Summer Time Weekend Fun!

It was nice to get Clint back home early in the week and our family was quite excited to be reunited!  Clint was also able to get some needed yard work done since he was able to take the day after he landed off to recover from jet lag.  The week went fairly uneventful for both Maci and I and thankfully it moved fairly quickly into another fun weekend!

Bounce House Fun 

 Water Friday - Water Table Fun

Friday - It was a beautiful day and a wonderful evening to spend with good friends.  After work we were able to quickly meet our new neighbors to the left.  Eric (former neighbor) text us from the closing saying they were a very cool couple and we would enjoy them.  Thus far, his assumption was quite right.  We now have another Eric (easy to remember) and Amanda next door.  They have no children but 2 dogs (Luna & Nelly) which makes Maci almost as happy as them having kids :)  After saying our hellos, we were off to the Cassem's house for some fun BBQ time with pals.  Maci had a blast playing with her usual buddies Harper and Natalie but the Fike's were also able to make it and Maci was soooo excited to see her big buddy Emmett.  The evening ended with the kids all drinking homemade malts on the porch and our daughter wandering around and drinking every one's malts when they weren't looking - so typical :)  We realized we have fewer pictures of the kids these days and we decided it is because they never slow down for a picture opportunity  :)

Saturday - No more gym :( but it gives us a full Saturday!  We ran errands in the morning and during Maci's nap Clint and I started Season 3 of Orange is the New Black!!  After she woke, we had to run to Toys R Us for Nora's Birthday gift.  While there our spoiled Maci became even more spoiled because Clint and I finally gave into our thought of getting her a sandbox for the backyard under her swing set slide stand (nicely shaded).  After we got home, we ordered Pizza and Maci played in the sandbox.  She really enjoys it but I need to constantly remind her the sand stays IN the sandbox :)  I realize I also didn't get a picture of the new sandbox but I am sure one will show up real soon.  After Maci went to bed, I watched some 48 hours (love those shows) and Clint had a bonfire/drinks out back with the neighborhood guys including the "new" Eric.  I was probably asleep by 10p and Clint wasn't in until 1a - rough for him :)

Sunday - Clint got to cash in on his early Father's Day gift and went on a long day of golf with 3 other buddies.  He was off at 8a and Maci/I played around the house and had a splash day out back.  She took a great nap for me and after nap we got ready for our neighbor friend's birthday - Nora turned 2!  The party started at 3p and Clint joined us there around 330p.  Maci was very excited to give Nora her bubble lawn mower :) but they got into a fight because Maci really wanted her new baby doll stroller :(  We finally left around 5p when Maci just couldn't keep it together that these toys were not hers at all!  We finished the evening with some splashing out back and then Clint and I watched 2 more episodes of Orange is the New Black - What a Fun Weekend!!!

This will be a very busy week for me with our compensation process coming to an end but I am so excited that it is summer and nice out that I don't really mind the 1 super busy week!

Megan (Mom), Nora (Bday Girl) and Maci with "THE STROLLER"

Until next time. . .
Lots of Love,
C, K & M

Missing Daddy on a Fun Weekend!

Clint had to head for Africa with work on Monday (so quick after just getting back from our Ohio trip).  So I was taking a turn at single parenting this week (something Clint had gotten use to during my many travels this late spring).  Maci was a pretty good girl for me minus some constipation that is becoming all too familiar in our house.  :(  The week was pretty uneventful and Maci allowed me to get her down at a reasonable time each night and we didn't run too late any of our mornings either.   While I survived, I will happily welcome Clint home this coming Tuesday afternoon.

Friday - It was a nice day in the mid 70s and since I will be fairly busy at work the next 2 weeks with Compensation calibrations, I decided to hit the road around 4p.  I grabbed Miss M, we had a quick easy mac dinner at home and then headed to the splash pad/park in the neighborhood.  Miss M (like most kids) loved the freezing cold 6p water with the temps only around 72 at that point :)  Her best pal Natalie met up with us around 630p, just in time to head to the playground portion of the park.  After lots of times down the BIG slide, the girls were ready to head to DQ for some yummy dipped cones.  What a fun and spontaneous Friday night turned out to be!!!

