mess around.  Following, we went out for dinner... then home.  Pretty quiet night!

Saturday:
This and that in the morning...  some cleaning and that's about it.  Then we ventured out for a baseball tournament - games for us started at 1:00.  And it was brutally hot.  No breeze, just burning down sun!  Crazy!  Mike and JeanAnn braved the heat with us too...  We did our best to find shade and drank lots of water... the boys did well keeping cool by using those 'cold towels'...  and even more water!  We had 1 loss, 1 win...  we were home around 5:30, ordered pizza and the kids were asleep by 7:40.  WIN for me!  ha.  The heat just takes so much out of us!

Sunday:
We made the 'gold' bracket for the tourney, so our first game was at 8:00... but unfortunately, it was not a win.  The boys don't do well at 8 in the morning!  BUT - I can say Kayson had an amazing hit!  It was caught by a miracle... but it was awesome.  I was so proud of him... and he was excited, just as fast as he was bummed when it was caught!  Poor kid.  But... he had fans to watch him - Scott, Niky, Duke and Brittlyn... plus Hope and Logan.  Nice of them to come. 

So... since it was a loss game... we had the rest of the day free.  Niky invited us down to her sisters house/pond.  We figured - what the heck.  It was brutally hot, but it was better than staying home and being bored!  ha.  So... we went down there, the kids swam in the (dirty) pond (and had a blast!!!), Ryan helped the men put some final touches on a grain gazebo, we had a great little lunch, and we survived the heat again.  It was a really nice day...  but exhausting again!!!  Good thing we had another free day. 

Monday:
We made the trip to Clarion today.  We all hadn't been up there in a long time... needed to get to the cemetery too.  We had a great visit... just hung out, great lunch, Dad was able to be with us for a bit, visited Mom... and back home by 6ish.  

Now we are prepping for our week without Ryan.  It's another busy week... and another hot one too. 

Finally - pictures!!

Weekend

My weekend started Thursday around 12:30...  headed out and to home to put the final touches on the annual garage sale.  Thursday night and Friday was the sale... and it was a success. I'd say this year was my best yet...  not making a ton of money, just getting rid of stuff.  I bet I got rid of 90% of the stuff.  Which was great!!

Friday night:
We went over to Colleen & Mike's... they were free, which rarely happens; we were free... and they had all 5 kiddos.  We hadn't seen Allie and Sarah for a long time.  We grilled out and the kids had a blast... good times with them. 

Saturday:
Saturday morning I attended a doTerra Wellness Summit in DSM at the Marriott.  I was very interested to see what it was going to be like...  and unfortunately, it was everything I already knew.  I mean, it was a free session, so not a total waste of my time.  It was nice to do something just for me... so it was good.  In the afternoon they were holding a 'business' type class, but I didn't want to be gone all day, and I'm not sure if I'm really at the 'business' point of this.  So... I opted out.  It was good though.

Ryan and the kids watched Duke play ball while I was gone.  I got home and just started taking care of our house.  We are so much busier now... and week nights isn't really the best time to be deep cleaning (or at least I don't have the energy for that!), so I cleaned and did a ton of laundry.  Kids got home...  Ryan and Kayson went to practice hitting baseballs with Jarren and Hudsen.  We just did this and that all afternoon...  it was a good day. 

Saturday night we had an impromptu night with Mike, Holly and the boys... we grilled out, just hung out... pretty lax evening.  Nice to hang out with them.

Sunday:
Church...  then Cora and I did some shopping.  She needs shoes, and shorts, and t-shirts... ugh.  So we tackled shoes - got her a nice pair to wear with dresses (church type), then another pair of flip flops.  That's all she could decide on... plus I think she has fat feet and shoes aren't that comfortable for her!  So our shopping trip was short.  ha.  

Other than that, our Sunday was groceries, Ryan mowing, he took the kids to practice hitting again... and that's about it.  It was a gloomy cooler day...

No pics.  :(

Weekend - Mother's Day

Friday:
I had a super busy week at work... and Ryan had staff training.  Just busy. Friday night we ordered pizza and stayed in.  I was overwhelmed from work... and just 'stuff', so we just had a quiet night.

Saturday:
More baseball...  but to spice things up, the weather was a mess.  Crappy - rainy, windy, cold... yuk.  We were supposed to play at 9am, but when we got there, it was still raining pretty hard... so games were delayed.  Trish, Hope and my Dad drove down (as Dad couldn't be in the field, and Trish was free)... so awesome having them here, but bummer the weather couldn't have been better.  
So while we passed the time... we went to HyVee and had a little more breakfast.  Then we went to Bass Pro Shops and walked around there for an hour!  We played the 'shooting game'... I have no idea what it's called, but it was fun.  Even got Papa to do it.  :)  It was a good three hours... but just made for a longer day!

Finally at noon, we started playing ball.  It was a good two games... wins for both.  Boys did well, just cold!  Kayson didn't hit the ball... again... gotta get him more confident!! 

We finally got home around 4:00ish... I think.  We were all tired.  Wow.  It sure does take a lot out of us!  We just hung out... did a little laundry, and bed was super early.  Cora fell asleep on the couch at about 7:30 (can't remember the last time she did that!), and Kayson asked to go to bed at 7:45. DONE!

Since they were in bed so early, I decided to finally watch "A Dog's Purpose". Oh boy...  so many tears!!  What a good little movie. 

Sunday:
Happy Mother's Day.  Another tough day over the past couple weeks...  but like I've said before, and last year... I'm lucky. I'm blessed with the two beautiful kiddos that we have.  They are pretty darn awesome, and I'm thankful for that.  I still hurt tho... and still miss my Mom.  But I know she's watching over us (and my sisters and Dad)...  and she's proud of us.  I know it. 

