Thanksgiving 2021!

Weekdays : 

• Monday - Connor got sick through the night so he was home with dad for the day to be safe - thankfully he never got sick again so a fluke.  I went into the office for the day and was going to meet my pal/former co-worker Katie for dinner but her daughter ended up testing positive for COVID so we had to reschedule.  That allowed me to get home and participate in Maci's virtual soccer evaluation with her coach.  Maci was grinning the entire time as the coach gave her nice compliments.  After the call, Maci said "well that was nice!" and went on her way HA

Fred & Naked Skinny Rosie

The best of pals, sharing a toy

• Tuesday - I headed downtown once the kids were on the bus.  I was giving two leaders a tour of our downtown location mid day so decided to just work from there.  I wrapped up for the week and headed home to pick up the kids from school.  Clint made us dinner and then ran Maci to her soccer camp at the dome.  After we got the kids down, we did hot tub party with the Harty's since we are all off the next day and they are heading to Kansas City the next day.

Connor's Recipe in the Cutie Kindergarten Book

Connor and a pal at school

• Wednesday - I woke up feeling a bit off so I had a super lazy day on the couch.  Maci and I cranked on the puzzle and got that done!  While we stayed home working on the puzzle, Clint had a busy day with his annual physical, then he and Connor got haircuts followed by picking up turkey dinner and pies.  We wrapped the evening by watching Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

Finished puzzle with 3 missing side pieces thanks to Rosie and Connor

• Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving!!  Clint and I bundled up to start the day with a chilly walk around the 'hood.  We then joined the kids on the couch for the parade followed by some dog show.  Maci and I started a 2nd puzzle but we are struggling on even the border so this may take a while.  We watched some football and started making food around 2p.  We dropped our Christmas cards in the mail and Maci/Connor delivered to the neighbors who were home for the weekend.  We ate around 430-500p.  The kids were so excited that we ate in the dining room even with just the 4 of us.  We watched football the rest of the day and just enjoyed having quiet time at home.

I'm thankful that Rosie's hair is growing!

Maci feeding carrots to one of her pets - Gidget the Guniea Pig

Friday : 

• Holiday continues!  We were off to see Elf Jr the Musical in Hopkins at 10a.  The kids loved it but struggled to sit still which probably had something to do with staying up way too late the night before.
• We ran some errands afterward and picked up some lunch.
• Maci and I did a Target run for a birthday present but then I also picked up some holiday fun for our powder room, kids jammies etc.  Dang I just love Target!
• I felt my most motivated of the weekend so we got the house decorated for Christmas, plowed through laundry, paid bills etc.

Saturday : 

• I enjoyed a massage to start the morning which really helped since my back and shoulders had been giving me some pain
• Once home, we loaded up the car including Rosie and headed out to get our Christmas tree from Hanson Tree Farm!
• We were pumped to find a good one even though they warned they weren't as tall this year due to the drought 
• We got home in time for the 2nd half of the OSU game - BOO!  However, we were pumped to see MN beat WI at home.'
• We decorated the tree and then it was 4p and time to take Maci to her Birthday party
• Penny lives in the neighborhood near us and a handful of girls were having pizza, heading to the movie theatre and then back to their house for cake, gifts and Bingo.
• While Maci was at the party, Clint, Connor and I did a quick grocery run, dropped some more cards and then enjoyed dinner at Kobe Japanese Steak House, not quite Benihana but we enjoyed it - Connor even got some drink with a marble in it HAHA
• We picked up Maci at 8p and finished the night with some college football

The chosen one and she looks great in the house

Sleeping with his dog on the drive home

Birthday Party Fun!

Documented and shared by Penny's mom, Jen

Maci loves her new hat, if you can't tell HA

Sunday : 

• Last day of sleeping in for the long weekend!  
• Clint ran some morning errands while I fed the kiddos breakfast
• Clint surprised me by one of the errands being cleaning my car, oh man it needed it - thanks!!!
• Thankfully we got most weekend house stuff done on Friday or Saturday so today will be a lazy football day!!!!
• Clint and Connor are also going to shoot BB guns later today, something Connor has wanted to do all weekend!  I may even join them 💙 Maci said hard pass.

Sometimes they really play well 

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend with loved ones and are able to enjoy this holiday season!!!

Lot of Love,

C, K, M & C

Clint takes a Trip to OH & Rosie Looks so Silly!