Saturday - We started the day with our final session of Gym for the school year!  Maci was quite excited to get her medal from teacher Cheryl, the other kids got their last week but we were out of town.  We will miss our weekly gym fix but it will be fall before we know it and we will be back in the gym but as Super Beasts this time - isn't that name fitting?!  Also, Maci is going to replace gym with soccer on her Saturday mornings for about 5 weeks this summer (mis July through mid August).  We are going to do soccer with my friend Lisa's son Brody so this should be interesting - we already talked about getting our 2 year olds jerseys, cleats and shin guards - unfortunately the site says they are not necessary :( #crazymomma!  After Gym, we did a usual bagel run and then home for nap time.  After naps, we got ready to go out to our friend the Zehr's new house in Stillwater.  I was so thankful for the Cassem's letting me follow them since it was just me and Miss M.  We were having a great time playing in the backyard until some odd bug flew into Harper's mouth, he started screaming, the moms started screaming and this super bug wouldn't die when I stepped on it.  A few moments later Harper's mouth swelled and they were off to the hospital.  It turns out a hornet was what darted into his mouth after our kids were undoubtedly annoying his nest.  How Scary!  Harper got some Benadryl and was sent back home with the symptoms of anyone who would be stung in the mouth multiple times - thankfully not an allergic reaction.

 Look at the poor guy :(

After he was back home, he was ready to play and we took the kids for a walk to get ice cream before the storms rolled in and it was time to head home.

My Crazy Girl on the Drive 

She convinced me to let her watch Elmo in the Car 

The next day, Halston and John went out to see if there was a nest and sure enough, check this thing out that was hiding inside a kid's playhouse - Yikes!  I hate things that sting!!

Sunday - Thankfully Miss M has been sleeping well and so we got to sleep until a nice 8a.  After getting around for the day, we hit up the grocery store where Maci was actually quite a good helper - the M&M reward didn't hurt.  We then came home for naps and for me to get laundry and other household errands complete.  Maci woke around 230p and I took her to the pool like I had promised. However, Miss M was quite timid with the pool, not at all my fish from last summer :(  I am hoping it was just the nerves of a first time out, no daddy and cold water.  However, Maci did love the snack bar and the sand playground.  I had to drag her out of the sand playground at 5p so we would head home for dinner.  Now we are watching Frozen and I am getting things ready for the week.  We are so excited to have daddy home early this week and to have travel on both work fronts being done for some time!

The DIVA Lounging

 Snack Bar Selfie

 HA - this is the real Maci

 Sand Playground Fun

Maci's Summer curriculum starts tomorrow which means a summer of fun water tables, bounce houses and lots of Art!  We hope everyone has an equally great week!

Lots of Love,
C, K & M

Maci Flew in an Airplane, Molly Graduated & Dad Turned 60!!!!

The work week was super brief considering Monday was a holiday and then we left to Ohio on Thursday morning.  However, Maci still got to have some fun art work jammed in those 2 short days at school :)  This kid LOVES play dough!

Thursday - The long weekend started bright and early at 445a when we all had to rise and prepare for the airport.  Maci was so excited to fly in a plane!  She flew 2x last summer but really doesn't remember it and with me traveling so much, she was quite jealous about the airplane experience.

My mom picked us up from the airport once we landed around 1030a.  By the time we had luggage, got to the car and drove to the west side it was about 1130a and we were ready for the beloved SKYLINE!  We came home and ate while catching up with Molly, the big graduate!  After eating lunch, we all took a quick walk together around the neighborhood to burn some Maci energy.  When we got home, my dad had just gotten home from his 1/2 day of work and we all took a quick cat nap. That is all of us BUT Maci - URGH!  Come 2p, we had to head to the Cintas center on Xavier University's campus for Molly's 3p graduation.  It was fun to see Molly in her cap and gown, where did the years go?!  Molly also had quite the family entourage at her graduation : Aunt Sue, Mike, Kendall, Uncle Tom, Aunt Marilyn/Uncle Ken, Mom/Dad, Meghan/Nicholas/Preston, and Clint/Maci/me.  We are so proud of our soon to be OSU Buckeye!

We ended the fun graduation evening with a dinner at Price Hill Chili - Yum!!

Friday - I started the day getting caught up on a little bit of work email and paying bills while Maci ran around eating cereal and talking to grandma.  Once we finished some morning work, mom, Maci and I headed to the grocery for a quick trip and stopped by Busken for some yummy donuts.  When we got home, Clint and Maci were also up and enjoyed donuts with us.  I really wanted to get a pedicure and needed to treat my mom for her Mother's day gift.  Since Clint also likes getting a summer pedicure, we left Maci with Molly who wasn't so interested in the outing.  Miss M had so much fun with her Molllllyy while we were away and Molly even got her to nap :)

It was then time to pull off the big 60 surprise party for my dad.  Clint and I acted like we were heading to meet his parents a little early and then Mom/Dad were going to join us at LaRosa's for dinner.  Except when he got there, we were all there in the party room along with another 20 or so family/friends and he was totally surprised!  Miss M had so much fun bouncing from cousin to cousin and my parents friends that we barely saw her all night.  After the party ended around 9p, many came back to my parents for the after party.  Miss M would NOT let herself fall asleep until the last minute of fun had concluded so I finally had to go to bed with her around midnight b/c she would not given in to her sleepy eyes =)  It didn't help that all of her cousins were also staying the night and pulling some late hours as well.  Dad had a little too much fun and was asleep on the couch earlier than Maci so Clint tried to take advantage and have her sleep with him - it didn't last but the pic is cute!

