Connor Turns 8, Holiday Break Starts & Christmas Eve!!

Weekdays:

• Monday - Quiet Day in general - school and work are starting to slow up :)
• Tuesday - Gena's Birthday!  We all met up at Jimmy's for a lunch to celebrate her!  Thankfully Jimmy's was picked as that is right by my office.  In the evening Maci had her Infiniti training which I took her to and got some work done while waiting.

Awesome group of friends!

We got her some good bourbon as a gift!

Maci came home from Soccer to an early gift from God Mommy Christie!

Holiday Stanley Straw Toppers

She is the coolest!!

• Wednesday - Lots of people started to be out of the office so I decided to work from home!  Clint ran Rosie to the groomer at 2p.  At night, Connor had B-ball practice at 6p with Clint.  Maci and I went to her final team practice before the holiday break and celebrated with Secret Santa afterward.

Game Day at School - Connor w. his Twin's Hat

Secret Santa with the best team!

Last time putting a 7 year old to bed!

• Thursday - Happy 8th Birthday Connor!!!  Clint started the day with a 7a dental cleaning.  He then met Connor at school for a birthday lunch, McDonald's and all!  Connor got in a bit of a rumble on the playground during a fumbled football, what a special call to get from the principal on his birthday HA!  Thankfully he was honest and apologized so not a huge deal.  The kids were pumped to get off the bus b/c they are now on break!!!  We headed to Kobe that night for Connor's big birthday dinner.

Lunch with Daddy!

Present Time!

Thanks Grandma & Grandpa Gilroy + Nanny & Grandpa Mondell + Uncle DKO

Kobe Fun!

Friday : 

• Clint and my last day of work but a very slow day for me :)
• I had a 9a-930a call and then an 1130-12p.  That was it!!
• Maci baked sugar cookies during my morning call.
• I learned about a movie named Leo during my 1130a call so afterward Maci and I watched that.  I then napped and put on my out of office, wahoo!!!
• Maci had a 4 way quad training at 4p which Clint ran her to and from
• Then at night we had the Jonas holiday party in our neighborhood.  It was a nice time and caught up with all the neighbors.

Sugar Cookie Fun

Saturday:

• What a way to start break!  Clint had a 8a massage.  We did some things around the house and then I had a 12p massage.  I did a quick last minute run to Juut for the Aveda sale and then Target for Clint's prescription and some last minute stocking stuffers.  
• I got home in time for the Steelers game kickoff but puke, I wish I hadn't watched it!
• We then went to see the new movie "Migration" at 715p.  It was such a cute movie!!!  Check it out for sure :)

Sunday : 

• Christmas Eve!!!!
• We had brunch with Santa at 10a at Birch's on the Lake, no time like last minute HA!
• Afterward, we came home and napped, watched football etc.
• We cheered the Dolphin's to victory and then headed to our annual tradition of Benihana.
• Afterward, we did a dip in the hot tub before bed for the kids.
• Clint and I helped to assemble some items and then were quick to bed ourselves.

Santa Brunch!

Benihana Photo Fun!

Someone doesnt like waiting as much as others HAHA

Our Crew

Hot Tub Fun!

We hope you all had a blessed and magical holiday season!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Holiday Drinks, Choir Concert, Connor Birthday Party, Sports & Cargill Alumni Holiday Party!!!

Wow what a wonderful, busy holiday week!!!

Weekdays:

• Monday- Connor presented on his favorite holiday at school.  Maci had her quad training on Monday instead of Friday b/c they have a soccer game during the usual time on Friday.  I met up with my friend Amber after dinner for some holiday drinks.  So good catching up with her.  Then I got home in time to watch Clint lose his mind on the Dolphin's last second loss to the Titans.

Connor rocking his presentation

Amber and my holiday catch up!

