Travel Galore & Thanksgiving Prep

Football Fun Last Sunday Evening

Monday :

• Clint headed to Wichita in the morning
• I had a good day at work with lots of to dos checked off the list
• We grabbed Taco Bell for dinner (Yum - such a good meal ha)
• I read to the kids and then gave myself an early bedtime

School Fun for Connor

Tuesday : 

• Clint was still in Wichita
• Still a good day but not as productive so had some work to do at night
• Kids played while I got some work done before putting them to bed and then packing
• Clint got home around 8p

More School Fun for C

Wednesday :

• I got picked up by my Lyft at 630a
• Off to Chicago for a quick 2 day trip 
• Got into the office around 1130a and then headed to an offsite where Kate and I facilitated a talent discussion
• Finished the day at the office then went to dinner/drinks with Kate and Judson (also in town from MN)
• Early bedtime afterward for me
• Clint took kids to dinner at Oak Eatery and then to Maci's Religion Class 

Judson, Kellie & Kate 

A fun dinner for sure!

 Cool View from 80 something floor

Well behaved kiddos at Daycare

Connor is on the Yellow Triangle

Thursday : 

• Longest day ever!!
• Didn't sleep great - hotels always seem to go that way for me 
• Headed into the office on a rainy day at about 730a
• Meetings and work and catching up with Chicago co-workers all day 
• Headed to dinner at Chick Fil A with Kate at about 715p
• Was in a car on the way to the airport around 8p and flew home on a 945p flight
• Got home at our house at about midnight and Clint kindly waited up for me

Friday : 

• Up and at 'em but thankfully it is a work from home day for me 
• Clint took C to school and I started on our laundry and work items
• I had a pretty productive day and then headed to get kids from their respective schools for gymnastics 
• Kids both rocked their gymnastics class and we headed for yummy Mexican dinner afterward.
• We all hit the hay pretty early after a long busy week!

Maci doing a project with her 4th grade buddy

Finished Result

Saturday : 

• I ran Connor to the bank with me to get a form notarized while Clint took M to soccer
• We then headed to Costco as a fam for some big snacks, decorations and booze for the big Thanksgiving feast!
• Clint then put up our lights outside while I watched the kiddos and eventually took a much needed nap 
• Clint and the kids headed to Noodles for dinner with Ryan and the girls (Natalie and Stella) while I got ready and headed out to girls night - shopping at the mall followed by a late dinner at Kona Grill 
• The Cassem girls came over to our house to play after dinner while the mommas were out and about 
• I got home around 11p and CRASHED!  Dang I need some sleep :)

Maci Action Shot at Soccer

 Neighborhood Kiddo Necklace Making

Teacher Maci demonstrating a fishtail pattern

Sunday : 

• We are just in somewhat lazy moods but slowly getting things ready around the house too for company!!
• We ordered groceries, cleaned the basement and tidied the house in general
• Neighbor kids are playing with our kids outside - thank you mid 40s!!!
• Clint and I are now being lazy on the couch with football, subs and soda!
• I will probably do a little work prep later today but for now the couch feels pretty good ;-)

Maci made the longest rainbow loom necklace ever - I could even jump rope with it

We are so excited for this coming week with family from afar!!!  2 work days and then a long weekend of fun and family for Thanksgiving!!  

We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with loved ones!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Cozy Week at Home & a Fun Saturday Date Night!

Monday :

• I enjoyed a wonderful veterans day off!  My day consisted of sleeping in, a 1 hour massage and then binge watching Modern Love on Amazon Prime - it was a lovely day!!
• The kids and Clint also had fine days at their respective schools/work - Maci loved singing to Veterans at a school program

Tuesday :

• I started my day with a 5k in honor of the co-worker we lost to suicide - it was a COLD 9 degrees outside which was even colder along the river but it was such a fun site to see how our company and location came together for a great cause.

