Back to Reality - 1st Week of 2021 was Exhausting!

Guniea Pig Palace is Complete!!!  

We set it up before we wrapped our long holiday break 

Puzzle also completed, thanks to Clint, just in the knick of time!

Monday : Started the new year by preparing for the work week, getting Maci back into distance learning and getting some wellness check Dr apt scheduled for our family.  A fairly normal and busy meeting load start to the week for all of us.

Happy to be Back

Tuesday : Maci was back to her mini hops camp with next week being her last week of doing this since she is back to school in person 5 days a week starting Jan 19 - wahoo!  She is so excited.  Another busy day for Clint and I but nothing out of the ordinary as the 1st week of the year is always hectic.

Wednesday : Today was nuts busy since we have an office in DC and wanted to ensure all our employees were safe.  Thankfully, Clint took Maci to her monthly faith formation at church so I could have a call with our CEO later in the evening and get some prep done for the remainder of the week.

Thursday : Week continued to be pretty hectic and now I was really tired b/c I stayed up with Clint after finishing work Wed to see the end of Bridgerton again, he now watched it!  Since the Harty's got a new dog, we didn't do hot tub night but instead Clint and I went in alone and it was really nice, relaxing and quiet.

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Me with the Family Fantasy Football Winning Trophy

Friday : BUSY Friday but lots of good stuff got accomplished!  It was also my dear friend Christi's birthday!  It was fun to make a break in the day to find old pics and wish her well!  After work, the kids got back to gymnastics given a change in the governor's order.  We got home and had some McDonalds before I went on a relaxing 3 mile walk with Tena.  As we went to bed, Clint and I fell into Designated Survivor and it is a great show!

Happy Birthday Christie Girl

Back at the Gym

Saturday : Another somewhat early day or us as Maci is back to soccer which means 8a practice.  Clint ran M to her practice then ran some errands of his own while I got Connor ready for his own soccer at 945a.  Clint then swapped kids and went to Connor's practice while I got laundry and other to dos wrapped around the house.  Once all the kids were home, they played with Fred (Harty's new dog) then ice skated and sled.  I was getting a lot of to dos done in the house and watched football with Clint.  After dinner I took another 3 mile walk with Tena which man it is hard to walk with all that gear on and in the snow, what a work out.  No fire this week so watched more designated survivor and crashed!

Watching TV and starting to have a hand in the waistband thing going 😂

Peaceful Sleepers

Sunday : More football and a lot of work prep!  The kids are building with legos while Clint and I are watching football and getting some things done in the background.  I'm looking forward to a long day on the couch with hopefully a great plan for the week ahead.

We hope you all are transitioning well into 2021 and while it may be tiring right now, knowing it has to be better than the year prior ❤️💕 

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Happy 2021 + end to our awesome break!!!!

Monday : 

• Nice lazy day around the house with the start of a puzzle and cozy outfits
• We did make a run to WI for our New Years Eve firework fun!
• I got back on the bike for the first time post tailbone injury, it wasn't pretty but I did it

Tuesday : 

• Harty's are home as of last night b/c we got more snow today and they didn't want to drive in it!
• Our crew ran out in the morning to get Connor, me and Clint some skates from play it again sports
• Connor had his 5 year well check which I took him to and he rocked it - no shots since we got all the ones for kindergarten taken care of last year
• Once home, we joined the whole hood outside for some snow mobile and ice skate fun!

Wednesday : 

• Connor and Clint had morning haircuts
• I watched the Harty boys while Tena had a Dr apt and Nate registered his snow mobiles
• More outdoor fun and puzzle excitement!  When riding the snow mobile, I got it stuck 2 separate times 🤦  Once by the drain in our backyard and another time right off the trail in the hood - thankfully I could call Tena on my watch and get them to come back and help me HAHA
• While the guys did their usual golden tee night, I started Bridgeton and then I couldn't stop - I binged 8 episodes at 50 mins each from 830p to almost 5a - HOLY HANNAH!  I really enjoyed the show and you should check it out but maybe not pull an all nighter!

Puzzle - 1000 piece

Snow Mobile with my Buddy C-Man

Maci would rather ride with dad b/c he is faster HAHA

Thursday : 

• NYE!  Clint let me sleep and I made it until almost 10a b/c well I went to bed at 530a HAHA!
• I then downed a lot of coffee and took a good hot shower to wake up and get rolling
• We did more outdoor fun and then had Casey's pizza with the Harty's
• Then at 7p we all headed back outside for ice rink fun at night and to set up for fireworks
• Clint did a great job BLOWING UP 2020 and we all had some good owww ahhhh 
• Then it was time for kids to head to bed so adults could get ready for ball drop
• We hosted Harty, Herness and Jonas adults in our basement starting around 9p - Kavanaughs had other plans
• We had a blast playing pool, golden tee, photo hunt and watching the pathetic dick clark new year performances 
• At 1a we all called it and some were feeling better than others with a few of the hubbies needing help getting their coats/shoes on 🤣
• Welcome 2021!!!  You have a low bar!

