Valentine's weekend

We had a special Valentine's weekend planned for the kids.  But first, I had several dozens of goodies to bake and decorate.  

Some of the treats were for Lucas' Kindergarten Valentine's party.  

Clayton, Bo and Lucas.  

And a bag full of CANDY!

Then we headed off to our fun family surprise!

We were given a hotel stay and museum tickets as a gift from Brent's parents.

The hotel had a gift basket of goodies for the kids, pizza for the family and $10 in game tokens for the game room.  Since we don't ever let the kids play those vending-type games, this was all a special treat!  

The next day we went to the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium.  

They don't look like they are that excited, do they?  ha! 

Ryan and Daddy.  

Ryan and Mommy. 

Hannah, Ryan and Lucas with Daddy.  

On Sunday, February 16, our family was all together.  We celebrated Grandma Mary, Claire and Hannah's birthdays.  It was also the one year anniversary of Ann's death.  It was nice to be together on that day.  

BIg 12 Tournament

Brent and I went to the Big 12 Men's Basketball Tournament last week in Kansas City with my college roommate and good friends, Megan and James.  

Teresa, Brent, James, Megan

Some of Brent's AGR fraternity brothers - Ryan Bristle, Lee Madden, Adam Handlos and Brent.  

You know you are old when you keep talking about how loud the music is in the bars.  O-L-D.  

Who doesn't love Fred Hoiberg? 

I did the Big 12 5K while we were in Kansas City, too.  The most hills ever.  There was one bridge we crossed that I think you could see the whole skyline of Kansas City.  

But I finished and I survived.  

Lucas has slept with my medal every night since we've been home.  :-) 

The view of the Power & Light District.  So cool to see cardinal and gold EVERYWHERE!  

Show our support to Georges Niang who had bloody eye injury in the Kansas game.  He received five stitches and played with a band aid on… Cyclones fans united to show support.  

Nianging it.  

Champions!  

What a year for a great team!

We would show our love and still be fans - win or lose.  For heavens sake, we are Cyclone fans, after all.  But this team seems pretty special to me.  Maybe it's because Lucas really go into the games this year, knew all of the players (not just starters) name and jersey numbers.  Or maybe its all of the social media links I can read and follow along.  Or maybe it's just what true fans feel.  I'm definitely going to miss seniors Melvin Ejim and DeAndre Kane.  But the season isn't over yet!  We'll see what the boys can do in March Madness with a #3 seed.  It doesn't matter, though.  You'll be hard pressed to find more loyal ISU fans than the ones that live at our house.  Go State!  

basketball

Our family had lots of fun following the ISU men's basketball team again this year.

Ryan's first basketball game. 

Our cheerleader. 

Favorite snack with Daddy. 

Selfie.

Happy boys! 

Even Stanley our Elf on the Shelf got into the spirit.  

This basketball has the whole team's autographs.  Which, considering the great season they've had, is a pretty cool token memory.  Lucas has watched every basketball game he could sneak in, or begged to go to the ones in Ames.  

We were happy to see Johnny Orr at the Michigan game on November 17.  It ended up being Orr's last visit to Hilton Coliseum, the place he ignited Hilton Magic.  

New Year's Eve with the Cyclones. 

A little Cyclone and a big Cyclone.  

Warm ups. 

Watching Melvin Ejim's postgame interviews after scoring a Big 12 single game record of 48 points against TCU.  

One of the many wintery, cold walks into Hilton.  

Dad and Lucas with L's favorite concession food. 

And with a mouth full of corn dog, Lucas got to see his buddy, Cade.  

Cy and Lucas. 

He loves it.  

Mom and Lucas. 

Senior Day 2014

Tyler Ellerman, Bubu Palo, Coach Fred Hoiberg, DeAndre Kane, Melvin Ejim

We enjoyed a great season.  Family games, games with Lucas and games with just Brent and I.  Great memories.  More basketball fun to come.  

more snow fun

Sledding at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Cabo San Lucas, part 4

There was a shopping mall and tons of restaurants at the marina.  It was a ten minute cab ride and fun to explore Cabo San Lucas and the local atmosphere.   

We watched an Iowa State basketball game here one night. ;-) 

The amazing part of this massage was that instead of playing calming music with ocean waves, we got to listen to the REAL ocean waves!  

The boys played a golf game with limes.  Brent hit the hole in one each time he played.  

And on the home front...

everyone was perfectly happy.