Labor Day Long Weekend Fun & Both Sets of Grandparents Visit!!

Monday -

• Clint was in Michigan for work
• Kids and I ran some errands after work which included a trip by Greenwood Elementary to see the roster listings for school 
• Maci has Mrs Eames - 7 year Kindergarten teacher who seems to be a nice mix of experience and youth/energy

Tuesday - 

• Clint is still in Michigan
• Kids had bubble fun at school 

Wednesday -

• Clint got home from Michigan 
• Last day of work for us for the week!
• Mondell's arrived around dinner - kids were pumped to see Nanny & Grandpa!!
• Took an evening stroll after dark with the crew

Thursday - 

• Maci's last day at daycare - tears!
• Nanny & Grandpa hung out at the house with us 
• Gilroy's arrived around 3p and hung with the Mondell's while we picked up the kiddos 
• Maci, Clint and I headed to Open House at Greenwood around 4p and met Mrs Eames - M is so pumped and we got such a nice feeling from the school, community etc.
• After open house the whole crew headed to Maynard's on Lake Minnetonka for dinner and drinks
• That evening we all played pool, photo hunt and watched some college football - YAY football is back!

OMG - Lil 12 week baby with a hip brace to 5.5 year old ready to rock the Kindergarten class!

 The Remaining Crew!  Good Luck Little One!

 Thank you for the picture - we will use it in their wedding slideshow

Jack Dahlstrom & Maci Mondell - Maci's "man" since the beginning!

 Miss Kim & Miss Sarah

XOXO

 Greenwood Grizzly Mascot!

 OH YEAH!  We are ready!

Friday - 

• One of the best days of the year!  Fair Day!
• We had a blast - went from 9a-4p
• Then we all crashed and barely moved the rest of the night

 The After Math - Maci is Out

Saturday - 

• The Big Party Day!!  Thanks to my parents we got it all set up without a minute to spare.
• By 3p the group started to show up and we had about 50 total (1/2 adults and 1/2 kids)
• Weather was awesome and neighbor Jim let us borrow their inflatable water slide for the kids!!
• A few too many drinks were had by all and we ended the night with John (former neighbor), Nate (current neighbor), Clint and I playing lighting knock out basketball in Nate's driveway with a riding lawn mower giving us light - the boys were ROUGH thanks to shots as bets for pool games and I had a few too many margaritas - what a fun time and a great day to realize how all the hard work paid off in our wonderful HOME!

 Some of the Hooligans!

Sunday - 

• Lazy Day!  Clint and I were feeling the night before for a good part of the day.
• We spent the morning cleaning up and going to the local diner for breakfast - yum grease and diet coke!
• I then did the grocery and nursery with my mom.
• After lots of afternoon naps all around, we took my mom on a hike by Lake Medina to get us all some fresh air
• Around that time Tena and Nate from across the street invited us over for more fun with cocktails by a fire - sure why not
• My dad was watching his favorite TV, my mom was playing photo hunt and we joined our new fav neighbors for a few drinks at their fire pit

Maci found a huge grasshopper on the driveway

Monday - 

• Another somewhat lazy day!  We are getting good at these HA
• As I write this - kids are playing in PJs still at 11a, Mom is napping on the chase on the deck, I am writing on the deck, Clint laid some grass seed and my dad is watching more of his fav show
• We will start to prep for the 1st day of school a little later as well as getting back into the swing of things with work but for now we enjoy the lazy time together!

Maci climbs on the bus at 705a tomorrow morning and it cant come soon enough for her!  My parents will hit the road at the same time and Clint and I will take Connor to daycare as a solo man on our way into the office.  I have a quick day trip to Chicago on Wednesday and Maci starts gymnastics the same night.  We look forward to the routines the school year brings as well as fall weather and football but will also miss those long summer nights.

We hope you all had a joyous Labor Day weekend and a wonderful wrap to summer!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Maci Friday Night Fun & Date Night for Adults!

Last Saturday's Birthday Party Crew - Silly Girls!

 Last Sunday Lynx WNBA Excitement with Dad

She is So Cute!

Monday : 

• Sold some stuff on Facebook garage sale after work - getting closer and closer to having major house stuff finished!

Boy Loves his Play Dough

Tuesday : 

• Good Lunch Session has me contemplating a new role within Cargill 
• Clint's Team was in the Semi Final for Softball Tournament - Hung with the guys but just missed the final #itwaskindacold #wewereoktoleave

This Crew Makes Me Laugh!  Beer Cooler Ice Yum (Kidding!)

Wednesday : 

• Clint had his small dose radiation treatment and we hear soon if it was scar tissue like the Dr assumes - happy for Clint that this diet and day is past him 
• Took the kids to get Maci fitted for her new tap & ballet shoes after work/school

I mean these are some darn cute kiddos!

