I'm baaack!

Goodness gracious it's been a long time since I've sat down to catch up!  Like months actually!!  Soo much has happened!  The kiddos have started back to school {1st and 2nd grades!} so it feels like a good time to sit catch up on a few of the bigger things...

I just moved into this office last week, so I'm still getting settled {those shelves need some work & I need a printer stand :} but I'm super excited about my new space. 

• I quit my job at the hospital in Des Moines {after nearly 10 years!} to take a position as the Finance Director for the little city we now live in.  It's so different from my former job, but I am learning SO much and it feels so good to use my brain in a different way!  The job change with 100% a God thing.  I had heard about the opening, but when I finally sat down to apply {on a Sunday} it had closed the Friday before.  I let it go assuming it wasn't meant to be.  Fast forward about 10 weeks, I woke up out of a dead sleep super early one Sunday morning and was hit with the urge to check on the job {I had never done and/or experienced this before}.  Low and behold, the position had been opened back up for applications.  I applied and although it's been a stretch position {I haven't done actual accounting since college 10 years ago} I got the job.  It's like God knew I needed to be closer to home {I get to drop the kids off for school each morning -- I hadn't ever been able to do that before!} great benefits, not too, flexibility, autonomy, etc.  It's just been such a blessing.  So I quit my job the beginning of February, took a trip of our lifetime to the British Virgin Islands with friends, and started my new job the very end of February.  Whew, the rest will be shorter--I promise! :)
   
• We traveled to Colorado as a family, South Carolina {the kids and I}, and road tripped to St. Louis, Tulsa, and Kansas City.  I think my sweet MIL has spent more weekends with our Lola girl than we have! sigh.  Speaking of Lola, she turned 2!  She's such a good pup and is officially out of her kennel {except post lake when she's all wet from swimming}.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Cullyn's photo from 2015 went viral.  He came home from his cousin's house and said, 'Mama, do you know I was fame today?' It was pretty adorable!
   
• I started running again.  I've had this goal to run a marathon for so long and I just can't get it out of my head!  It's been on my Bucket List for years and I just can't shake it.  Now that the kids are older {and the previously owners of our house left us a --crappy, but working-- treadmill} I decided this is the year.  If all goes as planned, I will be able to cross this off the bucket list by the end of October.  {please throw up some prayers if you feel inclined!}
  
• I stepped away from photography.  It was a hard chose, but was necessary.  It's just hard to step away from something you've been building for so long.  With Adam's new job he's home less, so I'm just not able to dedicate the time it needs right now.  I will shoot my last wedding in September and close that chapter...for now.  I'm hoping this decision will also allow me to start taking photos of my own children again!  :)
  
• Not only has school started, but alllll the other things have as well.  Taekwondo {Cullyn} and gymnastics {Jordyn} both started this week.  Piano, for both, will start next week and Clover Kids {4H} and church group will start next month.
   
• Summer was so good to us! {I documented a lot of our bucket list on Instagram} but I'm super excited for fall!  I would say I'm ready for things to slow down, but I know better! :)  This weekend alone we have a going away party, a 90th Birthday for Grandma-Great, Adam's band is playing at the local street dance, I have a long run, church, I'm hosting a bridal shower with my MIL, SIL, and niece for another one of my nieces, my parents both have birthdays, we're having a family day at my BIL & SIL's house, and an outdoor movie night.  That's all in 2.5 days, so I'm hoping Monday involves decorating the house for fall, soup on the stove, some football with the windows open {the weather here is so good right now!}, and a family movie night in the theater room to prepare us for the rest of the week!

PS...I got a tattoo last night!! :)

15 Minutes of 'Me Time' Every Day

I work full time and commute 60 minutes to and from work each day, but I committed at the beginning of the year that I would do something for my sanity self each day.  Some days its bigger than others, but each day I spend at least 15 minutes on something that makes my soul happy.  Here is how.

If you don't make time for yourself, no one else will.  And we all know...if mama aint happy, no one's happy!  Use the fancy bubble bath, eat the chocolate, let the laundry fluff an extra day. ;)

Currently

It's been a while, so here's an update...

