Puppy Selected & Awesome Saturday Weather!

Maci's Amazing Strength, Flexibility and Constant Gymnastics

HA this is so our kids!

Monday :
We selected our puppy from the litter and while we were the 5th to choose, we got our top choice - Diamond (a curly pup and largest of the girls) - we will be changing her name and the kids are still clueless

School work

Wednesday : 
Clint and I both headed into our respective offices which is a nice way of breaking up the weeks

Painting Fun

Thursday : 
I headed into the office again but Clint was at home.  I had a very early Wed and Thurs start so was pretty tired when I got home.  Tena is on a diet and minimizing her drink intake so we skipped Thursday night hot tub which at least allowed for an earlier bedtime.

Friday : 
After work, I had dinner/drink plans with the new momma pals who I haven't seen since summer cabin which was such a nice way to end the week.  Clint managed the kiddos at gymnastics and then got them noodles for dinner.  I got home around 930p and kissed them kiddos in bed.

Brave Teachers - Even more Painting 

Thankful for them using over sized old shirts!

Saturday :
Maci had soccer in the morning and I got started on finalizing our taxes, laundry etc.  Once Clint and Maci were home we got loaded into the car and headed to Ridgedale mall.  We got the kids new gym shoes and sandals for summer.  Clint got some running shoes and I was able to return the 2nd 1st communion dress that wasn't quite the right size for Maci.  We had a yummy lunch at Cheesecake Factory and then headed home.  Groceries came, we got more stuff done around the house and the kids did some bird watching b/c it was sunny and high 40s!!!  I should have gotten a walk in because today we are snowy.  At night Clint and I watched some more of our newest show "All American" and then crashed.

What does Connor do doing Maci's soccer you ask?!  

Home Repairs HAHA

Sunday : 
Lazy Sunday!  Clint ran to get donuts and popcorn shrimp since the grocery delivery spot was out of it yesterday and we need it for a recipe this week.  Maci wrapped up her homework this weekend which consisted of math worksheets and more brainstorming for her autobiography.  We put a way a lot of laundry while the snow fell.  Now it seems to be done and the sun is out.  Clint and the kids just cleared the driveway and are headed out on the snowmobile to get pulled on the tube.  I am going to do some weekday work prep while they are out riding around.  Tena and I are planning to enjoy the sunshine and get a walk in later as well!  

I hope you all are having a great weekend!  We are getting excited for all the things coming with spring and summer for our crew.

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Bowling Date Night

Making Cards Last Week 

Monday : Kids and I had the day off together for President's Day and I finally finished my latest puzzle!

Finished Puzzle 

Tuesday : I went into the office downtown and we had Chipotle Takeout Tuesday to benefit the kids school at night - Connor got to have his Valentine's Day party at school

Delivering Valentine's & Enjoying some Bingo - Connor won a little red dinosaur!

He plays with solo cups for building at home too 

Wednesday : Clint headed down to a few Cargill facilities in different parts of MN for the day and I started calls at 7a

Thursday : I had a hair appointment in the early evening and while there I was able to order Maci's 1st Communion dress/veil/sweater/mask.  Once home, we did hot tub hangout with the Harty's!

The dress she chose, hope it looks cute in person!

Friday : Maci's bus never came so all the neighbors were scrambling in the morning but Shane thankfully threw them all in his big Yukon and hauled them into school shortly after I took Connor.  Clint and I spoke to an interior designer that may help us with some final touches around the house : e.g. new carpet color recommendation, how to decorate some of the big walls so they aren't so plain etc.  In the evening we had the kids gymnastics and picked up Sunshine Factory for dinner on the way home.  I had a long phone chat with my dad while I folded laundry and Clint watched Toledo basketball.

Buddies

Saturday : Maci had soccer in the morning.  Clint ran Connor for a haircut (school pics coming up on March 4).  I was super productive on all things like cleaning house, ordering groceries, planning the week,  ordering puppy gear, finished Maci's homework (math and an autobiography), found golf lessons for M this spring and prepared all our documents for our tax apt on Monday - woof!  Before we knew it, it was time to get ready for our date night with the Harty's.  We went to Birches on the lake for some great food and then had plans to bowl at Medina Ballroom near our home.  We all actually bowled pretty well which was fun but when it was time to go we were struggling to get an Uber/Lyft so we started to walk the 1.5 miles home in the cold.  However, Clint was smart and called another neighbor who swung by and picked us up :). We love our hood!  By 11p, we were crashed for the night!

