Kennady | 1 Year {Photoshoot}

I had so much fun with sweet Kennady!  The never-ending Iowa rain almost ruined our shoot, but the skies opened up for a brief window of time and we were able to get outside and have a little cake smash session.  It was so much fun to photograph this girl at one year and compare back to her one month photoshoot.  It's amazing the difference one year makes!  Happy Birthday Miss Kennady!

Murdock {5 Years}

This month Murdock celebrated his 5th Birthday!  It's hard to believe we've had him 4 1/2 years already {especially since we were told he wouldn't make it to his 4th Birthday}.

This pup was with us before we were engaged, married, or had any children.  Although we've had our ups and downs {medically speaking} he has been the best dog we could have ever asked for.  He 'trained' himself from the beginning, has been nothing but kind and gentle with his siblings {our kids}, and has taught me the true meaning of unconditional love.

I always joke that you're the most expense $100 dog I've ever known, but you've been worth every penny!  We love you so much Murd!

TeePee

You guys, I am so in love with my newest photography prop!  I got it from PlayHaven on Etsy.  Stephanie hand makes each of these TeePees.  The quality {& shipping time} is unbeatable!   I can't wait for our first rainy day so we can watch a movie from the teepee or our next free night at the lakehouse to lay under it and watch the stars in the sky!! 

Obviously I'm not the only person loving this TeePee, because I've scheduled 8 mini-sessions for clients in the next 2 weeks! :)  More photos to come! :)

June Weekends {Father's Day & Parent's Anniversary}

I always have such good intentions of blogging about our weekends {a life for that matter--I'm SO behind!} but before I know it we're celebrating another weekend and I haven't told you about the last.  So, here's a little recap of the last two...

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It isn't summer until we gt watermelon photos of J!  Everything's better on a stick!  :)

Father's Day Weekend
In the summer, we try to go to 'unWINEd' at a local Winery on Thursday nights.  Due to weather, a vacation, and other commitments, this was the first night we were able to attend this year.  Either way, it was a great night {weather + company + live music}.  Ashley was in Haiti, so she wasn't there, but my other sister was able to join us since she was in town watching our Godson for a couple of days.

For the record...we won the paddleboat race!  Better luck next year Ashley & Myles!  :)

Friday night we went to Monte to help close the restaurant.  While this was not fun at all, it was great to be around family during this emotional time.  I took some photos and video of the restaurant this night so our kids would see what we are talking about since I know they're too young to remember it.

No worries...I changed into shorts about .0000032485 seconds after this photo--SO HOT! :)

All day Saturday was spent cleaning out the restaurant. Thankfully, my mom came down to watch my kids so I could be helpful {& my dad came down to help move stuff}.

Sunday {Father's Day} We decided we would take the day off.  The guys {Adam, my dad, my father-in-law, my brother-in-law, and 2 nephews} got up early to go fishing.  They ended up catching 10 gallons of fish in 3 hours! :)  It was the most gorgeous day, so we {my in laws & my family} ended up spending the day outside at my brother & sister in laws house on Lake Silverado.  We had so much fun just hanging out, chatting and relaxing.  Oh, and having paddleboat races, golf cart rides, fun in the sprinkler, picking fresh strawberries... We couldn't have asked for a better day.  We grilled for lunch and that evening we had a huge fish fry.  Right before we left I snuck outside with Jordyn {& my mom and father-in-law} to get a few photos of Jordyn in her TeePee.  {Although she didn't want anything to do with a posed photo, so we got what we got!} :)  We had so much fun, but didn't get home until after 9pm {which is too late for a Sunday night}.  The only thing that could have made the day better is if my dad's gift {ordered June 3rd!} would have been here on time.  And if Adam's gift {also, in the mail!} would have come on time!  We got my dad a set of wireless speakers for his bedroom and Adam a set of copper mugs to make Moscow Mules.

Mom & Dad's {28th} Anniversary Weekend
We attended 'unWINEd' at a local Winery on Thursday night, for the second week in a row.  A few other friends were able to join us, so it was another great night.

Friday we celebrated the 1st day of summer by taking the kids to Adam's cousin's house to play in the pool.  I was a little nervous taking to kids under two to the pool by myself, but it ended up working out perfect!  That night we staying in Ankeny and hung out.  It was so nice to be home on a Friday night with no plans.  I have completely forgot what it was like to not cram cleaning and packing into the weekly schedule so we could leave for the lakehouse on Thursday or Friday night.  So Adam made us dinner at home and I spent much of the night cleaning and doing laundry before we watched 'Slumdog Millionaire' together.  It was okay, a little slow.  I went to bed and Adam stayed up to watch 'Sourcecode' of course he said it was awesome and I need to watch it, so now I have to find a time to watch it when he's gone and the kids aren't home...could be a while! :)

IG {@MurdocksMama} Photos from the past 2 weeks

Saturday was my parents 28th Wedding Anniversary.  We got them tickets for all of us to go to an Iowa Football Game this Fall.  So we're all looking forward to that!  :)  It was also our 2nd Annual Koeff Family Tubing Trip.  We drove into a few sprinkles on the way there and after last year we were a little concerned, but it turned out to be perfect tubing weather!  Sunny and 80's!  The water is SO HIGH this year {due to all of the rain/flooding} so it went pretty fast.  After tubing everyone came back to our condo and we grilled supper.  Alicia and Brad left after dinner and drove to St. Louis for the night before taking off early Sunday to drive to Florida for the next month {so excited for them--and jealous too!} :)

Who else checked out the Super Moon [Phone pic] this weekend?

