Bryan & Dominic Demko Visit & ALMOST Done with Remodels!!

Weekdays : 

• Monday - Baseboards and Island painting was finished and Connor killed it at his baseball game
• Tuesday - Wood floors were finished so I worked in the basement while they worked and Clint was at the office + kids at camp - come evening time it was National Night to Unite with all our neighborhood pals up at the playground
• Wednesday - We scheduled Zerorez to clean our basement, office carpets and kitchen rug for this coming Friday, so ready to be done with some home projects!  Connor had an early 515 baseball game and once again killed it!
• Thursday - Clint took the day off to start moving stuff off the carpet and prepare for Bryan and Dominic Demko's arrival - I went into the downtown office for a change of scenery - we enjoyed Casey's pizzas once the guys got here and caught up the remainder of the evening

Maci and Rosie at Night to Unite

Firefighters brought hats, as you can probably tell

This one wanted to watch water polo with me in bed Wed night and shortly after joining, I look over to see this 💙

Friday : 

• Clint had the day off so went golfing with Bryan and Dominic - they also did lunch and had a Target liquor run
• The carpet on the stairs got ripped out so Clint could touch up the white wood before the carpet is laid on Monday
• I had a 4 hour workshop from 10-2 so I was tethered to the house but then wrapped my day early around 330p to grab the kids
• We all hung out for a bit before taking off to St Paul for the St Paul Saints Triple A baseball game
• The seats we had were awesome, right down the 3rd base line
• Each kid got a ball!  Either foul tip OR a player tossing it over to them after getting a foul ball etc.
• Clint and Bryan were even picked to be on a price is right style game and Clint won getting $35 to Fleet Farm ;-)
• We ate too much food, a few brews and lots of laughs
• By the time we got home, quite a few were crashed in the car!

Goofball poses on the way home from daycamp

Great seats & Maci loving fireworks after a 1-0 win!

Maci and Dominic were out when we pulled into the garage!

Saturday :

• Woke up to thunderstorms and rain for the first time in months!  UGH go figure!
• Clint was able to change our boating time to 1130a to see if that helped with the radar - thankfully it did and never rained on us once, was overcast the whole day but that made for a clear Lake Minnetonka - typically that lake is way too packed to tube kids like Maci and Connor but they were able to ride for like 6 miles on the tube b/c it was so dead - we even stopped at Maynards for lunch at one point - the ride wrapped at 330p
• We headed home and everyone was ready for a nap!
• By about 6p we were up and heading to River Inn for dinner - YUM!
• We got home and I put Connor to bed, I got in jammies myself to rest and the boys along with Maci started to play Golden Tee and Clint hosted 2 neighbors, Nate and Zach - Maci crashed around 10p but the others were up until about 2a - rough!

Boating on Lake Minnetonka 

Clint wins father of the year for getting on the tube first with Maci

Sunday :

• We rolled out of bed around 9a something as all were just worn out
• We headed to Peg's Countryside Cafe for a good breakfast before the Demko's hit the road
• They pulled out of town around noon and were headed for Green Bay to do an over night stop to see the stadium
• We spent the rest of the day getting everything off the carpet since new will be laid all day tomorrow!!!  Holy cow do we have a lot of stuff that is typically on carpet - but the kids were both awesome helpers and earned $20 each for their bank accounts.
• Now we are done and ready to eat some dinner, grab some ice cream and call it an early night for all of us!!!  We are sleeping on mattresses on the floor across the house tonight HAHA

Best buddies for ~25 Years & Counting!

They also have a 4 year old Golden Doodle, Lola - Rosie had a BFF for the weekend!

We hope you had a great weekend!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Home Demo Round 2

Weekdays :

• Baseboards and island install and painting started, looking great!  We are sick of living in a hot mess and dust but so much of it wraps this coming week!
• Clint and I took turns being at the house with remodel stuff as well as going into our offices
• We enjoyed a mid week dinner at COV by the lake to just enjoy a slow summer evening!
• I treated my Rally Minneapolis based team to lunch on Thursday and got my hair done on the way home

Friday : 

• Light days for both of us!
• Picked up the kids and headed to Maynards for dinner by the lake given a GORGEOUS night
• Watched some Olympics and Clint started Ted Lasso while I zonked!