Goofballs waiting for dinner

Night Time Ice Rink 

New Year Fun before Bed

Adult NYE Fun

Friday : 

• Happy New Year!!!
• Love having a long weekend left of our break :)
• Everyone was feeling a titch rough but Nate and Zac were half dead!!  Too many high octane brews
• Clint smoked a huge pork all day and we were super lazy with UC game and puzzles but did manage to get the Tree down and Holiday all packed up
• We welcomed the Harty's sans the 3 oldest kids for pork dinner and Nate seemed to finally be coming around 💗
• They headed home for Nash's bedtime and their own rest around 8p
• Clint and I stayed up and enjoyed The Ohio State ass whooping!!
• We both crashed after the game b/c I was still running on way too little sleep!

Progress 

Saturday : 

• Lazy day of laundry and indoor chores for me while kids played outside and Clint started on what I affectionally call the Guniea Pig Palace 
• I got a whole lot done around the house and am slowly transitioning back into real world mindset - even read a few work related type articles
• I made huge progress on the puzzle, should have it done before the weekend ends, while binging the office!
• We ate some dinner and Clint went back over to Zac's while working on the piggy palace
• I put the kids to bed and then we joined the Harty's and neighbors for the weekly outdoor fire and cocktails
• Clint was really tired so we called it by 11a

Sunday : 

• Connor had a nightmare so came in our room crying in the middle of the night so he cuddled up with us - so sweet as this rarely happens 
• Clint got up, ate breakfast and headed over to Zach's to keep working on piggy paradise
• I got up and started to tackle the remaining to do list before football as well as back to work/routine tomorrow
• Now Maci is playing with Molly, Connor is watching a movie, I am watching the Bengals struggle against the Ravens and Clint is so close to finishing piggy palace
• We will have some lunch soon, put together piggy palace in the playroom, finish enjoying football and then start the weekly prep that I haven't done for 11 glorious days HAHA but I am ready to get after it in 2021!!

Our Morning

This girl and her love of makeup and hair chalk

She did this look herself 🤯

Playing Mr Potato Head 

Photo Credit : Maci

Piggy Palace Progress

We hope you also had a wonderful holiday season with loved ones remotely even if not possible to physically be together.  Here is to a better 2021 and all of your continued health!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Connor is 5 and Christmas 2020!

Monday : Connor Turned 5 - how is he 5?!  We will tackle that topic another day!  He had a great day at school and we ordered Pizza Hut for dinner (his pick) followed by cake with the Harty's.  After every one went home, Mom enjoyed the Bengals beating the Steelers, in honor of Connor of course, even if he does say the Bengals are now his 3rd fav team after Vikings and Raiders 🤦

The big 5 - a whole hand!

Tuesday : We had our Gilroy Secret Santa exchange with my siblings and all their kiddos at night.  Half of us didn't have our gifts as the post office seems to be on a major struggle bus this year!  It was still nice to see everyone virtually and to hang with my mom too!

Wednesday : Last day of school and work before an 11 day break!  Clint picked up Connor pretty early because a blizzard started around 11a and didn't wrap until about midnight.  We ended up getting close to 8 inches and I am just so shocked b/c we had no snow in the forecast and just in the knick of time we got a white Christmas!  Unfortunately, our zoo lights were cancelled as a result of the blizzard so we didn't get to have that fun before the holiday.

Silly Connor, So Ready for Break!!

Thursday : Merry Christmas Eve!!  We started the day by doing some things around the house, including the kids taking a hot tub dip, and then watching a Hallmark movie with my mom via FaceTime.  We then watched a whole lot of Crown before we finally put in our Benihana carry out order (no restaurant this year given the Virus).  After dinner, which the kids say was more fun at home 🤷, we drove to this one neighborhood near us which has CRAZY lights.  We then wrapped up the evening by having a family dip in the hot tub and laying out reindeer food etc.

Snowy Morning Start Post Blizzard!

Maci Showing our Drifts & Clint clearing Harty driveway, love our 'hood!

