WI Dells Weekend!!!

Weekdays : 

• Monday - Connor had baseball and we were in charge of snack for the final time, love his lil baseball team!
• Tuesday - I had an all day virtual meeting, long day!  Maci and I decided to go get our nails done together at night as I needed a pedicure and she always needs her nails looking fly ;)

Getting pampered is so tough at 8 1/2 

• Wednesday - I had more all day team meetings but we wrapped around 2p for a team boat cruise on Lake Minnetonka - Clint ran the kids to baseball and I was able to meet them there in time for the 645p game

Chrissy and I enjoying drinks on the boat!

• Thursday - We packed after work for the Dells and then hung out with the Harty's for some good catching up

Friday : 

• Off to the Dells!
• We arrived around 1p, were able to check in right away (the room is never ready!) and then were off to find a late lunch and some immediate swimming!
• After some good time in the water, we were ready to get dressed and explore downtown.  The kids did the haunted house, explored some random shops and we grabbed KFC for dinner on the way back to the room.

We made it!

Haunted mansion fun, Connor's 1st time!

Saturday : 

• Started the day with duck boats after a 10 star breakfast (per Maci) at the Denny diner
• Followed it with a trip to the WI Dells zoo, can't really remember the actual name
• We then came back for more swimming of course!
• At night we explored downtown again and did some cool rock mining followed by dinner at a Mexican restaurant where Maci joined in by showing off her dance/gymnastic moves with a party busy of bachelorette parties . . .it was a random but hilarious night!

Duck Boats!

Random exotic petting zoo place!

Downtown Mining for Gold & Random Gemstones!

Sunday : 

• We enjoyed our beloved deer park in the morning and man were they hungry first thing in the am
• We then did a little driving to see what parts we had never seen before
• Headed back to do some indoor playground, ropes course etc
• Then got ready for more swimming!!!  We hung by the pools almost all afternoon and it was a gorgeous day
• We called it and decided to do some quick go carts before we headed to Buffalo Phil's for dinner (delivered via train) and then wrapping the night with putt putt golf

Our beloved deer park!

Post Dinner Games

We got up and packing Monday morning, stopped at a great pancake place for breakfast and we were back home around 2p.  What a wonderful weekend of laughs and exploring with our crew!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Birthday Party Mania for Connor Man + Home Remodel Almost Complete!!

Weekdays : 

• Monday : Carpet got installed!!!  I then ran Connor to baseball with Maci while Clint hung back and started putting furniture away!  We stayed up a bit late getting most of the house back together.  We also redid the kids rooms a bit.  They have huge closets so we put their dressers in the closets which then left them room to each have a desk in their room (Maci already had one in the office so we moved it up but ordered one for Connor) and ordered Maci a little vanity!
• Tuesday : Ordered all the remaining touches for the house (Desk and vanity I mentioned plus some new throw pillows, front door rug, small lamp for formal sitting area etc) + lugged all the remaining bins back to the playroom.  Clint was in the office for the day and we chilled at night
• Wednesday : The owner of the contracting company came by b/c the new baseboards look awful in the living room with the new carpet, they weren't put low enough to the ground.  He is going to send someone over soon to fix that entire room.  Once that is done, we are just waiting on our Arhaus leather chairs for the living room, redesigning how we put stuff on that wall and buying one more lamp and then DONE!  No more house stuff for a bit HA That night, Connor had some more baseball and just continues to amaze us, this time he played with sunglasses and a hat on HAHAHA he is our goof!  Oh and Clint and I got into Ted Lasso binging, such a cute show, but that made us stay up too late!
• Thursday : Tena and the boys are back but we were exhausted thanks to Ted Lasso so didn't hang out like we usually would.  Instead we watched more Ted Lasso haha and went to bed at a semi decent time.

Friday : Zerorez came to shampoo the basement and office carpets.  I got quite a bit of work done before we picked up the kids and headed to the Harty house for Nash's 4th birthday swim/pizza fun!  We called it around kids bedtime and watched the rest of the current season 2 Ted Lasso before crashing ourselves.