Sunday : The temps are warming up, 32 today!  We ordered Peg's (chicken place) for breakfast.  Started the day a little slow thanks to cocktails.  I just got done doing a 20 min Peloton ride and now I may take a quick nap before hitting a lot of work prep/clean up for the day.  Clint is about to head out on snowmobiles with Nate while the kiddos are playing on their respective toys/interests.  We may even get a family walk in for the day!

We are really excited for some 40s this coming week and hopefully some early signs of spring in the near future.  We hope you all are surviving your winter as well.

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Long Holiday Weekend!

Monday : We got the kids all signed up for their summer program through Wayzata Kids - Ahhh to think about summer during these temps!

Tuesday : I had my annual dermatologist apt and thankfully he said all my freckles and moles look healthy, another year down!  We also got our master closet install scheduled for JUNE - holy Hannah all supply chains are backed up!

Ready for Mardi Gras!

Wednesday : An office day for me and a freezing cold day for everyone!

Thursday : Maci had her Valentine's Day party at school today since they are off Friday for conferences and Monday for President's day.  She sure loves a themed party, much like her momma!  I went into the office again and we all froze again!

Ready for Valentine's Day Fun

Friday : Clint took the day off since the kids didn't have school.  We joined Maci's virtual conference with her teacher in the morning and learned how awesome she is at math, improving at reading and just an all around good friend - Yay Maci!  I then worked the rest of the day on a fairly nice open schedule and Clint and the kids went to the movies to see Croods 2.  I wasn't feeling my best by the end of the day so Clint took the kids to gymnastics solo and grabbed some dinner on the way home - early bedtime for me!

Saturday : M had soccer and I helped her get ready before Clint ran her to practice.  Around noon I had a massage, ah felt amazing!  Then Maci and I got our nails done together.  We were then lazy on the couch until we went for a family dinner to Medina Ballroom, just down the way from us.  Clint and I watched "We are the Millers" and then called it a night - too cold for a fire!

Best Dad Around

Our Dinner Companions :

Connor and his Root Beer

Maci and her New Nails

Sunday : Happy Valentine's Day!  I had to get laundry and grocery shopping done since we had done our pampering the day before.  I got to spend some time puzzling on the couch and then for dinner, Liz came over to watch the kids and enjoy a Pappa Murphy's heart pizza while Clint and I got to head out to COV for our own dinner and cocktails.  Such a nice break from the crew!

Oh Yea, Heart Pizza & Connor needs a haircut

I am behind on posting this week's blog but I am allowed b/c it is a long weekend for me - LOVE that I have president's day off with the kids today!  We have been doing some remaining laundry, picking up but now I am about to nap and finish my latest jigsaw puzzle - Yay love extra lazy days like this.

We hope you all are staying warm during this latest cold snap!  We can't wait for spring to show some signs around these parts, maybe come March 🤞🏼

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Super Bowl Sunday & Sub Zero Temps

Weekdays

• Monday we had Maci's first communion parent meeting in the evening - with COVID she will do her 1st communion on either a Tues or Wed evening special mas in May with only 1st communion kiddos vs the usual all parish Sunday mass in May - at least she gets to enjoy the sacrament and wear her white dress (Maci's fav part!)
• Tuesday Maci had her 8 year old well screening - the Dr commended us on how great M is and how muscular she is (no surprises) - she was an on the nose 50% for height and about 55% for weight - such a good girl!
• Wednesday we both went into the office for the first time on the same day since March - At night, Maci had her monthly religion class and Clint took her while I picked up Connor and had dinner on our own
• Thursday I went into the office again, thinking of doing 2 days a week from now on just for some variety.  At night, I was exhausted so we skipped our usual hot tub fun and watched some of our Virgin River instead

Connor's Teacher Ms Mindy is Great at Taking Pics

1st Pic - Louie, boy next to Connor, lives in our 'hood - there are actually ~8 Fall Kindergartners in our 'hood 😃

2nd Pic - Reminds me when the teachers told my mom before kindergarten that I didn't draw a neck on my person 😉

3rd Pic - Masks aren't required in PreK b/c well see 4/5 year olds and the ability to keep them on but I love how Connor sometimes has his on yet not quite the right way, under his chin 😳 oh and they are making groundhogs

4th Pic - Who doesn't love story time?!  Connor is rocking his school spirit with the Wayzata sweatshirt!