{making} lists...always
{cooking}  not a thing!
{drinking}  a glass of white wine

{reading}  just blogs, I have Where'd You Go, Bernadette and Where We Belong waiting for me 
{wanting}  to catch up on editing before I start a book
{looking} for a place to make us shirts before our girls trip

{praying}  Cullyn get relief soon {he's got hand, foot, & mouth right now}
{planning}  our girls trip to New York City!
{giggling} at the way some people act

{wishing}  there were more time in a week!
{enjoying} this evening to myself
{waiting}  for the weekend--Adam & I are going away with friends

{liking}  how well the kids have been playing together lately
{wondering}  if I'll get my huge work project turned in on time
{loving} all of the time we've been able to spend as a family at the like this summer

{hoping} to get caught up on photography, real work, and house work soon
{needing}  an assistant
{smelling}  the wantons I'm eating for dinner

{editing} two weddings, a 6 month session, a 9 month session, and a newborn session
{wearing} metallic flip flops, my new jean shorts {HIGHLY recommend for moms}, a white take, with this tank over it, and my new necklace 
{noticing} how fast time is passing by

{knowing}  I need to get my hair done soon
{thinking} how thankful I am to have a husband that sends me away when I need to get work done
{feeling}  tired, overwhelmed, stressed, blessed, loved, & thankful

Hour by Hour | Spring 2016

Since I always seem to miss the official day in the lift link up, here is a day last week, hour by hour.  

6:30a | I get up to do a little photography work {editing, ordering, & emailing} and 'watch' Chicago Fire that was recorded from earlier in the week.  Adam gets ready for work.

7:30a | The kids wake up and request breakfast.  They both have some eggs, half of a peanut butter bagel, half of a banana, and a few grapes.  Cullyn also eats a granola bar {I fear for high school with this one!} ;)  Adam leaves for work.

8:30a | We're all getting ready.  Jordyn sees me putting makeup on and has to do hers, too.  Sorry about that dirty mirror.  She's spends a lot of time in front of it. ;)

9:30a | We meet friends for playtime at our church which is perfect since it's raining.

10:30a | We stay for Story Hour and crafts which follows playtime.  Cullyn throws a huge meltdown when craft time is over because he isn't ready to be done {sigh}

11:30a | We come home and the kids play in the toy room and then living room while flip laundry, check emails, and make lunch. 

12:20p | We drop Jordyn off to school.  I'm all like 'woohoo! we're 10 minutes early!' only to realize we're actually 20 minutes late! #MomOfTheYear  I realize this half way there, so she literally runs into class. 

Cullyn and I swing by Target to grab a few things {pull ups, dance recital makeup, and some groceries}

1:30p | Cullyn takes a nap while I start a load of dishes, pick up the living room, go through client orders from the lab, and go through 'real job' emails with a Mt. Dew on the deck. 

2:30p | I should be picking Jordyn up from school, but Cullyn is still sleeping and the director of her preschool is amazing, so she drops her off at the house on her way home.  *Trust me, I don't take having Miss Tracey in my tribe lightly, she is seriously an angel sent from God! I use the extra few minutes to switch and put away laundry {again!} and pack the kids for their sleepover with grandma.  When Jordyn comes home, we go out front so she can 'walk her baby' and then do her {self assigned} 'homework' She also talked about her best friend Abby.  When I asked her about Abby, she said YOU mama!  You're my best friend {HEART MELTED!} 

3:30p | I woke Cullyn because I needed to get the kids to my MIL's and back home before my photoshoot.  Cullyn did not like being woke up and was a total grump.  He spotted his cap gun on the way to the car and played with it for a few minutes before leaving. 

5:00 | I drop the kids off and take the scenic route home while listening to a podcast. *Ignore my clock…it keeps slowing down and losing time for some super annoying reason.  Anyone know anything about that?!

6:00p | I'm on my way home and it starts raining super hard.  My client calls to reschedule her session for another night.  Frustrating because I've just taken the kids 60 miles {each day} to their grandma's house at 4p when I could have waited until like 8p, but mother nature just does her own thing, so whatever.  Adam gets off work and meets a client downtown to look over a space for their upcoming band gig. 