Wednesday : 

• Maci had religion class at night and I took her while Clint watched is Toledo Rockets 
• While Maci was in class, I got some work done at a local Starbucks

Thursday : 

• Connor graduated from another session of Soccer Shots!
• I worked from home since I needed to go into the office now on Friday, new CHRO was stopping by so good to meet her.
• I found out I was getting promoted to HR Director in my Q3 review which was a fun way to end the day!!
• I then had to go to the dentist for a 7p apt while Clint and the kids hung out

Friday : 

• I met our new CHRO, she is gonna be great, I can just tell!
• I grabbed the kids around 430p for gymnastics and met Clint there
• M got to bring home a hula hoop to "borrow" because she is obsessed with them
• We ate at Mexican restaurant after gymnastics and I got some work done b/c I hadn't ended at a good stopping point for the day

Saturday : 

•  I took M to soccer - good hustle and there was a 2nd girl present this week!
• While we were at soccer, Clint and Connor took Boomer for his annual check up/shots and then got some snazzy haircuts at the barber
• M and I went to the library to get some variety for our night time reading 
• We all got a lot of errands done around the house and I finished laundry
• We watched the Gophers get their first loss - bummer!
• We then headed out with the Harty's for date night to River Inn (YUM) and then The Stanchion for drinks/karaoke (listening not singing) and dancing

Maci made fun of me for wearing Aunt Molly's unwanted cat leggings Saturday morning

 Fun times with good people!!

Sunday : 

• Feeling a bit rough after a fun night
• Slept in a bit and started moving slow this morning but eventually started to get back to the to do list and currently enjoying the Vikings game while Clint snores on the couch and M & C watch a movie in the basement
• I may take a quick cat nap myself before prepping for the work week - we have a busy week with Clint in Wichita Mon/Tues and then I am in Chicago Wed/Thurs

We are getting really excited for Thanksgiving and our visitors!!  This year my brother Dustin and my sister Meghan are coming along with Dustin's family!  We can't wait to see them all and show them some fun in MN!

We hope you all are having a very nice weekend and enjoying this time of year where we remember to be grateful for all the blessings in our lives!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Clint to Austin for CFE Certification & Kellie Enjoys a Long Weekend

Got the Kids some Legos at Costco

Hours of Fun

Mon -

• Busy day with work, kiddos and Clint in Austin for training
• Each day Clint would call to say if he passed that part of the exam or not - YAY Clint passed all 4 portions of the test and got certified!!

Making Turkeys

Tues - 

• More of the same :)

Beauty Queen Sleeper

Wed - 

• Maci's last day of school for the week - teachers have education on Thurs/Fri
• Maci had Harper's birthday party (neighborhood pal) at night so she missed religion class this week - she loved the cat ear headband and stuffed kitty that they got!
• At 10p, I was finishing up some work when Connor was balling in his room - I went to check on him and SURPRISE he had gotten sick in his bed -ugh!

Thurs - 

• Home working with sick Connor but thankfully he felt a lot better, never got sick again and watched iPad quietly for me all morning and didn't start to play/move around until 2p
• Maci went to all day home base since school was closed and they did a field trip to Pump it Up

Connor's Spot in the Office on "Sick Day"

Fri - 

• Home working but all were back at their respective school spots!!
• Clint landed from TX around 3p and got home just in time for me to wrap up meetings and head to get kids to Gymnastics!
• After gymnastics we headed to Applebee's for dinner
• Clint and I hit the hot tub after a long week for both of us and then hit the hay!!!

Sat - 

• Ran to the bank to get forms notarized and mailed at the post office
• We found out M's soccer coaches were all sick so no practice today
• I got some stuff done around the house and Clint did the leaves but around 12p I took the kids to the Cassem's house for Stella's 5th birthday!
• Thankfully they had on the Awesome MN vs Penn State game and the adults cheered for that while the kids watched Snow White!
• I got home around 3p and took a much needed nap on the couch while Clint managed the loud kiddos
• Around 5p I got up and moving for my girls night out - Thunder Down Under with neighbor friends!  Tena and I giggled all night and drank too much!!!
• Nate picked us up and took us the whooping 2 min ride home and I crashed hard at midnight

Neighbor Pals - the best kind!

