Baby Berklee

My new nephew, Baby Berklee is here!  & he's perfect in every way! 

Thanksgiving 2017

It was so hard to go to work this morning after a great Thanksgiving weekend!  I feel like I always look ahead to the weekend and think about how much time I'm going to have and before I know it, it's Sunday night and I'm hopping into bed thinking about how fast it went!

The ONLY photos taken this Thanksgiving...sigh.

Highlights this year included starting the weekend at noon on Wednesday, listening to Past Vertical on Wednesday night, enjoying Adam's fried turkey, my mom's potatoes, and my sister's scotcharoo bars.  Looking through the ads on Thanksgiving afternoon followed by shopping with my mom and sister all day Friday is always a favorite.  This year Adam and my dad surprised me by organizing the garage and making room for both of our cars -- living in Iowa this is a definite perk before winter!!  Saturday I took down my fall decor and decorated for Christmas {everything but the tree}, saw Wonder with my mom and sister, and Adam and I went to our friend's 40th birthday party.  And Sunday we found out my sister and her husband are expecting a GIRL!!

Such a fun weekend.  I feel so blessed to celebrate with a group of loved ones -- I definitely don't take the for granted!  Especially since today marks 2 years since Murdocks death & we have a friend that's been in the hospital all weekend.  Life is so short!  On a happier note, Lola turns 6 months on Thursday, my niece has a dance team competition in Des Moines on Friday, & the kids and I are spending the weekend with my parents while Adam's deer hunting with his dad.  Now, if we could just get some snow already... ;)

This & That {v.36}

Did this:
Signed up for the Des Moines IMT {I've yet to start training!}
Took the kids on a nature walk {& got bit by tons of mosquitoes!}
Went to the lake house last minute {& enjoyed our final ice cream of the year}
Had a family photoshoot {followed by a failed attempt at a bike ride}
Murdock was sick {& puked all over the bathroom, multiple times}
Made a last minute to Monte, again {& watched my nephew play football & two of my nieces play volleyball}
Brought my youngest niece and nephew home {for an impromptu sleepover}
Had a perfect day at the Apple Orchard {& then hit a car}
Went back home for my cousins wedding {& to visit my family}
Photographed a wedding & a newborn {& edited 5 photosessions}

Instagrammed that: 

Shot this:  

Edited that:

Watched this: 

Take the 6 minutes to watch it, you won't be disappointed!

An Overnighter with the Nieces & Nephews

On this freezing cold {seriously, -35 with windchill} day, all I can think about is the warm, sunshiny days at the lake to get me though.  Here are some of the photos from a weekend at the lake with our nieces and nephews this summer.  These weekends are my absolute favorite times with our nieces and nephews.  We get time to really sit down and talk about everything, and nothing.  Such special memories! :)

They swing on the tire swing and play in the hammock.

They splash in the water table on the deck.  {pre-siding, or maybe mid-siding is more appropriate}

Then they cool off on the 'beach'

And bring beach bags down on old bikes when their aunt forgets them inside! :)

And play with other cousins

And drink cold soda from a straw

And pose for photos when their Aunt makes them!

Just one is never enough! :)

They cool off in the lake

And everything is a competition! :)

But they always look out for each other! :)

They come back to the house for homemade chicken fingers

and pizza roll ups from Uncle Adam on the deck.  {those photos do NO justice!}

Then baths and showers for all

Before we start a campfire

Complete

with

S'mores

Followed by bedtime for the littles

and movies

snacks

and popcorn for the big kids

Then we fill them up with sugary donuts before sending them home

Just like good Aunts and Uncles do! :)

The last time I wrote about being an aunt is here

This & That {Weekend}

Did this:

Had all 6 nieces & nephews spend the night at the lakehouse before they go back to school Tuesday

Watched 'the Call'

Went to the Iowa State Fair {post coming}

Edited lots of photos!

Celebrated my Birthday

Instagrammed that:

Ate this: 

A deep fried snickers, funnel cake, pork chop, potato ribbon, and so much more at the Iowa State Fair

Purchased this:

This Navy & Gray Sweater & Mustard Skinny Jeans for C
and other Mustard & Navy color clothing & accessories for our family's Fall Photos! :)

Edited that: 

 and

Shot this:

Photos of my Nieces & Nephews | Cullyn's 4 Month Photos | Photos for an upcoming Blog Post

Scheduled that:
M::Are You Going Back?
T::Our Holiday {Michigan}
W::Free Little Libraries
T::Cullyn | 4 Months
F::C&C Photoshoot

Mishmash

I'm so ready for a 'normal' week.  Don't get me wrong, I love a good holiday week, but Adam and I both commented that it's time for life to settle down again.  

We've watched several movies lately.  None of them great, unfortunately.  We rented

One For The Money, Tower Heist, The Expendables, The Expendables 2, and Safe House.  I ordered Sons of Anarchy: Season 4 today, so I can’t wait to get that in. 

We Adam and my sister Ashley are planning to paint the guest room turned toy room next weekend, so I’m excited to get that project started!  Photos to come! :)

We went to the lakehouse this weekend and watched our niece [A] play basketball.  She’s a freshman, but made her first basket on the Varsity team this weekend, so that’s exciting.  We also watched the Vikings lose so that was less than fun.  At least we had good friends and good food for the game! :)

Sunday was a much needed family day.  This emotional pregnant mama wanted nothing more than a day with her family.  So we packed up and headed home early.  We sorted through our newborn clothes for the little man and made our first couple of purchases for him! ;)  No worries, we made a few for Jordyn too! 

Speaking of Jordyn, we have her toddler bed {say what?  where did the time go?!} together and in her room.  Oh my word, that is going to be a task!   Girlfriend thinks it’s an indoor trampoline.  For a girl with no fear, I see an ER trip or six in our near future.  We haven’t started the transition yet, but I don’t think it will go down without a fight.  I’m ordering the bedding this week and we’ll go from there.

My youngest sister Alicia started her student teaching yesterday, so we had dinner with her and my other sister Ashley and her new boyfriend last night.  It was fun to catch up.  We've been so busy we haven’t been meeting for our weekend dinner date. 

Only 7 more pay periods before this baby comes, which isn't really what I’m concerned about….it’s the fact that it means there are only seven more times I earn PTO, which means that most of my maternity leave will be unpaid.  Which really sucks because we have to pay for Jordyn’s daycare spot at the new sitter during my maternity leave, when she won’t be there [and I won’t be making any money]. 

I’m itching to get out and take some photos.  Iowa winter is no fun for a photographer.  Maybe I’ll take Jordyn’s Valentine’s photos next weekend…

Homecoming [Photoshoot]

Last weekend I had the privilege of taking Homecoming photos for my two oldest nieces Vanessa [15] and Aliya [14]  

Aren't they gorgeous?!

The Ladies

The Couples

Vanessa & her date

The Details

We had a little Fun! :)

The Beautiful Flowers!!

A Back-2-School Photoshoot of my Niece & Nephew!

Today my youngest niece [Ava] and nephew [Peyton] start their first day of Kindergarten.  So bittersweet as they were just babies when I met my husband and today they start school.  Unbelievable.  Love you two!

More photos can be found here