Weekend - Baseball Tournament & Hope's Bridal Shower

Friday:
This was a free night... no baseball, nothing.  It seems like it's been forever since we had a free night...  so we took advantage of it.  I cooked.  A meal.  ha.  Then we went out to the church to get a few things done...  and then we got ice cream.  Pretty good night... 
 
Saturday:
We woke to TERRIBLE cold, rainy weather.  It was a baseball day...  and no one was looking forward to it!  (which is unfortunate). 
 
We had the morning pretty much 'free'... so we hung out, did a few things around the house, then headed out.  The boys sucked it up and played fairly well, with a win... but those kids were exhausted after game one and FREEZING.  Cora and I went to the truck mid way through the game.  It was just terrible.  No fun for anyone.
 
Luckily the second game was cancelled... so we headed out and the whole team decided to go out for lunch/supper (whatever it was at 4:00 in the afternoon!)  Mickey's is one of our sponsors, so we went there...  ate, and had a pretty good time.  We were all still cold tho!  ha. 
 
Saturday night we got home... cleaned up and just relaxed.  Around 7:30 or so Cora started complaining that she wasn't feeling well.  Said her tummy hurt.  She had color to her, no fever...  but just looked pretty wiped out.  She never threw up, just said her tummy hurt.  She got to bed... and slept all night and was perfectly fine Sunday morning.
 
Sunday:
We were all up early, for some reason!  It was another cold morning... and our baseball games got pushed back a couple hours.  So we all went to Sunday School, cuz we hadn't been in weeks.  Then we got back home...  Ryan and Kayson headed back out to baseball.  Another cold day, just not wet.  Cora and I headed out to Clarion for Hope's bridal shower.  What a day.
 
Baseball didn't go well...  it was a loss, so they were done around 1:30 or so... 
 
The bridal shower went well...  was a pretty good turnout, and Hope enjoyed herself.  It was a quick hour or so for the actual shower, then we sat around and chatted for a little while, getting back on the road about 5.  Long day. 
 
And then again, around bedtime, Cora complained she didn't feel well... same symptoms/complaining as Saturday night...  She went to bed well, and slept all night... waking fine this morning.  :(  If we get through today... then my gut feeling is she was exhausted.  This is probably a sign that we need to slow down a little and not push things/or her on weekends...  We need to watch Kayson too... just so he doesn't get too wiped out either. 
 
Anyway... super busy and exhausting...  Monday came too fast, and I want to be at home!

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

Kayson - STEAM Tech Fair 2019... STATE

So... yesterday morning was the day we've been waiting for... the actual Iowa State Tech Fair up at ISU Campus.  The official name of it is - Iowa Technology & Education Connection.  Anyway, the kids who made it to state, got on a bus super early Thursday morning to pick up all the other Waukee schools kids, and head to ISU in Ames.

Ryan and I made the trip up there (for a super short amount of time), so we could see Kayson and Hudsen (and Olivia too!) and just experience what they were doing.  It was so cool... and I'm so darn proud of these boys.  It's crazy that they did this all on their own and went this far!!

The results for the boys was a red ribbon... which basically means 'participation'.  Next would be a blue, or purple (which moves further to maybe regionals or nationals)... I'm unsure.  Anyway, the boys were ok with the results, they are already talking about what they could do next year. 

Super fun, super proud.

 

 
 

The kids from Maple Grove

Feeling overwhelmed!

I've said this before in previous posts, but looking at our calendar for April, May and June - it legit gives me anxiety. 

The anxiety of "oh my gosh, how are we ever going to be home together!?"  the anxiety of "we will be conquering and dividing A LOT."  the anxiety of "I'm going to possibly miss out on Kayson's things... or other family things... which makes me sad."

Then those thoughts go into... "I've signed up for Sunday School teacher at church, and I'm missing SO many Sundays."   "I'll be driving sooo much."  "It's going to be freaking winter before we know it."  Enter cries!  ha.

I just pray that we can somehow slow down and soak all of our activities in.  I hate the feeling that we are constantly moving, and then we miss the small things... or we end up hollering at our kids because we (as parents) are exhausted.  I don't want that. 



Our Service Berry tree is blooming... and it's so pretty!



Easter Weekend 2019

My weekend started Thursday night!  PFG honors Good Friday as a holiday, and it's the best!  The kids went to school - Cora actually had a field trip to the Science Center (in which she said was amazing).  I spent the morning doing errands... literally for 4 hours... just running here and there.  Then I went out to Adel and met Lacey for lunch, then we went out to her new house for a tour!  They haven't moved in yet, but soon... it will be beautiful!!  I'm excite for them.
 
Friday afternoon I did a few more errands... then got the kiddos.
 
Friday night Kayson had a baseball game...  great night/weather, and a good close game.  It was fun to watch the kids, and hang with the parents again. 
 
Friday after the game, Kayson, Hud, and Carter went to Caleb's for his birthday party/sleepover...  man, our kid is popular, and busy.  The kids had fun.
 
Saturday:
Sis slept in, which was great...  I got some things done in the morning... laundry and just prepping for the weekend.  I got Kayson picked up about 11ish... he had a good time.  Ryan mowed the lawn for the first time...  crazy to think we just had snow.  Again, time is going too fast...
 
Then about 1:00, we got on the road to Clarion for Easter.  We haven't spent Easter in Clarion for at least 2 years, and it was time we did.  Once we got to town, we just hung out... went to the park and played, which was fun for the kids, and the adults.  Then we all went out for supper at a near by town...  nice supper, was pretty good.  Cora was a little owly tho.
 
