India Trip & Holly/Paul Visit!

Since I headed to India on Sunday of last week I didn't get a chance to post Maci's Sunday school play pictures - so stinking cute!

Miss M the Angel 

 The Crew

I headed out as intended around 430p on a flight to Paris then to India - fortunately this flight required me to head to the airport and miss 1/2 of the UGLY Bengal's game vs the Bears.

Enjoying a Beer & Some Email Before My Flight

It was a crazy week for me and Clint.  I spent ~24 hours traveling Sunday through Monday and headed into the Bangalore, India office Tues, Wed and Thurs.  On Thurs we had a long day : full day in the office, presented at a global town hall, presented awards at an employee recognition celebration, headed back to the hotel, had dinner and then left to the airport around 10p for a 2 hour drive and then 2a flight to Amsterdam.  I then had yet another 24 hours of travel arriving back home Friday around 1p.  I was so glad to reach American soil after a great yet crazy fast week away!

Hotel Lobby Train Display

 Thank You Gift from the Hotel

While I was gone, Clint had a hectic week being solo parent!  Let's see what they were up to . . .

Proud Pre-K Girls with Their Snowman!

 Some Morning Yoga with Miss Mara

 Dinner Date with Dad at McDonald's New Playground

"It's pretty boring" says Maci

 Happy Boy in Toddler Room

 Cuddle Bugs After School

 Science Projects

 Night Before Mommy Gets Home

Ignore the Crazy Eyes of Boomer :)

Mom is Home on Friday & Maci has Treats : 

Indian Bracelet, Doll from the Hotel Workers and Headband from God Mom Christie

Saturday - Thanks to jet lag, I was up wide awake by 430a.  I came downstairs and heard Maci also up watching her iPad - I swear this girl doesn't sleep!  I offered for her to come cuddle on the couch with me and watch a movie.  We got about 20 mins into Love Actually when I glanced over and saw this . . .

We had Maci's dance class in the morning which consisted of a holiday party, parents getting to come in the room to watch the lesson and Maci getting her 2nd recital costume - this time jazz and it is oh so cute but didn't get a picture - I blame jet lag.  We then ran some errands including boys' haircuts.  Afterward, I got some laundry going and put away delivery groceries before Holly and Paul arrived from Florida!  We had a great time catching up from about 330 to 6p when Miss Kaitlin showed to watch the kids while we headed to Mall of America for shopping, walking and dinner/drinks.

Sunday - We all got up and had some donuts/bagels before Eric/Amanda showed to watch the kids and for us to head to the Bengal vs Viking game.  Needless to say it was a HORRIBLE game but still a whole lot of fun!  Thankfully the Vikings are some nice fans and with them being my 2nd fav team, it wasn't a frustrating loss - other than the Bengals suck and need to figure some stuff out in the off season!  Post game we had pizza and watched the remainder of the afternoon games.

Before Kick Off

 Let's Go!

Umm 14-0 like that?! 

 Why did we fly from FL again?!

 Just Enjoy the Beers!

 We Finally Scored a TD!!!

Yay 2nd String HA

 Let's Remember this Score - BOO!

 The Happy Kids We Came Home to HAHA

We are now preparing for the Sunday night football game and getting ready for the work week ahead.  Holly/Paul will head out on their drive to WI tomorrow morning after we leave for work.  This is our last week at work for the 2017 year - YAY!  We will enjoy Christmas with our family of 4 here in MN and head to OH for the New Year!!  We look forward to celebrating the upcoming holidays and seeing a variety of family and friends!!!

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

We Saw Santa 2x in 1 Week!!

I feel the same way about Mondays Maci Girl

Monday : Rough start to the week - the kids were all decked out in Bengals gear in hopes of a W on Monday night football.  The team played great but as usual we came up short in the end - ugh!

Mr Connor is officially in the Toddler Room

Saving us that $$$$

 Antonio Brown has some odd eyebrow game going on

Tuesday : After work we had the annual New Horizon Academy Santa visit and dinner.  Maci was so cute saying "Mom, I am a little nervous because I am not sure what I am going to say but I will figure it out"  Both kids did great on the jolly man's lap and Maci spoke so softly (that's a change!) that he just nodded like he understood her :)

Love this Sight this Time of Year

 Pretty Good Shot with the Jolly Man Himself

Wednesday : Crazy Day at Work led to some emails most of the night and attempting to lock the kids out of the room I was working.

Thursday : The craziness from the day before was resolved and in a favorable outcome so that made for a good day.  On the way home, I drove the kids around to see some lights while Clint was picking up some dinner since the instapot dinner he made didnt quite turn out. . . maybe next time.

Working on Her Letters

 Our Fav Light Display

 We then came home to a special treat - Christmas Books from Aunt Marilyn & Uncle Ken!!

