Long Weekend Fun - Fair, Mondell Visit and Labor Day!

Another fast week of work and school before we were off for another long weekend - this time for 4 days around our own home (NO PACKING YAY!) with nothing but loved ones!

Babies Painting :)

 Baby Group

Connor Looking Dapper in his Sail Boat Pants

Friday - We took the day off for our annual fair day!!  The kids were amazing!  Connor took 2 naps - 1 in the umbrella stroller and one on momma in the carrier.  Maci only whined a few times which was impressive given her current temperament, age and we were there 10a until 4p :)

This Cracks Me Up

Story Line : We ask a nice lady if she would take a family picture which she quickly says SURE

This is what we get. . . UMMM and no "State Fair" sign in the bkg

I mean the first one is a framer for sure HAHA

 We Took the Camera Back & These Photogenic Kids Showed Up ;-)

 We ate our way through the fair per the usual. . . 

Pickle with cream cheese and pastrami 

 Bacon with Chocolate Sauce

Strawberries and Cream - YUM!

 Maci Rocked Kidway Rides

2 Rollercoasters w Momma & Daddy

 Hot Air Balloon Ride w. a New Friend

 She Talked About "The Cars" the Entire Day

Water Bumper Boats

 

Grandma Gilroy - She was quick to say "You don't have to be 4 to ride these swings!!"

Coney Island has ruined her for life HAHA

 

Lots of Animal Fun - Future Vet??!!

 She Could Live in Amish Country with God Mommy Christie :-)

When we got out of the fair we headed home to even more excitement.  Clint's parents ended up coming in Friday night instead of Thursday night.  No sooner did we pull up but Nanny and Grandpa were here!  Maci was so excited to tell them about her day and show off her dance gear, pedaling of her bike, how he hits the ball etc - she crammed all her recent activities/skills into about a 4 hour evening :)  The kids and I all crashed while Clint and his parents watched the Toledo Rockets on TV with some cocktails.

Saturday - In the morning, Maci and I took advantage of the quiet morn and headed out for grocery trips to Lunds and Target as well as a bagel run for all the adults back at home.  She was a great helper and was excited to see Grandpa up when we got back home.  She was quick to wake Nanny as well to get going on the fun day ahead.  Once everyone was up and at 'em we were off to Lake Calhoun for a lovely walk on a gorgeous day as well as a pit stop at the park and Tin Fish for a late lunch.

Nanny & Grandpa with the Big Kid

Pit Stop for Pictures

Snapchat Fun While Waiting on Tin Fish Lunch

This Girl - LOL

 Connor Got in on the Fun

Future Hipster!

After Calhoun we enjoyed a quiet remainder of the afternoon at the house.  After some college football, Clint fired up the grill and we enjoyed some amazing new york strip steaks from Lunds along with yummy corn brought from Ohio and macaroni salad.  It was such a great meal with good company!  We wrapped up the evening with Nanny giving Maci a bath and some more college football before we all called it a night.  I was wiped from a busy weekend so far with the kiddos and the Mondell's had an early departure the coming day.

Sunday - Nanny and Grandpa headed out around 830a and after our goodbyes we hit the errand list hard.  The goal was to have today be errand day so we could rest this evening and all day tomorrow (LABOR DAY!!!)  We recycled Connor's infant car seat at Target for his new big boy convertible seat and we got the car washed as well as updating more baby items for sale on Facebook garage sales and craigs list.  Clint is working on the last "to do" item by changing the light in the hallway which is way too high to reach without a crazy ladder.  We will then do a quick good will drop before we are DONE for the weekend.  We will then officially turn into lazy bums in front of the TV and lots of family play time tomorrow.

Too Soon?!

LOVE FALL DECOR

We hope you all are having a blessed and enjoyable long weekend with family and loved ones.  We are excited to have another short week ahead and then Maci's first dance class on Saturday and return of NFL on Sunday!!!  EEK hello fall, we love you! :-)

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

Cabin Weekend Fun!!

