The Bengals Break the 31 Year Curse!!!!

Weekdays : 

• Monday - Clint left to Fresno, CA for the week with work.  I let the kids sleep with me given daddy was out of town.  I had a rough night of sleep not b/c of the kids but because of some anxiety sneaking in and I spent about 1.5 hours wide awake in the middle of the night.
• Tuesday - I worked from home b/c the kids had their 2nd dose of COVID shots right after school/workday and then Maci was supposed to have her soccer camp at 630p but she didn't feel like going so we grabbed dinner, headed home and all got a good night sleep - YAY!  Especially after the night before :)
• Wednesday - I worked from home again b/c Maci has soccer at 6p and it just makes dinner, drop off etc easier when I come from the house.  Connor and I hung out in the car during her 1 hour practice with me cleaning up email and Connor playing on my phone.
• Thursday - I was back in the office and got to have some good catch up time with my buddy Jason.  After picking up the kids, we had Maci's soccer zoom team meeting at 6p.  She didn't want to pay attention and Connor kept interrupting so needless to say I was very much ready for bedtime that evening.

Thanks Grandma for the early birthday gift

Tena took Rosie on Thursday to play with Fred while I was at the office

Friday : 

• I had a good mix of a few meetings, catch up with a coworker/friend Sara and thinking/work time.
• We got about 3 inches of snow so it was a little slippery getting Maci to gymnastics.  I did some work on my computer and Connor played on my phone.
• Afterward, the kids wanted Arbys for dinner but when we got there they were closed (this worker shortage is getting nuts!) so we settled for Wendys - not very good :(
• We got home, ate, showered and then chilled watching some TV
• Clint was supposed to be home around 5p but they missed their connecting flight so instead he got home around 10p and I was already SOUND ASLEEP - man it is a long week being solo with the kiddos!

Show Your Stripes for Cincy Pride

Saturday : 

• Connor had his basketball in the morning - Clint said he is doing quite well and starts 3x3 next week.
• Clint then rescheduled his massage for the next weekend so he could take over the parenting for a bit.
• We were pretty lazy around the house and I spent most of the morning talking to Cincy family and friends about the HUGE game coming up!
• I then napped on the couch to be fully ready for game time and while I napped the kids and Clint rode the snow mobile.
• We then watched the Bengals game - I drank more beers than normal b/c my nerves were completely shot.  Of course it came down to final second plays with our defense intercepting the ball on a 4th and 9 play in the red zone to win by 7 - HOLY COW!  I fell to my knees and just started crying.  It has been SO damn long!  I am so happy for the team, the city and all the fans!
• I was exhausted emotionally, physically, sore throat and a bit tipsy from the beer afterward so we watched some of the Buffalo game and then I crashed while Clint watched the rest of that blow out.

Game Ready!

Sunday : 

• Lazy day yet again - love a good 3 day weekend!
• Today we at least started to get stuff done around the house like groceries, laundry etc.
• I listened to a ton of post game interviews and read several articles about the Bengals
• Clint ran Maci to her 2p soccer practice and I helped her get math homework and her star student science project figured out for the upcoming week.
• We are now thinking about dinner and waiting on grocery delivery.  The plan is to enjoy an evening on the couch with the KC and Steelers game.

Tomorrow is a holiday for our whole family so we are looking forward to having another cozy day at home and playing in the snow.  We hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a warm week ahead!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Busy Sports & Birthday Party Fun!

A lingering pic from our Ohio Fun!

Weekdays : 

• Why is the first week back in the new year post holidays always harder than you would hope?  We worked our way back into the routine after a super fun time on break both in MN & OH!
• Monday : We were all super tired after getting home from the airport around 1030p on Sunday night.  Clint and I got to bed around 1130p so it was a long day and an early bedtime for all involved!
• Tuesday : Maci had her first finishing soccer camp in the evening after a break from holiday time
• Wednesday : We had decent snow throughout the morning so we both worked from home but thankfully the bus still arrived on time.  Maci had soccer at 6p and we had a chill evening at home.
• Thursday : After work I met up with Katie Greseth for dinner.  We skipped hot tub night given it was -30 wind chill and Harty's are doing a dry January.  That meant I got to bed at a decent time!

Friday : 

• We all worked from home and had productive days!
• I picked Maci up and ran her to gymnastics
• Clint picked up Connor and went to the batting cages while we were at gymnastics 
• We then all met up at Sunshine Factory for dinner, glass of wine and some pull tabs afterward
• Once home from dinner, we all wrapped it up for the evening and got to bed since Maci and I have an early Saturday wake up call

Saturday : 

• Busy morning/afternoon for our crew!
• Maci and I were up at 630a so we could drive to St Paul and get to the soccer dome by 730a for her soccer tourney.  They won both games and only gave up 1 goal in each game.  Maci played killer Defense in the first game and then had 2 sweet goals in game 2 - I joked the one had so much power it could have busted through the net!
• Clint had Connor and they went to his first basketball practice at 945a - Connor loved it and Clint said he had a great shot
• Afterward, they ran to Target to get a birthday gift and then were off to Louie's birthday party at Dave & Busters
• While they were at the birthday, Maci and I were back home and getting things done around the house
• I then had a 145p massage while Clint and Connor came home to hang with Maci
• Finally at 3p we were all home and ready to chill for the night.  We got groceries and dinner ordered.  I was about to puzzle and have a beer with Clint when the couch felt just a little too nice and fell asleep at 8p!  After the Dallas/Philly game, Clint woke me up and we headed to bed for the night.  A huge thanks to Clint who put away groceries, got the kids to bed and finished hanging a gift from my parents on our wall while I got my beauty sleep!

