COVID19 - Week 2 at Home

Showing off new jammies - Star Wars

Monday -

• It was interesting having full week 2 of all of us at home
• I had a bumpy day at points - it feels like a hamster wheel
• Kids had a blast with Liz and Connor had so much fun he fell asleep on his floor a little before dinner

Snoozing on his floor

Tuesday -

• Typical day - weather was getting a bit better so kids played outside for quite a while which was nice for them

Wednesday - 

• I got up early to sign the kids up for summer activities - touch football 🏈 for Connor, Ninja Warrior camp for Maci, ⛳️ Golf lessons for M and family 🏊‍♀️ swim night - we are so hopeful summer feels "normal" again
• I had a ROUGH day with work - it is crazy what this isolation can do to your outlook and mindset but I have some amazing coworkers and spouse who helped to turn around my view
• It also rained all day which did NOT help!  And that means I didn't get to take my daily walk which is one of my few small pleasures right now 😉 
• Connor took a HUGE nap in the afternoon, seems we all are feeling it 

Thursday - 

• I woke up with a way better outlook, probably helps that we only have 2 days left in the week oh and the sun was back!!  It also didn't hurt that I had fewer than normal number of meetings.
• Kids played outside a ton!
• I had a busy evening : virtual happy hour with Megan and John - former Cargill co-workers, then took a nice walk outside and then had another virtual catch up with my high school gal pals ❤️ 

Friday -

• Let's keep that great outlook rolling right into the weekend!
• Clint and I were both pretty pumped for a Friday especially with nice weather outside again
• I wrapped my day with a virtual happy hour with my team - I keep trying to find ways to keep us all connected and having fun/laughter!
• After we all called it a day, we had dinner and then took a family walk but unfortunately the rain rolled in sooner than we thought and so we got caught in a little bit of chilly sprinkles
• I then hit the hay early as I could tell my body just needed some rest!  Clint had a few cocktails and hung out for a bit.

Burr Rain

 Before the rain came, cool dude!

 Mom I am Fresh 😂 

Saturday -

• LAZY Rainy Day!
• We started the day with a walk before all the rain 🌧 moved in
• We got home around 1030a and I plopped my rump on the couch with Clint and that is where we were until almost 4p - we binged Tiger King 👑 😳, caught up on Vanderpump rules, watched some Office and concluded with the end of Back with the Ex (I think that was the name - reality show on Netflix)
• We finally got up and did some dinner before putting kids to bed and some hot tub / cocktails 

 Pretty Hair

Sunday - 

• Another rainy day but today we were a bit more productive and alive
• Clint and I did a good house clean and some laundry in the morning 
• I rode Peloton virtually with Nikki (former co-worker and friend) and Lindsay (current team member) - it was a great sweat and a good message 💜 
• We both have been doing chores around the house which feels good after a nice lazy day and the kids are watching some movies in the basement - they are having their own lazy day now
• We are really looking forward to drying out and having more sunshine ☀️ hopefully a few good days in this week ahead 

We hope you all are surviving this timeframe!  Hopefully we put this behind us shortly and by then the weather will be 💯 Please stay safe + healthy and check on your friends/family/loved ones!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

COVID19 - Week 1 at Home

Monday : 

• First day at home with Clint, Me, Maci and Connor
• Mary (high schooler in the 'hood) came and watched the kiddos from 9a-4p
• The kids did pretty well and Clint and I tried to figure out our new normal

Tuesday : 

• Happy Anniversary Dustin & Tiff!
• Super sad St Paddy's day - I didn't even remember so none of us wore green
• The kids were a little more rowdy for Mary today 
• I started a fun "question of the day" game with our HR team to keep some happy upbeat conversations going in the midst of all of this

Wednesday : 

• Daycare switch - Liz (college girl) now took over and will be our "nanny" until we learn when normal life comes back again 
• The kids are really well behaved for her and have a blast playing games, learning new card tricks etc
• Clint and I ordered them some new games and crafts from online to give her some new options too
• We had doordash bring Chick Fil A which was a fun lunch treat for all 
• No Religion Classes - Cancelled until further notice

Thursday : 

• Another good day with Liz and all of us at home
• Clint did the curbside pick up at Oak Eatery which was another yummy lunch option
• Our new home computer came and now everything moves so much faster!!!
• At night, Tena/Nate/Clint and I played some pool and had a few cocktails

