New friend

Just realized I never published this! Awhile back (2 months maybe?), this was on our steps. Abby was reading with Max on the porch, and realized something was out there. Abby being Abby made Max go check it out, and this is what he saw when he opened the door. I have no idea how or why he climbed the stairs, but I guess he liked it there! Ultimately, the neighborhood critter dealer (aka, Rocky) came and put him in a wheelbarrow and delivered him to the pond.

I found the bathrooms!

I have officially been at my new job now for over a month (6 weeks to be exact). It really feels like much, much longer, and I’m not sure if that’s good or bad. On the one hand, I feel very comfortable. I do know where the bathrooms are, and I can generally make my way throughout campus. Not an easy feat considering I’m in Building 1 and my team sits in Building 54 and 83. But I’m not really sure where Buildings 2-53 are, or if they exist! I did get lost on the way to the Distribution Center on Tuesday, but I had to drive there so I think that’s ok. I’ve sat through days upon days of training sessions (orientation, Crucial Conversations, Management Integration), I’ve had tons of get to know you lunches and meetings, and I even had a meeting with David Kohler (next heir to the Kohler throne and CEO title) for a strat planning meeting with my team. Tuesday I will have a meeting with The Chairman, Herb Kohler himself. Exciting (as long as he doesn’t ask me any questions, which I won’t know the answers to. Yet. I hope.)! 

Not once have I thought I might have made the wrong decision going to Kohler. I get to travel to India September 14-27, which is something I wouldn't have even dreamed about 2 months ago. I also really love walking the campus. My favorite time is early in the morning, when there's all kinds of activity going on with the trucks and forklifts. In my first week I took both a tour of the showroom, which has the most beautiful bathrooms I've ever designed, and a tour of the factory, which shows exactly how those beautiful bathrooms are made. I really like working for a manufacturer, which very much surprises me. I feel so much closer to what we do, and I know if I'm not somehow supporting the creation of the product or the selling of the product, I'm not helping the business. I also like that many of the offices are on the second story of a shop floor. The smell of the gas and the machines reminds me of visiting my dad at work. When I walk into some of the offices, I find myself feeling like I'm back in the 80s, looking for a pinup calendar! (But being in HR, I'm glad I never find one!)

Some of my favorite pics...

The Moxie... a shower head with a built in bluetooth speaker

 My office windows. Love the sunshine!

 The Clocktower... Mr Kohler sits on the top floor.

 The foundry. I love the old buildings.

 The main office on the right, Building 54 on the left. I usually don't like ivy growing on buildings, but I think it gives it character.

 One of 4 corporate jets. Two fly internationally. The pilot told me these are better equipped than Air Force One. He should know, he flew Air Force One for 10 years.

 Of course there's Kohler sinks and toilets!

 Our color pattern.

 Yes, I asked the head of Corporate Travel, who was the Air Force One pilot, to take a selfie with me. He's a really great guy.

 The shop floor. Two of my team members sit in this building on the second floor. They have offices, but I love that they're so close to the things happening on the floor.

That's it! Happy first 6 weeks, and I'm sure I will blink and be saying it's been 6 years!

Or a random Tuesday

It's not just Saturday that crazy things happen at our house. The Tuesday before was also crazy. The few weeks before had been BUSY... my new job, the move, the plumber, the garage door fixer, every random inspection you can imagine. We were kind of done, done, done. So we were just hanging out in the porch, and it was raining, and Nolan wanted to go outside. I said go for it! And he was followed by Max. And then Ava. And then I challenged Dave. And it took a little bit but then Abby went out too. This was followed by root beer floats (and there may or may not have been some Rum Chata and some Hard Root Beer in the grown up version!).

Live from our house...

It's Saturday Night LIVE!

Saturday was Ava's birthday, but also it was just a really, really great day. It started out with Abby at softball tryouts, and she did great. Then I took Ava to pick out a birthday cake, then home to open presents, and we all headed to mini golf. They are finally all old enough to mini golf without (too many) meltdowns! After that we headed to Buffalo Wild Wings for our very favorite lunch spot. From there to Steinhafels to look for new furniture for our house. And then HOME finally! Where... I took a nap for a couple of hours. LOVE IT!!! After hanging out for a bit, Ava really, really, really wanted to go to Cherry Berry (frozen yogurt), and we really, really, really didn't want to. So instead I convinced her to do a fashion show with all of her new clothes, and hillarity ensued!

The Princess at Steinhafels...

 Sharing a birthday!

 She's loved! usually...

 It's a fashion show! Quite the runway.

 She's got the poses down.

 Abby would announce every outfit after getting her dressed... Her pink evening wear, her casual school wear. Abby is SO patient with her. (usually!)

 And then Nolan got in on the action.

 He's got moves too.

 They all do! Nights like this I LOVE having four kids. How much fun they have... it was truly better than TV.

 Dip!

 Cheerleader... GO Girls!

A very fun night indeed!!