Saturday, May 13, 2023

Mondell's do Des Moines for Maci's Soccer Tourney, Connor Kills it at 1st Base & Mom Turns 40!!

Weekdays:

  • Monday - Such a windy day!  We let the kids come home on the bus so they could get ready in time for Maci's early soccer game - 5p kickoff!  Clint ran the kids to the field and I met them there from the office.  The girls played well but looked a little rusty as this was the first game of the season.  They pulled off a W 1-0 vs Orono but this is a team we usually beat by a lot more so rusty for sure.  We ate dinner at Birch's with the Heintz family afterward.  Yum!
  • Tuesday - Clint ran Rosie to the groomer mid day, thankfully we are doing this more regularly so she isn't getting shaved any longer!  Maci had her girls on the run after school.  She then wrapped her day with soccer practice at 630p which Clint ran her to and from as I had a happy hour at Flying Dutchman with an out of town coworker 
  • Wednesday - I picked up the kids a little early so we could go to the BOGO book fair to end the year.  Connor then had baseball practice which Clint can finally get back at.  While they were at baseball, I had a video catch up with my BFF Christie but we spent most of the time talking to her kiddos Andrew and Avery who wouldn't go to bed :) HA
  • Thursday - Maci had Girls on the Run again and then soccer practice at night.  It was a gorgeous night!  I spent the first half of practice stuffing goodie bags (aka pillow cases) for the soccer girls for their out of state tournament.  We had posters for their hotel door, personalized pillow cases, candy, bracelets, straws, stickers, chapsticks, drinks and granola bars.  Once we were done stuffing bags, the moms that remained took a walk to enjoy the great weather!
Gift from my Parents 
This is my Grandma Garnet and her yummy potato recipe engraved in a cutting board/recipe book stand
Friday
  • I had a super busy day that was unexpected thanks to our ER department accidentally terminating 6 employees - yep that was fun NOT
  • Then I had to scramble to finish laundry and pack us up
  • The kids got off the bus and we should have been on the road by 230p but given the scramble we were not off until 330p.
  • I had a cocktail in the car to settle down after all the rushing!
  • We then drove for 4 hours from gorgeous weather in the Twin Cities to storms in Des Moines
  • We got there in time for pizza party and the family meetings at 830p
  • After we put the kids down, we had a few beers in the bar before crashing in our rooms but not before seeing a sweet birthday surprise on our door.
Horse Shoe Necklace from my Sister Meghan

Road Cocktails

Hotel Door Decor
Saturday :
  • Early day with a 9a game to start the tournament.  The girls fought hard but ultimately fell to a team from Nebraska 0-1.  It was so close, I swore we would tie it up!  The moms at least enjoyed some Mimosa's while we bundled under blankets.
  • We then had a big gap until game 2 so we walked over to the big girl fields to say hi to the Powers (couple that went to Costa Rica with us and live in Des Moines - their freshman in high school plays soccer)
  • Then we headed back towards the hotel to meet a big part of our crew for lunch at Ruby Tuesdays.  The girls had a blast and were really well behaved even though they had a group of older women glaring at them the whole time.  We even sang a nice happy birthday to Violet because it was her big 10th birthday!
  • We then all headed back to our rooms for some down time.  Maci went to one of the girls rooms to do face masks and watch soccer while Clint and I napped plus Connor played on iPad.
  • Before we knew it, we were up and at 'em to the 4p game.  The girls played GREAT!  Maci had a SICK goal where she burnt so many girls with her speed!  The 4th goal of the game was made by our Birthday Girl Violet!  We ultimately won 4-0.  The moms say it was all because of the Booz Balls that we drank at the field - DANG THEY WERE STRONG!  We also got some sun b/c it got HOT once the rain moved out.
  • We then did a quick hotel stop to get changed and cleaned up for the evening fun.
  • All the moms surprised me with Derby Hats and the girls had green and navy fascinators just like their uniforms - so cute!!!
  • We had dinner and drinks at a place called Smash Park - lots of pickle ball courts, corn hole, Dave and buster type games etc.  The kids ran all over and the adults drank :)
  • We then all crashed hard b/c we had an early wake up call!
That's My Girl!

