Birthday Party

Landon and Keegan have birthdays within weeks of each other.  So, this year, they had a combined birthday party at FMU, where they take their Ninja classes.  They were able to invite 20 friends, and everyone had a blast.  They got to play in the gym on all the equipment and play some games for the first hour and a half.  Then, we sang "Happy Birthday" to the boys and had cake before everyone left.  It was an 'American Ninja Warrior' theme for their party this year.  

The boys just wanted to celebrate their birthdays by hanging out with friends.  They do not need any presents, nor did they want any.  So, in lieu of presents, the boys asked their friends to donate to "Smiles for Sophie Forever", to help with pediatric cancer.  Landon also made it up the 11ft. warped all for the very first time at his party, tying the record for the youngest person to do it.  Coach Theo, who owns FMU, told him if he made it up the wall, he would give him $50.  When Landon made it up the wall, Coach Theo made good on his promise and gave Landon a $50 bill.  He told Landon that he could do whatever he wanted with the money, and buy anything he wanted.  Landon chose to donate his money.  With his donation and the donations from all their friends, the boys collected over $350 to help with pediatric cancer.  We are so, so proud of our sweet boys for volunteering to do this and so thankful for their friends who gave money to donate as well.

I had surgery three days before the boys party, so my parents were in town to help me.  They got to go to the party, and we forgot to take any pictures with them :(  I was pretty tired and sore, so I'm going to blame it on that.  Matt did a great job with pics during the party, but we didn't do such a good job with family pictures.

Matt and I made the cake and icing, but Landon and Matt made the ANW course out of legos for the top of the cake. They did a great job and it looked amazing! Sticking with the theme of the day, we made three different cakes (Red Velvet, White, Blue Velvet) so that the cake would be red, white and blue!

This is the picture we used for Keegan's invitation

This is the picture we used for Landon's invitation

Coach Theo talking to all the kids at the beginning of the party.

Keegan can make it up the 6 ft wall, but this is him trying to get up the 9ft warped wall.

Keegan climbing the rope.

Coach Theo playing dodgeball with the kids.

Keegan on the monkey bars.

Keegan on the rings.

Landon getting ready to throw in dodgeball.

Free time!

Keegan climbing...he always makes me so nervous!

Landon hanging on the bars.

Keegan

Some of Keegan's friends....Keegan, Mia, Jackson, Lincoln

Some of Landon's friends...Jack, Landon, Hanna, Lucy

Playing games

Landon pushing the sled.

Landon on the rings.

 Keegan making it up the 6ft wall.

 Keegan doing the Hercules hoist.

Keegan pushing the sled.

 Landon doing the obstacle course.

 Landon doing the Hercules hoist.

 Keegan on the obstacle course.

The boys with Coach Theo

Group picture before cake

The cake

The boys with their cake

 Family pic

Singing "Happy Birthday" to the boys

Keegan first

Landon's turn

Patiently waiting for cake

Family selfie

The boys with their donation money.

What a fun party!!!

Dr. Seuss Week

Keegan's school celebrates Dr. Seuss' birthday by having a Dr. Seuss themed week.  Here is what he was supposed to do/wear for the week:

Monday - Crazy hat day

Tuesday - Crazy sock day

Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday

Thursday - Thing Thursday (wear a #)

Friday - Lorax Day (wear orange)

Keegan loved celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday by participating in the fun theme days.  Matt had kept the lunch bags that he made Landon when he was in Kindergarten for this week, so Keegan got to pack his lunch in those each day too.  

Monday...

Mrs. Fitch sent us this cute pic of Keegan with some friends at school.

Tuesday...

Wednesday....

Thursday....

And just as a backup when he got tired of wearing the costume, he had this shirt underneath!

 Friday...

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!  Always one of our favorite weeks of the year!

Basketball

Landon and Keegan both played basketball this winter.  Keegan played at St. Mary's, where Landon had played since he was 5.  Keegan played on Saturdays and practiced the first 20-30 minutes and then scrimmaged another team the last 30-40 minutes.  We love St. Mary's because it is super close to our house, and everything is on Saturday.  Keegan's season started in November and ended in February.