Nash is 4!!

Saturday : Clint had a massage and hair cut to start the day so I was home alone with the kiddos.  We all got up and took a nice long walk with the dogs followed by operation put the playroom back together, the only room remaining from the remodel/carpet moves.  Thankfully they both helped, we got it done and moved on to other to dos like laundry etc.  Clint brought home some bagels and we kept getting stuff done around the house until 3p when Clint had to run Maci to an ice cream party in the hood, pal Alivia's house and then I had to run Connor to his buddy Chuck's 6 year old birthday party at 330p.  Clint was able to drop M and do a Lowe's run etc but I had to hang for the 2 hours at the party watching bounce houses and chatting with the parents.  Once the party wrapped, Connor and I met up with Clint and Maci at the Harty's pool.  We were only there for about one beer when we had to call it since Harty's were having friends over for dinner and card games.  We ordered some Bonchon and watched Mrs Doubtfire as a family.  Maci started to complain about not feeling good but thought nothing of it until she puked at 3a - thankfully in a bathroom, poor thing!

Chuck and Connor with Connor's Gift

Maci having her own fun at Alivia's Ice Cream Social

Sunday : Clint went to play golf with Ryan Cassem.  He had to stop at hole 15 b/c they were taking forever and he had to get home to help me with more kid activities.  While he was golfing, I ran the kids to dunkin donuts for some breakfast.  Maci was on the struggle bus the whole way there and back but nibbling on a glaze donut seemed to help her get some food in her belly and start feeling better.  We still canceled the play date she was going to have with Aria at our house just to be safe.  Clint got home in time for my to finish putting away laundry, order groceries and run Connor to party number 2, Anna's 6 year old party - also a bounce house and slip and slide fun!  Clint touched up wood work and wall paint while I hung at this party.  By the time we got home, I did a few more house hold to dos and then we all ran books back to the library, mailed the carpet invoice and ate dinner at HyVee.  Clint is now cutting grass, I am chilling on the deck with the computer and the kids are about to get early showers and hit the hay.  It is gorgeous weather out here!  I am looking forward to taking a walk sans kids after their bedtime and easing into another week of work.

Connor with his best buds, Chuck and Anna, at Anna's Birthday Party

We are hope you are enjoying these final weeks of summer fun before Labor Day, back to school and fall football fun!

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

Bryan & Dominic Demko Visit & ALMOST Done with Remodels!!

Weekdays : 

• Monday - Baseboards and Island painting was finished and Connor killed it at his baseball game
• Tuesday - Wood floors were finished so I worked in the basement while they worked and Clint was at the office + kids at camp - come evening time it was National Night to Unite with all our neighborhood pals up at the playground
• Wednesday - We scheduled Zerorez to clean our basement, office carpets and kitchen rug for this coming Friday, so ready to be done with some home projects!  Connor had an early 515 baseball game and once again killed it!
• Thursday - Clint took the day off to start moving stuff off the carpet and prepare for Bryan and Dominic Demko's arrival - I went into the downtown office for a change of scenery - we enjoyed Casey's pizzas once the guys got here and caught up the remainder of the evening

Maci and Rosie at Night to Unite

Firefighters brought hats, as you can probably tell

This one wanted to watch water polo with me in bed Wed night and shortly after joining, I look over to see this 💙

Friday : 

• Clint had the day off so went golfing with Bryan and Dominic - they also did lunch and had a Target liquor run
• The carpet on the stairs got ripped out so Clint could touch up the white wood before the carpet is laid on Monday
• I had a 4 hour workshop from 10-2 so I was tethered to the house but then wrapped my day early around 330p to grab the kids
• We all hung out for a bit before taking off to St Paul for the St Paul Saints Triple A baseball game
• The seats we had were awesome, right down the 3rd base line
• Each kid got a ball!  Either foul tip OR a player tossing it over to them after getting a foul ball etc.
• Clint and Bryan were even picked to be on a price is right style game and Clint won getting $35 to Fleet Farm ;-)
• We ate too much food, a few brews and lots of laughs
• By the time we got home, quite a few were crashed in the car!