The 2 Birthday Gals of the Weekend

Mommas with Mimosas
Kari, Julie, me, Kristi, Jess, Kim (Standing)
Brandy, Jess, Molly, Kristi (Squatting)
Just a few 80s names in this group ;-)

Tournament Sweatshirts
I think they thought they would sell tournament t-shirts but the windy/rainy morning proved otherwise
Maci, Reagan, Annalise, Kennedy

Ruby Tuesday Fun
Reagan, Violet (Bday), Annelise (Standing), Maci, Lucy, Taylor, Maddyn

Relaxation & Soccer Watching

Images of a Happy but Hot Team Post W
Quinn S, Maci, Quinn I, Annelise, Coach Maggie (Standing)
Charley, Taylor, Violet, Maisy, Kennedy, Lucy (Kneeling)
Reagan and Maddyn (Laying)

Ready for the Ponies to Run!
Maci and Maisy - Yes it is impossible to know who Coach Maggie is calling for on the field
Thankfully they often play the same position so aren't on together much HAHA

The mommas with their Derby Hats - Mine was Slipping!!
Kristi, Kristi, me, Kari, Kim, Julie and Molly

These girls are some of my fav 10 year olds ever!!!
They really have NO fun together HA

Sunday :
  • Up and at 'em at 6a (yay Happy 40th to me!) for our 8a kickoff.
  • All the parents were dragging but somehow the girls were not and they came out ON FIRE!!!!!
  • The parents were loving it - this may be the best game we have ever seen them play together and this was a team that had been undefeated (UNTIL THEY MET US!)  Maci said they would pull off the Ws for my birthday and they didnt let me down.  A very unbalanced 4-1 win which at times felt like 15-1.
  • We then decided to hang at the field and watch the other fusion team while Clint went to pick up our gear and check us out of the hotel.  A group of the soccer moms who have become great friends (Kari, Kristi and Molly) got me a Stanley mug and a weather proof quilted poncho - they called it the soccer mom survival kit - such great friends, Blessed!!!  We watched a lot of soccer, the sun came back out to get hot and it was finally our time to kick off for the last game at 1120a.  The girls once again looked solid, a bit more tired (fair!) but got the job done with a 2-0 W.
  • We did a quick swing by the big girl fields to say bye to the Powers.
  • Then we were off in the gorgeous weather back to Minneapolis.  I spent time in the car responding to all the sweet birthday text, social messages, emails etc.  The kids played on iPads and ate food.
  • Before we knew it we were pulling into our driveway and QUICKLY changing into Connor's baseball gear for his 530p baseball game.  We got to the field about 5-10 mins late but he only missed one round in the field.  He had a solid hit every time he was up and he was a BEAST in the field.  They had him play pitcher one inning (even though coach pitch) and he scooped up 4 balls in a row (they let every kid hit) and tossed them to his 1st baseman who is also a stud on the team - OUT.  Connor had so much fun doing the arm gesture to show them they were OUT!  He then played 1st base and caught at least 5-6 throws his way to get the kid out.  I guess all that front yard tossing has helped a lot :). We were so glad we could do this for him since he had to miss Flag Football earlier in the day but the team pulled off a W in his honor :)
  • We then quickly peeled out to a birthday dinner for me at Kobe (hibachi).  The kids love it and we had a chef to ourselves (yay later Sunday night dinner!) We gobbled that down and headed home as we had a family that really needed showers :) The kids got done and were in bed around 9p - we were all ready to crash in our own beds but with grateful hearts after a super fun weekend!!!
These smiles are why we get up at 6a on our Sundays!
They love playing this game!!

I adore this girl!  Uniform changed and ready for game 2

A mom on the U9 team takes amazing live shots and sent me some from our final game!
Long and Lean Maci Magoo - looks very Gilroy girl to me except for white blonde hair 💓

Maci coming to attack the Defense with her buddy Maddyn

Teammates - they actually watch and pay attention at this age
These girls love each other!

They crushed it - #2nd Place!!

Proud Parents!

Connor's face as I told him his Flag Football Team Won
3 Touchdowns to 0

The boys of summer
Connor & Brooks
Football & Baseball Buddies

We hope you are loving this time of year and the warming weather.  Here is to my 40s and hoping I continue to laugh and live life to the fullest with so many loved ones I am fortunate to have in my life!
Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

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