Portsmouth, NH Vacation - Volume 2

Sunday - We started the day with another yummy spread of cereal, fruit, coffee etc.  How can you not smile in the morning seeing these cuties?!

After breakfast we all got ready for the beach.  While the adults took turns getting ready, I helped to entertain our ladies by reading a little Ranger Rick magazine. . . Maci really seems to enjoy this by the pictures more than I remember =)

Then it was finally time for BEACH DAY!  We arrived at the beach around 1030a and didn't leave until 2p. . .quite the good time for lil ladies.  Mom, you would be so proud that no one in either family burned even if that meant the Mondells were coated in sun block :)

 Maci and the adorable Miss Brandi

 The Boys and the BIG Girls

What a fun afternoon at the beach!  Maci LOVED sand, like she does at beaches here in Minneapolis but being ocean sand made it much smoother.  She also LOVED chasing the seagulls but seeing as Andy hates birds, he didn't take part in the fun.  Once it was low tide, Miss M had a ball!  She liked the ocean a lot more when there were no crashing waves and she could run for miles seeing her feet and splashing in ankle deep water - so cute!

After the beach we all needed to shower, sand was everywhere!  We then headed to dinner in downtown Portsmouth followed by some amazing ice cream.  The girls then all had bed and we well, goes without saying, ended the night with cocktails on the deck.

Get ready for picture overload in Volume 3!

Lots of Love,
C, K & M

Portsmouth, NH Vacation - Volume 1

This little pouting/sad face from a week ago at daycare about sums up the entire Mondell household mood ever since we had to leave our good friends the Green's and our long weekend family vacation to Portsmouth, NH.  This is why I am behind on getting last week's blog entry posted.  Clint, Miss M and I headed to the Boston airport Friday morning on an adventure that would be one GREAT family vacation!

Friday : 4am wake up call thanks to the alarm clocks but Clint and I popped right out of bed since this was the start of VACATION, even if only 2 true work days of vacation.  Miss M did great on the flight to Boston, even with having to spend a 1 hour delay eating an extended breakfast in the Minneapolis airport and a 1 hour extra flight time from what she experienced to Ohio.  We landed in Boston, picked up our rental car and we were off on the 1 hour drive to Portsmouth, NH to the Green household.  Clint pouted most of the drive due to traffic but we quickly forgot about that when we arrived at the familiar house (we had visited 4 years ago) and saw those wonderful smiling faces and GROWN girls!  The last time we saw Edie she was 2 years old and Lucy was a 6 month old baby.  They were now little girls with wonderful smiles and matching personalities.  We were able to spend Friday afternoon getting settled and catching up before heading to dinner at a wonderful pizza place in downtown Portsmouth.  The restaurant gives the kids dough to play with before the pizza arrives - ahhhh so nice to visit people with kids who get what a restaurant needs to offer for me to be able to "enjoy" dinner with Maci!  After bed time, the adults hung out on the back deck, had cocktails and dished gossip :)

Saturday : So begins the pictures and why this vacation will be shared in 3 volumes!  We started the day with wonderful breakfast sandwiches (did I mention Brandi cooks and Clint was in love with her more than usual) and fruit on the back deck.  After breakfast, we headed to their local farmers market for some dinner items for that night's grill out and of course we had to spend some time at the local park for all the girls before heading home.  Maci loved riding on a springy horse!

After we wandered around the downtown area a bit and saw flowers along side an outdoor play area (we didn't go since Maci can sit still for about 15 mins right now), we headed back to the house for Maci's nap and some lunch.  After nap time ended and Maci ate, we were off to a Blueberry farm to do some blueberry picking.  Maci easily ate her weight in blueberries and Clint whined about the heat which made him the butt of many jokes for the rest of the weekend.  However, before we left I got some amazing shots of my lil family!

Can you say "Daddy's Girl"?!

Bucket in one hand, Daddy in her other!

 Sneaking Blueberries

Since Clint had to complain about the heat (maybe low 80s with a breeze) - we left earlier than planned and vs heading home we went to a park near the ocean and some great scenery.  I was ok with this since it was an opportunity for more cutie pics.

We then headed home and Maci/Lucy shared a bath before heading to bed.  We then ended the night with some more cocktails on the deck - lovely tradition!  See Volume 2 for Sunday beach fun!

Lots of Love,
C, K & M

Hot Time in the City!

This weekend was HOT - I say this as I am desperately in need of a cool shower and early bed time after a long afternoon at Valley Fair amusement park!  Before we get into the weekend let's see what we were up to this week.  There were no daycare pics this week.  Clint was in Milwaukee with work, unfortunately assisting with the security needs on a plant closure.  While he was gone, I got to take Miss Maci to her daycare summer luau on Tuesday night (see face painting pic), Wednesday night I attempted to take her to a happy hour at the West End's Yard House but she had other plans and was a total terror so we had to leave after 1/2 a glass of wine and barely any convo and lastly I had her 18 month check up on Thursday morning.  The Dr was quite impressed with Maci's physical and mental development and our once lil lady is now 60% for weight (25 lbs) and 75% for height (32.5 inches).  Maci was also a rock star during her only shot, the nurse put the needle in and Maci said "owwwwieeee" and then never cried!  As a needle phone, I was impressed to say the least!!!  Then it was Friday and daddy was home and the weekend could begin!!!

