No More Cavities & Picture Week!

Connor is the Blue/White Stripe Shirt - LOVES Story Time!

 Connor's Best Buddies are the Ladies with the Fountain Ponytails!

Busy Fall Week in the Mondell House

Monday - Maci had ice skating while I had my 6 month dental checkup.  Fortunately I didn't have the same diagnosis as Maci and I got a clean bill of health for my teeth.  Clint got to take 2 kids to ice skating which basically means Maci ice skates while Clint chases Connor all over the arena :)

Tuesday - I took Maci to get her teeth filled in the morning but after they got through 1 they realized the laughing gas wasn't having quite the relaxing effect you would hope for and she was not enjoying the experience.  They did the easiest one and decided to reschedule her to be put under to do all the others - UGH!

Wednesday - Today was picture day for the kiddos at school.  Maci claims they did really well and that "Connor did actually smile mom" so we will see :)  Clint also left to Canada to check on a Malt facility we have there.  After school I had to take them to Lil Gym for Connor alone. . . we were 20 mins late - UGH Mom guilt - some days are just crazier than others.  I wasn't ready with a change of clothes for me or the kids and they had to eat so after we stopped home for clothes and ran to McD for food (20 mins there alone!) we showed up late.  Oh and did I mention Connor cried almost the whole time because he swore Maci was going to eat his nuggets while we were in class.

Thursday - Clint got home tonight a little after dinner and we hugged Maci extra tight since she was going under for her teeth the next day.

Friday - Clint and I both stayed home today and took Maci together to her apt at 930a.  The hardest part was not letting her eat or drink all morning.  She was under in like 10 seconds with 2 breathes of the gas.  We waited and chatted in the waiting room - thankfully we are the only patients on their "oral surgery" days.  The time actually seemed to go by quickly and before we knew it they were done and she was starting to wake up.  Maci fell into the 10% category (of course she would) which means she didn't sleep again the rest of the day.  MOST KIDS tend to rest and sleep the remainder of the day but nope not our M.  She screamed for about 45 mins as she came out of the meds.  She then whined about her teeth for another hour and finally around 1p but happy to be watching movies/iPad. That allowed Clint and me to get a few hours of work done at home before she was bouncing all over the house excited to pick up Connor and to show off her 2 new silver teeth to friends at school - Bless You our CraZy M!

Saturday - We promised M some donuts for breakfast after we got everyone to go to bed at a good hour on Friday night.  Clint and M ran to the donut shop while Connor and I kept sleeping - C man actually let us sleep in until 830a - Nice Job Buddy!  Once M and C got home, we had a donut breakfast on the front porch since it was already so warm outside - likely in the 80s at 9a!!

Maci Brought All the Toys Out!

 Connor Squirrel "hunting" with Dad

Kid LOVES Watching Squirrels 

After playing outside, we started to get ready for our weekly dance fun!

These Two!! 

Maci is loving dance maybe even more this year than last.  She is getting to do "hip hop" or actually more like jazz.  She also says she is doing big girl ballet moves now :)  So stinking cute!

We got home from dance and a few errands just in time for C man's nap.  We all were dragging from the long week so the whole family had some quiet time.  We got up around 130 to start getting the crew ready for Fall family photos.  Just recall when you see these fall pictures that our family were huge sports by wearing fall/winter clothing in 90 degree temperatures - what was up with this crazy weather?!  After sweating our butts off outside for pictures from 4-5p, we were off to Applebee's for a family dinner to celebrate getting those done.  The kids were great and when we got home, I was still exhausted so Clint let me head to bed at the same time as Connor - Yowzers I needed rest!

Sunday - We headed to church this morning but Maci didn't have Sunday school because the 1030a mass celebrated our parish's 100 year anniversary with the bishop.  Maci and Connor do not do mass as well when they are together so it was a bit of a bumpy ride and M was mad dad didn't let her listen to the last song before leaving.  We got home a little after the kickoff of the Dolphins game which has maybe been a worse showing than the last 2 Bengals games - WOW that says a lot!!  Stinky NFL teams this year for sure :(  Clint is now running to renew our Costco membership b/c he couldn't handle watching the whole 2nd half.  I am getting errands done around the house before my pathetic Bengals kick off around 330p.  I intend to do a little work to distract me during the game HA.

We Still Show Support Even When Horrible!

 You Know the Dolphins are Horrible When Daddy Tie Dye's Barbie Clothes w. You vs Watching

Clint has another trip this week to Blair, NE and I have another nutty schedule at work - tis life! :)  We hope you all have a wonderful fall week ahead!
Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

More New Routine - Skating & Sunday School

Gives you an idea of how BORING the Bengals Games have been 😢

We are fully in our routine now with Skating starting on Monday.  Maci will tell you she wants to be a ballerina on ice when she grows up and man does she love it!  Clint hung with Connor while I took her and she was skating backward and jumping on the ice by the end of the lesson - Crazy!

The week continued to be fairly warm which let the kids stretch their summer clothes a little longer and Maci could rock some of her new dresses without leggings or tights :)

Happy Boy - Loves Books!

Maci Works on Cartwheels ALL DAY LONG!

 Wear White Day 

Bad Idea for Toddlers!

 So Excited for New Clothes & Boots!

On Wednesday, Connor enjoyed Lil Gym even more this 2nd week of class and Maci behaved in the waiting area better than week 1.

Friday - Costume Kim came as Pete the Cat and Maci got some whiskers while Connor got a paw print stamp.  I worked from home but had a HECTIC Friday which was a bit out of the ordinary.  This left me working several hours into our evening but at least I was getting caught up.  While I worked, Clint had on Goodfellas in the background and this may be the 1st time I watched that entire movie - I know he thinks I lived under a rock.

