WI Dells & Soccer Try Outs!

Weekdays:

• Monday - I worked from home and had a super productive morning with no meetings before heading to my annual dermatologist apt.  Thankfully my skin still looks clear, no scary moles!  I headed home for a few meetings and then a chill evening with the family.
• Tuesday - I went into the office for the only time this week. I had my final in person interview for the Rx Pharmacy SVP of HR role.  I had quite a few meetings thought out the day and was able to do a walk and talk catch up with some colleagues mid day.  I then hustled home to get Maci from her "for fun" final Academy 2 practice!  We then started packing for the WI Dells trip!
• Wednesday - 1st day of PTO! Connor had his basketball training in the morning so we left from there with the car packed at 930a.  We got to the Wilderness around 130p and wandered around the resort before our room was ready at 330p.  We did some swimming at the pool near our room, then we headed downtown for mexican dinner and some shopping.  Once back to the room, we changed and the kids did the wave pool until close at 10p.

Back in one of her happy places

Downtown WI Dells

These kids are huge

& Love a wave pool

• Thursday - We slept in until 9a and then got around to hit up the breakfast buffet at the resort.  Afterward, we went swimming at our other favorite outdoor pool.  In the afternoon, we decided to hit up the outlets and do some back to school clothes shopping.  We had some really great luck at Nike.  I also got a phone call that they are putting together an offer for me for the job!!!  Wahoo!  We then grabbed some dinner and headed out to putt putt.  Clint got 2 hole in ones and Maci got one.  Connor and I had 0 but lots of fun! We got some ice cream and headed back to the room for cards and beers.  We stayed up until 11p just laughing and having a grand time!

Friday - 

• Final day but we made the most of it!
• We packed up and I had to take a quick call.
• Then we went to Pancake House for breakfast.
• We hustled back to check out of the room in time.
• The kids then wanted to do the zip line so Clint and I watched them do this around the resort.
• Afterward we swam for a bit, mainly Clint and I sipping beers by the pool and the kids jumping in the wave pool.
• We then headed to the WI Duck Boats for our annual trip.  Dang we love that tradition!
• Afterward, we hit up the Grateful Shed for an early 4p dinner and some Olympic watching.
• We were on the road shortly thereafter and home by 8p for showers, unpacking and early bed time.

Pre Adventure

After lunch in the heat and he did it!

Saturday - 

• Up and at 'em for Day 1 of Try Outs for Maci.  She was not only going out for Fusion but this coming year is the first year she can try for Tonka Fusion Elite (TFE).  This is a top tier team that plays teams nationwide in the GA league and she would move to 11 v 11.  We weren't sure how this would go but let's give it a shot.  Maci thought she did a 8 out of 10 performance after the 800-930a session.
• We came home and let her rest while I got stuff done around the house.
• Clint, Connor and Maci then went to see the movie Twister at 1230p.
• I continued doing things around the house and then started watching Olympics.
• Maci had to go to Fusion's try outs at 445p and while she was there, Clint, Connor and I met up with some families at Medina ballroom for beers.
• We picked up the girls and Maci told us all about how her and Violet got to whoop up on some other girls in a 4v4 drill.
• We chilled out and got another good night sleep.

New Jacket for the sports!

Sunday - 

• Day 2 of TFE try outs and this time Maci gave herself a 9-10 for performance.  We left with smiles and wishing all good luck.
• Once home, I got some stuff done around the house before hitting up a 11a nail apt.
• I got home and was ordering Connor some gym shoes when something pinged on my phone, HOLY SHIT - Maci had an invite to join the TFE team!!!!!!!!!!!!
• I ran and got her, she was so excited, we then ran and got Clint to stop the lawn mower and he was pumped.  We quickly found out her pal Charley, Mikah (keeper) and Aanya all made it - Wahooo!!! Throughout the day we would watch who else accepted the invites.  Maci was so proud of herself and Clint and I were so pumped for her!!!!!!!!!
• Then at 430p she went back for Day 2 of Fusion try outs b/c they didnt tell us otherwise.  However, they had the girls that already made TFE sit together and play games while they assessed the other girls.  A bit awkward but it gave them time to be excited together!  All the girls will have lots of feels as they see us moving in different directions with this year's shakeup.
• While Clint was picking up Maci and then meeting us, I was at Connor's final night of 3v3 basketball.  They played so great!  They won game 1 20-8 and game 2 was more of a fight with a 26-22 W.  Love watching him enjoy the sport and giggle with his friends!  We even got to run into Gena and Vinney because Emmitt was there with his team.  Gena lifted and spun Maci around after hearing she made the top team!!!  We love our friends turned family :)
• We let the kids get ice cream after an awesome day for both of them and then ate pizza at home.
• Now we are getting ready to be back to a full work week ahead, learning more about our new soccer plans and hearing the details of my offer - we are blessed!!