Saturday : 

• An awesome lazy day with sleeping in, taking a morning walk, resting a bit and then heading to the Harty pool by 2p for day drinking and floating!
• We called it around 5p as I had to get a shower before our night out with Trip and Lori!  We haven't hung with them for so long that we were pumped to have this time together!  We enjoyed dinner at River Inn and then showed them Clint's bourbon fun.
• Once they left, we ended the night at the Harty's fire with our neighborhood crew

Sunday : 

• Productive day after a super lazy day!
• Clint is doing yard work and I am attempting to get this house in order even though we can't fully put it back yet.  I look forward to doing the kids birthday books (finally, 6 months late) on the deck later today

We are excited to welcome Clint's best buddy Demko and his son Dominic starting this Thursday.  They will enjoy some Minneapolis fun!  We also wrap baseboards and wood floors this week with only carpet install to occur the following Monday - so close!!!

We hope you are having a wonderful summer, can you believe it is August?!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Ps - I got to start taking some pics again soon!! 👀  

Home Demo!

Weekdays : 

• Monday - Actual 13th wedding anniversary!  I went into the office for a meeting with the Optum CHRO and my leader, thankfully it seemed to have gone well.  We then hit Connor's baseball game where he once again had great hits and all around good time!
• Tuesday - I had to go into the office again but this time for my team's QBR.  Clint also went into the office so Breck helped with letting the dogs out.  Meanwhile back at home, the floors are coming right along!  Maci got sized for her new competitive uniforms that evening
• Wednesday - I decided to work from home but may not have been the best idea - Clint and I had to share the basement due to all the sanding upstairs and then it smelled so strong after they started laying the stain.  We did find out Maci's soccer team!  She made the Academy #2 team which is the 2nd out of 5 teams for her age group - yay Maci!!  We also had Connor's baseball at night, woah busy day!
• Thursday - Clint had a golf event for work that he pulled together so he was gone most of the day and I picked up the kiddos after another stinky day at home due to a high gloss protectant being laid on the floor.

Friday - We picked the kids up and decided to make a pizza at home for dinner.  Clint and I played baseball with Connor in the street after dinner and all had an early bed time after a long week!

Saturday - I had a massage at 945a (amazing!) then got home around the same time Clint and Connor were heading to their haircuts.  Once Connor was home, we were off to Target to buy a birthday present for his neighbor buddy Marek.  Clint then ran Connor to Marek's birthday party at an indoor treehouse and pool.  While they were gone, Maci and I got a few things done around the house before heading over to the Harty's for afternoon pool fun!  Clint and Connor met back up with us around 330p when they got home from the party.  We floated and chatted and just enjoyed a lovely summer Saturday.  Around 530p we all called it to try and figure out our dinner plans.  We then put kids to bed and welcomed the Verplank's over to our house.  They were our former neighbors from St Louis Park and we hadn't seen each other in almost 2 years!  We also welcomed our neighbors over for Saturday fire at our place.  Good times!

Sunday - Maci had a play date at a pals house in the neighborhood across from us from 10-12.  Clint and I did a ton of stuff around the house and yard.  Around 4p we took the kids to the park and ran into Marek's family, threw some water balloons and caught up.  We are now about to eat some dinner and enjoy the Olympics and an early bed time tonight!  Love Summer Weekends!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

More Home Remodeling & Anniversary Dinner/Date!

Weekdays: 

• Monday - Connor started another season of baseball but this time coach pitch, he is crushing it!
• Tuesday - I landed a sitter plan with Liz for our one gap week in between Wayzata Kids and my mom visiting, why are those things so stressful?!
• Wednesday - Connor was supposed to have baseball but we finally got some rain so the fields had a wash out and gave us a quiet night
• Thursday - Clint golfed in the morning and early afternoon - I headed to my pal and former co-worker, Pat's, retirement dinner at McGarry's - so many good laughs and a fun night!

Friday : 

• Floor demo day!!  They tore up the carpet in the formal living room and dining room and started to lay some wood boards already
• I had Pat's larger company retirement party over lunch
• I then worked from the deck throughout the afternoon since it was loud and dusty in the house!
• After working through the day, we picked up the kids and had dinner followed by Space Jam 2 at the theatre.  The kids LOVED it - so cute!

Saturday : 

• Maci had her soccer tryouts from 9-11a, Clint took her

• While they were gone, Connor and I met up with neighbors at the 'hood park to celebrate some of the many (about 13) kindergartners in our neighborhood who will go to school together in the fall 

• Clint had an afternoon massage and I took a great nap!
• Come dinner time, Clint and I got ready and were out on the town for our anniversary, lucky #13 for us!
• We enjoyed Benihana sans kids, rare!, and then enjoyed cocktails by the lake at Maynards - so fun

Sunday : 

• Busy get stuff done day after being pretty lazy on the home front all weekend long!  I also did a little too much work prep but also felt good to be prepared for the week.