Once Maci and I finally got to sleep, Aunt Tiffany/Uncle Dustin/Clint shut the party down around 230a - Yowzers! :)  That makes for a rough early morning with a bunch of kiddos ;-)

Saturday - It was a crowded house Saturday morning since so many had stayed over at my parents but it was so fun to make up to all the kids playing together - it gets me excited for the family reunion in Indiana at the end of June!  We spent a good portion of the morning hanging out, playing outside and watching TV before heading to Molly's graduation party at Delhi Park come 2p.  Molly had a lot of good friends show up as well as our entire family and her Lacrosse head coach.  The weather stayed awesome almost the entire day, just one sprinkle shower around 430p.  The party ended around 6p.  Afterward, Mom, Molly, Clint, Maci and I went to the St Jude festival so we could watch Maci ride rides and eat some yummy festival food (i.e. hot dog, Hawaiian ice etc)  We finally ended our evening around 9p and we were all exhausted from a long day of non stop fun!

Sunday - Thank goodness Maci at least let everyone sleep until 8a, she has to be dead too with minimal naps and late nights!  Once we all got up and around, Clint and I treated my parents/Molly to breakfast at my favorite place, Price Hill Chili!  Breakfast ended around 11a and that meant it was time to pack up and get heading for the airport.  We had a 120p flight home from Cincy and that got us home at 210p, thanks to the gain of an hour coming back to Central Time.  We spent the rest of the day doing laundry, picking up the dog, running to the grocery etc.  I am now exhausted and Miss M just went down for the night.

We hope you all have a wonderful 1st week of June!!

Lots of Love,

C, K & M

Quick Miami Trip & Long Holiday Weekend!

I headed to Miami Tues afternoon through Thursday early evening for my final regional team meeting for the season.  It was great to see the LATAM team, some of my favorites, and the Miami weather didn't hurt much either.  While I was gone, Maci got to enjoy Costume Kim at daycare, one of her favorites!!  We then headed into a fairly lazy and rainy Memorial Day weekend!

Waiting for Costume Kim

(Miss M is patiently waiting in the pink pants to the right)

 Costume Kim came as Tinkerbell

Friday - I was having a nice productive morning at work on a fairly quiet day since many took the Friday off to make it a 4 day weekend when I got a call from Maci's daycare.  Poor kiddo had puked 2x and was laying on the bathroom floor asking for her mommy :(  Fortunately since it was a quiet day, it was easy for me to swing out and pick her up.  Of course when I got there she was running around playing again but she wanted to leave with me.  She then watched a movie for me before her nap but of course work had an email server issue from 11a to almost 2p so there wasn't much getting done across the board anyway :-(  so Friday wasn't near as productive as I was hoping.  Clint got out of work earlier too and headed home around 330p.  We ordered some Pizza and had a pretty chill evening at home.

Saturday - After gym, Clint spent most of the day working with our neighbor Jared on installing a gate at the top of our hill so we can more easily move between yards :)  Then Clint helped Jared build a garden bed for Jared and his wife Megan.  While the guys were working/building, Megan, their daughter Nora, Maci and I went to the local playground and played in Megan's backyard.  We finally wrapped up around 530p and I got the ice cream I had been wanting all day!!

Sunday - Clint finished building the garden beds first thing in the morning.  After they finished, we had some breakfast, did some errands around the house but manly had a fairly lazy day.  We went out for a late lunch and Clint got a haircut.  While we were there, Maci kept asking for her turn so I let her get a trim and the lady even put a washable streak of pink in Maci's hair which she thought was pretty cool!!!

Monday - I am attempting to get caught up on a little bit of work today and I still need to run the usual grocery trip.  We may head out to our friends the Zehr's new house later today but other than that it will be another fairly lazy day at the Mondell house.  I also hope to give some thought to my packing plans since we are heading to Ohio Thursday morning.  Maci is so excited to go on a plane!!!!  I just hope she sits a bit better than her last flight last summer :)

We will have a very short week here (2 days at work then off to Ohio!)  We can't wait to see those in Ohio and we hope all of you enjoy your short holiday weeks as well :)

Lots of Love,

C, K & M

Date Night & Surprise Birthday Party Fun!