Goofball poses on the way home from daycamp

Great seats & Maci loving fireworks after a 1-0 win!

Maci and Dominic were out when we pulled into the garage!

Saturday :

• Woke up to thunderstorms and rain for the first time in months!  UGH go figure!
• Clint was able to change our boating time to 1130a to see if that helped with the radar - thankfully it did and never rained on us once, was overcast the whole day but that made for a clear Lake Minnetonka - typically that lake is way too packed to tube kids like Maci and Connor but they were able to ride for like 6 miles on the tube b/c it was so dead - we even stopped at Maynards for lunch at one point - the ride wrapped at 330p
• We headed home and everyone was ready for a nap!
• By about 6p we were up and heading to River Inn for dinner - YUM!
• We got home and I put Connor to bed, I got in jammies myself to rest and the boys along with Maci started to play Golden Tee and Clint hosted 2 neighbors, Nate and Zach - Maci crashed around 10p but the others were up until about 2a - rough!

Boating on Lake Minnetonka 

Clint wins father of the year for getting on the tube first with Maci

Sunday :

• We rolled out of bed around 9a something as all were just worn out
• We headed to Peg's Countryside Cafe for a good breakfast before the Demko's hit the road
• They pulled out of town around noon and were headed for Green Bay to do an over night stop to see the stadium
• We spent the rest of the day getting everything off the carpet since new will be laid all day tomorrow!!!  Holy cow do we have a lot of stuff that is typically on carpet - but the kids were both awesome helpers and earned $20 each for their bank accounts.
• Now we are done and ready to eat some dinner, grab some ice cream and call it an early night for all of us!!!  We are sleeping on mattresses on the floor across the house tonight HAHA

Best buddies for ~25 Years & Counting!

They also have a 4 year old Golden Doodle, Lola - Rosie had a BFF for the weekend!

We hope you had a great weekend!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Home Demo Round 2

Weekdays :

• Baseboards and island install and painting started, looking great!  We are sick of living in a hot mess and dust but so much of it wraps this coming week!
• Clint and I took turns being at the house with remodel stuff as well as going into our offices
• We enjoyed a mid week dinner at COV by the lake to just enjoy a slow summer evening!
• I treated my Rally Minneapolis based team to lunch on Thursday and got my hair done on the way home

Friday : 

• Light days for both of us!
• Picked up the kids and headed to Maynards for dinner by the lake given a GORGEOUS night
• Watched some Olympics and Clint started Ted Lasso while I zonked!

Saturday : 

• An awesome lazy day with sleeping in, taking a morning walk, resting a bit and then heading to the Harty pool by 2p for day drinking and floating!
• We called it around 5p as I had to get a shower before our night out with Trip and Lori!  We haven't hung with them for so long that we were pumped to have this time together!  We enjoyed dinner at River Inn and then showed them Clint's bourbon fun.
• Once they left, we ended the night at the Harty's fire with our neighborhood crew

Sunday : 

• Productive day after a super lazy day!
• Clint is doing yard work and I am attempting to get this house in order even though we can't fully put it back yet.  I look forward to doing the kids birthday books (finally, 6 months late) on the deck later today

We are excited to welcome Clint's best buddy Demko and his son Dominic starting this Thursday.  They will enjoy some Minneapolis fun!  We also wrap baseboards and wood floors this week with only carpet install to occur the following Monday - so close!!!

We hope you are having a wonderful summer, can you believe it is August?!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Ps - I got to start taking some pics again soon!! 👀  

Home Demo!

