Monday, November 9, 2026

Zayden Turns 11!

We spent the day celebrating Zayden and had a beautiful fall day to do so.  The day itself was slightly chaotic with some unavoidable appointments and running, but we still managed to make the birthday boy feel special.

We started with monkey bread and sausage.

And then a few presents.
Zayden chose his new baseball glove during fall ball and it was the bulk of his birthday.  He's been working it in and getting it ready for a new season.

We went to the chiropractor and daytime swim, and then after lunch Zayden had some fellow homeschoolers over to play flag football and celebrate his day with him.  The weather was perfect!
Not exactly Pinterest worthy but the boys didn't seem to mind the offerings.
While the boys played football, the girls enjoyed the falling leaves and played on a blanket.

We took friends home, Aunt Kea and the girls dropped by with happy birthday wishes, and then we started working on supper.  The birthday boy requested steak!  Lucky guy!  I slipped out to help Natalee with some state swim fun, but was back in time to eat with by birthday fella.
One last round of candles...

We love you so much, Zayden, and are so pleased with the young man you are maturing into.  You are awesome and unique and such a gift to us and the world.  

We celebrated Grandma and Zayden at Tallman Sunday lunch, too.  What a blessing to be so celebrated!

Friday, October 30, 2026

Halloween 2026

Trick or Treat!
I made a couple big pots of soup with some French bread and we had the Paredes crew over in between Mahaska Drug and door to door trick or treating for a quick bite.  We showed them all our favorite trick or treat places!

Bonus pics....Mike took the youngest 2 to WPU trunk or treat and they dressed as Robin Hood and Maid Marian.  I love these pictures he took of them "in the woods."