We were up early, as K's baseball team had a game at 8.  YUK!  ha.  So the 2nd day of the tournament... and our first game was a loss, so therefore, we were done.  Huge bummer.  The team we played could HIT THE BALL!  Wow.  And we couldn't.  It just wasn't meant to be today!

So...  we headed back home, and we had a really nice day.  When we got home, I layed on the couch and snoozed... at like 10:15.  ha I never do that.  Then we went to El Rodeo for lunch, which was yummy.  Back home and we just hung out most of the day.  Ryan and K got groceries for me, which was great.  I made a yummy supper... and that was our day.  

Lots of pics from the weekend. 

 

and my Ashley graduated from college!  YEA!

Cora - Kindergarten Camp

Tonight was a big night for about 125 soon to be Kindergartners at Maple Grove!
Kindergarten Camp was tonight. 

Cora and I went, as Ryan and Kayson had baseball practice.  Cora played on the playground for awhile... I mingled a little - talked with Nikki, Mrs. Flack (K's teacher) and a few other moms that I kind of know. 
At about 5:50, we headed inside...  parents to the gym and the kiddos to different Kindergarten classrooms.  Side note - this is where I worried.  We know Cora, and if Cora doesn't want to do something - she won't.  She had told us earlier in the week that "she wanted me to come with her" to the classrooms.  I was worried she'd throw a fit right there... but she didn't.  She did look a little hesitant, but she went... and following, she told me she had fun and liked it.  WHEW.  :)

Anyway, the parents shifted through 4 different 'stations' - talking with the principal and another teacher, then to the school nurse, secretary and beyond the bell program.  Yes, I was completely aware of everything they talked about... but it was important that Cora was there.  Plus it's just nice to be there and part of that school.  They are such good people/teachers. 

Following those stations, we then met the kiddos back out on the playground.  Cora was playing on the play set, and was excited to see me.  I was convinced she would be standing by the door waiting for me...  I was wrong.  Which thrills me!  ha. 

Weekend

We had a free weekend... no baseball!
Friday:
We stayed home... Ryan mowed, we played outside which included the kids thinking it was 'so hot' that they needed their swim gear on!  They played in the water a little... and had fun.  We then ordered pizza and had a nice night. 

Saturday:
A day at home.  I originally really wanted to get to Clarion, as we haven't been up there in a super long time, but it just didn't work for everyone.  Jill's were busy, Tricia was busy, and Dad was in the field.  Really bummed me out actually, but oh well.  Hopefully a few of them can get to Kayson's baseball next weekend.  
So... we just hung out most of the day...  I did some errands which included getting more summer clothes for the kids.  Reason being - I went through dresser drawers to prep (or add) to the garage sale pile, and all of the sudden, Kayson had like 3 pairs of shorts!!!  Cora needed some shorts too... and summer shoes (which were a fail), but I got a few things accomplished.  Ryan and the kids went out the church for a bit while Ryan did the money there...  

Then Saturday afternoon K got his hairs cut, then we went to watch Duke play baseball.  He was near by, and it was a beautiful day.  We watched him for a couple games... not very exciting ball there, which was a bummer for Duke, but oh well.  We got to spend some time with Niky, Britt and Scott.  The boys talked, Kayson watched Duke (and played a little), I got to talk with Niky and Britt for a good while... Niky and I had some good talks, and Cora played, ate, danced, and played some more.  We were all beat at 7:30!

Sunday:
Another perfect weather day!  Bout time!
I did wake in tears tho... literally.  I opened my eyes, being woke up by both kids early... and I just started crying.  I miss my Mom so damn much today.  The tears just fell all day...  just achy all day...  Nothing really triggered it, but anything I heard, or did, or watched the kids do --- then I would cry.  I want her here.  I want here here to be with us, and see my kids.  It just was a hard day.  
BUT - the weather helped, so we were able to be outside...  and that did help.  Cora had a rough day too - which continued from Friday (she had a terrible day at school).  Listening is pretty much not happening for her, which is very frustrating...  and she just is talking back all the time.  Another big frustration.  
Anyway, it was an 'all emotional' day for me.  I'm wiped out!

Here are a few pics from the weekend. 
Here's to a new day tomorrow... and new ears for Cora. 

Kids watching Duke bat

Cousins rock.  Britt, Cora, Duke, K

 

This & That

Some random things happening... and things the kids have said.

• Cora woke this morning saying she didn't want to go to school, she wanted to go to Kindergarten.  ha.  Well...  I think we are ready then.  We have Kindergarten 'retreat' next week... so that should help her with some of her questions (that she won't let us answer!)
• One of Kayson's friends' grandpa's passed last week.  I had asked him if his friend had been gone from school... and he said "No - I think they cancelled the funeral b/c of the rain."  Oh sweetie... not exactly how that works.  :)
• Last night baseball got cancelled.  Ryan and K headed to the ball field knowing it was going to rain...  Cora and I pulled in, and within minutes, the tornado sirens were going off!  And then within another few minutes, it was raining hard!  Kayson gets nervous when it rains this hard and there's potential for wind/tornado...  he brought his helmet and Cora's bike helmet into the house, just in case we needed it. 
• When it was raining hard... Cora asked if Grandma was making the rain.  I struggled to answer... cuz I know she's not, but I didn't know what to say.  So I said that "God thought we needed some rain, and he might have over-did it!  We don't need this much right sis?!"  Light hearted response.
• We have a baseball free weekend ahead of us.  We were going to go to Clarion for a day, but everyone is busy up there!  What the heck.  So we are sticking around here... gonna work on house stuff, garage sale prep and enjoy the weather I hope. 
• I had fraudulent transactions on my debit card two weeks ago... finally got my new debit card, and still waiting to be reimbursed.  What a pain!