Weekdays : 

• Monday - Actual 13th wedding anniversary!  I went into the office for a meeting with the Optum CHRO and my leader, thankfully it seemed to have gone well.  We then hit Connor's baseball game where he once again had great hits and all around good time!
• Tuesday - I had to go into the office again but this time for my team's QBR.  Clint also went into the office so Breck helped with letting the dogs out.  Meanwhile back at home, the floors are coming right along!  Maci got sized for her new competitive uniforms that evening
• Wednesday - I decided to work from home but may not have been the best idea - Clint and I had to share the basement due to all the sanding upstairs and then it smelled so strong after they started laying the stain.  We did find out Maci's soccer team!  She made the Academy #2 team which is the 2nd out of 5 teams for her age group - yay Maci!!  We also had Connor's baseball at night, woah busy day!
• Thursday - Clint had a golf event for work that he pulled together so he was gone most of the day and I picked up the kiddos after another stinky day at home due to a high gloss protectant being laid on the floor.

Friday - We picked the kids up and decided to make a pizza at home for dinner.  Clint and I played baseball with Connor in the street after dinner and all had an early bed time after a long week!

Saturday - I had a massage at 945a (amazing!) then got home around the same time Clint and Connor were heading to their haircuts.  Once Connor was home, we were off to Target to buy a birthday present for his neighbor buddy Marek.  Clint then ran Connor to Marek's birthday party at an indoor treehouse and pool.  While they were gone, Maci and I got a few things done around the house before heading over to the Harty's for afternoon pool fun!  Clint and Connor met back up with us around 330p when they got home from the party.  We floated and chatted and just enjoyed a lovely summer Saturday.  Around 530p we all called it to try and figure out our dinner plans.  We then put kids to bed and welcomed the Verplank's over to our house.  They were our former neighbors from St Louis Park and we hadn't seen each other in almost 2 years!  We also welcomed our neighbors over for Saturday fire at our place.  Good times!

Sunday - Maci had a play date at a pals house in the neighborhood across from us from 10-12.  Clint and I did a ton of stuff around the house and yard.  Around 4p we took the kids to the park and ran into Marek's family, threw some water balloons and caught up.  We are now about to eat some dinner and enjoy the Olympics and an early bed time tonight!  Love Summer Weekends!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

More Home Remodeling & Anniversary Dinner/Date!

Weekdays: 

• Monday - Connor started another season of baseball but this time coach pitch, he is crushing it!
• Tuesday - I landed a sitter plan with Liz for our one gap week in between Wayzata Kids and my mom visiting, why are those things so stressful?!
• Wednesday - Connor was supposed to have baseball but we finally got some rain so the fields had a wash out and gave us a quiet night
• Thursday - Clint golfed in the morning and early afternoon - I headed to my pal and former co-worker, Pat's, retirement dinner at McGarry's - so many good laughs and a fun night!

Friday : 

• Floor demo day!!  They tore up the carpet in the formal living room and dining room and started to lay some wood boards already
• I had Pat's larger company retirement party over lunch
• I then worked from the deck throughout the afternoon since it was loud and dusty in the house!
• After working through the day, we picked up the kids and had dinner followed by Space Jam 2 at the theatre.  The kids LOVED it - so cute!

Saturday : 

• Maci had her soccer tryouts from 9-11a, Clint took her

• While they were gone, Connor and I met up with neighbors at the 'hood park to celebrate some of the many (about 13) kindergartners in our neighborhood who will go to school together in the fall 

• Clint had an afternoon massage and I took a great nap!
• Come dinner time, Clint and I got ready and were out on the town for our anniversary, lucky #13 for us!
• We enjoyed Benihana sans kids, rare!, and then enjoyed cocktails by the lake at Maynards - so fun

Sunday : 

• Busy get stuff done day after being pretty lazy on the home front all weekend long!  I also did a little too much work prep but also felt good to be prepared for the week.

We hope you are enjoying your summer!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Cargill HR Reunion & Rodeo Weekend!!!

Monday : Yay - No Work or Camp!  Fun holiday spent swimming with the Harty's and grilling out at night.  Connor mastered swimming in the deep end with no life jacket and even going off the diving board!  Maci mastered a dive off the diving board!  Early bedtime for all after a crazy fun holiday weekend!!

