Sunday, April 24, 2016

Kites A Plenty, Rainy Sunday and Connor's Cough

Big Boy Crib Sleeping!

Weekday Fun

Maci isn't the only one who gets to have fun at School
Connor in the way back listening to songs
Of Course Maci had Fun Too!
 Fun Snack Time

Connor Turned 4 Months on Thursday
Big Happy Boy!



Friday - It was a very pretty day after a fairly rainy week.  Clint took the day off to burn some vacation and had a garbage disposal installed in the morning and hit 18 holes in the afternoon.  He got done just in time to grab the kiddos and meet me at the pool for Maci's lessons.  She did awesome!  She only attempted to say the "I need to go potty" trick once and the teacher laughed at her and just kept going with the plan.  Maci even put her face in the water multiple times, this is her main challenge, otherwise she is a fish!  After swim, we headed back to our house for pizza and outside playing.  The older girls ended up watching iPads in Maci's room and the adults got to enjoy having only 1 child each while we ate our dinner :)  Fortunately our 1 other child just sits in his chair and falls asleep, love our chill man!
Cutie Outfit for a Friday
Thankfully I took a picture since he had a blow out at school!!  UGH

Saturday - We had the usual gym class kick off to our day.  Then instead of brunch, we grabbed some quick bagels and the kids and I headed home while Clint headed to the Cassem's to help with their patio prep work.  We picked up Clint around 130p to head to our fun family afternoon activity - Kite Fly at the Louisiana Oaks Park.  Maci LOVED looking at all the kites and she was so excited to fly her princess kite - a whopping 2.99 so we were intrigued to see how well it flew.  We even Facetimed Grandma from the park to show off Maci's kite flying skills and Connor's chilling skills.  :)  A fun afternoon for sure!
Dad & His Buddies at the Park
 Kite Prep
Mommy & Connor Time in the Sun
Afterward we were all hungry for lunch and the weather was too great to head indoors so we went to Rojo for some lunch and cocktails on the patio.  We came home for some late afternoon rest and finally a fun family walk to the further away park down the road.  That wrapped up our evening and then we had the usual 1.5 hour bedtime routine with Maci - Urgh that is getting really old!  Clint and I then chilled for a bit before we all crashed for the night.

Sunday - Poor Connor has had congestion and a cough started up yesterday.  It sounds fairly productive which made us hopeful he was getting all the ickiness up.  However, the cough has continued today and the poor guy just has a lot of clear mucus - we are hopeful this exits fast!

WAY TOO EARLY SNUGGLES IN MOMMY & DADDY'S BED!!
 Connor is already dressed after a jammie blow out around 5a :(
In the meantime, we have given lots of snuggles and he has his 4 mo check up tomorrow - good timing!  In the meantime, we ran lots of errands today during a very soggy Sunday.  Maci loved the grocery trip in the morning which ended with a donut for each of us, minus Connor :)
Busken would be Proud!
Needless to say Clint and I are tired from interrupted sleep with our congested man, a girl who doesn't want to go to bed OR nap during the day and a long list of weekend errands.  We are now waiting on our dinner to arrive and I am casually folding laundry as we wind down from a fun weekend and prep for another jam packed week ahead!  The goal is to get everyone in bed at a good time and wake up healthy/ready to take on our Monday!

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Twins Game, Week of Young Child & Connor's Rash

This week at school was celebrating the week of the young child.  The only thing different about this week is that each day had a theme which made it interesting for me to keep up with remembering what to send Maci in each day - she will now notice if I forgot to follow the instructions!

Monday was jersey and hat day.  Both kiddos sported Twins baseball gear and Maci rocked a Toledo hat as well (thanks Aunt Sue - it still fits!)

Tuesday was Mismatched Day and Maci wore a purple polka dot shirt with red/black buffalo plaid pants.  It is funny that Maci didn't care for this day because she doesn't really understand what not matching means - I hope she never asks to wear this outfit again :)  She also got Costume Kim at school and she was Snow White this time!
Maci raising her hand in the purple/white polka dot shirt
 The 7 Dwarfs - Shocked Maci didn't get up to do this
 Meanwhile in baby room group time. . . . 
 Connor is the stud chilling in the blue/white pants and army green top

Wednesday was beach day and Maci loved her "flower necklace" until on the way home she told me another friend had one which was all the colors not just orange/yellow/white like hers. . . she followed this with "I want to buy one like that"  Hmm we need to teach her money lessons soon!

Firetrucks at the Spa Down the Road Makes for a Fun Site to See
Maci is in yellow

That evening I went to the Twins baseball game with co-workers.  It was a nice night with some draft beer and $1 hot dogs - a nice evening break in the middle of the week.

Postpartum Mommas with No Memory Take Pictures of Their Parking Info!
 Helping out a Colleague that Didn't Come with her Nephew's Flat Stanley Project
Thursday was wear your favorite costume day.  Maci of course chose Frozen dress over all her other dress up options.  I hope she played that darn "LET IT GO" song on the dress over and over and over for her teachers :)

 She Makes Us Laugh!
Friday was pajama day - AKA mom doesn't have to do shit in the morning day!!!  Wahoo!!!!
Connor cuddling with a Pink Germ Covered Bunny
CUTE ;-)

After school we had swim lessons yet again.  We have been talking up how much fun swim is all week and Maci was pumped to get there.  She got in her swimsuit in super fast fashion, went to the potty with me and then said "Mom, I am a little scared"  I told her it's ok to be a little scared but to remember how excited she is and how much fun she will have with Natalie and her teacher.  She got over it and headed to the pool.  We all took our seats to watch lessons and 2 minutes in, out comes Maci saying "I have to go potty"  Well Miss M, fool me once, shame on you but fool me twice, shame on me!  I knew what she was pulling and right away had the manager on her with tactics to get her back in the water.  Thankfully within one song of pouring water on themselves she was back in the water and did the entire lesson.  Mind you it was more gingerly than I would like but she completed it.  We are already prepared for a no pass but at least she shouldn't be scared of the water by summer time since the lessons end in June.  We headed to the Cassem's for some yummy Pizza Luce and conversation afterward.  The girls did the usual fighting over toys, this time a jewelry box with a ballerina on top, before we all headed home for late bedtimes.

