Happy Holidays!

I had a vision for a fun Christmas jammie shoot this year, and Ashlee from London's Bridge Photography made all of my dreams come true. She was INCREDIBLE. It was freezing and we had a million rowdy children, and she still managed to get these images. Highly recommend her!!

***

^Jammie crew, 2022^

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year! 

I've got to be honest, I usually have a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit until well into December. But this year, I found myself turning on Christmas music a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving! Haha. I was so ready for the cozy holiday feeling to kick in--I just couldn't wait another second for the magic to start. 

Maybe it's because my kids are in that sweet spot of believing in Santa, still wanting to hang out with me and Jordan, and letting me dress them in matching Christmas pajamas--but I am holding tight to this season like never before. It's just the best. 

***

These candid snuggly family photos Ashlee snapped are just my FAVORITE! 

We tried to get some individual photos of Monroe, but she just wasn't having it. It was too cold, and she's also two years old. Haha! It just wasn't going to happen. 

But she was DEFINITELY up for some snuggles with momma, and these precious photos were the result. 

^Her little scrunched up face! The best.^

^Those chocolatey brown eyes get her whatever she wants^

^Cold baby girl haha^

I thought I'd do a quick spotlight of each kiddo since it's the end of the year! Let's go from youngest to oldest. 

-MONROE-

This girl is a FIRECRACKER. She has a huge personality packed into that tiny body, and we have loved watching her really just explode with talking and dancing and growing and learning everything this past year. The boys constantly fight over her attention, and she is always at the center of whatever's going on! 

She loves stuffed animals, babies, and princesses, and has a new favorite princess movie every other day. She loves meeting daddy at "the salsa place" (our favorite Mexican restaurant) for lunch, and hanging out with Jayden or mommy while the boys are at school. She is the queen of the house, and she knows it. Haha.

This year, she's asking Santa for a stuffed giraffe and a stuffed elephant, even though she's terrified of Santa and calls him "the creepy guy." Haha! 

We love our girl so much. 

And now, THE BOYS!

My gosh, how I love these four little dudes. They are all hilarious and fun and quirky in their own little ways, and I couldn't imagine our family without each of their different personalities. 

Also, is this not the cutest picture of your life????

-BRIGHTON JAMES-

This boy is the absolute spunkiest five-year-old you will ever meet! He is CRAZY and we love every bit of it! Haha. He's got the biggest toothless grin right now, and it's my favorite thing in the universe. He is constantly surprising us with his funny jokes and witty comebacks. He's usually sitting, just quietly coloring, when he suddenly pipes into a conversation you didn't even know he was listening to. Haha the best! 

He is amazing at math and has better handwriting than any of his big brothers (shhh, don't tell them I said that haha), and LOVES kindergarten with all his heart. He loves Spaghetti-oh's, Number Blocks, & Pokemon, and is learning to read like a pro. 

This year for Christmas, he's asking Santa for a toy claw machine and lots of Shopkins!

-HOLLAND BECK-

Oh, my sweet Holland! He is the most lovable, squishable, handsome seven-year-old there ever was. He has the most hilarious personality, and is always in the middle of every party--and every fight. Haha! 

He is kind to everyone, and is always thinking about others. (He used his own, hard-earned book fair money to pick out a book to buy for Monroe. I know, I'm crying too!!) He has the best giggle, and can bust a move in the kitchen like nobody's business. He won the Paw Award for the whole second grade at school a couple of weeks ago for showing outstanding behavior, and we couldn't be more proud. 

He loves Dog Man books, shepherd's pie, Dude Perfect, and playing outside with his friends! 

This year, he's asking Santa for a mini-trampoline, and a Nintendo Switch! 

-CAMDEN RACE- 

This boy is getting WAY too old for my liking!! I swear I blinked and he went from a little dimpled baby to a pre-teen, and I'm not okay with it. He is so much fun, and he's always up for an adventure. He's our roller coaster/ sushi buddy! 

He is SO smart, and gets straight A's without much thought. He was in the top three of his grade for scoring on a state-wide test, and we were so proud of him! He was also in the school talent show and did a magic show in front of everyone--and he was AMAZING! He is witty and quick, and is always getting into some kind of trouble by booby-trapping the house. Haha. He's on Student Council this year, and it has been such a great experience for him!

Camden loves Legos, telling jokes, Caesar salad, going on road trips, grilled cheese sandwiches, and holidays.

He's asking Santa for a 3,000 piece "Haunted Hotel Drop Tower Lego Set," or an electric dirt bike! 