Weekend 

• Friday 
• PCS our contractor came to start picking out windows as our arbitration with the insurance company is finally rescheduled for March 
• The day went smoothly for both of us and then it was time to head to Gymnastics for the kids
• They both had a ball and then we headed home to meet our delivery dinner from Rusty Taco (Yum, had never tried but will be doing them again!)
• Put the kids to bed and then watched more Virgin River until I crashed

Class Pics

Love the 2nd Silly Face One especially with Connor and his buddy Anna (Mickey shirt)

• Saturday 
• Maci had her soccer at 8a, why does that feel so early?!
• Clint got a haircut and had a massage while I got grocery, laundry and other things around the house done.  We also booked our annual trip to the WI Dells for August!
• I then did some puzzling in the afternoon while we finished Virgin River episode 2, can't wait for 3 to come out!
• At 430p we ran Maci to Natalie's house for her birthday sleep over, a straight swap of what we did at our house 2 weeks earlier :)
• After dropping M, Clint, Connor and I headed for our fav River Inn - we haven't been since they were allowed to open back up - service and food was amazing!!!  Clint can't believe it took him this long to try the prime rib and I was so excited to eat my large shrimp!  Connor was just excited he didn't have to share a lava cake 4 ways, just 3 :)
• Once again I was just dragging, I blame winter and 2 cocktails at dinner so instead of fire or pool, we crashed!

Connor fell asleep in the car on the way to dinner

Can you tell he still isn't fully awake when waiting in the warming house for a table, pic 1?? 

Then he gets his root beer and all is good again

Meanwhile Maci was having a "fancy" dinner at Natalie's

• Sunday 
• Slept in until Connor told us it was morning and we needed to get up - 830a
• We got around and Clint ran to get M and some breakfast plus a Target pick up while Connor and I got some things done around the house and I started work prep (need to be done for Super Bowl fun~)
• We made Skyline Dip + Smoked Buffalo Chicken Dip and will head over to the Harty's around 430p for the evening - I am hoping for a good game and some fun commercials even though a lot of the main ones pulled out - either way it will be nice to have a night that feels a bit like normal times + a warm home to watch it in given we finally got winter with sub zero temps this entire weekend YUCK!

We hope you had a great week and are also on the countdown to spring!  We can't wait to get a little warmer again to enjoy the outdoors vs hiding from them.  Until then. . . 

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Long Weekend w. Trampoline Park Fun!

More Maci Selfies

Weekdays : 

• Tuesday was Connor's Kindergarten prep parent's zoom call - he will be on the bus in no time, can't believe the baby is almost a Kindergartener!! 
• Thursday was a fun night of giggles with the Harty's but I also may have had too strong of a drink so felt a little slow on Friday.

Friday : 

• The kids didn't have school - I had a leadership call from 9-12 so they watched some movies but then I took off the rest of the day.  We headed out to Applebee's for a fancy lunch.  Then we were off to our sky zone scheduled jumping time but we were a little early so we went to Hobby Lobby and the kids each picked out a perler bead kit and I got a new jigsaw puzzle.  Then we had a blast jumping for an hour before heading home, catching up on a few emails and then finally getting ready for gymnastics.  After gymnastics, we all picked up some Culvers for dinner and then had a happy hour zoom call with our good buddies the Brubacher's - it was so nice to see them!