Friday :

• I may have hit my sloppiest attire to date with sweatpants and a fuzzy sweatshirt, I got to get back to doing my hair/makeup/getting "dressed" and feeling normal 
• Kids were good again and we did a fairly lazy lunch today with PB&J
• We paid Liz, I expensed our daycare costs for the week thanks to a work reimbursement program and then paid some bills
• While I did that, Clint ran for a 2nd grocery stock up
• I then ordered us some Chipotle through doordash - thankfully so many options are available through that and we are trying to help keep some of our favs in business
• No more gymnastics until further notice 
• We then had hot tub and cocktails post kid bedtime

Cool New Hat

Saturday : 

• Somewhat lazy day b/c no more soccer until further notice but the internet was causing us issues so Clint worked with Nate to get that fixed
• After it was all fixed, I took a late nap while watching my fav junk tv shows and Maci played with Tyce 
• We doordashed our fav Benihana which was super yummy
• After kids were in bed, we did another hot tub and cocktail night

Sexy Shower Cap for Hot Tub Time 😂 

Sunday : 

• Clint let me sleep in and man did I need it because I didn't wake until 10a which is NOT like me
• We then made some coffee and watched mass together streamed from our parishes website
• We then put away some laundry and did some chores around the house before my Sunday Peloton ride with my pal Nikki (she is virtually doing the same ride from her home)
• Now we are waiting on our Governor to give the latest update before I prep work for the week and enjoy the end of our Sunday 

This is crazy times but I am attempting to find the silver lining.  Examples include, the love I have for my house and family or my appreciation for our kids who are rolling with it better than I thought or just having this time forcing us to slow down and do more hobbies at home (we have some art pictures coming for M and I to do together).  We hope you are also able to find some things to be grateful for during this crazy time.

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

COVID19

I really don't have a fun update for us this week.  I worked some long days Monday/Tuesday as talk of COVID19 concerns started to escalate.  By Wednesday, I was working from home indefinitely until this all slows.  My team worked long hours through the entire week with more questions than answers and a potential case in our Denver office.  Clint will now join me at the house as of Monday since we just got word that MN schools are closed as of Monday and through what would have been her spring break (April 3).  Fortunately, we have a high school girl coming to watch the kids 9-4 tomorrow and Tuesday and then a college girl will watch the kids starting Wed until life returns to normal.  The house will be full but at least we will be able to work and the kids will have entertainment.  We are all attempting to stay calm, level headed and do what we can to help those who are most at risk.  Prayers that this starts to slow the spread and that the vulnerable are able to stay healthy.  I hope to take more pictures of our crew this week so we have some things to smile at during the unknown.

Please wash your hands, stay calm and take care of your loved ones!
Love,
C, K, M & C

Back in Reality

Monday : 

• Back to the routine for all parties involved - man are we tired!!  HAHA

Tuesday : 

• Clint and I got back into our Jack Ryan show due to our scheduled TV date night :)

Wednesday : 

• I decided to work from home last minute to have a quiet day of catching up at home
• Maci's religion class was back in swing in the evening after Ash Wednesday the week we were out of town 
• While Maci enjoyed her class, I caught up on work at Starbucks

Thursday : 

• Maci's spring conferences were at 520p - I almost cried tears of pride for how well she is doing and most importantly she is a great listener and friend!!
• We headed home for dinner and I cranked on some more work until Nate came over to play pool with Clint (Golden Tee is under repair) - I enjoyed one cocktail with the boys and called it a night

Friday : 

• Work from Home Day means I caught up on laundry!  I also had a fairly decent schedule which allowed me to feel very productive
• We headed to gymnastics and Connor just wasn't in the mood this week 
• We ate at Broadway pizza afterward and then put kiddos to bed 
• After kids were in bed, we then enjoyed hot tub and Dixie Chicks retro music

Saturday : 

• I took M to soccer in the morning while Clint and Connor ran errands 
• We met up for lunch at the "piggie place" - aka Ham's Sandwich Shop
• When we got home Clint and I were both dead so I took at nap upstairs with junk tv and he snoozed on the couch with college b-ball 
• We got up and moving again to take M to her hip hop dance class/pizza party from 5-9p
• After dropping her off, Clint and I took Connor to River Inn for a yummy dinner!!
• We headed home for a bit to watch the end of the MN State High School Hockey Tournament before needing to pick up M
• Once we got the kids down, later than usual, we headed to the Harty's for some drinks around a fire - it was a little rough for a fire due to the wind and I was anxious about getting to bed b/c I hate losing an hour of sleep :)