Tuesday : Rosie had her first grooming and thankfully did not come back looking too poodle!  Clint headed into the office while I worked from home and greeted our contractor who did the demo of our current backsplash and the tile guy came to do all the laying of the tile, just grout to go next day.  We wrapped the day at Sunshine Factory for dinner - Yum!

New Tile & Rosie's Cut

Wednesday : I went into the office for a big team meeting in the afternoon.  Clint was home to help the tile guy finish the grout.  After work I had a happy hour with my manager, Lori, and my teammate Katie.  Such good laughs and fun to see them back out in a social setting!

Thursday : After work I hosted a happy hour of the former Cargill Functions HR team.  So fun to see so many of these people for the first time in almost 2 years!  So many good snacks, drinks and laughs!  We hung until about 8p and then the last group left.  After happy hour, Clint and I went to the neighbors for some Thursday night bags - we stunk it up this week!

Megan/Jess/Me

Sarah & Danny

Megan, Danny, me and Kerry

Laurie & Scott - Lucky Retiree Club!

Lauren & Steve

Kerry and Peter

Friday : I was quite sleepy after 2 nights of happy hours and later to bed.  I had a pretty light schedule to start the day and then my afternoon was the same which was really nice!  Clint grilled up some burgers and corn while I finished some work prep before calling it the weekend!  The kids climbed in our bed and watched Space Jam, the first one.  I totally passed out during the movie!

Best Meeting of the Week!

I'm on the screen from home, re-connecting with former Cargill pals who are now also at Optum

Megan and Jason

Saturday : One of my fav days of the year, Rodeo!!  Clint and I slept in until almost 930a, took a walk and then had to book it a bit to be ready in time to leave for the daytime showing of the rodeo with our kiddos.  The Harty family and ours went together and we had to leave by about 1145a.  Clint and Nate found a spot on the hill while Tena and I took the kids around to some rides and shopping to kill the time.  Maci picked out a pair of boots and Connor picked out a new rodeo trucker hat.  Each of those kiddos rode a bull and Maci (go figure) had people cheering her and and being amazed how long she was able to hang on HAHA!  We then really enjoyed the show - favs were the bulls riding, cowgirls that do tricks on the horse and barrel racing.  The show ended around 4p and we headed home for a quick nap/clean up.  Kaitlin got to our house at 6p and we were off to dinner with Tena/Nate ahead of the rodeo street party with country music acts at Innkahoots!  Yummy dinner followed by meeting Amber/Adam at the bar/party.  SO many good laughs, people watching and randomly being hit on by some 20 somethings who said "you ladies are beautiful but how old" ummm let me introduce you to my husband - don't ask a lady her age, tip #1 haha!  We finally stumbled on out around midnight and given we couldn't find any Ubers in middle of nowhere ;-) LOVE HAMEL - our neighbor Sarah came to pick us up - the best neighbor there is!!!!

Maci's idea to put the hand in the air🤣

Connor and his buddy from pre-k & neighborhood - Louie + Maci looking totally cowgirl!

Shots of the Rodeo & Connor with Lily the pony

Maci on Hank the Horse & another of Connor

Maci all smiles post boot purchase & our country gal with her horse Hank

PARTY TIME!!

Clint and I being goofs + me, Amber and Tena

Sunday : Woof we all woke up a little sleepy after rodeo fun!  I got some stuff done around the house/ordered groceries and Clint got the grass cut.  Before we knew it, it was 1p and time to head up to the parade in downtown Hamel.  Connor and Clint walked the parade with his baseball association.  He was so cute with his lil hat/shirt and so excited to hand each of us a baseball sticker.  Maci kindly collected enough candy for both Connor and her!  I was excited to get a new fridge magnet clip and a coozie :). After a 1 hour parade we were back home.  Now we are enjoying a slow Sunday afternoon and about to order up some pizza for dinner and just rest before another summer week!

My fav parade walking duo!

Connor kicks back off baseball this week but t-ball/coach pitch this time!  Maci has her soccer try outs next weekend - man they are growing fast!  We hope you are enjoying all the fun that comes with summer!

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C