Home Projects & Gorgeous Spring Weather

We had a busy week in the Mondell house!  Monday was a gorgeous day and this time Clint explored the huge park behind us with the kids b/c I had an Asia quarterly review call that evening.  It was a bit hard to dial in seeing so many people playing outside from my home office window.  However, I can deal with it because this helps us see spring is finally here to stay!  We are glad to see the warm weather as well since Clint has been dealing with a sinus infection since the move and we need the warm air to kill off all the yuck!  The week continued onward with Global LT meetings for me which started at 6a on Wed/Thurs and Clint continued to drag a bit due to his cold.  Needless to say by Thursday evening the adults were all ready to crash!!

So Much Outdoor Fun!

Friday - We took Friday off again to work on even more house efforts.  On this one day we were able to meet with our kitchen cabinet guy, spa service/tutorial for the hot tub (finally know how to work the chemicals!), order sectional and dining room table and all sorts of other odds and end jobs including emptying the hot tub water for spring cleaning.  I then met up with some friends for drinks/dinner which was a much appreciated break from the house to do list.

Saturday - Maci had dance in the morning and if the videos weren't so large I would load them here. This was the week where the teacher had us come in and video tape each dance so that they can watch it and practice at home.  This coming week is pictures and then only 2 more classes before dress rehearsal and recital!!  She is SOOO excited for her big moment again - not to mention the costumes and makeup HA

The Boys at Dance

The Snack lady refers to them as her regulars b/c she makes them a bagel/cream cheese and muffin each week 💙

Connor wants to be like Uncle Tommy and work those power tools - what a stud!

We did some grocery/errands as a family and during  nap time Clint and I prioritized the weekend house list.  We made a lot of progress against the list and the warm/sunny weather helped with the motivation.  Some accomplishments include filling the hot tub, cleaning out the kids closets/drawers, learning how to operate the outdoor propane fire pit etc.  After a yummy Mexican dinner out we ended the evening with some cocktails around the new fire pit.  Unfortunately the chemicals aren't quite balanced yet to get back in the hot tub - hopefully by tonight!

Sunday - Doing the blog early in the morning as we have a busy/beautiful day ahead!!  It is going to be close to 70s and sunny - YAY!  Maci's last day of Sunday school for the 17-18 school year is this morning and then we head right back to hitting the to do list while also pausing to take a break for a family walk to the park at some point.

We hope you all have a wonderful Sunday and week ahead!  It was so nice to order some new bathing suits for me and the kids this past week/weekend and to realize that the warm weather is right around the bend.  We sure love this city spring through fall - winter has its time but needs to know when to say GOODBYE!

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

The Big Move!

New Big Girl Haircut

 School Days

Summary of the Big Move : 
With the move out of Cedar Lake occurring last Sunday, that made it challenging to do the weekly blog post, let alone the fact that we moved out during a historic blizzard (won't dwell on that stress too much)!  Thanks to Jacey and Ryan Cassem for taking us in for the night that we were a homeless family (packed up Sunday but didn't move in until Monday).  After dealing with a move in snow, we were very thankful for a smooth close process on both homes.  Monday morning we closed on Cedar Lake and met the nice guy (young as heck!) who bought our beloved former home.  Thankfully he was a really nice guy, seems to love the house and appreciated all the tips we gave him on the neighborhood, house etc.  The close on the new house was equally as smooth since the former owners already signed given they now live in Colorado.  We then headed to our new home and started the unload.  We had a whirlwind week of unpacking, buying new stuff and talking with contractors.  We are so thankful and happy to say that not only are we loving the house (no buyers remorse!) but the kids and dogs also seem to be thriving!  Maci constantly talks about her remote control fan and curtains while Connor just runs around room to room.  We have 2x the space of the old house which was apparent when Maci said "I just keep getting lost mom" on the first night HA!  Boomer is finally a dog I can manage again b/c he doesn't yip at every little thing b/c other than this weekend when 100s of kids flocked the streets (exaggeration but it is a family 'hood) the neighborhood on a cul de sac street is oh so quiet!  We cant wait for all of you to see it!

Saturday Before the Move - Too Much Snow!!

 Saturday Night Dinner with the Cassem's

 Slumber Party!

Party Girl Stella Sleeping Naked in the Middle HAHA

 The end of an era. . . 

Friday - Thankfully Clint and I both took Friday off which allowed for house projects while the kids are at school.  We also enjoyed the weather finally taking a turn for spring (only mid April for that to show up!)  After buying so many things off the "to purchase list" and starting on a few "to do" items we grabbed the kids, some Culvers for dinner and after bed time - Clint and I tested out the hot tub.  It is a 6 seater and really nice but we have no clue what we are doing let alone how to clean it so I am attempting to schedule a servicing/demo with the company they bought from.  Still a fun way to end a Friday evening in a quiet neighborhood with a drink after a week of non stop movement!

School Days

Artist in the Making!

#Idontdrawthatwell

Saturday - We started the day with some random errands around the house followed by Maci's dance class.  This was a big week as we learned how the costumes work and all the details for the big recital coming at the start of June!  Maci is so excited for yet another moment on the stage - 2 dances for her this year.  We then put Connor down for nap while Maci and I ran a much needed grocery trip, we stopped grocery shopping for a few weeks to not have a lot of food to pack but that left us scrapping the bottom of the barrel.  Clint began some of the much needed painting which will help us bring this house to our interior style.  Around dinner we went to the neighborhood park and met some families with kids around their age.  Afterward, we cooked a yummy margarita pizza for dinner from the grocery run.  We had plans to share a cocktail again around the propane fire pit out back but by 10p we were both CRASHING hard.  Clint picked up a cold from the move in the blizzard temps and I am just running on little to no sleep.  It felt good to get some sleep!!