Saturday - GORGEOUS WEATHER!!!  It was 80 this entire weekend!  We started the day with the usual gym and brunch.  After brunch we got changed and ready to hit Lake Harriet.  We played on the playground for a while and then went on a brief walk around the lake before realizing we wanted some Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream - YUMMY!  Connor enjoyed a warm ride on momma and Maci loved her ice cream and walk.  We finished our late afternoon with quick cat naps and dinner at Culvers on the patio.  Finally Clint and I attempted to watch some Scandal episodes but I crashed!!!  The sun wipes me out, as does minimal sleep and long days during the week!
Pure Minnesota!

 Siblings in a Hot Car
 Cutie - Clint Jr
 Goof Ball!

Sunday - So Connor went to bed with a bit of a rash which we thought may be from the heat, an outfit I hadn't washed that he wore on Saturday, his usual crazy dry skin etc - the options were endless but we figured we would check in the morning.  Unfortunately we woke up and it was as bad as the night before, after a call to the nurse line, we knew we had to head to Urgent care when they opened at 11a.  This meant the Zoo plans would be scrapped for the day - bummer.  In the meantime, I got the grocery done and a few errands.  We then took Mr C man to the pediatric urgent care to see what was going on.  As I suspected, he seems to have baby eczema which is a driver behind the dry irritated skin.  The Dr believed something (i.e. sun, heat, outfit) caused a dermatological reaction and therefore the skin was inflamed.  Fortunately it was nothing serious nor contagious so now Mr C will get a calming bath with Hydrocortizon and Aquaphor afterward.  In addition, we learned our big guy is 15lbs 1oz at the ripe age of 3 months 27 days - TANK!
So Happy with Itchy Looking Skin
After errands we spent every last minute outside playing.  Miss M was all about the swings and chalking on the sidewalk.  I walked up and found the following :)  Those that know me well, know this kid is my spitting image at least from a personality.  She would rather line up her chalk by color than to use the chalk and "ruin" the tips!  Ahhh Love her OCD/Type A ways!!

Clint is now grabbing us some wings for dinner and after a quick bite, it will be time for baths and work week prep.  What a pretty weekend just soaking up time with my family!

Enjoy your week ahead!
Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Picture Day @ School & Masters Weekend

Just to Make You Smile
Bath Time Baby

Well Maci went to school on Monday and thank goodness we never took a turn backward the rest of the week.  She continues to have a nasty cough that lingers and Clint left work early on Monday to sleep as he started to feel it.  However, as I write this on Sunday evening, I am crossing my fingers that the germs have left the Mondell house!  Also we were thankful Maci went to school on Monday since it was picture day!  I had little hopes for these pictures seeing as she didn't feel great and she is always a disheveled mess at school but they turned out awesome!!!
Sissy Waiting to Take Pictures with Brother
Connor Requires Food First

Cutie Connor Man


Our Beauty Queen


My Heart is Happy!


Tuesday night I had a happy hour with some friends from an HR development program I was in with Cargill about 5+ years ago.  It was great to catch up with some good people who I don't talk to near enough.  It was also nice to enjoy some cocktails and have Clint manage bath time.

Daycare Fun
Connor Talking
 How Happy is this Kiddo?!
I see my Dad & Sinnards Here. . . 
 This Girl LOVES School



Clint had to head to Wichita last minute on Thursday afternoon and didn't return until dinner time Friday.  This meant I got to single parent on week day night/morning for the first time while also working.  Fortunately both kids were participating and we weren't late for anything :)
Morning Daddy!

Friday - We made it through the school drop off and then I made it through the end of a very busy week at work.  I got out of there on time to then grab the kids and head straight to swim lessons.  Maci was so excited to get back to Swim after missing the prior week due to the flu.  However, no sooner did Maci start doing swim lessons she said she had to go potty.  I took her to the bathroom and she started sobbing that she was so scared and didn't want to get in the water?!?!  I had no idea where this came from and she kept asking me to go home and get daddy.  Fortunately after much talking to by me, the teacher and a manager - she got back in the water by the end of class and we hope this was an odd fluke between missing last week, being sick, missing daddy etc.
Hey Mom - I had a blow out AGAIN 
so I am in a short sleeved t-shirt in 30 degree weather
Winning Mom Moment!

Saturday - Clint and I stayed up too late doing some work (he had to get caught up after Wichita) and well I will never catch up.  Add in a little congestion still in our happy boy and it made for one tired momma in the morning.  Clint and Maci went to gym and to grab bagels while Connor and I caught up on our beauty rest/napping fun.  We then enjoyed a very relaxing Saturday around the house.  Maci played with toys, I did laundry/watched TV/napped on and off with the baby and Clint watched the Masters.  We ordered some pizza at dinner time and while Clint watched some movie, Connor and I napped yet again together - Ahhhhh the R&R I needed!

Sunday - Another fairly lame weekend day.  Clint has been glued to the Masters all day.  I had to take a work call from 2-4p today so ran my grocery trip this morning and have now been finishing up on preparation for the kids and their week ahead.  I am about to pick us up some carry out, check out the finish of the Master's with Clint and then get these kiddos to bed.

We hope you all had a wonderful and restful weekend like ours!
Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C