6:30p | I get a snap from my niece who has Jordyn at my youngest niece's softball game which brings a smile to my face.  I meet Adam at the house and he asks me to go to Jake's {the bar we used to frequent often before kids} to watch the Cubs game. I'm tired and would prefer to stay in a veg out, going to bed at like 8, but know it will make him happy, so I agree. 

7p | We get to the bar to watch the Cubs and eat a frozen pizza. ;) 

I forgot I was doing this and failed to keep track of what time we got home.  I do know that I went to bed about 37 seconds after we got home! ;)

Just another day in our life these days - you just never know what's going to happen. 

Afternoon chat...

Jordyn's first homework assignment.  She had to decorate a feather for the turkey & she chose to use watercolors. :)

If we were hanging out at my house catching up while the kids were playing, here's what I would be saying...

It's been unbelievably windy & rainy the past week or so.  Sticks & limbs are all over the yard.  The temperatures have dropped into the 'normal' range again and it's starting to feel a lot more like Winter than Fall.  It's certainly not helping me finish the last of my outdoor shoots for the year!  Rescheduling sessions is so hard!

Due to said weather, and sick kids, we've been staying in as much as possible.  Adam rented a few movies the other night.  My favorite was The Gift.  Very suspenseful!  I rarely find movies that keep my attention, but this one was great.  Speaking of movie rentals, he picked them up at Redbox & when I went to return them, I realized they took the Redbox location out of the hospital that I work at! Boo :( That was so convenient!  And speaking of movies…Adam has been making us homemade popcorn instead of microwavable and it is so much better!  We just heat coconut oil in a pot on the stove over medium/high heat and add popcorn seeds {& lid!} until it's done.  YUM!

Speaking of food, I won a copy of P90X from a personal trainer on Facebook and Adam has been working out & tracking his food consistently all week.  I'm so proud of him.  I have been totally unsupportive, but I'm hoping when things slow down a bit I'll be able to do the workouts with him.  Yay for healthy choices!

So my excuse for not working out right now is because of time.  I want to say I'm super busy, but in reality, I'm way less busy now than I was a month ago.  I shot my last wedding of 2015 last weekend which is bittersweet.  However, I'm sleeping a lot more than I was a month ago, too.  This time change is totally killing me this year.  I don't remember hardly being able to function after 8p last this before, so I'm blaming it on living in the country with no streetlights and huge windows darkening the entire house.  Adam offered me a glass of wine last night and I had to decline because I didn't even have the energy for that!  Clearly I'm beat! The other crappy part about the time change?  I'm unable to get decent iPhone pictures of my kids Monday through Friday because it's always dark!  Which is really affecting my Instagram game!

The thing I go to sleep and wake up thinking about is our 'new' house.  It's so fun dreaming about the kids running around outside & and what I want their bedrooms and play room to look like.  I'm stressing about the 'look' I want for the house and all the other fun stuff that goes into a new home.  It's good stress, for now at least! ;)

Speaking of stress, Adam won't be home until late tonight.  He's been working his butt off trying to wrap things up before year end.  Anyone with a husband in sales knows all about this! ;)  The anxiety is getting to me, and it isn't even my job!  Cross your fingers! ;)

What's going on in your life?

Day In The Life | Work From Home Edition

I was too late for the DITL link up, but I still wanted to post this since working from home is a new thing for me.  Since we're living at the lake with a large commute, my boss has approved a temporary Work From Home day on Wednesdays.  So I drive to the office in Des Moines on Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday,  work from the lake on Wednesday, and am available by phone on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday.  I will admit, not having to spend 2-3 hours in the car is definitely a highlight for the week, but I don't have any interest in working from home full time.

November 2015 | Jordyn 4 | Cullyn 2 1/2 | Murdock 7 1/2

5a | Jordyn is up.  I wish I could say she just gets up, goes to the bathroom, & crawls in bed with us at this hour, but the reality is that he's up and ready to rock at this hour.  She gets it from her mama.  This is simply because we have to wake them so early now that we have a commute, and her body is just used to it now.  So I convince her to read books while I start working, mainly responding to emails, from bed. :)  Sleeping that extra hour {I'm up by 4a on they days I have to commute to the office} is heavenly!

6a | Cullyn gets up and I stop working to get the kids ready.  Sometimes Adam takes them to my MIL, who has graciously offered to watch the kids every Wednesday while we're living at the lake, but on this day I took them in.