Clint and Connor picked up the wine I ordered a few weeks back at the Cassem house

Connor got to spend time with his girl Stella

Waiting at River Inn for our Table

Sunday : 

• Lazy morning around our house filled with Maci Math Homework, Coffee and Clock changing
• I rode an awesome Peloton ride with my pal Nikki for Women's Day that got me rolling for the day!
• Clint helped Nate change a garage door chain and the kids all played outside since it is 60!!!
• We finished clean up around the house so we can be prepared for the week ahead.  I am enjoying a junky show (Love is Blind) while catching up on some work prep.
• I promised the kids we will head to the park before dinner, enjoy some pizza dinner before baths.
• Clint is going to head with Nate to basketball tonight after kiddo bedtime.

Awesome Ride!

 Cael & M being goofy on her kid phone

We hope you all are enjoying signs of spring and I am so grateful I am no longer traveling this week. I love being with my pact and avoiding all the airport ickiness right now.  We hope you all stay healthy as well!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Prep for Vacation / Mondells Watch Kids / Cabo Fun!

This will be a fairly quick post but with a lot of awesome pics!  We got back last night from Cabo after a wonderful week of laughs, sun, relaxation, cocktails, volleyball etc!  We can't thank the Mondell's enough for their willingness to come to MN in late February to watch our crew.  We are also grateful that our kids were on pretty good behavior for Nanny and Grandpa to make the week enjoyable for all 💖  Enjoy all the pictures and we will get back to a normal weekly update next week.  I am also counting down the days to get a new home computer which should help with my picture upload time and overall enjoyment of doing these weekly posts 🥰

Pre Trip Pictures

President's Day School Playing

 Finally Saw My Valentine's Day Flowers in Person on Tuesday

Post the Long Weekend - They were so pretty!

 Loves Outside Days

Keeps Talking about Wearing Shorts again HAHA

Cabo Trip Pics

Things We Loved : Resort, Pool Side Service by Jared, Massage on the Beach, Activity Hosts : Mike, Alexis and Christian, Italian Restaurant Food, Fish Fingers with the Jalapeño Sauce by the Pool, All the Tequila Cocktails made by the main bar, going fast on the ATVs (put that there for Clint and Tena HAHA), all the laughs about our "girl" books by the pool, meeting sisters and our new friends from LA, getting color but no bad burns.  I feel like I am missing so much but those are the highlights I never want to forget!!!

Airport Early Saturday Morning

 Selfie at Cabo Airport

 Tena got the ladies cute matching T-Shirts!

 Italian Restaurant Waiter

Claims to be a Bengals Fan = This reaction!

 Day 2 Balcony Wake Up 

 Morning Pool Views

 Random Selfies

 Tena and her Hand Stands 💗

 Hibachi Chicken of Rice

 More Handstands but now at morning

Mini Donuts at Coffee Shop 

 I need to remember how zen I was here

 Clint and Nate in Stretching Class :)

 Preparing for ATVs

 Our Crew!

Tena, Clint, Me, Rick, Amy, Nate

 Yep Handstand on a Break at the Beach

 Clint and Nate

LA Friends in Background

 Mexican Party Night

 Pre Walking Tour of Art/Bars Downtown

 More Waiting Pics

 Tena's Waiting Pic Since Nate Took Off Talking to Randoms HAHA

 Foxberry Farms Homies!

I may have been a little bit of a chicken with my sweater haha!

 Candy Cart

 Artsy Pics

AKA Too Many to Drink!

 More Stretching!!

I just take the pics HAHA

 Last Night Fire Entertainment

Landscape Pics

We had an absolute blast and continue to thank the Harty's for taking this from an idea to an actual event!  Clint and I are already talking about doing one of these at least every other year and on the off years taking the kids on some fun spring break trip.  We had such a great time but we are also so grateful to be home with kids who adore us and in our own bed!  We are looking forward to getting back into our routine starting tomorrow and are glad we had today to do laundry, catch up on bills/mail etc.  Oh and 45 degrees and sun in MN isn't too shabby either for March 1st.

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