Landon played for the Avon Rec this year and it was his first year there.  He practiced one night a week and had games on Sundays.  St. Mary's doesn't have refs, but Avon Rec does and we thought Landon needed that this year.  Landon played four 6-minute quarters, and the clock stopped for free throws.  Halfway through each quarter, they had a little break for subs.  Landon's season started in December with practice, and games were in January and February.

Matt coached both of the boys teams, and it was a lot of fun.  Landon and Keegan both improved throughout the season, and they were so fun to watch.  

Some action shots of Landon

Team picture after their last game.

Some action shots of Keegan

Team picture after their last game, with their medals.

Keegan with his medal.

Great job, Landon and Keegan.  We are so proud of you and can't wait to watch you play again next year!

Fun in Glen Ellyn

Over President's Day weekend, we made a last minute decision to head to Glen Ellyn to surprise one of my best friends, Autumn.  Meghan, Brittany and I came from Freeburg, Springfield, and Avon (OH) to surprise our other best friend at her house.  Autumn's dad was recently diagnosed with cancer and we just wanted to let her know we were there for her, but take her mind off of it at the same time.  Autumn was completely surprised, and we had a great 24 hours with her.  We literally did nothing all day but talk and hang out. We went to dinner that night too and then came home and watched the Olympics.  It was so fun to catch up with my best friends for the day.  I wish we could do it every month.  Mike, Autumn's husband, helped us plan this trip.  He took a video of us surprising Autumn (right before she started coaching Aspen's basketball game), but other than that, we didn't take one picture :(

I was going to drive to Chicago by myself for the weekend, but I convinced my family to come with me at the last minute.  It worked out perfectly for us to also catch up with our good friends, the Romano Family, who had moved from here to Glen Ellyn in January.  We actually stayed with the Romano's Friday night at their new house and then Matt and the boys hung out with them all day Saturday while I was with Autumn and the girls.  It was so fun to see their new house and catch up with them as well.  

We had to leave at 5am on Sunday to make it back for Landon's basketball game at 12:30, but it was well worth it. We are blessed to have such great friends, and it was so fun to see everyone!  Matt did a much better job with pictures of the kids than I did with the girls!  The kids played in the snow and went rock climbing.  Matt took the boys to dinner and then the Romano's came to the hotel and all the kids went swimming.

Lucas, Vivian, Michael, Keegan and Landon

 Fun in the snow

 Silly pic

 Rock climbing....Landon

 Keegan

 Landon, Michael, Vivian

 Keegan, Vivian, Landon

 Our silly boys

 Selfie at dinner with Daddy

Fun in the hot tub at the hotel...Keegan, Michael, Landon

Thank you Romano family for letting us crash at your house and hang out on Saturday!  Thank you Usalis family for letting the girls and stay crash at your house on Saturday.  Such fun times!!

Keegan's 100th Day of School

On February 16th, Keegan had his 100th day of school.  He had to dress like he was 100 years old.  He wore dress pants and a dress shirt, suspenders, glasses, and he put silver spray in his hair.  He was such a cute old man!!

The finished product....how does he look?

 A close up with the glasses (and a funny face)

Matt took me to a doctor appointment that morning, so we dropped off Keegan at his friend Jackson's house to get on the bus with him.  Here are a couple pics of the two old men headed to Kindergarten!

 Love these two!

Happy Valentine's Day

Since Valentine's Day is the same day as Keegan's birthday, we have two celebrations in one day.  However, we try to keep them as two separate events so Keegan doesn't have to really share his birthday!

This year, Matt picked up Valentine Monster donuts for the boys for breakfast.  We also let them open their Valentine's presents from us before school.  Landon wore red to school and Keegan wore a Valentine's Paw Patrol shirt.  Both boys took Valentine's to school for their classmates.  Keegan also took dipped oreos for his birthday, and Landon made Valentine bark for his classmates.

We got the boys playing cards with their pictures on them, their own baseball cards, and they each got a new book.  Matt and the boys got me beautiful roses!

We are so blessed to two sweet boys in our lives that will always be our Valentine's!  

Monster donuts

 Landon getting ready to eat his donut.

Their Valentine presents

 Unwrapping their presents

 The finished product

 Here is a close up of their own baseball cards that Matt made for them.

My gorgeous flowers

 A pic of the Valentine bark that we made for Landon to take to school.