I had a busy week back at work with my global HR team meetings here in Minneapolis.  It was great to see our global team and to not have to travel to see them :)  The meetings concluded on Thursday and that evening my friend from work Megan and I headed to our other friend from work, Lisa's mom's funeral.  It was such a touching visitation.  Megan and I arrived when they started the prayer service portion and then a few people said some words.  Lisa's father and husband to her mother for so many years had some of the sweetest things to say and left not one dry eye in the room.  It was so hard to think about someone in your age range saying good bye to a parent, it all seems far too soon!  My heart broke for Lisa but she was so strong, more than I could say about myself.  I teared up just seeing her and she was the one to pull out a smile.  They were able to have a final year with their mother making so many wonderful final memories and I hope for them that they can hold those memories close in the coming weeks, months, years.  :(

Friday - I worked from home so I could have a day of minimal interruptions and to get caught up on the many open items that have begun piling up over my travels and busy meeting weeks.  It was just what I needed as I finally feel like I at least know what is going on and what are my upcoming priorities - Yay!  When Maci & Clint got home, we ran to punch pizza for dinner and then took a nice walk around the block.  During our walk we saw the neighbor twins Maci's age (Evelyn and Lilian).  Maci and the girls had fun moving rocks around in their front yard and Maci was such a good girl when it was time to clean up and help put everything away.  We ended the night with Maci and I dozing in bed together and Clint watched hours of breaking bad on Netflix.

Saturday - We kicked off our Saturday with the usual Lil Gym class.  We only have 3 more classes left before the 2nd school year ends and Maci is going to miss show week with the medals since we will be home in Ohio for Molly's graduation - bummer but we can't wait to see the family!  After running a few errands we came home for nap time.  While Maci and I napped, Clint helped the neighbors behind us with a new paver patio.  That evening, Clint and I had date night so Miss Kaitlin came to play with Maci.  Maci told Miss Kaitlin she loved her at bed time and they had a 10 minute conversation about dandelions on our front porch - have I mentioned how much we love this kid lately?!  Clint and I enjoyed a yummy steak dinner and did a little window shopping before heading home.

Sunday - Today we had Halston's surprise birthday party at Cooper's.  We had to be there at 10a so we didn't ruin the surprise and I am so proud that we were the first ones there - WHEW!  We then had a yummy brunch and enjoyed all of Halston's party fun before heading to Target for grocery shopping.  At Target we had to pick up Maci some new art supplies after one of Halston's friends brought a Crayola Colors Wonders coloring book and markers.  These things are AWESOME.  They look like clear markers and the colors only show on these special coloring book paper.  Maci loves to color and this prevents color being all over her arms, legs and furniture - wahoo!!!!  Why didn't I think of this?  Maci then napped and we cleaned the car, tidied the house and all around prepared for another week.

I head to Miami for a very short and final trip this week (Tues afternoon through Thurs afternoon).  We then groove into a holiday weekend before heading to Ohio for another long weekend!!

Have a great week!
Lots of Love,
C, K & M

HOT Thailand Trip, My 32nd Birthday & Mother's Day Fun!

I had a safe and fairly uneventful trip to Thailand Sunday through Friday this past week.  It was HOT but great meetings with good people!  We did some site seeing but it was so hot (120 with humidity) that I took far fewer pictures than Rome.  I am so glad to be home and now battling the wonderful Asia Pacific region jet lag!

Super Sketch Boat Ride to the Grand Palace

 Grand Palace

 Reclining Buddha

 View from the Restaurant on Wednesday Evening

Friday - I landed at 130p on Friday.  Clint was super sweet and hung around the airport an extra hour after a security based meeting he had there over lunch so that he could pick me up.  He took me back to my car at the Cargill hangar and then we parted ways again so he could finish the work day.  I on the other hand had to try to stay awake, unpack and get to Maci's daycare by 330p for Mommy & Child Mother's Day snack time.  While I wasn't sure what time of day it was and my head was spinning, Maci and I had a lovely pudding snack together and she gave me a super sweet card and homemade body scrub (which she keeps telling me is yummy, I am worried she ate it while they made it !! HAHA)  After snack time we headed home but daddy would be about another 45 mins so we took a walk around the block to help me stay awake with fresh air and sunshine.  Once Clint was home we went to Chick Fil A which was something I had been craving for my belated birthday dinner :)  We ended the evening with wonderful birthday presents before I crashed on the couch.