Hooping it up!

Video Game Fun w. Chuck @ Louie's Birthday!

Sunday : 

• Slept in until 8a when Connor set off the alarm trying to let Rosie outside :( poor guy but UGH, not a fun way to wake up!
• We ate some breakfast, moved slowly throughout the morning and then we were off to church and Sunday school for Connor.
• We are now getting ready to chill and watch some football.  The kids may ice skate later and Maci has soccer from 2-3p.
• It's nice having a quiet Sunday especially after a busy Saturday!

We hope you are all staying warm as winter progresses and having a healthy/prosperous start to 2022!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Holy Ohio! NYE, Meghan's Wedding and Bengals Win the AFC North!!!

Weekdays : 

• Monday - 1st day of the week long break!  Boomer had a vet apt at 10a, the kids and I finished cleaning the playroom and then we headed to get my COVID Booster in the afternoon.  We then had some yummy Mexican for lunch before coming home to chill.  The Dolphins had a Monday night game which they WON!
• Tuesday - Connor had his 6 year well check in the morning - 75th percentile on both height and weight and a perfectly healthy lil guy!  I then rescheduled my massage as I was feeling some effects of the booster shot and we were getting some decent snow.  I also got a text from my pal that they had COVID exposure so we rescheduled our dinner plans.  This allowed for us to put away all Christmas before heading out of town and to get fully packed almost 24 hours in advance - yay!  We then had a chill Tuesday night since we had to get up early on Wed.
• Wednesday - We are off!  On time smooth flight to Ohio at 8a.  Got our rental car and then were off to see some of my old stomping grounds, enjoy Skyline for lunch and then get an early check in to our hotel.  After having a nice afternoon nap, the Mondell's met up with us at our hotel before heading out to dinner at Deweys.  Kathy & Jack - Thanks for driving down to see us, even if pretty quick!

• Thursday - We met up with my high school gal pals that either live in Cincy or were still in town for the holidays.  We went to our old fav spot of Price Hill Chili - it took forever to seat us but we had a blast catching up!  Afterward we went back to the hotel for some quick naps and then over to Aunt Meghan's and Christian's for our family Christmas gift exchange.  I drove my parents home to the hotel and then crashed with Connor.  Maci and Clint came back later after playing a few games with the older kids.

Dear pals and our kiddos!

Friday : 

• NYE & Wedding Day!!!!
• We started the day with Molly and I joining the girls for nails then had some First Watch brunch.
• Afterward, Molly, Maci and I came back to our room for some downtime and naps!
• We were up and at 'em around 130p to go get our hair and makeup done in Meghan's room.
• We had a blast listening to music, chatting and complimenting how we were each turning out.
• Afterward, we had to get our dresses on and get outside for some pictures - thankfully it was an odd 60 degree overcast day so not too cold
• We caught some of the sad UC loss in between pics and on fountain square.
• After a quick drink and some apps at the bar next to the hotel, we were off to the wedding for a 730p ceremony and then cocktail hour/reception fun!!!
• Our family had such a blast and the kids got to have a hotel party with their 2nd cousin Emily watching them and their cousins Hailey and Preston.  They hung at the wedding until about 10p when the formalities were over and it was total party time.
• We enjoyed a balloon drop at midnight, sent off the Hensley's with some sparklers outside and then crashed in our room around 130a!!!  WOAH
• CONGRATS CHRISTIAN & MEGHAN!!!

Wedding pic fun - totally out of order but enjoy!!!

Saturday:

• I woke up around 9a feeling awful that someone has our kids, only to go to their room and find all the kids still out after all making it to midnight HAHA
• We grabbed some Starbucks with my mom, got showered and then were off to Aunt Meghan's and Christian's again for a lazy family day of watching bowl games - YAY OSU and just spending good time together.  We headed home after OSU and then spent the night packing so we were ready in the am.

Sunday : 

• I woke the kids blaring Bengals Touchdown anthem!  I was more excited than any of them but they were pretty pumped once they were up!
• We had some Starbucks again, checked out of the hotel, had them hold our bags and then were on our walk to meet Aunt Sue, Mike, Kendall, Molly, my mom, Preston, brother Dustin and Aidan for the game!!  We were about to cross a street when we saw them pull into their parking lot.  We had about a good hour of drinks before I headed to the game with 1/2 the crew so our kids could see the warm ups etc - first NFL game and all.
• THE GAME WAS A BLAST!!!  Spoiler alert, BENGALS WON WITH A FINAL FIELD GOAL THAT WAS KICKED IN THE END ZONE WE WERE IN!!!!!  This not only means we saw a win but the Bengals LOCKED a playoff birth and WON the AFC North!!!!
• We are now at the airport getting ready to board in 15 mins.  We got upgraded to Economy Comfort - oh I am liking you 2022!!

Hotel Ready before all the layers on some of us!

Pre-Gaming!

Ready!!!

Things are starting to go our way!

The Winning Crew in the Winning End Zone!

AFC NORTH CHAMPS!

Out on the way to the airport after kicking the cotton candy empty!

We will now get home, head to bed exhausted and turn around for work/school tomorrow but it was so worth it for such a wonderful trip with so many memories with loved ones in Ohio!  We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are having a fabulous start to 2022!!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C