Mondells in Minneapolis

Sunday, January 5, 2025

Happy New Year, Back to School & Cold Temps!

Weekdays:

Monday - Joe left early in the AM - 715a flight. Thankful for Clint who drove him but I still got up to say my goodbyes. I was up and moving though by 8a b/c Connor had a basketball camp from 9-1130a with several of his buddies. He then hung at home for a bit before heading up to the high school for some scrimmaging with his team and the A team. Clint went up to help the coaches so they were there from 200-330p. Once home, Connor started watching college football and fell asleep on the floor cuddling the dog bed. He was exhausted!!

Tired boy!

Tuesday - Happy NYE!! Another 8a day with another basketball camp from 900-1130a. This time Connor's basketball buddy, Seb - short for Sebastian, came over for a playdate afterward until about 3p. During the play date, Maci ran up to Fusion Infiniti for a TFE training session - 1200-130p. She was happy that she had something to do during the majority of Connor's play date, even though she is a Seb fan. Once Seb left, we chilled a bit, watched some TV - finished the new season of Virgin River and ate some Tortilla soup from the crock pot. We played NFLopoly, watched law and orders, puzzled and colored right up until the ball drop. A super chill and cozy ringing in of '25!

The TFE Crew at Training

Wednesday - Happy '25!! We all slept in and Clint and I took a SUPER COLD walk to start the year. Connor went over to Anna's house for some NY ice skating on her neighborhood pound so he was gone most of the afternoon. Once home, we all settled in for the OSU butt whooping over the Oregon ducks! Them buckeyes are looking real good :)

Somehow they don't notice the cold the way we do!

Thursday - The kids headed back to school and Clint and I to work. However, most people we work with took off the rest of the week. Therefore, I worked from home and it was a pretty light schedule. Trying to remember where we left things off, catching up with those co-workers who were back around etc. Maci did a soccer training at Infiniti from 630-730p, I took her to and from. Then Clint and Connor headed to the launch of his hitting clinic for baseball from 745-900p.

Friday:

Pretty chill day on the work front for both of us.
Rosie got groomed and looks so awesome and fluffy!
Connor and Clint headed to his basketball practice at 6p.
Maci and I went up to the High School basketball game at 7p and Clint/Connor met us at halftime after practice ended.
The Wayzata team was on fire and won by over 40 OUCH! But fun to watch.

Saturday:

So freaking cold!
Clint started the day with an 8a massage.
He and Connor then headed to the baseball preseason clinic for his age from 1000-1130a
Maci and I got ourselves moving so we were ready once they were home as we had to hustle out to St Paul for Connor's basketball games at 1 & 2p.
Game 1 - L against the scrappy street ball team we had beat by 1 point last time
Game 2 - W and our boys took out all aggression from game 1 on this team - won by at least 15
Headed home for a quick cat nap and then off to the Cassem's for our mommy & me holiday family party.
The girls loved their skincare gifts and Connor/Emmitt loved the flashy chains they got HAHA
We enjoyed a good meal and then everyone watched my Bengals get their final W.
We all headed home around 10p but Maci stayed behind to spend the night with Natalie. I crashed with a smile after a great team W/winning season & wonderful dear friend time.

Love these people!

The best ladies

Fun kiddos

Silly Boys with Chains

Sweet/Pretty Gals

Cute Girlies

Love this crew!

Sunday:

Nice cozy day at home in freezing temps!
We all slept in until about 1030a - LOVELY!
Maci/Natalie did the same so Clint didn't go to pick her up until about 1130a.
Shortly after getting home, Maci went over to her pal Harper's house to hang out.
Connor played with some Christmas gifts (seek and find books) before heading out to ice skate on the rink with neighbor boys most of the afternoon.
I got all Christmas put away and cleaned up the house/did laundry/ordered groceries etc.
Everyone got home around dinner time, we ate, prepared for the week ahead and are now cheering on the Vikings against the Lions. Clint's 'phins lost and were out and the stupid Chiefs couldn't beat the Broncos to let my Bengals in so now it is all Viking fun the rest of the season!

Ready to head back into a full week of routine and ideally temps start to warm up a bit!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Winter Holiday Break Week 1 - Best Time of Year!

Weekdays:

Monday - We got up and hung out with my parents until around lunch time when we left for Columbus, had a yummy lunch at Skyline, dropped off the rental car and got situated at the airport. We had another pretty easy flight home and were eager to get back in our own beds that night.