Weekdays:

• Monday - Clint left to the airport pretty early and I got up when he did to get ready for a townhall I was presenting at later that morning.  I coordinated the purchase of a gift for Clint while he was away that evening and we finalized all the plans for Maci's January birthday party.
• Tuesday - I had to get a new debit card but thankfully there is a credit union at my office so I was able to do it all in a quick 15 min break in the day.  Connor and I took Maci to her soccer camp in the evening where he played on my phone and I finished some work.  After we got home, I ordered dress dye so we can dye Maci's first communion dress to a nice navy for my sister's wedding this coming NYE
• Wednesday - Another typical day at the office and then a quiet evening at home with the kids
• Thursday - I worked from home as I had to run Rosie to her grooming appointment.  The kids took the bus home as I had a pre-planned happy hour but given Clint was out of town, I needed a sitter to come home and watch them.  So a trip home on the bus saved us all time.  We ran quickly to pick up Rosie from the groomer around 430p and she looked like a naked freshly saved lamb!!  I guess the matting in her fur got worse than we realized and there wasn't much they could do UGH - she looks so crazy!  We can't wait for it to grow!  My happy hour was lovely though - yummy glass of wine and charcuterie board!  Clint landed according to plan and relieved the sitter.  While I was away, he kindly put together my new puzzle table and when I got home we all crashed!

My morning crew when dad is gone!

Maci who is my helper and Connor who is in his own world

New Puzzle Table

Friday : 

• Wahoo we made it!
• We both had pretty productive days
• I ran to get my flu shot in the afternoon, last one in our crew to get this taken care of
• I then got home, wrapped a few things and we were off to gymnastics 
• After gymnastics we did our usual Sunshine factory dinner
• Once home, the kids were exhausted and crashed!

Such a crazy transformation

Saturday :

• Clint and I traded massage appointments as I wasn't in the mood to leave the house so I will take his appointment next weekend
• I got a few to dos done around the house and really cranked on laundry 
• Clint came home with bagels and then got to final yard work/leave needs for the season while I got a lot done around the house
• I took a late afternoon nap after having enjoyed seeing the Buckeyes and Bearcats both crush their competition!
• After dinner, we got ready for a fire at the Harty's with our neighbor pals

Sunday : 

•  Connor and I both have a little bit of a cold - I think mine is remnants for the flu shot and Connor's is a typical lil kid congestion this time of year.  Either way, figured we should skip mass/Sunday school for the good of others and not passing germs.
• Clint is helping the neighbor guys put up the ice skating rink frame and I am finishing the to dos for the weekend around the house.
• I'm hoping to have most done so that when the Bengals come on at 330p I can put my feet up and enjoy the afternoon game.

We are really looking forward to this slow paced week.  While we will miss seeing so many friends/family and loved ones this year.  We are also equally excited for a low key Thanksgiving with just our crew.  We will have 5 days off from school and work together and are looking forward to some quality time together as a family at our own home 💙

We hope you all have a wonderful week ahead and a joyful Thanksgiving filled with love!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

The White Stuff is Back!

Maci living her best life 

at Harper's birthday party last Sunday night

Weekdays : 

• Monday - Headed into the office and got to see where my new office will be, I think it is going to be nice to have my own dedicated space again!  Clint took the afternoon off to put up the Christmas lights with our neighbor Nate and this isn't just any old lights, we rent a boom lift so we can reach all the peaks - it looks great!
• Tuesday - I worked from home but Clint went into the office for new headshots.  I met up with some professional pals from Pioneer for happy hour at Innkahoots and then we enjoyed Chipotle as a family for dinner.
• Wednesday - Clint and I were both at home for the day working.  I was able to cancel an apt to hem my bridesmaids dress for Meghan's upcoming wedding thanks to the heels I bought being high enough.  The kids enjoyed their last school day for the week thanks to teacher in service Th/Fri.
• Thursday - Happy Veterans Day!  I ran the kids to Oakwood for their childcare given no school before heading on to the office.  My new space is ready but someone had already asked to squat in it because they were in town so I borrowed my boss' space since she was at home.  Got home and the Harty's weren't free for Thursday hot tub fun so we had an early bedtime.

Clint's nice new headshot

Friday : 

• Clint and I ran the kids to Oakwood together and then grabbed some bagels before heading home to work
• We both had fairly productive days before grabbing the kids and heading to Gymnastics
• After gymnastics we enjoyed Sunshine Factory for dinner and then crashed after getting home

Saturday : 

• We had a super productive morning around the house, errands etc. 
• Around 330p we left the house to get our rings cleaned and then Clint and the kids dropped me off at the Melting Pot downtown to meet up with my girlfriends Megan and Lisa for dinner/comedy show.
• I had so much fun catching up with my pals Megan and Lisa, we laughed really hard at the comedy show and then enjoyed another cocktail at a local bar before heading home in our respective Ubers.  
• When I got home, Clint and the neighbors were hanging out in our basement but I was exhausted so I put on comfy clothes and hit the hay while they had a few cocktails themselves 

Melting Pot Dinner w. these great ladies!