We got the kids to bed at a pretty decent time Saturday night... and then the rest of us hit the sack too.  We were tired.  But a nice visit with everyone.
 
Sunday:
Happy Easter!!
We all got up... headed to church.  It was so nice being in my hometown church again.  It seems like forever since we've been there, especially for church, since we are so involved in our own church!  But it was great... 
 
Jill and Jeff hosted Easter lunch...  super yummy.  The kids were pretty good...  they get bored, but we did an Easter egg hunt, which Cora loved.  Kayson on the other hand - he said he may be getting too old for this!  That breaks my heart. He definitely is changing... that's for sure. 
 
Anyway, we hung out there for awhile... then got on the road about 3:30 to head back home. 
 
It was a nice weekend in Clarion... we haven't done that in a long time.  Now it's back to busy weeks... and more busy weekends.  Oh my goodness - so many baseball tournaments, bridal stuff for Hope, graduation stuff for the twins and Ed.  Wow.  It'll be July before we know it, cuz the next 3 months will fly by.
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

Our family (minus Ashley) with Pastor Bill

 

 

 

Love this new sign at my hometown church

Easter egg hunt

Just because

 

She has no personality.  :)

Weekend - Dance Pics & Baseball Tournament

I'm not sure if I can even type out today... I'm EXHAUSTED!!!

Friday:
I left work a little early... got everything packed up/organized for the weekend away. 
I got the kids... and immediately started on Cora's hair and make up for dance pictures.  I tell you what - what a stressful activity!  ha.  Especially for a first time dance mom!  :)

Anyway, I got her all dolled up... with the help of Jen Berger.  She stopped by and nailed down the bun.  I just struggle with it...  but I'll keep trying!

We were out the door...
K and Ryan were home... doing I don't know what!  Besides waiting on us...

Friday night:
after dance pictures... we got on the road, about 7pm.  Heading out to Council Bluffs for our first baseball tournament.  We literally packed the entire house - all the layers - all the blankets.  Oh my goodness.  That was exhausting in itself! 

We arrived around 8:30... got settled, and then Ryan drank with the dads.  I got the kids to bed... and of course, slept awful.  My Fitbit shows I slept from 10:30 to 12:20, and then not again til 4:30 to 6:30.  Ridiculous. (plus a terrible nights sleep on Saturday too!) No wonder I feel awful! 

Saturday:
Up... breakfast... and ready for our first game.
We had 2 games Saturday...  and they went well.  The teams we played all weekend were Nebraska teams, and they were good... good AAA teams.  We won the first game - did well.  2nd game wasn't as good...  the boys seemed tired and not into it! 

Saturday night:
We all, as a team, went out for supper at a nearby restaurant...  it was good, but we were all so tired.  Oh my goodness. 

We got the kids to bed...  and had a repeat night!

Sunday:
We didn't have to be to the ball fields til about 11 Sunday morning...  which was good.  We just took our time Sunday morning (didn't sleep in or anything), just hung out a little bit. 
Both games on Sunday were a loss...  again, just tough teams, dumb mistakes by us... and the bats were not going. 

We have a lot to learn and still need to grow, but overall - being the first tournament (and an overnighter), I'd say it was still ok.  The boys had fun, and played hard.  I'm excited to see what else will come from these boys... 

The weather ended up being pretty good... the sun was out both days, which was huge!  We were still bundled up, but by Sunday's 2nd game, we were 'warmer'...  we all got some sun on our hands and faces! 

We got home Sunday night around 7pm...  long weekend!!!!

Westside Aces - Baseball Season

as of Monday night, we were officially IN the baseball season.
Our first game, and it was a win.  The boys did great - great defense, most were hitting well and just was a good night overall. 

A few pictures...  and I'll try to update after each tournament at least.

 

 

 

Weekend

Friday:
We had a Friday night free... no baseball!  So we decided to go to a movie, we saw WonderPark.  It was an ok movie, can't say it was my favorite, but ok.  The kids agreed.

Saturday:
Ryan worked a little in the morning.
I worked on house stuff - the never ending thing called laundry.

The kids and I then met up with Ryan and watched Duke play a game of baseball.  It was a fairly nice morning.  Good little visit with them... and then Cora and I did a few errands.  Ryan took K to get his hair cut, again.  Long story.  Then we had a little bit of time at home... just fiddling around.  It ended up being a beautiful day - so then we went over to the school park.  Ryan, K and Carter hit some baseballs and did a little practicing...  Cora and I played at the park, and our friends, Holly and her boys were there too.  So we just hung out for a couple hours. 

Then Kayson headed over to Carter's for a little birthday celebration/sleep over.  They went to a movie and that's about it, I think. 

Ryan, Cora and I grabbed supper out, then did a Target run.  Cora developed a terrible cough Saturday... so she was a little 'off' by Saturday night, plus tired from the fresh air.  So we just took it easy after that, and she headed to bed. 

Sunday:
Church
Groceries
Laundry
Then Kayson had a baseball scrimmage... the start of the season.  It was good to have the kids have a scrimmage before their first game.  It was pretty successful.  Lots more to come with baseball.

Supporting Duker

 

 

 

With friend Beckett

 

Kayson said I looked like a baseball player - baseball bag and power drink.

 

A few of my Sunday school kiddos

Go Aces!