Goodbyes always come to quickly

Everyone Happy to be Home

Tuesday - Christmas Eve! Connor finally agreed to a haircut and I agreed to let him keep it longer than my preference :) The lady did a lovely job and I think he even agrees to go back again! We had a lazy rest of our afternoon watching TV and football before heading to our annual Benihana dinner YUM! We then wrapped our night with all the traditions - driving through the lights at the hood just up from us and then some dip time in the hot tub. We did some Santa assisting before bed for Connor's main gift and then bed time for all.

Nice Cut - He looks like a young Bieber now

Benihana Farararara Fa Ra Ra Raaaa

Maci rocking a sweater from Grandma/Grandpa Gilroy shopping

Hot Tub Tradition

Wednesday - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! Best day of the year 💗 Maci loved all her clothes including Ugg slippers, skincare/makeup, Beats headphones and cake turner with icing scraper plus icing tips. Connor loved his new big kid dirt bike, sports gear, new video games and Beats headphones. Clint loved his Bourbon Barrel for the basement wall and ice machine for the basement bar. I loved my Dyson air straightener for my hair and puzzle + puzzle sorter. We had a wonderful morning opening, yummy breakfast, lazy day of ice skating, riding dirt bike, napping, trying new items, picking up a bit etc. We enjoyed having football on this year too! Around 6p we decided to head for our bowling and pizza. We had a blast per usual and got 3 games in and had a blast before going home to crash!

Christmas Morning

Sweet new Dirt Bike!

Gifts from Uncle DKO

Maci's Custom Baking Apron

Sport Cards from Christie

Sweet Gifts from God Mommy Christie

Bowling Fun!

Thursday - Started the day by running Connor to his 9 year well check. He is 75%+ for height and weight and passed all checks with flying colors. We came home and did some things around the house the rest of the afternoon. Maci did a gift exchange with her besties from school from about 4-6p. Then Clint and I were off to meet some of our fav soccer families for a post Christmas dinner/drinks. Well what was to be 1 drink turned into 3 Espresso martinis for me - OUCH the next day but so many laughs with good friends at the time!

Best Pal Gift Exchange

Livi, Isla, Livian, Harper, Maci

Game Time

Cuties

Maci with her Goods from Livi

Maci ironically also got Livi as her Secret Santa recipient

Silly Isla

Love their friendship

Oh the drinks have kicked in

Brad, Clint, Kari, Me, Kim, Mike, Kristi, Kevin

The ladies really thought this would look cool, it does not HA

Friday:

I felt like poo but got up and moving while Clint went to pick up my cousin Joe from the airport. He is a huge Packers fan, has been since childhood, and he works for Oakley. Oakley sponsors Justin Jefferson (Vikings) so he got 4 tickets through work for the game and picked the one here in MN with us YAY!
Clint and Joe grabbed some Chick Fil A lunch which really helped with my recovery that much more.
We puzzled, watched football and then had to get up and moving for Maci's Christmas Cup soccer tournament which started at 430p. They did great and with 1/2 their team not able to make it. We WON the Cup! Maci started slow but was a BEAST by game 3 and was RIPPING daggers at the net from there on. Great hustle and effort by all - fun to get the W and rolled out of there around 8p.

Champions!!!

U12 Coerver Christmas Cup Champions & Champion Shirts

The Cute Elf Uniform these Gals Rocked

Saturday:

Easy moving day! I started with getting my nails done at 10a, shifting from Red snowflake nails to black and gold sparkly New Year nails. Joe and Clint headed up to the local golf simulator for 18 holes and some food/drink. While they did that, I took a nice nap!
Once all were home, we went back to sports on TV, puzzling and hanging out. So nice!
The Bengals then played in the afternoon vs Denver and my God if that game didn't take years off my life! Going to OT, missing a Field Goal to win it and then finally coming back and Joe B getting it done per usual with a walk off TD.
We ate a late dinner and then the Harty's came over to play games with us and hang in the basement with Joe and us for a while.

Sunday:

Started the day with a hearty breakfast at Peg's Countryside Cafe, courtesy of Joe.
Then we were quickly getting ready and off to drop Maci at Vi's house before the 4 of us (Clint, Joe, Connor and me) were off to the Vikings vs Packers game.
Joe LOVED the stadium and the environment the Vikings create. Clint loved a good game, Connor loved the new birthday gear and I enjoyed watching a game that didnt make me nervous HA
Once out of there, we ran to pick up Maci and then grabbed Livi from our neighborhood to spend the night as her parents and sister went to the Timberwolves game and nicer to be around others.
While the girls hung out, Connor crashed and Joe/Clint and I took in a good Wolves game that came down to the wire but with a W!
Off to bed after the game as we have an early wake up for Joe's 7a flight in the morning on Monday.

Game Time!