Thursday : 

• Lazy evening followed by a 9p Asia work call for me

Try Not to Laugh

Friday : 

• M headed to Isla's house after school to have dinner/movie with Isla & Audra - a little pre-kindergarten treat for 3 besties 
• Clint, Connor and I hung all the things on M's walls and started painting Connor's room (LAST ONE!)

These Ladies will Break Hearts One Day!!

Isla - Maci - Audra = Buddies since 3 months of age

Saturday : 

• Lots of errands including grocery run, Mums purchase and finalizing Connor's room painting - WE ARE DONE PAINTING!!!
• Date Night at Cov on Lake Minnetonka and drinks at Maynard's
• Friend Stacy from Cargill and her fiancé Luke met us out at Maynard's for some yummy Vodka Presses - Thanks to Stacy for turning me on to this summer treat a few happy hours ago

Lobster Guacamole - YUM! 

 Well Aren't We Cute

AKA My Hair Before Lake Hair Made it a Frizz Mess

 This Picture is what got Stacy's butt off the couch and out with us

Vodka Press!

 Oh just a picture from our sitter of Boomer passing out after intensely humping the bear

Yes he is neutered and has been since a pup

Sunday : 

• Put Connor's room back together and hung all his wall stuff - WE ARE READY FOR THE OPEN HOUSE!!!!  No more chaos in our house!
• Clint left for flight to MI for work around 1p
• I watched the Bengals CREAM the Bills - looking good boys!  I am cautiously optimistic about the season

This Kid Woke Up Like This

Yes that is a LOT of Sweat on His Face & in His Hair

Why are you wearing fleece jammies in August - Goofy Kid!

 Well isn't that sweet!

Early morning cuddles on the couch watching some Beauty and the Beast

 Building Forts During the Bengals Game

Clint is in MI early part of this week and then we are taking off Thursday & Friday.  An awesome long/emotional weekend is ahead.  The Mondell's (Kathy & Jack) arrive for a visit on their way out West.  My parents then arrive on Thursday.  Thursday is Maci's last day at New Horizon after 5 years!  That same night we have her Kindergarten open house.  Friday we say farewell to the Mondell's and then we head to the MN State Fair for the day with my parents.  Saturday is our Open House with friends/family - come on good weather!  Sunday and Monday will be fun visiting time with my parents (lots of in flight ideas).  Tuesday is Maci's 1st day of Kindergarten and 1st day riding the bus!!!!!!  OH MY GOODNESSSsssssss how are we already at this point?!  We are so excited yet also sentimental - she was that tiny peanut I was crying over with RSV and leg braces and NOW she is RUNNING onto that school bus!  FLY HIGH LITTLE M!

We hope you all have wonderful "unofficial" end of summer plans for Labor Day Weekend.  We look forward to sharing all sorts of pictures from the weekend and final house product in next week's post.

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Painting Almost Done!

Tuesday

• M met the 6 (yes 6) Kindergarten teachers for Greenwood Elementary and spent some time with a handful of other kids to do a final assessment/classroom placement for the teachers
• Clint had playoff softball at night and they WON - they were the 8th seed and the team they beat was the 1st seed - needless to say the guys on the other team weren't happy but Clint's team plays again this Tuesday

Wednesday 

• C puked in our bed in the middle of the night and after puking says "I need a napkin!!"  Clint and I both stopped dead in our tracks and started laughing - sweet boy!
• Clint stayed home with Connor and worked/painted 
• Met a good colleague of mine (John) after work for a much needed happy - always good sharing views with that one!

Thursday 

• Kids had one of their final water days at school
• I spoke on a panel for the Minnesota Change Network in the afternoon

 Dress Up 

Friday 

• We made it!  Why is it the short weeks sometimes feel the longest at work?!
• Quiet day in the office and did a family movie night of The Incredibles

Rocking Toledo on a Fri-Yay at School 

Saturday

• Connor slept until Noon - Write that one down!!
• Winding down the final house projects to be ready for our big Labor Day party/open house!
• Clint was able to get the master bedroom/upstairs hallway/playroom all painted through the week/Saturday 
• M had a birthday party at a gymnastics studio at 2p and game changer being able to drop her off and run errands!

Sunday

• More painting - today Clint conquered Maci's room!  A purple paradise for a sweet 5 year old!
• I conquered the much needed kids clothes donations/sell as well as household items we have decided to sell post house remodel/move
• M and Clint are off to a daddy/daughter date night at the Lynx game (MN WNBA team)
• I am off to a Sip N Shop with girlfriends at the westend
• C man is off to The Cassem's to play with the Cassem girls and Ryan while their mommy shops with me :)

We hope you each have an awesome week ahead!  We are getting so excited to post pictures and share the completed project with so many friends/family at our Labor Day bash!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C