Saturday - Clint went golfing with a buddy for a 7a tee time.  While he was golfing, I got the kids ready for the day and took them both to Maci's 2nd week of dance.  Maci sure does love her dance class and her pal Juliette was there this week.  Maci was excited that she is doing dance again with her.  After dance class, Maci showed me hip hop moves the whole drive home.  Clint got home around lunch time and then we did some errands around the house.  Late afternoon/early evening, we started to get ready for our date night with the Cassem's.  We headed to Cov for dinner and then to punch bowl for some indoor lawn bowling and drinks.  We got home around 1030p and thanked Miss Kaitlin for giving the kids another fun filled night of makeup and dress up - including Connor who HATES to be left out.  :)

Sunday - Maci had another first today - Sunday school started for the year.  Her teacher is Miss Gabi (sweet college aged girl) welcomed her and Maci bravely said her name.  She was the first in the classroom so she sat down and started coloring a picture with a cross/bird while we headed up to mass.  Connor was a good boy thanks to soup crackers, water, book and pacifier.  The deacon had a great homily on forgiveness today and after mass we were excited to pick up our super happy preschooler.  Maci LOVED the class and made a friend named Julia.  We grabbed some bagels and headed home for football Sunday.  Thankfully my team is off today because I couldn't really take them again this soon!  I also have quite a bit of work I need to do while football plays in the background.

So Excited for Sunday School

 Ready to Cheer Daddy's Team

Our family is going to be sick of the dentist after this week.  I have my 6 month screening on Monday  evening and then I take Maci Tuesday morning for her fillings.  Yippee!!

We hope you have a pain free week ahead!
Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

Back to School Year Routine & Nanny/Grandpa Visit!!

Kicked off the short holiday week with some "back to school" pictures.  Our kiddos never really left school since they go to year round daycare/school but Maci was feeling left out from the kindergartners who graduated from daycare.  These kiddos are so funny - Maci kept getting frustrated that Connor wouldn't sit still and smile :)

Daycare Caption : Connor disappeared for a bit and when he re-appeared in the room he had these 🤣

This Kid is C-O-O-L

Clint had his fantasy draft in the neighborhood Tuesday night and then Wednesday night was Connor's 1st day of Little Gym.  He was quite different than Maci in this class at his age and was a little more timid.  Throughout the class and would stand/stare at the teacher when she was speaking to him.  However, by the end of class, he was not wanting to leave :)

By Thursday our week was already wrapping up with Clint taking Maci to the pediatric dental specialist.  Thankfully they think laughing gas will do the trick but now they have confirmed 4 cavities HOLY COW!  I will call on Monday to make the appointment to at least fill 2 and then we may have a 2nd apt for the other 2 - Ugh parent guilt!  I had an all day meeting so I picked up Connor when I finally got out of there and met up with Clint/Maci at home.  By the time Connor and I got home the Mondell's had made it to our house.  We enjoyed some soup and a few beers before calling it a night.

Friday - I worked a 1/2 day at the local Panera since it would have been too hard to work at home with the kids there.  I got quite a bit of critical items complete and then met back up with everyone at the house around noon.  We then headed to Lake Calhoun for a little walk, fish tacos and playground time.  It was a gorgeous mid 70s and the perfect Friday afternoon!

Stinker Face :)

Lake Calhoun Fun!

Trust me, Connor was having fun 🤣

 2 Goofballs

 Maci has determined Nanny is a Great Swing Pusher - Connor agrees!

 3 Generations

We got home and almost all of us took a brief late afternoon nap - ahh I needed that.  The boys then headed to get Black Sheep pizza while the girls + Connor played outside etc.  We watched some college football and then had a bonfire outside before calling it a night.

Saturday - Maci is back to dance!  She was so excited and extra excited that Nanny and Grandpa were delaying their departure to come watch her class.  We laughed that her new tutu makes her look like the black swan.  Unlike last year, this class had quite a few girls - I believe I counted 8 in this first class.  They also do far more intense dancing/stretching/fundamentals etc.  She will have 2 Recital dances this year - Eek so cute!

 Connor Enjoys the Toy Room

 Go Maci - Momma Couldn't Do that Now

 Adorable Diva

"Mom if you want me to do 1st position I can't hold the sign because I have to 'hold the pumpkin' with my hands"🤣

 Thanks for Coming Nanny & Grandpa!

 After dance, Jack and Kathy were off on their drive to Wyoming.  The 4 of us headed for some lunch and then came home for nap time, household errands.  Once Connor woke up, he and M started to play in her room - it is so cute how much they are starting to play together for ~20 mins at a time.

One of our key household errands was to put out fall decorations - love the way the house looks with some fun festive decor!  Oh and I still love our built ins - so nice!

We watched some college football to end the day and crashed early!

Sunday - Doing the blog before the NFL returns this afternoon!  I am like a kid on Christmas morning - so much potential on the first part of the season and when football returns it also means boots, sweatshirts, pumpkins and leaves return - love this time of year.  The kids are all geared up in their Bengal apparel.  I didn't have to compete with the Dolphins since their game is cancelled this week with the hurricane issues :(

White Chicken Chili Making in the Morning - A Family Fall Tradition!

 Ready to Rumble!!!!

WHO DEY!?

After the game I have quite a bit of work to catch up on but I don't mind doing so in front of many NFL games!  Looking forward to heading into this week when more routines kick off with ice skating on Monday and Sunday school next week.

We hope you all have a great week ahead.
Lot of Love,
C, K, M & C