Maci's 8th Birthday!

Monday :

• Holiday for our entire crew
• Got some things done around the house, finished preparing for the work week, started another puzzle, watched some shows, played outside, colored and tried a new recipe - all in all, a great day together!

Coloring with Wine while Clint makes dinner + They like each other sometimes ❤️

Tuesday : 

• Maci's first day back to school full-time and on the bus!!  Wahoo, I am not sure who was more excited!
• Busy first day back in a short week for me and Clint but I fit in a nice 3+ mile walk with Tena in the evening

Wednesday : 

• Clint went into the office again as Wednesday's have become his head in days - I may start to go in a day or two here and there as well once we get to February and we finish our end of year comp process 
• In the evening we had round 2 of our California Closet design session - Clint and I bit the bullet and we are looking forward to our new master closet - not to be seen until April given everyone has this idea and supply chains are a disaster these days :)

Connor loving his Christmas gift from Aunt Trish - Ranger Rick Junior Magazine

School Fun for C

Inauguration Memes of Bernie were awesome but this one hits too close to home 😂

Thursday : 

• Tena and I took another great walk in the evening and wrapped just in time to get ready for Thursday night hot tub party 
• Everyone was pretty spent from the week so we only hung out until about 1030p, yay for sleep!

Friday : 

• Maci had her 8th birthday at school complete with handing out Disney themed hand sanitizers to our classmates
• After school, the kiddos had their weekly gymnastics 
• We ate taco pizza for dinner and I cleaned up email in front of the TV until bed time

These two ❤️

Saturday : 

• Happy 8th Birthday Ms Maci Louise Mondell!!!
• Maci got to wake up and open gifts from her God mother Christie (LOL doll, sweet book and some Lego fun) and Gilroy Grandparents (Bird watching kid books since Maci is having a blast with her binoculars from Christmas)
• Then after breakfast, she got to go with me to Target for a birthday shopping spree where she spent Mondell Grandparents and Mommy/Daddy birthday money - her selections were : a party dress, hair bow, earrings and top + a new travel Barbie, Anna/Elsa miniature dolls and her big gift was an American Girl doll sized ice cream truck with so many fun accessories 
• We got home, had some lunch and were a little lazy around the house until her pal Natalie came at 430p
• We ate Noodles and Co for dinner around 530p, had the Harty's join us for cake at 630p (Tena made the yummiest and cutest butterfly cake) and then the girls went into the hot tub (Connor felt super left out as he went to bed), then watched Hocus Pocus in the basement and finally ended the night gabbing away in Maci's room - Clint snuck the picture of them passed out at 11p so they weren't up too crazy late 

Maci through the years!!  💕

Birthday Morning

Cake by Tena, loved by Maci

Maci's Arm 😍

Sunday : 

• Girls were up around 630a (Maci is going to crash tonight!) and Clint ran to get donuts around 7a 
• I finally pulled myself out of bed around 730a and Connor closely followed
• We ate some breakfast and then helped them into snow gear for some tubing/sledding before Natalie's dad came to get her
• Natalie was gone around 10a and then Maci and I did another Target run but this time for random household needs and the groceries got delivered while we were gone
• While we ran errands, Connor and Clint had fun trying out some new snow mobile trails
• Connor then hung with Harty's skating while Clint got gas for the snowmobile and ran his own errands
• We are now all getting ready for some football / work week prep in front of the TV and waiting on some lunch 
• While it is cold outside it is SO SUNNY today and it just makes you feel happier to see sunshine!

Next Morning Silly - Connor was allowed in a picture 😳

Here's to some good football games today and a super smooth week ahead for everyone!  

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Bummer for the Buckeyes & Maci's Birthday Countdown (Jan 23)

Monday - We were all excited for the Buckeye game but we all forgot to wear our Buckeye gear, maybe that is why they didn't win

Tuesday - Normal day for all of us

Wednesday - After work/school, we had California Closets come by to give us an estimate to have the master closet redesigned.  I then enjoyed some wine with Clint and the neighbor guys while they played Golden Tee

Thursday - Maci had the day off school as they are preparing to bring K-2 back to school 5 days a week as of next Tuesday, post MLK Jr holiday!  She spent her day off at Mini Hops as this will be her last Mini Hops day camp🤞🏼as a result of COVID.  After our days wrapped, Clint hopped on the annual HOA call while I did some work clean up.  We then compared HOA notes in the hot tub with the Harty's for weekly Thursday hot tub fun!

Friday - Maci had the day off again but this time Clint took the day off with her and they had a daddy/daughter day.  They ran Connor in to school for me and then headed to Peg's (the chicken place for breakfast), bought Maci's birthday gift (mini hand sanitizers) for her class next week, did some arts and crafts, shoveled the driveway and walkways, snowmobiled and skated all before gymnastics.  We all left to pick up Connor for gymnastics.  Kids had a blast at gymnastics then we left to eat at our fav Mexican restaurant.  Maci was so exhausted from the day, she almost fell asleep in the booth.  We then came home for bedtime and some Designated Survivor.

Saturday - Maci and Connor had soccer again and both enjoyed getting back at it!  ⚽️  We then did quite a few to dos around the house, watched some of our show before turning on football playoffs 🏈  I crashed on the couch during the night game and Clint kindly put the kiddos to bed.  When I woke up around 1030p, I learned that instead of a neighborhood🔥, the Harty's had come over our house so they were in the basement.  I woke myself up enough and joined them in the basement for a drink before we all called it for the night.

Sunday - Quite a bit of errand running/house clean up before more football 🏈 After dinner, the neighborhood got together outside at the ice skating rink for some family skating, fire and s'mores.  Almost all of us have Monday off and some others are taking PTO so it was a nice evening of family giggles and cold weather!

Our whole family has MLK Jr day off so we plan on having some good time together around the house before we all head back to school and work on Tuesday.  Maci is so excited to get back on the bus and to see her friends/teacher in person, even if they are masked and at a distance. 

The Many Selfies of Maci that I Find

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

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