We had a pretty quick and peaceful work and school week.  On Tuesday night, Maci and I headed out to The Dance Warehouse for orientation - AKA shoe fitting.  This is where she will be taking tap/ballet on Saturday mornings throughout this school year, starting Sep 10th.  Mark your calendar for adorable pictures come recital time Jun 3rd/4th :)  Wednesday night I had a fun video chat catch up with Cincy high school girlfriends.  We wanted to connect shortly since the Mondell Family will no longer make it to Emily's wedding given Clint's surgery timing.  No matter how much time goes by between connecting with those girls, it is like we just spoke the day prior and pick up where we left off :)  YAY good friendships!  On Thursday I worked from home in an effort to get some heads down work completed and finish laundry before the big cabin weekend with friends.  It was a very successful day and I headed into vacation weekend feeling prepared (a first!)

Getting Some Art in Before Cabin Lounging 

Friday - The family woke and packed before leisurely heading out the door around 11a for our 3 hour drive up north!  The kiddos were great in the car and momma even snuck in a nap :)  Maci was FREAKING out about how excited she was to see her friends and all the fun things they were going to do together, so cute!  Clint and I were equally excited for evening adult time with good friends and cocktails!

We were the first to arrive with the Zehr's shortly behind us.  The Cassem's and Fike's then followed within the hour.  The cabin was AWESOME and it was on a private lake with NO other houses on the lake.  It was so secluded and our kids could be as loud as they wanted and only the chipmunks seemed to mind :)  Shortly after arriving the mom's took off for the grocery shopping and liquor buying while the dads attempted to keep all 8 kids under 3.5 alive!  They fortunately were successful and the moms enjoyed some shopping with only adults.  Once we got back we played a bit before making pizzas for dinner.

Girlies Playing in the Apple Tree

 Reunited and it Feels So Good

Summer gets so busy we haven't seen Nat much with them only 2 mins down the road

Need more play dates!

Check out this Motley Crew

Mondells (Connor 8 mo, Maci 3.5) Cassems (Natalie 3.5, Stella 21 mo) 

Fikes (Rosemary 18 mo, Emmett 3.5) Zehrs (Rowan 1 yr, Harper 3.5)

We had lots of playing outside after dinner and even made s'mores.  Unfortunately bed time took way longer than we intended night one but that just made the cocktails taste that much better :)  The girls couldn't take how chilly it was getting at night nor the bug bites so guys hung by the fire and girls played games inside.

Slumber Party!

 Girl Time

Cards Against Humanity!

 Shot Ski = Bad Idea

Saturday - We woke up to a chilly day which was expected but thankfully it was far less rainy than the weather report had shown.  So we wore layers and had a great day up until the rain around 6p.

These Kiddos 

 Siblings Sharing a Ride on an Early Morning Hike

 Playing with Blocks

 Model Baby

 More Playing with Barbie Jeep

 HAHA these 4 & Maci's Pose!!

Best Buds since 6 weeks old

 Playing with Her Brother :)

Stud Clapping!

 Hitting the Trails Before Dinner 

 We Survived the Bog

 CUTE

CUTE

Thick as Thieves! 

After burgers and hot dogs along with the fixings, it was time to start doing some baths and let the kiddos wind down.  The older kids had 0 naps and were running on fumes by the end of the day.  That led to quite a bit of whining and early bed times :)

Girls Only Bath Time!

 Coloring Before Bed

 Kids Were Finally in Bed & 

We Got the Guys to Stay Indoors (Thanks Rain!)

 Yikes - Sweats & No Makeup Kind of Weekend Fun ;-)

Sunday - We had to get up and get moving to put this house back in order.  Check out was at 11a and the owners had someone else coming to stay as of 3p.  The kids all had their moments of realizing it was time to go home - BOO!  By 10a we were all off and stopped at various time for food on the way home.  We got to our house by about 2p and then spent the rest of the afternoon doing laundry, unpacking, grocery shopping etc.  What an awesomely fun weekend with great people!!!

Grocery Buddy

Wouldn't let go of the Bananas for like 3 Aisles HAHA

We have another super fun week ahead!  We will work hard and then play even harder!  Wednesday our friend Lori is coming to hang out in the evening while Trip is in Brazil.  Then Clint is taking off Thursday in prep for his parent's stopping by on their way to WY.  We will enjoy dinner and an evening with Kathy and Jack followed by a 4 day weekend for all of us with the MN State Fair on Friday and TBD throughout the rest of the great weekend!!!  We are feeling very blessed with our lives and we are geared up to take on this Thyroid in a few weeks, in the meantime lots of family fun!

We hope you have a wonderful week ahead!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C