-BOSTON EMERY-

Boston is growing like a weed, and is almost as tall as I am!! He will be in Young Men's in January and I am straight-up in denial about it. He has a heart of gold, and is a natural leader wherever he goes. He will decide to do something, and he just does it. Sometimes Jordan and I look at each other and say "Where does this kid get his confidence?" Haha. 

He is currently in Beta Club, STLP (Student Technology Leadership Program), on the fifth grade boy's basketball team, won the Paw Award a few weeks ago for outstanding behavior, and was just in the school talent show singing a Shawn Mendes SOLO in front of the entire school. We literally had no clue he could sing until he opened his mouth on stage--and we were blown away! So proud of him. 

Boston loves Dude Perfect, Kraft Mac & Cheese, playing outside with friends, watching football with his dad, homemade chicken noodle soup, and reading. 

This year, he's asking for a Nintendo Light and the Fortnite game! 

Then we tried to take a cute photo of the kids all snuggles on the bench, and Monroe was like NOPE. 

Just zoom in on her face in this pic for a good laugh. Haha!! I'm seriously dying. 

I always love some quick photos of mom and dad amidst the chaos. I'm so grateful for this guy, and for putting up with all of my photoshoot plans although he'd muuuuuch rather be somewhere else. Haha! 

He's the best, and I feel lucky every single day that he's mine. 

Highlights for us this year:

New York City couple trip 

Utah for Trey's wedding 

The beach (x2! Gulf Shores, AL & Panama City Beach, Florida)

Nashville weekend to see Ben Rector with the Curtis's 

NYC trip with my mom (Kels) & meeting Hugh Jackman!!

Thurby at Churchill Downs 

DISNEYWORLD! 

...and all of the little moments in between! 

THE END. 

Valentines, 2020.

All right, well here's another quarantine catch-up post for you!  I asked Jordan, "Is it super weird that I'm blogging about Valentines Day in May?" and he was like, "We want to remember these things, right? Who cares what month it is...put them up!" And he's right. I don't ever want to forget my sweet Valentines boys or my tiny Monroe in her heart jammies...so here goes.

***

^My littlest loves^

I LOVE Valentines Day. I don't know if it's my fond memories of the "pink & red dinners" my mom did every year for us growing up, or the excuse to celebrate the ones I love most, but it's one of my very favorite days. 

This year it was extra special because we had a teeny tiny (2.5 week old!) Monroe with us for her very first Valentines Day. 

^They ADORE her!^

I literally cannot get over how tiny Monroe was in these photos!! It's only been three months, but she is already so much bigger.

^sweetest little face^

^these two are my FAVORITE together^

^He's been my Valentine for a long time, but seeing him with his baby girl was just too much!!^

After we took a few photos, we headed out to grab some fancy dinner!

(Jimmy Johns sandwiches for us, McDonalds for the kids)

^Monroe was not impressed^

^A couple of the young men in our ward work at JJ's, and they wrote this cute message on our bag. Totally made our night!^

Then we came home and had a picnic in the living room and watched a movie.

Super romantic! Haha. But hey, it's life with five kids.

A few days later, we took advantage of my sister being in town and snuck off on a real Valentines date (with a cute Monroe as our third wheel).

We got some sushi and had an uninterrupted conversation, which was glorious. (I would kill for both of those right now--being in quarantine with a billion kids is no joke! haha)

^my valentine^

^Monroe was skeptical^

A couple of days after that, we had our traditional pink & red dinner! I tried dying the actual pasta red this year, and it didn't go over too well. It was super cute in my head, but when I put the red noodles on the table the kids were like "EW! Mom! It looks like blood!!" Haha. Oops.

^sweetest baby in the universe^

We had such a great Valentines Day/ week!! 

I love my people so much, and any excuse to celebrate them is the best. 

***

To see my all time favorite Valentines photo shoot circa 2017, go here.

Monroe Skye McMurtrey // 1.27.2020 // the hospital photos

 

Our sweet baby GIRL is here, and we could not be happier!!

Monroe Skye McMurtrey was born on January 27, 2020, at 6:30 in the morning. She was 8 lbs even, and measured 21 inches long. She came out pink, screaming, and perfect in every way.

We are in love.

Her due date was the day before she was born (Sunday, the 26th), and I was convinced she was never coming out. I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions for months, and I thought my body was just destined to be pregnant for the rest of forever (if you've been pregnant...you know this feeling at the end). Let's take a look at some of our Sunday family photos from that day, for giant-full-term-pregnant-belly reference.