We hope you are enjoying your summer!

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C

Cargill HR Reunion & Rodeo Weekend!!!

Monday : Yay - No Work or Camp!  Fun holiday spent swimming with the Harty's and grilling out at night.  Connor mastered swimming in the deep end with no life jacket and even going off the diving board!  Maci mastered a dive off the diving board!  Early bedtime for all after a crazy fun holiday weekend!!

Tuesday : Rosie had her first grooming and thankfully did not come back looking too poodle!  Clint headed into the office while I worked from home and greeted our contractor who did the demo of our current backsplash and the tile guy came to do all the laying of the tile, just grout to go next day.  We wrapped the day at Sunshine Factory for dinner - Yum!

New Tile & Rosie's Cut

Wednesday : I went into the office for a big team meeting in the afternoon.  Clint was home to help the tile guy finish the grout.  After work I had a happy hour with my manager, Lori, and my teammate Katie.  Such good laughs and fun to see them back out in a social setting!

Thursday : After work I hosted a happy hour of the former Cargill Functions HR team.  So fun to see so many of these people for the first time in almost 2 years!  So many good snacks, drinks and laughs!  We hung until about 8p and then the last group left.  After happy hour, Clint and I went to the neighbors for some Thursday night bags - we stunk it up this week!

Megan/Jess/Me

Sarah & Danny

Megan, Danny, me and Kerry

Laurie & Scott - Lucky Retiree Club!

Lauren & Steve

Kerry and Peter

Friday : I was quite sleepy after 2 nights of happy hours and later to bed.  I had a pretty light schedule to start the day and then my afternoon was the same which was really nice!  Clint grilled up some burgers and corn while I finished some work prep before calling it the weekend!  The kids climbed in our bed and watched Space Jam, the first one.  I totally passed out during the movie!

Best Meeting of the Week!

I'm on the screen from home, re-connecting with former Cargill pals who are now also at Optum

Megan and Jason

Saturday : One of my fav days of the year, Rodeo!!  Clint and I slept in until almost 930a, took a walk and then had to book it a bit to be ready in time to leave for the daytime showing of the rodeo with our kiddos.  The Harty family and ours went together and we had to leave by about 1145a.  Clint and Nate found a spot on the hill while Tena and I took the kids around to some rides and shopping to kill the time.  Maci picked out a pair of boots and Connor picked out a new rodeo trucker hat.  Each of those kiddos rode a bull and Maci (go figure) had people cheering her and and being amazed how long she was able to hang on HAHA!  We then really enjoyed the show - favs were the bulls riding, cowgirls that do tricks on the horse and barrel racing.  The show ended around 4p and we headed home for a quick nap/clean up.  Kaitlin got to our house at 6p and we were off to dinner with Tena/Nate ahead of the rodeo street party with country music acts at Innkahoots!  Yummy dinner followed by meeting Amber/Adam at the bar/party.  SO many good laughs, people watching and randomly being hit on by some 20 somethings who said "you ladies are beautiful but how old" ummm let me introduce you to my husband - don't ask a lady her age, tip #1 haha!  We finally stumbled on out around midnight and given we couldn't find any Ubers in middle of nowhere ;-) LOVE HAMEL - our neighbor Sarah came to pick us up - the best neighbor there is!!!!

Maci's idea to put the hand in the air🤣

Connor and his buddy from pre-k & neighborhood - Louie + Maci looking totally cowgirl!

Shots of the Rodeo & Connor with Lily the pony

Maci on Hank the Horse & another of Connor

Maci all smiles post boot purchase & our country gal with her horse Hank

PARTY TIME!!

Clint and I being goofs + me, Amber and Tena

Sunday : Woof we all woke up a little sleepy after rodeo fun!  I got some stuff done around the house/ordered groceries and Clint got the grass cut.  Before we knew it, it was 1p and time to head up to the parade in downtown Hamel.  Connor and Clint walked the parade with his baseball association.  He was so cute with his lil hat/shirt and so excited to hand each of us a baseball sticker.  Maci kindly collected enough candy for both Connor and her!  I was excited to get a new fridge magnet clip and a coozie :). After a 1 hour parade we were back home.  Now we are enjoying a slow Sunday afternoon and about to order up some pizza for dinner and just rest before another summer week!