Friday : I worked from home and had a fairly productive day which included lots of prep for my India trip this coming week.  I now have my phone ready, all the preventative meds and my emergency snacks.  Clint brought the kids home around 5p just in time for the pizza's arrival.  Not soon after we ate, Clint was out for a guys night.  I continued to get more prep work and household needs prepped for my trip.  Miss M did another "LATE NIGHT" and didnt go to bed until 11p when Clint came home - this is getting OLD!  Anyone have any go to sleep tricks for a late owl child under 5?  Oh and did I mention she still gets up at 730a?! UGH!

Costume Kim Came as Mrs Clause

Wild and Crazy Play Time

Saturday : We played hooky from dance this morning and instead went to our breakfast with Santa at the Minnetonka Community Center.  Maci claimed it to be the best day ever and Connor loved it right up until he had to sit with the big guy - big time stranger danger came on and well I forced him to sit anyway :)

Christmas Carole Sing Along Time

 The Classic Photo!

I then rested for a little bit in front of the TV as I have been fighting some fatigue, muscle aches and sore throat.  I have been attempting to kill it with Vitamin C and meds before my trip.  The rest of the day was spent packing, doing laundry, preparing Clint for a week with the kids solo.

You likely noticed I did this week's blog a day early.  With my flight leaving at 4p tomorrow, I won't have a lot of time to get things like this done in addition to mass/Maci's Christmas pageant in the morning.  I will be sure to share some pictures of the pageant in next week's post.  I am not worried about Clint managing the kids in the least, he likely will do better than I do but I do worry about the state of our home when I return this coming Friday afternoon.  Let's just say he and I have different tidiness standards and that is usually after I have been gone a day or two. 😝
Please say some prayers for my safe travel and well behaved kiddos for Clint.

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!!

Busy week for the Mondell house! (do I start every week's blog that way 🤣🤔)
I had global leadership team meetings which meant our whole leadership team was in Minneapolis and Clint was in New Orleans Tues-Fri of the week.

Monday - Clint kindly took M to her ice skating that evening since I would have my fair share of the kiddos the rest of the week.  I got some rest that night before he headed out and the meetings really got hot and heavy.

Tuesday - We had all day meetings and then a team dinner that night at Yummy 6 Smith!  Thankfully our neighbor Karoline watched the kiddos for me and I was able to enjoy some much needed wine!

Goofball!  

Enjoying his last days in the transition room - moves to toddler on Monday.

Wednesday - Another all day of meetings and Miss M helped me get into the Christmas spirit by drawing me a Christmas tree at daycare drop off.  After work/school, we hurried to Connor's lil gym fun.  M was such a good girl watching her iPad in the waiting area and Connor played happily the entire time.

Thursday - Connor's new gym shoes arrived in the mail.  We are back to rocking the Jordan's and my little stud decided to show them off before school.  My meetings also wrapped up today so I was able to get some things off the to do list post meetings.

 Maci enjoying our slumber party tradition when dad is away

I may want to kill the dog 99% of the day but man does she have a special bond with her night time buddy!

Friday - Wahoo!!!  Dad is home and it is the weekend!  I got the kids, headed home, ordered pizza, wrapped more gifts and watched Willy Wonka while we waited for dad to get home around 730p.  Once Clint was home I disappeared upstairs to my silent bedroom for junky TV and rest!

Saturday - Busy but Fun Saturday!  Started our day with Dance and Maci got her tap costume!  We then headed home and started to watch Toledo win the MAC!  I had to leave around noon though to get a 1 hour much needed massage - I fell asleep AHH!  Then I ran to the store for some fruit and brownies and then off to the Zehr's we went for Friends Christmas!  These kiddos had so much fun playing together, seeing Santa's helper and watching Home Alone.  We left around 830p and neither kid crashed in the car - they were still too hyped from all the fun. . . . and sugar!

Ignore the black leotard and pink tights - that wouldn't be a part of the attire

Nor the lil Brother in a Christmas sweater HAHA

 Picture Time & M has to Strangle Connor

 I sure love these 8 kiddos!

 7 with Santa - #8 Connor did NOT care for Santa's Helper!

Maci said "wow you look funny!"😊

 Almost 5 Years Old & Pals for Almost as Long

These 4 sure do💙 each other!  

Sunday - Productive Day!  Started with mass/Sunday school.  This made us realize we need an advent wreath since Maci is learning all about it and we don't have one.  Shout out to Momma Gilroy for sending us the one we used growing up along with the book to help follow along leading up to Christmas.  Also a shout out to Amazon for Prime candles which will arrive by Tuesday end of day - who says you can't do things quickly?!  We then got all the errands done around the house that we would usually spread over Saturday and Sunday.  I enjoyed the Vikings 8th win in a row while doing laundry, balancing checkbook, tidying the house, finishing Christmas shopping etc.  I am now watching more football/fold laundry while Clint is about to run errands and pick up some food.

As we prepare for the week ahead, we are excited to have all 4 of us in town and to see so many fun holiday traditions on the calendar!  This week includes daycare holiday party and Santa sighting and a breakfast with the jolly old man himself on Saturday morning (playing hooky from dance).

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C