Yesterday {Sunday} was spent lounging around.  The guys fixed a few things around the condo.  Most of us napped for a while.  And I finished 'Reflected in You.'  It was exactly what we needed!!

Jordyn Lynn | 20 Months

You love running, making people laugh, & playing outside.

You've also started throwing tantrums {including foot stomps & head butting} when you don't get your way.  

Closing the Door...

After 25 years, my mother & father in law have decided to close the doors of their restaurant.  On Friday, June 14th at 2pm, Hometown cooked and served it's final meal.  It was bittersweet as it has been a labor of love for the entire family.

A letter written by my MIL to her customers...
Oh where do I even begin...February 29, 1988 (Leap Day) seems like such a long time ago! My how my life changed on that day over 25 years ago! I went from being a stay-at-home Mom to my three amazing children to being an owner of a business which took me out of my home 7 days a week. What a drastic change that was! 
This whole journey started when my dad, saw Dean and I purchasing the restaurant as an opportunity for Dean to get out of the factory. However, we soon realized that if we wanted to stay married, he needed to go back to the factory! Interesting that my dad encouraged me to do this, considering he would never allow me to work at the “Maid-Rite” because I was a “farm girl” and had chores to do. Looking back, I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into.
After several years of being open 7 days a week, we finally decided we needed some family time, so we opted to close on Saturday nights and Sundays. Being able to worship the Lord every single Sunday has always been incredibly important to me. In hindsight, that was one of the best decisions we have ever made.
Owning and running a restaurant is like what my dad used to say about milking cows, “You have to be married to it.” I had no idea how much I would have to sacrifice in order to make this endeavor a success. For example, when my daughters went to Prom, I couldn't be there to help them get ready, I was at Home Town. When my son scored his one and only touchdown playing for the Montezuma Braves, I was at Home Town. When my daughters cheered for the Montezuma Braves and Bravettes, I was at Home Town. I have been blessed with 8 wonderful grandchildren and I do not want to miss out on anything because I am at Home Town. Those are just a few of the things I have missed out on and I don't want to miss anything more.
On the flipside, I have some amazing memories and wonderful times because of Home Town. I have made wonderful friends and established some pretty great relationships. I have been able to share the joys of my children's weddings and the blessings of becoming a grandma with many of you. We received so much sympathy from many of you when both Dean's and my parents passed away. Lucky for me, I got to celebrate all of the milestone birthdays between the ages of 35 and 60 with all of you! Never in a million years did I think I would still be here to employ my own grandchildren. What a blessing that has been! Not many Grandma's can say that!
It is with a very sad but excited heart that I am telling you that June 14th, 2013 will be the last time I will unlock these doors at 6:00 A.M., start brewing coffee and frying bacon, and wait for your orders to come in. Thank you so much for the wonderful memories and if you need me, I will be enjoying the company of my husband and, more than likely, at Montezuma Community School watching my oldest 6 grandchildren or in Ankeny cuddling my youngest 2!

Although she closed the door to Hometown last week {and an entire chapter of her life}I couldn't be more excited for her to have the opportunity to spend more time with the people the mean that most to her {her grandchildren & kids}during her next chapter of her life.

>>Sometime in July 2013, the building will be demolished and a gas station will replace it.  Ironically, long before Hometown was built, a gas station sat on that very lot.  I guess we could say 'full circle.'

Cullyn {2 Months}

Cully Man!  You are 2 months old already.  It's so hard to believe.  One minute it feels like I just delivered you, the next it feels like you've been with us forever.  It's so awesome.  

Growing like a weed just like you are supposed to be doing at this age!  Your pediatrician confirmed you're as perfect as your mama and daddy think you are!  You weighed in at 12 lbs. 3 oz. [48%] and 23 in. long [50%].

You started daycare {part-time} with Miss Kristie this month.  You eat 4oz. of Similac Formula at between 3-4a, 7a, 10a, 1p, 4p, 7p, & 10p.  We're still using Avent bottles, and stage 1 nipples.  

You sleep quite a bit.  You don't have a sleep schedule, but you usually sleep between feedings and are never awake for more than 30 minutes through the day.  You are most awake early in the morning, around 3-7a.  After your 7p bottle, it's difficult to wake you for another feeding.  You have similar sleeping patterns to your mama {pre-children of course}. :)

Your hair is still pretty red and your eyes are turning more blue.  We're beginning to see a little more of them finally.

You wear size 1 diapers and newborn to 3 month clothes and onesies.  You really like sleepsacks, and prefer to be swaddled with your arms out, if at all.

You are a very calm baby and enjoy being held, but don't mind sitting in your nap nanny, car seat, swing, or even on your play mat.  You rarely cry, but when you do, you make yourself heard!  :)  You sleep through almost anything... mostly your sisters 'kisses' and eye pokes, although she is getting more gentle! :)

You are so awesome Baby Cully, your daddy and I could not be more blessed to watch you grow each day.

We love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Mama and Daddy