I took the kids out in the snow with me, just a TITCH Chilly, -23 feeling temps

Toasty Hot Tub Dips for Our Kiddos

Movie Fun w. Grandma on FaceTime

Family Hot Tub Evening Dip and Silly Snapchat

Friday : Merry Christmas!!  The kids stayed in bed and their rooms until 7a but Maci says she woke up around 2a and never really went back to bed 😬 They were so excited to open presents!  We all got lots of wonderful goodies and spent the day putting together toys and playing.  We text and chatted with family/friends near and far.  Clint smoked some amazing New York strips for dinner.  We put the kids to bed earlier than usual given they were exhausted and slept like poo the night before.  Clint and I watched some more Crown before calling it a night ourselves.

Good Morning - Merry Christmas!!

God Mommy Christie - A famous gift giver in this house 💜

Both of them busy and enjoying new toys!

This is what happens at 5p on Christmas when you may have woken up around 2a

🤣

Saturday : We finished cleaning the house from all the paper, toys, boxes etc.  We all snuck in some naps after getting the annual playroom cleaning underway - it was so bad this year that we got through the whole room but kicked the closet to Sunday.  While I wrapped up the playroom, Clint worked with our neighbor to get the snowmobile running!  Clint took the kid for some rides as I cleaned up the pitch/donate piles.  I decided to take a nice quiet drive to pick up a late lunch/early dinner while the kids and Clint played in the snow.  We then enjoyed the Dolphins/Raiders game come night time - what a crazy game!

Goofballs the Day after Christmas Morning

Sunday : We finished the playroom clean up with a family closet deep clean today.  Both kids say they love the playroom like this and I am trying to help them realize that if they pick up as they go it stays nice and they can find all their things.  So far I feel like Maci is my best shot at an organized person, Connor just stares blankly - I feel like Clint gives similar looks when I try to explain overly organized parts of the house 🤷I guess I will take one!  We then enjoyed the final Crown episode - wow that binging of 4 seasons took a bit and now I am sad it is done, hoping a season 5 comes!  Then the Bengals decided to be amazing for the 2nd game in a row, who are these guys with so many star players hurt?!  I then got a turn on the snowmobile and I get the hype, it is pretty fun!!!  Maci tells me I don't go fast enough but we both enjoy it!  Now we are enjoying football on the couch and feeling grateful for another 7 days away from school/work and having fun as a family!

Pretty Snowy Views from our Back Windows

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas week and are looking forward to a new year, BYE 2020!!

Lots of Love, 

C, K, M & C

Ice Rink Almost Frozen & Count Down to Holiday Fun!

Weekdays: 

• We had a pretty uneventful but busy week!  We are so ready for our holiday pause and rest!
• Clint spent a good part of his week making post office runs as we would receive/wrap/ship gifts to our friends/family back home in Ohio 
• Connor spent his week counting down to his birthday which is tomorrow - Mon, Dec 21 oh and doing an intentional belly flop from the playground equipment on Friday so that resulted in a nice busted lip and scratched face
• Maci got to enjoy the ice rink for 2 days but then we realized we haven't let it fully freeze so there were cracks forming and we are keeping everyone off the ice for about 5 days until we have some really good 10 degree days and know it is good for all the winter fun
• I spent my week cramming in all the remaining to dos we hope to execute on at work before things start to settle for may - quite a few are taking off Dec 21 - Jan 3 so I should have a pretty quiet 3 days this week before holiday fun!  I really need to focus to getting back on the bike after my tailbone issue so I am going to work at that during our break!

Friday : 

• Clint picked up Connor a little early and he got to walk around on the ice while Maci skated - that was until we saw the big crack and decided to give it some more time until we all play out there.
• Clint ran to get us some McDonald's (fancy dinner) while I wrapped things up for the day and then we had a nice lazy evening on the couch before falling asleep to some Crown

Saturday : 

• Maci got a cute haircut Saturday morning with me while Clint and Connor ran another post office drop 
• Afterward, Maci and I finished our last few gift card purchasing needs at Target and then met the boys at home for some Chicken Place (AKA Peg's) carryout breakfast
• We then had a pretty chill day around the house taking naps, hanging with the kids etc. 
• We enjoyed Sunshine Factory dinner carry out and after kids were in bed, had a Harty party fire outside

Cutie Haircut

Sunday :

• We picked up Connor's cake for his birthday tomorrow, super cool Transformers - how is he 5?!
• We are now watching some football, debating lunch and continuing a bit of our lazy weekend theme
• We are pretty excited for 3 fairly quiet work days and holiday fun in each of our evenings followed by 11 days of quiet family restful fun!

We hope you are all staying safe, healthy and enjoying this "different" holiday season!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C