My fav parade walking duo!

Connor kicks back off baseball this week but t-ball/coach pitch this time!  Maci has her soccer try outs next weekend - man they are growing fast!  We hope you are enjoying all the fun that comes with summer!

Lots of Love,
C, K, M & C

Meghan & Family Visit + Happy 4th of July!!

Monday : 

• Happy birthday to Grandma Janet!
• We had a typical busy Monday with work and kids at camp
• Maci had her final FDP soccer practice in the evening, lovely night 

Tuesday : 

• I met up with 2 former co-workers turned friends - Megan and Lisa at COV - such a pretty night on the patio having drinks and apps that Megan and I decided to have one more drink at another spot b/c we didn't want to end the fun - turns out we ran into the entire Cargill finance leadership team which is who we both worked with before leaving about 3 years ago - such a fun night!

Me, Lisa and Megan at COV - So Fun!

Wednesday : 

• Meghan and family landed around 530p
• Clint picked up the kids and dropped them with me before he headed to the airport to pick them up
• I then headed to the park for Maci's select soccer overview and then her final game of FDP
• Maci was super excited to have a cheering section with Meghan and family joining - she hustled like no other and is super excited for try outs in mid July 

Maci's Final FDP Soccer Game, Such a Cute Shot!

Maci enjoying a slumber party pal, cousin Hailey, for a few days!

Thursday : 

• Meghan and family headed to Mall of America while Clint and I worked at home and the kids had one final day of camp for the week 
• Clint took Maci to her hip check and they confirmed she is DONE getting annual hip checks - she was a breach baby so wore a brace for her hips at a young age for about 10 weeks
• Once my whole crew was home, Meghan and fam arrived back from MOA and we had a lovely grill out on the deck thanks to Christian's cooking skills 
• Meghan and I then ran the kids to Honey Mackie for some ice cream before hanging with the guys over NBA finals and cocktails

Some kids are pretty excited for Honey & Mackie's ice cream!

Maci really loved lil Simba - AKA Mini Rosie

Friday : 

• Yay long holiday weekend!!!!
• We got up and took a walk with the dogs and just adults - lovely!
• After our walk and some breakfast we got everyone ready for a day at Valleyfair amusement park
• The kids and adults had a blast and lasted all the way until park close at 7p
• We picked up some Wendy's on the way home and then put kids down after a hot day in the sun

Saturday : 

• Up and at 'em and getting ready for the Edina 4th of July parade!  So excited it was back this year, we love taking the kids here
• The Harty's caravanned with us and it was a great time for all involved!
• On the way home we stopped by Arhaus and ordered our 2 leather chairs for the living room, really excited about these
• We then hung out while the guys picked up lunch and some brews for a day of swimming at the Harty's
• Post lunch we were off to the Harty pool which felt lovely on a hot day!
• We then had a sitter come to watch all 9 kids - go Kaitlin!  So we could enjoy a nice dinner at River Inn outside - so yummy and fun
• We relieved the sitter so she could go on her date and we put the kids to bed 
• We then met back up at the Harty's for cornhole/drinks and at some point moved over to the Kavanaugh's for hammershloggin and more bags/cocktails ;)

Sunny Morning at the Parade

The forced smiles aren't signs of bad moods just staring in the sun HA

Sunday : 

• Some of us woke up pretty tired after a 1a bedtime and a few too many brews during the day/night etc.
• We had a slow paced morning of laundry, packing for Meghan's fam etc
• At 11a Clint and Nate took the crew to the airport b/c they were heading to WI for fireworks after dropping them
• Once the guys got home, we all headed to the pool for a super HOT 4th of July
• The kids played and swam great, we played bags which entertained them until dinner, we had BW3 wings feast for dinner and then did some more swimming/playing until it was finally time for sparklers and fireworks
• The fireworks were great and we wrapped right when the cops were swinging through our neighborhood, nice timing ;-)
• Happy 4th of July all - we hope you had a wonderful day with family and friends!!!!

Tena and I were having coffee together as the crew left to the airport

Connor and Nash come downstairs looking like this HAHAHA

Our Pooches looking Patriotic

Swimming Goofballs playing Bags!

Too much fun with snapchat filters post dinner!!

Family Pic Time

Sparkler Fun

We are now about to head to the pool again and do a lovely day 3 of floating/sun and fun thanks to this being a work holiday - LONG LIVE LONG WEEKENDS!!!!  💖🧨🎇

Lots of Love,

C, K, M & C