The email that causes so much excitement

This Girl - So humble yet fierce

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

A Week of USA Cup for Maci Girl & 16 Years of Marriage!

Weekdays:

• Monday - What a HOT day!!  I wrapped my work day and met a former co-worker, Bree, at Happy Hour. But given the heat we chose to eat indoors vs out on the patio.  It was awesome to catch
•  up and while I was out at HH, Clint joined a virtual parent meeting for Fusion soccer - almost try out time!
• Tuesday - Launch of the weekday USA Cup tournament!  Maci was playing up with the A1 team this week and the game times are less than convenient HA.  I worked from home today due to game 1.  We left Grace (nanny) and Connor home while Clint and I headed up to Blaine with Maci.  The game was at 140p so we each had gotten a fair amount of work accomplished before heading out.  The game was 1-0 right before half.  Clint had to get on a call so wasn’t paying great attention but in came Maci on the left hand mid.  A quick pass one touch and BAM!!!  She hit the top corner of the right side of the net.  It is so fun to watch your kid thrive at something they love and to hear other parents say WOAH that had power!  It got a little closer than we would like with a 2-1 win but they pulled it out!  We headed home to relieve Grace and finish our days.  Thankfully we had no evening activities now that baseball is wrapped for summer.
• Wednesday - Back to the office for me.  Clint had a dentist apt in the morning and Maci moved her Gymnastics to the morning since she has a game during her regular time.  We finished our days and then were off to Blaine for the 2nd game at 715p.  It was a hard fought battle with a STRONG NSSA team.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the back of the net to tie it up and lost 1-2.
• Thursday - We started the day with a soccer game, thankfully Grace came an hour early to watch Connor for us so we could get there on time while he slept.  The game was at 845a against a team from TX.  The girls played their hardest from the entire tournament and Maci came SOOooooo Close to goals but alas we lost 0-3.  The score sounds worse than it was - they got a PK and at half time kicked off straight into the goal.  Lessons learned all along!  Then in the afternoon, Clint ran the kids to the ortho/dentist apts while Grace headed home and I wrapped my work day.  Clint and the boys then did a little 3v3 basketball practice in the neighborhood at night.  We then wrapped the day with cocktails on the top of our hill while burning a lot of brush with neighbors.

Friday:

• Happy 16 years of marriage to us!
• We had a few quick calls in the morning before hitting the road for Maci’s final game of pool play.
• The game was at 1130a vs TC Rush.  Our team looked completely tired and off their game the whole first half.  TC Rush got a fluke of a goal in the back of the net and we were down 0-1 the whole game.  Finally in the 2nd half, Maci and a few others seemed to realize it was do or die and kept firing.  Maci had one shot that we started to celebrate until it just missed the bottom left corner of the goal.  Ugh, we lost 0-1 and the tournament was over.  Thankfully there are some shake ups coming on these teams and we got our weekend back.
• We headed home, grabbed some late lunch and then I hopped in the car off to Optum.
• I had a final interview with the business leader for the Optum Rx Pharmacy job.  Thankfully it seemed to go really well and I think we could partner really well together. I swung by my Rx CIOs office to break it down before heading back home.
• Once home, I took a super quick cat nap before we were off to 6 Smith for an anniversary dinner date.
• We had great food, a few cocktails and then headed home for some Law & Order and an early bedtime - wonderful!.