I was in a workshop Mon-Wed at work

On Monday I realized I was having a Diet Coke with my Brother =)

This is Maci's face paint from the Luau Party at Daycare

It was supposed to be a butterfly but Maci wouldn't wait for the rest of the paint job ;-)

Friday - Clint got home around 5p and I worked until about 6p so we had a late dinner with Miss M at Chipotle which is always followed by Coldstone Ice Cream since it is so conveniently next door =)

Saturday - Clint went golfing with our friends Trip/Lori who are about to move.  While he was out golfing in the morning, Maci and I had breakfast together and went to the cutest kid bookstore (Wild Rumpus) where they have a live chicken, ferret etc as well as wonderful children books.  We picked up a few classics and came home for nap time.  Once we were all up and Clint was home, we headed on errands and some Fall clothes shopping at the mall for Miss M.

Sunday - This morning we ran a few errands and Clint did yard work.  After Miss M's nap, we headed to Valley Fair amusement park with our friends Jacey, Ryan & Natalie and John, Halston & Harper.  Maci LOVED the rides, especially these cars that whipped around the bends.  We were there in the HOT HOT sun from 2-630p and we all left exhausted!  Now that we are home, Maci had a bath and went right to bed and Clint and I aren't far behind.

Maci and Natalie - the bestest girl friends!

RIDES

 Dancing to a Peanuts Show

 I just found this so funny!

 HOT Cuties on the Train!

We hope you all had great weekends and even better weeks ahead!
Lots of Love,
C, K & M

Beach - Zoo - Friends = One Great Weekend!

We all had a pretty good week at work and school.  Maci had a petting zoo come to school on her 18 month birthday (23rd) and she called every animal "PUPPY!"  She also got to have water day on her 18 month birthday - what a great 1/2 birthday!!!  I got to work from home on Thursday after a 3 day workshop ended early and I got quite a bit done - has me pondering the idea of scheduling at least 1 day a month to work from home to have quiet "GET STUFF DONE" days!

Petting Zoo Fun!

 Water Day, Cottage Cheese and 18 month birthday - does it get much better?!

Ha this squirrel is the new class pet that they watch through the window

Friday - Wahoo the weekend is here!  Stephen from next door came over to babysit Maci so Clint and I could have date night with our friends Jamie and Mike.  We went to Ciao Bella for dinner, food was decent and the wine was even better :)  Jamie and I had quite a few glasses and all of us enjoyed nice adult conversation minus the kiddos!

Saturday - In the morning we ran errands and after nap time we took advantage of the HOT almost 90 degree weather.  One of the many reasons we love Minneapolis is the massive amount of lakes/beaches right in our backyard.  Maci had a great time showing off her swim lesson skills and learning how to build sand castles.  After the beach we grabbed some ice cream before heading home.

Maci then took a late nap while we did some yard work.  She woke back up around 630p and played out in our newly complete backyard!  It is so nice to have an oasis out back not only for us but also a wonderful play land for our lil lady.  After she went to bed, I did a little bit of work email out back while Clint finished some yard work.  Later in the evening our neighbor Eric and his girlfriend Becca came over for a few drinks and a fire in our fire pit.  Such a nice night!

Sunday - What a busy fun day!  Clint went golfing with Mike (friend from our Friday night dinner) while Jamie and I met up for some mother/daughter zoo fun.  Today we went to the Como Zoo (2 zoos in the twin cities area).  The Como zoo is a free zoo in St Paul and we had a blast.  We got there right when it opened at 10a and left around 1p.  The girls had so much fun looking at the animals, watching the seal show and riding the carousel before heading home for naps.

After nap time, we were off again but this time to our friend Melissa and Josh's house for some mommy & me BBQ time.  It has been far too long since we have seen some of the families.  Of the 9 of us, 4 are now pregnant with their 2nd and those of us that weren't pregnant were happy to raise a beer in their honor ;-)  We were so busy watching 9 toddlers running around the house that we didn't have time to take any pictures but is crazy how big they are all getting!  Today's main event was eating crayons and fighting over an Elmo cell phone - a lot better I guess than crying for bottles :)

We are now getting Maci ready for bed and starting to plan out this next week.  Clint is in Milwaukee with work needs Tues-Fri of this week.  Maci has a school Luau Tuesday evening and her 18 mo doctor check up Thursday morning so I will stay busy without dad around to share the load :)

Have a great week!
Lots of Love,
C, K & M