 7a | I run the kids into town {about 5 minutes each way} We're running ahead of schedule on this day.  

8a | I'm back home working on projects from the couch

9a | I order Adam's prescriptions 

10a | I have a conference call and two additional calls

12p | I take a break and eat lunch {leftover barbecued pulled pork} and rake the leaves in the front yard.

1p | I take my StrengthsFinder quiz and start reading the book since we're teaching it in the Physician Leadership Course I'm creating.

2p | I take 5 minutes to do the dishes.  We have no dishwasher at the lake, but surprisingly, it doesn't bother me, too much, to wash the dishes by hand. Then return more emails.

3p | I take a few minutes to shower {you're welcome that I skipped the photo!} and then work on another work project.

4p | I wrap work things up for the day and take a few minutes to paint my nails so they can dry on the way to pick up the kids.

5p | I pick the kids up and bring the clean laundry home from Grandma Joy's.  Did I mention she's also doing all of our laundry for us while we live here, since we don't have washer/dryer hookups?  {We're checking to see if it would be a possibility with our septic system} You'll also see here that on Wednesday I let the kids dress themselves.  Picking my battles is not my strongest trait, but I'm getting better! ;)

 

6p | We have dinner.  Sometimes we eat with my in laws {like this night}, other times they come eat with us or we just eat as a family.  This is where I forget to keep taking photos! :(

7p | Baths & play time

8p | Bed for the kids & Murdock {who has recently been sleeping with the kids for the first half of the night} I edit for a bit while watching TV with Adam.

9p | Bed for me.  This time change has been brutal on me!  Adam comes to bed much later after catching up on all.the.sports!

My favorite thing about Wednesdays {other than not having to drive!} is being able to adapt the 50 minutes of uninterrupted work {something that doesn't happen at my office} and 10 minutes of personal time for dishes, phone calls, errands, etc. Although I work less hours on Wednesdays, I actually get much more accomplished on these days.  It's nice.  However, I'm ready to get back to the office the next morning.  It's just the recharge I need for the rest of the week! :)

Other DITL Posts...
July 2013 | March 2014 | January 2015 | May 2015 | July 2015

Texas [Grapevine & Fort Worth]

Anyone that knows me, knows I was dreading this trip.  I got the news I would be going to Texas, Grapevine, Texas, to be exact, and cringed!  

I have flown out of TX {usually Dallas/Fort Worth} many times, which were all fine--quick & uneventful, thankfully!  But, on our way to South Padre Island, TX with friends {when J was 8 months old}, we spent the night in San Antonio, and to be honest, the people of SA just kind of ruined Texas for me.  More than anything else, they were just plain rude!  

So, I did what all grown women do, I called my mom and told her to get a ticket because I needed someone to go with me & I know she's always a great time.  And?  I must say, this trip totally redeemed Texas in my book! :) 

{a mix of real camera & iPhone camera photos}

::the hotel::

The entrance from the road.  The hotel is actually 1 mile back from here.

The property overlooks Lake Grapevine

Night {iPhone photo}

A few {iPhone} panoramics.  It was like living inside of a botanical center.  So warm & lush!

view from the balcony of our 8th floor room

Our room

The patio -- so much stone & lush greenery!

::the weather::

It was 45-65* everyday.  We were loving it!  Texans were freezing.  :)

Pool at our hotel.  We didn't swim, but we sat in the hot tub one night. 

::the food::

Tolbert's was the first place we ate in Texas.  It's in Historic Grapevine, a few miles from our hotel. 

We split a Chicken Fried Chicken mean and we're so glad we did {this was HALF!} *They're known for their chili. 

H3 Ranch was our first dinner.  It's located in the Stockyards in Fort Worth.  I can't say enough about their Mop Steak--man I wish Adam were there--& their margaritas! :)

Terrible photo, but SO good!!!  I got the filet {w/ mop sauce} & some really good potatoes!

My mom & my dad's cousin, Danny.  He lives in Ft. Worth and took us out this night!

Note the saddles at the bar. :)

Hard Eight was a few {5?} miles the other direction of our hotel.  We ate there for lunch one day.  AWESOME BBQ!  Not fancy.  Lots of 'regulars' *I really wish Adam was with me!