6 Smith Never Disappoints

Saturday:

• I started the day with a massage at 9a - so nice!
• I got home and did some stuff around the house before it was time to hustle to the Sampson’s for the end of year soccer swim party.
• Connor gets to tag along and he had fun with some of the other siblings.
• I caught up with the moms and before we knew it, it was time to head on home.
• We came home and chilled out before Maci’s gal pals from the hood came over for a slumber party!
• We ordered Kobe fried rice and sushi for dinner.  Then the girls had me run them to Target to buy candy for a candy salad and matching T-shirts.  Once home, Clint, Connor and I watched TV and chilled while they had a blast in the basement.
• Rumor has it they stayed up until 3a while we were all sound asleep upstairs.

Lunch in the Shade

The Crew

Signing Posters

What a group!

The Gals - Only Missing Reagan/Lucy

Kennedy, Maddyn, Charley, Taylor, Maisy, Annelise, Maci, Quinn E, Violet, Brooklyn, Quinn S

They are so fun together!

Coach Maggie

Not enough words to describe how much you meant to this girl!

On to Slumber Party Fun @ Target

I remember these gals as Kindergartners ❤

Maci, Kate, Livi, Harper

Sunday:

• Finally a lazy weekend day!!!
• The girls were up but quiet this morning, we all got going around 9a.
• They had some Dunkin Donuts and all were out of the house by 10a.
• We were lazy all day with the kids watching Lady Bugs with me and Clint watching golf.
• Finally around 3p we decided to head to the Hartys for some swimming, Maci was exhausted and hung back at home.
• We swam for a few hours and then had to head to Connor’s 3v3 basketball games.
• Game 1 went great, nice win!  Game 2 got ugly as we got down by a few, Clint attempted to “coach” which really sounds like “yelling” to Connor and they had one of their epic melt downs.  Connor quit trying, Clint got frustrated and I was ready to head home.  We lost game 2 and are all hopeful to do better next week.
• Once home, it was shower time, laundry, mowing the lawn, late dinner and getting ready for early bed times after all the slumber party fun from the night before.

Here’s to a nice short week with the WI Dells in the future!!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Busy Sports Weekend - USA Cup & Baseball Tournament!!

Weekdays:

• Monday - The start of a crazy run of soccer!  Maci had Try out Camp in the morning.  At night, she subbed again for the Academy 1 team for their final game and they got a strong 2-0 W against Edina.  Afterward, we went to Dairy Queen for some end of season celebration.  We then had a late dinner at Sunshine Factory.
• Tuesday - Connor had Basketball open gym from 800-930a.  Then Maci had tryout camp again.  At night, the boys had baseball practice - getting ready for the tournament.  Maci and I went to get her haircut and she got some cute bang fringe.  The hairdresser kept talking about how much she looks like Taylor Swift HAHA

Cutie!!

• Wednesday - Another day of Connor basketball gym and Maci's final day of Soccer Tryout Camp.  At night, Maci had a soccer practice while I took Connor to get his haircut.  The final Bahama bead is finally gone to Connor's disappointment.  It was time!

Before & After 

What a hunk!

• Thursday - Connor had basketball camp again and Maci had her weekly gymnastics.  I then had a quarterly board meeting with my non-profit I support.  In the evening, Connor had a basketball practice while Maci practiced with the Academy 1 soccer team.

Friday:

• The start of a CRAZY weekend!!!
• After several meetings in the morning, we were off to Blaine for Maci's first soccer game of the USA Cup.  They played a Chicago team and beat them 2-0!  It was warm so good job girls!
• We grabbed some Jimmy John's sandwiches and then ran them to the latest Despicable Me movie so they could cool off and rest.  
• While they were watching the movie, Clint and I worked from the lobby.
• No sooner did the movie end and we were off to the fields for game 2
• This was a battle against CC United, a team we loathe!!!  We came out victors again with a great 2-0 W!
• We ran to Invictus brewery afterward for some drinks, milk shakes and food.
• Clint and I had debated going out b/c it is also rodeo weekend but we passed b/c we have an early morning the next day!

Look at them!

Invictus Dinner!

Hauling around, it's what we do!