• Tuesday- Maci had choir practice.  I had a calibration meeting for annual ratings across all of tech.  Come the evening, Maci had soccer training and Connor had basketball.
• Wednesday- After work, I did a quick happy hour with some of my coworker/friends.  I then hustled to the school for Maci's Holiday choir concert.  It was so adorable and her pal Hans came to cheer her on.  They all did so great!!  Maci was on a high afterward and said it felt like it should be a Friday night, haha - the girl liked her stage!

Choir Concert Fun!

Buddies : Penny & Isla

Proud Parents

Buddies - Livi, Maci & Isla

Pretty girl

Maci & her buddy Hans

• Thursday- I worked from home and we had our 2nd annual secret snowflake celebration.  It was a super fun virtual happy hour with the team.  I finished up some work and once we put the kids to bed, Clint and I spent the evening putting together a pop a shot for Connor's birthday!  We wanted it up as a surprise in time for his birthday party on Friday night.

Finished Product

Friday-

• I got a lot of work done as calendars are starting to lighten a bit as people head out on PTO.
• I met my friends Nicole and Katie for lunch at Grocer's Table.
• I worked a bit more and then got Maci ready for her soccer game.  The Hintze family kindly picked her up at 5p, took her to the game, took her out to eat after and brought her back home.  We have a killer soccer family!  We didnt know this game's timing until after Connor's party was scheduled.  Fortunately, they played the team from the week prior and clearly had NO mercy on that 0-1 loss.  They won this time 4-0!!!  Yas girls!
• At 530p, the boys started to show and in minutes I was regretting this home party idea and size of the invite list HAHA  We had 11 boys and Anna plus Connor so 13 kids total!  The basement became a scene from Lord of the Flies.  I hid at one point after cupcakes and pizza watching Maci's soccer game streaming.  We had to give out 3 ice packs, help dry about 5 sets of tears.  It was pure mayhem.  However, when I got the movie on and lights off, I got at least 1/2 to calm down.  The basement remained insane but the living room was a calm, chill out spot.  Come 8p, the parents arrived and all told me how shocked they were we did this. HA yes, same!
• Maci got home after they were all gone and we chilled out together.

Surprise!!

The Party Crew!

Awesome Gifts from the Best Buds

Chuck

Anders L

Anna!

Anders B

Graham

Hendrix

Colton

Louie

Elliott

Grady

Oliver

Constantine

Sports cards were a popular item and big hit with Connor

Super happy she wasn't at the party! ;-)

Maci & her Teammates (Charley, Reagan, Madyn, Taylor, Annelise)

Saturday- 

• Started with Connor's b-ball game at 8a.  Early!  The team played well and Connor had some good moves.  The other team was pretty equal to them.
• Maci had gymnastics which I took her to but then Clint picked her up because my Bengals game was about to start and I took a cat nap beforehand.
• I enjoyed the last second win over the Vikings - wahoo!!
• While I cheered on my game, Maci also had soccer practice from 1-2p.
• After my game, Clint and I took showers, finished setting up food, cleaning the house.
• At 430p, our first guests started to arrive as Clint wanted to host his former Cargill colleagues for a holiday get together.  We enjoyed good food, company, conversation and football.
• Maci got a slumber party invite at the start of the party and she was out of there within 20 mins!
• The company left around 830-900p and then Clint and I caught up on the rest of the football games before calling it.

Sunday-

• Today is my 5 year anniversary with UHG (Rally + Optum)
• We started our day with a walk, Clint picked up Maci from her sleepover at 11a and we were busy watching football and cleaning up from the party most of the day.
• Maci and I did a Target run for the very final Christmas gift needs - bus driver gift card, secret Santa with bus friends etc.
• Maci had another soccer practice 400-515p and Clint took her, hunted for Bourbon 😒and then hung out until the practice ended.
• Kids are now in bed and we are all ready to crash.

We hope you are getting excited for some down time with family and friends.  We are so excited to wrap the year with work and school.  The kids go through Thursday and we go through Friday but then are off until Jan 3 and Jan 2 respectively.

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C