What she chose for an outfit to grocery shop HA

 Finally Outside Again!!!

 Neighborhood Park

Sunday - Lots of house projects yet again and more painting for Clint.  Our deal is for me to keep the kids entertained while he gets paint done.  Today we wandered to the top of our hill in the backyard and found what some neighbors described as the big park.  HOLY HANNAH!!!  We had no idea a city park for Medina was about 2 acres behind us!  You get to the top of the hill and then cut through this path and there it is!!!  A huge park with a full size soccer field, basketball and tennis courts, picnic tables and a huge little kid and big kid jungle gym.  We loved this house but it may have grown by two fold knowing that we have this amazing park just right on the other side of our house for the kids to wander to on their own (once they get a bit older)!   We are wrapping up another day of crazy house stuff with the kiddos playing in the cul-de-sac, me sitting in the driveway getting sun and Clint still painting the dining room.  We have dinner, baths and some work/painting waiting for us to end our evening.

"MOM - We have a problem - you need to help get him down!"

Never a dull moment

We feel so blessed and thankful that we found this house which feels like a home almost over night.  The kids are loving it, we find something new and fun each day (did I mention ladies wine nights!) and we have space!  All the hard work and worry has paid off into a home where we can put some good roots with our kiddos for hopefully time to come.

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

Packing, Packing and MORE Packing

We were pretty boring this week as any free moments are spent packing and then more packing.  These kids are troopers with us through the process!  We are down to almost no toys and the only time we left the house this weekend was for dance, Saturday night dinner at a Mexican restaurant and kid haircuts this afternoon.  We are so excited to write the next blog after we are settled in the new house.  We load up 1 week from today!!!!  Thanks for hanging with our somewhat boring blog during this timeframe :)

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Group Learning Time

 Art Time for M

 Costume Kim on a Friday!!

 Poppy from Trolls!!!

 Even C Man Got the Visit from Costume Kim

SURPRISE - Clint is 40 & Happy Easter!!!

What a fun weekend we are wrapping up!!!  The week went by pretty quickly with lots going on at work/school and house packing/cleaning in the evenings.  Thankfully the 4 day week flew by and it was time for the BIG surprise!!!

Friday - Clint and I took the day off to enjoy a long 40th birthday weekend for him.  Our day included : kids to school (day date!), morning bagels, trip by the new house, Easter basket fun at Target, haircut for Clint, pedicures for both, brunch at Pub 819, bill paying/hard boiling of eggs, changing for dinner, furniture store perusing for new house ideas.  Finally we were nearing 5p and it was game time!  Jacey & Ryan Cassem picked our kiddos up from school and Miss Alaina was at the house ready to watch them.  Clint knew this was happening but thought that was the surprise so we could go out to dinner just the 2 of us (he believed we had dinner plans with friends on Saturday night).  At 5p, I told him our friend from Cargill, Danny Kane, was heading to Kip's Irish Pub for some drinks and did we want to join before our reservation for dinner at 630p.  Of course Clint said sure, I text Halston almost the whole drive there to ensure all people were set and ready.  We walked in at 530p and this was his reaction!  HAHA  He was so surprised!!!  Especially when he saw his mom in from Ohio and Sue/Mike in from Florida.

We had an awesome time with so many friends, family, co-workers, neighbors etc.  There were lots of drinks flowing, great conversation, laughter and yummy apps.  Around 8p we were down to close friends and the out of town family.  We decided to take ubers to Rojo to get some quest and chips as well as margaritas.  By 11p we were on our way home with smiles on our faces!  Wishing I took more pictures but we were too busy having fun!

Rojo Crew

Saturday - I wanted to die when I woke up - I didn't stop enough to eat during a night of draft beer drinking and a night cap margarita but alas the life of a mother.  We were up and preparing for the SLP Easter Egg hunt which started at 10a.  Clint the kids and I went while the out of owners got some  rest.  Both kids made out like bandits and we FROZE!

We picked up our car from Kips and then Sue/Mike joined us at our house around noon for pizza, conversation and egg dying.

We drove them by the new house before heading to Benihana for a YUMMY family birthday dinner.  Clint's actual birthday was Saturday!

We watched some NCAA basketball before everyone started to crash at half time of the second game from being party animals the night before!  Also a few of us had to wait to say hey to the Easter Bunny!

Sunday - Happy Easter!!!  Maci attempted to wake us at 630a but kindly watched cartoons in our room until 730a.  The kiddos then had a blast hunting for eggs the silly bunny hid and digging through their baskets of goodies.  We all got ready for mass and headed out for 1030a service at St Bart's  Sue and Mike beat us there and fortunately got a seat.  The rest of us got there about 10 mins early and only had to deal with painful parking.  After mass we all headed to The Yardhouse for lunch which was fortunately not packed - wahoo!  We then said our goodbyes to Sue and Mike as they were going to stay at a hotel near the airport since they have an early flight tomorrow morning.  They were going to wander Mall of America while we headed home for some more house packing, laundry etc.  Maci and Nanny are doing Legos while Connor plays with play dough.  Clint is touching up paint and I am about to figure out why my work email stopped working on my phone.

Here is hoping for a quiet week since many are on spring break/taking long weekends from Easter!  We are on the final countdown to the big family move - 15 days!

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend and a fabulous week ahead!
Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C