Saturday : 

• Early morning with Maci back to soccer at 8a and then Connor had his last indoor soccer at 945a.  Clint kindly did the running with them in the car and I was the one getting them all dressed and ready.  After soccer wrapped, I took a huge nap as I was dragging from Thursday and Friday both being later nights with some cocktails.  We then got groceries ordered and finished laundry.  After dinner we got the kids ready for bed and got them all tucked in/asleep before we headed to the Jonas' home to see their new basement bar.  We had some good laughs with the usual bonfire crew and then headed home around 1230

Sunday : 

• Clint and I were both just exhausted from a few too many drinks and staying up too late again so we slept in until almost 10a!!  Maci and Connor were awesome and got up/dressed themselves and made some cereal until we got up and moving.  Once up, we ordered some Peg's countryside cafe for breakfast, talked to my dad for a bit on the phone and then put away laundry.  Clint and I took a really nice long 45 min walk through the neighborhood.  Now I'm enjoying some afternoon on the couch with The Office, Maci is playing a computer game and Connor/Clint or playing a game in the basement together.  It is really nice to have a slow Sunday!  We will do some work/school week prep later today but for now just enjoying a chill slow paced day.

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Maci's 8th Birthday!

Monday :

• Holiday for our entire crew
• Got some things done around the house, finished preparing for the work week, started another puzzle, watched some shows, played outside, colored and tried a new recipe - all in all, a great day together!

Coloring with Wine while Clint makes dinner + They like each other sometimes ❤️

Tuesday : 

• Maci's first day back to school full-time and on the bus!!  Wahoo, I am not sure who was more excited!
• Busy first day back in a short week for me and Clint but I fit in a nice 3+ mile walk with Tena in the evening

Wednesday : 

• Clint went into the office again as Wednesday's have become his head in days - I may start to go in a day or two here and there as well once we get to February and we finish our end of year comp process 
• In the evening we had round 2 of our California Closet design session - Clint and I bit the bullet and we are looking forward to our new master closet - not to be seen until April given everyone has this idea and supply chains are a disaster these days :)

Connor loving his Christmas gift from Aunt Trish - Ranger Rick Junior Magazine

School Fun for C

Inauguration Memes of Bernie were awesome but this one hits too close to home 😂

Thursday : 

• Tena and I took another great walk in the evening and wrapped just in time to get ready for Thursday night hot tub party 
• Everyone was pretty spent from the week so we only hung out until about 1030p, yay for sleep!

Friday : 

• Maci had her 8th birthday at school complete with handing out Disney themed hand sanitizers to our classmates
• After school, the kiddos had their weekly gymnastics 
• We ate taco pizza for dinner and I cleaned up email in front of the TV until bed time

These two ❤️

Saturday : 

• Happy 8th Birthday Ms Maci Louise Mondell!!!
• Maci got to wake up and open gifts from her God mother Christie (LOL doll, sweet book and some Lego fun) and Gilroy Grandparents (Bird watching kid books since Maci is having a blast with her binoculars from Christmas)
• Then after breakfast, she got to go with me to Target for a birthday shopping spree where she spent Mondell Grandparents and Mommy/Daddy birthday money - her selections were : a party dress, hair bow, earrings and top + a new travel Barbie, Anna/Elsa miniature dolls and her big gift was an American Girl doll sized ice cream truck with so many fun accessories 
• We got home, had some lunch and were a little lazy around the house until her pal Natalie came at 430p
• We ate Noodles and Co for dinner around 530p, had the Harty's join us for cake at 630p (Tena made the yummiest and cutest butterfly cake) and then the girls went into the hot tub (Connor felt super left out as he went to bed), then watched Hocus Pocus in the basement and finally ended the night gabbing away in Maci's room - Clint snuck the picture of them passed out at 11p so they weren't up too crazy late 

Maci through the years!!  💕

Birthday Morning

Cake by Tena, loved by Maci

Maci's Arm 😍

Sunday : 

• Girls were up around 630a (Maci is going to crash tonight!) and Clint ran to get donuts around 7a 
• I finally pulled myself out of bed around 730a and Connor closely followed
• We ate some breakfast and then helped them into snow gear for some tubing/sledding before Natalie's dad came to get her
• Natalie was gone around 10a and then Maci and I did another Target run but this time for random household needs and the groceries got delivered while we were gone
• While we ran errands, Connor and Clint had fun trying out some new snow mobile trails
• Connor then hung with Harty's skating while Clint got gas for the snowmobile and ran his own errands
• We are now all getting ready for some football / work week prep in front of the TV and waiting on some lunch 
• While it is cold outside it is SO SUNNY today and it just makes you feel happier to see sunshine!

Next Morning Silly - Connor was allowed in a picture 😳

Here's to some good football games today and a super smooth week ahead for everyone!  

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C