 Foxberry Farms' Ladies!!

 Goofing Off at Intermission!

 Officially at the "Fuzzy" part of the night HAHA

We found this sash on the floor from the bachelor party next to us!

Sun - 

• OUCH it all hurts!  Too old for this!
• Clint let me sleep in and once I got moving around the house he did some household to dos and I slowly ordered groceries, cleaned the house etc.
• I watched the Hilariously poor Bengals game and now the Dolphins are on - yay HA
• Planning to stay pretty lazy today and enjoy the Vikings game tonight!

This is an especially great Sunday for me because my work is closed for Veteran's day so I have a 3 day weekend!!  Tomorrow I have a massage and date with the couch on the agenda!  Ahh if only every weekend was 3 days :)

We hope you also had a wonderful weekend and a terrific week ahead!

Lots of Love, 

C, K, M & C

Halloween Fun!!

Monday :

• Normal low key day

Connor in green and blue stripes doing some art

Tuesday :

• Ditto 

M is all excited for the glow items from Nanny & Grandpa!

Wednesday :

• Clint left work early to join Connor for an early Halloween snack at school
• Clint then also took M to Religion Class at night so he would spend the hour and a half at Caribou studying for his upcoming certification
• Connor and I hung at home and I also got some work done while Connor ate dinner and watched some TV

Thursday :

• Happy Halloween!!!
• I worked from home after M had a total melt down the day earlier about not riding home on the bus like she had for Halloween last year.
• Since I worked from home I missed our work Halloween dress up contest but I still pulled through with my costume - embarrassed Bengal fan
• Connor got to wear his costume to school and M got to wear a ghost shirt
• M came home on the bus while I was finishing meetings
• Around 345p we headed to Connor's daycare for his 4p costume parade
• We ate a quick pizza dinner, dad got home and we got all dressed and ready for the night
• We had a blast heading around the hood with all our neighbor friends!!!
• I got the kids to bed while Clint had the men over for Golden Tee + Thursday night football fun

Bashful Ninja

 Maci, Her neighbor pal Clara & Connor

 The Hood Crew

Riding in a wagon from house to house - must be nice!

 The Inventory of Our Loot!

Friday : 

• Worked from home again!
• Headed to my annual dermatologist check up - no scary moles YAY!
• Got home and cranked on work, finished a few meetings and then worked through a last minute termination before heading to get the kids for Gymnastics
• Kids rocked Gymnastics and then we headed to Panera for dinner since hot soup sounded good for Maci and Clint who are fighting colds
• I caught up with my mom and brother on the phone before heading over to the Harty's for our weekly Friday fire
• Fire was cut short thanks to a mix of rain/snow - YUCK!

Pipe Cleaner Bracelet Making - He was so Proud

Saturday : 

• Clint took M and Connor to soccer while I cleaned the house
• I headed to my hair salon around 11a for a cut and color
• After hair, Clint and I got a lot of things done around the house and I changed out decorations from Halloween to Thanksgiving 
• Clint took a nap in an attempt to kick the cold and the kids watched some TV for me while I got things off the to do list done
• M and I ran to Target to get a birthday present for a friends birthday party this coming week 
• Clint ran to get the adults some carry out food while I fed the kiddos and got them ready for bed
• Kids went to bed, Clint and I watched a movie before heading to bed - YAY for gaining an hour!!

Sunday : 

• Kids actually played quietly and let Clint and I sleep in a bit even with the hour gain - WAHOO!
• We had a low key morning around the house getting some things done, working through M's math and doing some crafts before Clint had to head out for a work certification this week 
• M is playing with her putty, Connor is watching iPad, I am watching Vikings (thankfully no Bengals this week!) and Clint is off to his training
• The kids and I are about to hit up Costco and lunch before laying around the house the rest of the day - love a good lazy Sunday!!

We hope you had a safe and fun Halloween and a great week ahead!

Lots of Love, 

C, K, M & C