About to head in and just got to our great seats, thank you Megan!!!

Sunday : 

• Woke up to a dusting of snow on all the grasses but clear roads - pretty nonetheless 
• Got moving in the morning and got the whole crew ready for mass and Sunday school
• After mass, we came home, turned on football, wrapped some more gifts (I know I am on it this year!) and put away laundry
• Now that I am done with household chores, I am about to do my work prep for this week and enjoy the Bengals not having to play thanks to the bye!
• Maci's winter soccer conditioning kicks off today at 245p in a dome
• Then at 6p we are meeting up with a new coworkers family for dinner, he is an expat from India and I want to help their family with getting to know people and adjusting to a new part of the world 

We hope you are surviving the time shift and finding your energy heading into this winter season!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C 

Neighborhood Ladies Night Out!

Weekdays : 

• Back to work for me and normal school week for the kids and work week for Clint
• Wednesday I had a happy hour with some coworkers 
• Thursday we did hot tub fun with the Harty's while watching Thursday night football

Friday : 

• Took the kids to gymnastics together 
• Ate as a family at Sunshine Factory afterward 
• Had a lazy early bedtime afterward

Saturday : 

• Clint had a haircut
• We then took the kids for their flu shots and they did great this year, no tears
• We did a Target run for Maci's Friend's birthday party this weekend
• We got home and did a ton of errands around the house and Clint did massive yard work - such a pretty day 
• Then around 445p we left to ladies night out : Tena, Cari, Sarah and I from the hood
• We went to ladies night out at a male review after our dinner
• We all drank way too much and had lots of laughs!

It was such a small theatre so it was way more intimate than we were expecting

It really never fully filled in either HAHA

Sunday : 

• Well all that drinking made me feel like poop all day long!
• Clint took Connor to mass and I hung back with Maci, ugh feel like poop
• Watched the Bengals who also looked like poop
• Got all my chores done around the house but moved way slower than desired 
• I'm now on the couch debating a nap, early bed time, wishing work prep would do itself - ugh not drinking like that again for a long time!
• Maci is about to head to her pal Harper's birthday party - pizza, cake and then a mobile spa is coming to do their nails - how cute!

We hope you all had a wonderful fall weekend and wishing you a great week ahead!

Lot of Love,

C, K, M & C

My Week Long PTO & Halloween 2021

Weekdays : 

• Monday - I enjoyed the Bengals big win against the Ravens by listening to lots of Football TV, started to get after my list of things to do during my week off and had just an all around lovely first day off!
• Tuesday - I got our closet cleaned, completed a Goodwill run, grabbed some lunch, got a pedicure and had a chat with our financial planner in prep for open enrollment.  Oh and we got ourselves all enrolled in benefits for 2022.
• Wednesday - I met my former co-worker/friend Lauren for lunch, shopped for the kids Christmas at a Wayzata school store, got my hair done and caught up with another former co-worker/friend, Mandi during the color was put on my head.

Tired Rosie

• Thursday - The kids got to come home on the bus and then we went to Urban Air together for some bouncing and play before dinner!

Urban Air Fun 

Friday : 

• I got a facial in the morning then had lunch with Clint at 6Smith (YUM!), we did some quick returns and then I got some of the remaining items off my list/worked on my puzzle while Clint finished work.
• We then picked up the kids for Gymnastics
• After Gymnastics we headed to the movie theatre to see Addams Family 2 - cute!

Saturday :

• Clint had a massage in the morning
• We got a lot of things done around the house
• We then headed to the Zoo for a walking Halloween fun through 100s of carved pumpkins in the woods - it was really really cool!

Painting Pumpkins on a Pretty Saturday

R&R for Maci Girl HA

Halloween Pumpkin Fun @ the Zoo 

 

Passed Out!

Sunday : 

• Happy Halloween!!!
• The Bengals blew it against the Jets BOO
• We got a lot of to dos done around the house and I got everything prepared for the week as I head back to work 
• After having an early pizza dinner, I helped to get the kids in costume and we were taking pics with the neighbors by 6p
• It was actually a pretty nice night and the kids got SO much candy!!  Clint kindly drove the Pilot slowly behind us so the kids could jump in the trunk every so often to get warm.

Bat & a Black Cat

We hope you had a fab Halloween and a wonderful fall week!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C