Saturday:

• Maci had game 3 at 750a - ouch early!  I had to take her solo b/c Connor also has his baseball tournament.  No sooner do we get to the field, they call for a lightening delay - dang summer heat bad weather!
• During the delay, we realize my car has Connor's glove so I drive all the way (30+ mins) back home to drop the glove and then haul back to see we are down 0-1 against Salvo - WHAT?!  Fortunately, we figured things out and then beat them 4-1, good!
• After this game, we went to the pin trading area and purchased a sweat shirt. Some of the families went to eat but Maci wanted to hang so we did so with her coach and picked up some Chick Fil A for lunch.
• Connor had his 1st game of the tourney and they won but got the game called as a W after weather rolled in come the 5th inning.
• We started our 4th game but had to delay again for weather - GOODNESS!  This time it didnt ever reach us so we hung in the parking lot and had "adult" party while the girls chilled with movies
• Finally time for game 4 and we whooped them 4-1 - bye Thunder!
• We hustled home around 3p thinking we had to get to Connor's game 2 but weather pushed it to Sunday.  We also had an invite to Nathan's house for a Rodeo BBQ but the weather wasnt super great and we were all spent so we took some late naps and hung close to home.  Clint and I even missed our fav Rodeo night out b/c Maci's game 5 was 750a on Sunday!

Rain Delay Fun While Kellie Drives a Baseball Glove Around MN!

Soaked Baseball Buddies

One of the best group of mothers known to soccer!

More Rain Delay Fun!

Lucy, Violet, Charley, Quinn E, Brooklyn, Maisy, Maci

Coach Maggie's sister, Amy, who was the girls first select coach came to see them crush Thunder!

New Sweatshirts & the MN United Loon!

Quinn E was my adopted daughter while her mom got us Starbucks

Sunday:

• Semi Final game and finally Clint could make it again!
• We were down 1-2 to a TOUGH top level Shakopee team who we beat 1-0 (thanks to a Maci goal) in the Tonka Splash tourney.  With 30 seconds left in the game, we were all screaming "SHOOT" and who gets her foot on the ball but our own leftie, Maci magoo!!!  GOAL!!!!!!!  Our sideline went insane, Maci was crying the girls were flying around - we tied it for OT!!!!  We had to play 2 5 min OTs and unfortunately in the 2nd OT they found the back of the net and our girls lost it.  There were so many tears, last tourney and game together as a complete team :(
• We convinced the girls to get pics together on all the USA cup props and Maci pulled it together on the ride home.  Time for Connor's moment.
• We quickly scooted to Connor's HOT semi final baseball game vs his own Greenwood buddies the Cardinals.  We were in the lead all the way until the top of the 6th when the Cardinals went up on us by 2.  Final chance and we got out 1, 2, 3.  The boys lost it - after going undefeated all season and then losing to their friends/classmates, thy couldnt emotionally handle it.  Lots of tears, screaming, some running away from the field.  Maci was an awesome sister having just dealt with this disappointment.  We all had to calm the boys b/c we had to play for 3rd in about an hour.
• We grabbed some McDonalds watched some Utube and then Connor was ready to go.  All the boys figured it out and we crushed the Twins team, landing us in 3rd and getting all the boys a trophy!!!!  They completely shook off the sadness and off to Honey Mackie for ice cream we went!  Dang it was a scorcher!!!
• Once home, we joined the Harty's at their pool to cool off - what a busy and HOT weekend!
• We didnt hang too long b/c then it was time for Connor's 3 on 3 basketball games - I have 0 clue how he had any more energy!
• They barely lost the first but then crushed the 2nd game!
• Alright time for showers, early bed time and rest!!!!!  What a weekend!  What great lessons through the games we love :)

Agony of Defeat - They Fought All Game!

3rd Place isn't a bad place to be in the USA Cup

Such cool moments

We adore this team!

Time for Baseball!!!

Thank goodness they got some hard wear!

Chuck, Connor, Brooks

8 year old captains at heart

More Buddies

Brady, Chuck, Connor, Brooks, Harrison

Me & My Guy!

Way to work through your emotions and get the job done buddy!!

Proud Fans!

Looks at these boys of summer!!!

Go Dodgers!!!

And then a silly one!

These 2 - fight like cats and dogs but love each other fiercely!

So proud of them both on their growth this season!

Love of Love,

C, K, M & C