I did get to have a special cake on my actual birthday in Thailand thanks to Anand remembering!!!

Picking her Favorite "Yellow Flowers" on our Walk

Saturday - What a gorgeous day!!  This was one of our families usual Saturdays mixed in with gorgeous weather.  We started with Gym class, headed to breakfast, took a nap and then ran errands/cleaned the house before eating dinner outside and Maci playing on the swing set with her neighbor friend Nora.

Sunday - Happy Mother's Day and HOLY JET LAG!  Last night I couldn't get to sleep until 3a =(  That made for a ROUGH morning.  Clint was sweet and got us brunch reservations for 930a which would usually not be a struggle but it took everything in me to roll out of bed in time to get to brunch.  While there I wanted to sleep on the table and could barely function UGH!  After brunch, I came home and took a nap but forced myself to get back up by 1230p so that I hopefully sleep tonight.  While I was sleeping Clint and Maci played on my sweet Mother's Day gift.  Clint got me a new hammock for our hammock stand since our former one broke a few years back.  It was rainy most of the day here so after I got up Maci was ready for her nap and took almost a 3 hour nap thanks to the weather.  While she napped, Clint and I finished the Wonder Years, spoke to both our mothers and then headed to Chipotle for some quick dinner once Maci arose.  We are now wrapping up a nice weekend back together and preparing for a fairly hectic with global Finance's HR team meetings but at least I am at home this week!!  We are about half way through the month + of Mondell family craziness and so far so good!

Lots of Love, 

C, K & M

Kentucky Derby & Mom is Off Again!

It was nice for the Mondell family to have a week together again!  The weather was gorgeous almost all week which led to lots of outdoor eating, grilling, walking etc.  Clint had a busy week at work with the global country security managers all in town for some global meetings.  This meant he had a team happy hour one night and dinner another, even when we are all in town we aren't all around :)  I too had a happy hour this week as one of my colleagues is moving to another part of Cargill.  You couldn't have asked for a better week of outdoor fun!  Maci even got to practice a fire drill and the Toddler room was the first one out for the drill - Yay Toddlers!!

Fire Drill Line Up!

Friday - Clint and I took the day off since we can roll 5 days over at the end of our Fiscal Year (May 31) and we had about 4 additional vacation days remaining.  Plus, it was nice to have a day to the two of us since we are in the midst of so much travel.  After taking Maci to school, we grabbed some bagels, I took a nap :) while he ran (practicing for his upcoming 5k) and then we had lunch, ran to the mall and had 1 hour massages at the Marsh.  We wrapped up our busy afternoon with the weekly grocery run and he got a haircut before we picked up Miss M a little after 5p - what an Awesome Day!  After picking up Maci, we ordered our usual pizza dinner, put her to bed and caught up on the Wonder Years!

Saturday - We started the day with the usual gym class and then bagels with friends.  Afterward we went shopping for dress pants for Clint. . .I kept Maci busy by finding Minnie/Mickey clothes at each of the two stores we went to.  Clint got his 2 new pairs of pants and Maci landed lamb slippers and a Minnie bathing suit plus Minnie summer outfit - it pays to be patient with mommy ;-)  While Maci napped I got some things in order for my upcoming trip and around 130p converted from my typical Saturday yoga pants into our Kentucky Derby bests.  The Cecil's (Kelly/Pete) had us over for a super fun Derby Party.  Kelly pulled out all the stops with the Kentucky Derby logo balloons, cups, napkins etc.  Unfortunately our horse didn't win but a good time was had by all - especially in the 80 degree sunny day.  We left the party around 7p to relieve our sitter from a full afternoon with our Maci girl and the Cassem's/Zehr's came over for a few more drinks and corn hole.  Everyone left around 8p and I was exhausted.  I went to bed while Clint joined the neighborhood guys for the big boxing match.  I think Clint is regretting the fight a bit today seeing as he was up quite late and I leave to the airport in about 2 hours - have fun with Maci all day today Daddy!! :)

Sunday - I finished my packing and I am wrapping up the last few things.  This week I am off to Thailand.  While I am excited to see a new country, I am not looking forward to the weather.  On my Birthday (Thursday) it is supposed to be 99 degrees.  Oh and if you think that is bad, last night I looked at the weather with Clint.  It was 6a their time and while it was 80 something it already felt like 102 - UMmmmm HOT!  We are now off to breakfast as a family before I depart for the airport.  Please say prayers for a safe and quick trip!  I am excited to return on Friday for belated Birthday and Mother's day celebrations with my family!

Have a great week!
Lots of Love,
C, K & M