Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Hotel in Ames


A couple of weeks ago, we decided to book a hotel room in Ames for the weekend.  Adam and Cullyn went to the ISU basketball game, and Jordyn and I met them and our good friends at the hotel afterwards.  We spent that night and the next morning chatting and letting the kids swim until they were wrinkly.  As it turned out, it was just what we needed -- I love that my husband and our friends are spontaneous! :)







Monday, June 27, 2016

This & That {w26}

Did this:
J took tennis lessons
I had a dentist appointment
My car went into the shop 
I took the kids to the splashpad
We went swimming
The kids and I watched my oldest nephew play baseball
We went out for ice cream
Adam and I spent a couple evenings playing cribbage on the deck
I photographed a wedding in Dubuque on Saturday
We had a lazy day on Sunday

Instagrammed that: 

 

Monday, June 20, 2016

This & That {w25}

Did this:
Swimming lessons for the kids {mainly J}
Took the kids strawberry picking
Went on a picnic at the park
Took both kids to the eye doctor
Listened to band practice in the garage while it rained
Had friends over for dinner
Started tumbling for J & C
Photographed all of the new Mercy Residents
Spent the weekend at the lake
Went out for pizza
Participated in our first kids Fishing Derby
Hosted Auntie Esha & Uncle Brad
Caught fireflies with Gram
Went kayaking with my sister and the kids
Went boating with Papa
Took a Jeep ride with my mama
Slip-in-Slided with my in laws
Floated with my family
Made homemade Ice Cream & strawberry shortcake
Celebrated Father's Day
Took several trips to 'Firefly Lane'

Instagrammed that: {totally over IG'd--seems to be a trend this summer!}


  
Scheduled this:
W: My Kids 25/52 
F: A Photo

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Kids 24|52

Cullyn | This boy is so funny.  He was mad that I enrolled J in swimming lessons {& not him.  I tried to enroll him, but they told me to wait until he's 3 per the Iowa Heart Association} so I called and got him in.  He refused to get in the pool until the last 5 minutes of class.  So I tell him he can't go back.  He cries, whines, and totally works me over so I give in and sign him up again.  This class he totally refused to get in and kept telling me he didn't want to swim with 'that guy' {the lifegaurd}. And then this weekend?  He swam like a fish and is actually a really great swimmer {for a 3 year old!}.  When racing with their lifejackets on, he beat Jordyn every time. And he doesn't mind going under water at all.  It's a good thing this boy is cute because he sure keeps me on my toes!  He was also unsure about tubing until I made him go with me and then wanted to tube all day.  

Jordyn | Jordyn is loving swimming lessons with Lexi.  They're really connected and she is doing amazing!  She swims with a little help, or swims by herself with a noodle, a paddleboard, or her lifejacket.  She's obsessed with goggles now. :)  Submerging her head in water still isn't her thing.  She went tubing for the first time {multiple times} this weekend and never wanted to stop. Going town the slide was her favorite part though! 

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Memorial Weekend | 2016

1. I was a little 'photo'd out' until Monday which you'll see below. 2. I had 4 days of holiday themed outfits for the kids to wear, but they were in suits every day, so I don't have any cute photos to share! 3. I know Memorial Weekend is about much more than boating & bbq's, so thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all those that have sacrificed for us.  I know freedom doesn't come free.   

Adam worked Friday and I had a newborn photoshoot, so my MIL kept the kids.  After my shoot, I packed up and headed to the lake.  Jordyn's fever spiked again, so we stayed in for the night.

Saturday I shot a wedding in Dubuque, so Adam had the kids all day.  

Sunday is when Memorial weekend really started for us. We got up and headed to my SIL & BIL's house to hang out.  We fished, floated on rafts, paddleboarded, took naps in the sun, read in the hammock chair, road the 4-wheeler, took ranger rides, and the guys' smoked meet.  It was the perfect way to recover from a wedding! ;) After naps, we headed over to our friends' mom's back patio to let the kids run on the water mat while we watched everyone on the lake.  That evening we went to a different friend's house for dinner.  He made steaks on his egg and we watched the sun go down.  Jordyn attempted to spend the night, but just minute after I got home she had changed her mind. ;)


Monday was my favorite day of the weekend.  We all slept in a little and spent the morning lounging.  Our friends came over and the kids played in the sprinkler, at the water table, and on the trampoline while we enjoyed mimosa's and music on the deck.  My niece came to watch the four kids during nap time, so us four adults could spend the afternoon on the boat.  After naps we took the kids out until dinner time. We ended up spending the night and coming back to Des Moines on Tuesday morning.













Fancy Lunchable lunches for the kids ;)



Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Favorite Pools & Splash Pads

Now that summer is officially over, I thought I better share some of our favorite summer spots.  For the first time, we purchased season passes to the local pools, so any spare time we had, we fled to the pools. Have I shared how awesome 2 & 3 year olds are?! 

Ankeny Pool {where the kids took swimming lessons this year}















Friends' Personal Pool





































































And of course, lots of boat time…

You might enjoy this too...

5 Year Travel Plan

I got this idea from the Best of Both Worlds podcast .  They suggested making a 5 year travel plan.  They had me at travel and planning -- h...