^40 weeks and feeling like I was going to POP at any second!^

We went to church as usual, lounged around, went to a friend's baptism that afternoon, and did the bedtime routine with the kiddos as usual. I remember complaining to Jordan that night that I thought this baby might NEVER come--and it felt extra rough since babies #3 and 4 had both come two weeks early. I was discouraged and SUPER uncomfortable.

But at about 1:30 in the morning, things kicked into gear...and I KNEW it was the real deal. After laboring at home for a while, we called a friend to come sit with the kids and Jordan and I headed to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital at 3:30 in the morning, and our sweet Monroe was born at 6:30. She was posterior and had the cord around her neck, so her delivery was WILD. I was screaming at the top of my lungs and having to move in all sorts of crazy positions to get her to flip the right way. It was intense. But she moved, and everything worked out.

And the second I saw her face, it was all worth it.
Every. single. second.

^exhausted mama and precious new babe, minutes after her birth^

^That chubby body! And the hair!!^

^meeting his daughter for the first time.^

^so tired and so happy^

^the most precious.^

Jordan left me and Monroe to rest for a bit (which is pretty much impossible when 500 people are coming in and out of your room to check on you, but oh well haha), and he came back later with the boys so they could meet their new sister!

Watching them with her pretty much melted my heart into a giant puddle of goo.

IT WAS THE CUTEST!!

 

^Camden has always had the softest heart for babies. He is the absolute best with her.^

But as cute as the boys were with their sister, nothing prepared my heart to see Jordan with his one and only baby GIRL. I seriously could not handle watching them together (still can't).

She's everything he never knew he needed.

^IN LOVE^

The boys went home for the night, and Monroe and I hung out and watched old episodes of The Office at the hospital. We tried to get some sleep, and I woke up the next morning just in awe that I had a new baby. It's the craziest feeling--when they go from literally being a part of you to sleeping in a bassinet next to you.

She was just so, so perfect. (and still is)

^My girl^

^baby burrito^

Jordan got the older three boys off to school, and then brought Brighton over to see us for a while. Before she was born, I wasn't sure how Brights would handle a new baby (he had been the king at our house for a while), but he was absolutely smitten with Monroe. He was so gentle and sweet with her from the very beginning, and I love this photo I took of him trying to help put socks on her tiny feet.

^the one and only time in her life she's ever taken a binky^

They stayed for a while, and then left to be home for the boys when they came home from school. And then I ordered Jimmy Johns.

I'm always starving post-baby...and the hospital food just wasn't cutting it haha.

^my two loves. haha^

Later that day, we asked our good friends (the Robinsons) to come and take some photos of us in the hospital with our newest addition!

I will cherish these photos forever.

^McMurtrey, party of SEVEN.^

^kisses for baby sis^

And these next photos of Monroe with her four bodyguards...
SWOON!!

They are obsessed with her.

And so are we!

My friend made Monroe this onesie before she was born (she was the only person we told her name to beforehand...and swore her to secrecy! Haha), and it made me tear up when I saw it. It made things seem so real that we would have an actual baby girl soon, and I was just so excited.

So when I got to put the onesie on Monroe when she was finally here, my heart just about burst!

^so sad but still so cute^

The Robinsons (that came to take our photos) are like family to us here in KY, and we were so happy that Jayden could be one of the first people to hold little Monroe. She was the first non-family member to hold Brighton after he was born, so it was special that it got to happen again! She is our number one babysitter, and just an amazing person and friend. (We love you, Jayden!!)

After we took some photos, we got to check out of the hospital early (hallelujah!). I was SO happy to be headed home to my own bed and space again. Monroe was the cutest tiny thing in her car seat. 

We were all in a bit of a sleepless fog for a while after we came home, but it was worth it. It always is. And this time around, I wasn't in as big of a rush to get back to "normal" (whatever that is anyway haha). I wanted to really cherish that fresh baby newness that fades away so fast.

I loved having the time right after she was born to just slow down and spend time soaking in every bit of her sweet little self.

^sweetest photo of my life^

^sleepy, happy days^

^I will never be over these two^

Having a girl has been so, so fun. And it just keeps getting better and better!

It's the little things that I love so much-- like, I crack up every time her headband slips down and covers her eyes. It's something so small, but I've never experienced it before with any of my other babies (obviously haha), and it makes me so happy every time. She is just perfect.

We love you, little Monroe!!

We are so happy you're in our family. You are the most perfect ray of sunshine, and we feel lucky to have you. You are just the most precious angel.

We can't imagine life without you! Welcome to our crazy crew.

My babies:

Boston (2011)

Camden (2013)

Holland (2015)

Brighton (2017)