Be prepared to wait in line--it goes pretty fast.

That is NOT water they're boiling the corn in! :)

Chicken | Turkey | Brisket | Mac & Cheese

Texas or not, we just LOVE our pizza.  So we found a really good brick oven pizza joint {Fireside Pies}!

Located just up the road from the boutiques in Historic Grapevine, so we got to do some shopping again this night. :)

We split a 12" pizza & it was perfect!

This was a quick lunch at our hotel one day.  I forget the name of the restaurant, but it's from the sports bar. 

We shared {1/2 of both} & they were both good. Chicken Club & Chicken Parmesan

We made a last minute decision to grab brunch at Old West Cafe before our flight.  This place is near Historic Grapevine as well.  They're only open from 6a-2p.  Go early, the wait starts early, but it goes fast.  So worth it.  The hashbrowns were almost as good as the ones my MIL served. :)

Again, we split a meal {4 chicken tenders} and it was PLENTY! {photo shows the full meal}

::the boots::

Before I left, I knew I needed to get a pair of cowboy boots.  I didn't know if they were really my 'thing' or not, so I didn't want to spend much.  I ended up finding a pair on sale for $60 at DSW, and had a $50 giftcard, so I ended up spending like $13.  I kid you not, I got over a dozen complements on them!  haha! 

The moment when you realize you didn't bring any appropriate shoes to wear down to the Jacuzzi!

::the shopping::

We shopped two places.  The boutiques at Historic Grapevine & Mills Mall.  Such cute boutiques & adorable finds!  Amazing deals at the mall!  win|win {except trying to pack it all for the flight home & my bank account!} :)

Cutest bag ever.  I had to buy this--I need this reminder every day!

I will be buying this for my babies! <3 td="">

::the entertainment::

My dad's cousin, Danny came at got us and brought us to the Stockyards in Fort Worth again, so that we could experience it on a Friday night {the first time we went it was Wednesday & not everything was open}

It was so fun to hear about the history of the Stockyards!  {the cattle drives, the business aspect, everything!}

We went directly to the rodeo, a first for me! :)

After the rodeo, Danny bought us tickets to see Brett Eldredge {Mean to Me :: Don't Ya} at Billy Bob's.  Billy Bob's is amazing.  It's the world's largest honky tonk {it's like a block by a block!} So much fun!  I've never seen more {good!} dancers in all my life.  And now?  I'm on a mission to learn how to really dance! :)

We had to borrow some cowboys hats for a photo! :)

BB's also had these stones made for TONS of famous people that have visited throughout the years.  Stix to Blake Shelton to Jonny Cash.  

We were late, so we were pretty far back! :)

On our way out the door after the concert, we saw this bull!  We had to get a photo on it! Such a fun memory!! :)

We left Billy Bob's and floated from bar to bar, until we landed back at Pearl's Dance Hall {where we went after dinner Wednesday night}.  I ended the night dancing with a 5 year old little boy.  My eyes were instantly filled, I was ready to get home to my family!

Actually, after dancing, we wanted to go to In & Out Burger {we don't have those in Iowa, so I've never been to one}, but had to settle on IHOP because it was the only thing open that late.  By the time we got back to our hotel, it was 4a.  We passed an older lady who chuckled at us, she was catching a ride to the airport to fly out. :)

We spent our last morning, riding horses at the Austin Ranch.  My mom and I agreed, it was the best way to spend our last morning in Texas!  We contemplated cancelling after our late night, the night before {hello, I never get the chance to sleep in!} but we're SO glad we didn't!

My horse, he was so sweet {with the exception of that one time he ran up the hill!!}

::the traveling::

The afternoon before I grabbed the kids from daycare early to spend the afternoon with them.  Shortly after, Cullyn ended up sick, so we went to Urgent Care {strep}.  As usual, with the exception of a pair of jeans, my laptop, & those boots, nothing was packed until the very last second!

Leaving Ankeny

Leaving Grapevine

I'm not the only person obsessed with plane-wing photos, right?!

Oh ya, and the conference! :)  On a serious note, they had the best keynote speakers I had ever heard!