Monday, December 8, 2014

So It's Almost Been a Year

And what a year it has been!  It's impossible to go back to everything that happened in one year, but I am going to share a few fun photos of the year and start fresh.  The year was filled with change!  As most of you know Joel accepted a position as Provost at DMACC in Carroll, Iowa.  We had talked about moving back to Iowa really since we left, but part of me thought it might not ever really happen.  But it did!  I was filled with all kinds of emotions as the day approached.  We had two rental properties and our house to sell so I stayed behind with the boys until the end of the summer.  When we closed on all three houses by August 1st, all for sale by owner, I knew it was meant to be.  It was REALLY hard leaving Manhattan (we were there 14 years), but it was REALLY exciting to be back in Iowa with family.  Moving the boys was a hard decision, but for the most part it has been great for them.  Tyson has immediately become an Iowa State Cyclone (I swear Lundstrom's I only had a small part in that!), is loving Adams Elementary, and cheers as loud for the Carroll Tigers as he did for the Wildcats!  Charlie has had a little harder time adjusting to the new school, but overall is doing awesome!  Kids are so resilient!  We are finally getting settled and I actually have some time to blog.  We miss Manhattan a lot, but Carroll is a great small town with everything we need.  And getting to spend so much time with family has been amazing and the boys love every minute of it.  They ask everyday, "which cousins are coming over today?"   

Tyson was Fan of the Game in January.  Looking back at this, the timing of it was awesome.  Little did we know that last season would be our last year as season ticket holders.
 

 
 
Enjoying a snow day in Manhattan.  I have been trying to explain to Tyson that in Iowa when it snows it doesn't melt right away like in Kansas.
 
 

Charlie decided for his birthday he wanted to invite his teachers and para, so it was an all adult party with Charlie as the center of attention.  Tyson decided to get the flu and throw up in the truck on the way to the bowling alley.
I accidentally cut off the coaches heads but this is one of my favorite team pictures ever.  He had a great season last year.  They figured out to have him stand under the basket and pass it to him. He made it almost every time!
 
And here is where the obsession with the bucket of water dumping on his head began. 
April 2014

Flying the awesome minion kite from Aunt Jenn and Uncle Andy!
My handsome dude at his music concert!
This kindergarten program is serious stuff.

Spring Game 2014

Why not?
 
OK, that gets me about half way through the year.  The Packers are playing Monday Night Football now so I will have to finish tomorrow.  Hope you enjoyed a very quick preview of 2014.
 

Friday, February 7, 2014

October - Miami Heat, KSU Football, Pumpkin Patches, and Halloween

LeBron James is one of Tyson's favorite players so when I heard they were playing a preseason game in Kansas City I had to get tickets.  The boys were soooo excited when we picked them up from school.  Apparently, I was not good at taking pictures that night but to prove we were there here is LeBron.



As you know I really didn't get to many KSU football games this year but I did get a couple cute pictures.  The boys love tailgaiting and going to the games.  They are serious die-hard KSU fans.


I went on a field trip with Charlie to the pumpkin patch.  Sometimes these kinds of things are hard for my boys.  He had fun, but it was a little too much so he was really quiet.  It was kind of cold out so his para shared her gloves.  Charlie said they, "fit perfect!" I will let you decide. :)





Next up was our family trip to the pumpkin patch.  It was really fun.  The kids got to ride a little horse even.  And then we found the slide.










We carved pumpkins and we can pretend that the whole family just loved it and I have a picture to prove it.  (my mom would probably tell you otherwise!)



Soccer and Flag Football Seasons

One of the greatest things that Manhattan has to offer is sports through Manhattan Parks and Recs.  Anyone can play, at any skill level.  This gives Tyson the opportunity to play sports.  This fall we signed him up for soccer and flag football.  Joel decided to coach flag football but leave the soccer coaching to someone who knows something about soccer.  Well, a lot of the games overlapped.  Tyson decided he liked soccer just a little better then football.  This left Joel coaching a flag football team while Tyson was playing in a soccer game coached by Katie.  Life's funny sometimes.





Tyson's biggest (and cutest) fan!


Football



This kid has the best attitude, even when riding the pine!
 

September - A Day at the Lake and The Fragile X Walk

One day in September we decided to take the dog for a swim and hang out by the little lake down the way from us.  It was a nice relaxing day and I got some pretty cute pictures of the kiddos. 





 As I look out my window right now and see 12 inches of snow and the temp at a whopping 11 degrees, I really miss these days!!

The Fragile X Walk

One of the best days of the year for our little family.  It reminds me of how we are not going through this alone and what amazing family and friends we have.  Team Tyson and Charlie rocked it again this year with donations.  It feels so awesome to raise money and awareness for such a great cause that is so near and dear to us.  It is a small little Fragile X world and we have really gotten to know the families around here that are also affected by Fragile X.  We can't thank our family enough for taking time out of their busy schedules to make the trek to Kansas City for this walk.  It means more than we could ever say. (sorry for all the pictures, I actually could have shared even more)