October update

October...what do I remember about October.  Not too much .  I was back at work full time, Braydon was loving Kindergarten, Kellan always asks Sean if he wants to go to Linda's with him. 

I love pictures...obviously I don't write much just post pictures.  So I made Ryan load all the kids up so I could take some pics of the 3 boys together...it was a challenge!  But we got a few good ones and Braydon never dropped Sean...so I call it a success!

Happy baby

Since Braydon started playing football, we have had to have a few games in the house and outside to work on a few concepts.  1.  when you get the ball, run forward and don't fall down.  2.  Try to pull the other team's flags!  So it has been pretty entertaining and lots of tears from Kellan everytime someone pulls his flags!  One day we were playing in the backyard and Kellan had an "injured" leg...so he just kept limping.  This of course happened when someone pulled his flags!

Braydon even learned to "let him get by you"

Krista and I decided to take a weekend and go visit our good friend Sarah Bailey and her family in Minnesota.  It was baby Sean and Callie's first road trip and they did great!

Callie, Sean, Molly and baby Sam!

We were also lucky to get a visit from Alaska family, which meant a little Winkelman get together.  I didn't get a picture with Mist, but we did get a picture with Great Grandpa Wink.  We didn't know at the time, but this was the last time the boys got to see Great Grandpa Wink and I am so happy to have this picture with them all together. 

Braydon played in a football league again and dad was his coach.  We had extreme heat and really cold and windy conditions.  But as always it was fun to watch him play. 

With his medal

Braydon and his cheering section

One of the last beautiful days of fall we decided to load up the kids' bikes and go Big Creek.  They have awesome trails and a really big playground.  It was pretty fun to watch the boys.  Even though we ended up carrying a big wheel and a cute 2 year old for part of the ride!

Mom's weekend away!  I left Ryan at home with all 3 kiddos and headed to Chicago for the weekend with some of my college friend and former rugby teammates.  We were going to the New Zealand All Blacks vs the USA Eagles at soldier field.  It was really awesome to see the game and of course the haka -check it out.www.youtube.com/watch?v=eybwV2OFaWg

It was definitely a bucket list item that I never thought I would get to do.  Of course my friends go all out for any event and we all looked really patriotic! 

Halloween is next!

September

Time for the September update through pictures!  Braydon had school pictures and decided he needed to wear a tie!

Braydon dressed up for school pictures!

Ryan had a birthday! 

Happy Birthday Dad!

Kellan likes everything that is Sean's. 

Look I fit!

Sean did not enjoy watching the hawkeyes this year...there was too much yelling!

Go Hawks

We went to Joel and Kristen's to watch the Iowa vs Iowa State football game. 

Go Hawks

Halftime marching band

Grandma Pat and Papa bought us all a ride on Thomas the train in Boone.  The boys all loved it!

loving the train ride!

Tyson, Braydon and Thomas

We even convinced Papa to go to the zoo with us on one of my last days of maternity leave.

Day at the zoo

One Sunday afternoon we went up with Papa, Grandma Pat and the Lundstroms from Carroll to go to the apple orchard in Jefferson. 

The boys loved this ride

September went by fast.  I went back to work towards the end of the month, so I wanted to try and hang out with the boys as much as possible.  

The boys do really love their new brother.  They are extremely sweet to him and always concerned when he is crying.  They will get his binkie for him or just talk to him for a while...which usually brings a smile to Sean's face. 

Hanging with the boys on a Hawkeye football day!

Braydon wanted some camera time!

Happy kid!

I-pad time before bed

bumbo time

bumbo time for Kellan too

Yep he can do the splits!

August catch up! Warning....lots of pictures.

Time to catch up on August. 

Kellan loves to relax in baby Sean's carseat

 It seemed to be really really hot or raining in August.  So one rainy day, we tried everything to get the boys to just go play outside in the rain.  Well Braydon said they had to have raincoats and umbrellas and they never left the deck!

singing in the rain

 

We had some special visitors in August.  A bunch of my rugby friends showed up (one from Amsterdam even) and we had a day of hanging out at our house.  It was so great to see everyone and have our kids play together.  The kids ages were:  5 weeks, 5 months, 10 months, 2 - 2 year olds, 2 - 4 year olds and 1 5 year old.  Yes that's 8 total kids...it was so fun.  I think I was busy because I really didn't get very many pictures!

Sean & Callie

Marley all the way from Amsterdam

The boys and Izzy! 

 Of course we had some quiet time around our house. 

Wrigley and Sean

All the Murphy boys

Sean found some time to sleep

More sleeping

The boys are always asking if they can get their picture with Sean

Braydon writing some thank you's!

 I had a short photo shoot with Braydon in the backyard one day when everyone else was napping.  He thought he was hilarious this day!

Sean looks worried

 We even found a Saturday to go fishing with Papa and Grandma Pat.  WE didn't catch any fish, but we did catch a lot of seaweed!

Papa "watching" Kellan

 Of course there was lots more pool time...

The boys love riding their big wheels...but I have been going to a few garage sales and have found a few bikes.   They love riding around the culd-a-sac and always ask before crossing the street...any cars coming. 

Braydon finally found a bike the fits him perfect!

Kellan trying out his bike...but he kept hitting the brake by accident

Back to the big wheel

 Ryan took a vacation day and we headed to Adventureland.  Of course Ryan and I were pretty nostalgic for this amusement park and couldn't believe a lot of the stuff we use to ride was still there!  Braydon tried everything...Kellan was surprisingly hesitant.

Braydon's first ride...on the planes

Kellan and Braydon

Braydon on the frog hopper

water ride

I think Kellan was tired...I have never had him fall asleep in the stroller before

 The next night after Ryan's work...we headed to the STate Fair.  The boys loved the animals.  I think the cows were their favorites

Ryan and Braydon going down the big slide

They like their picture taken!

 Of course the biggest milestone was Braydon heading to DEvelopmental Kindergarten.  We have open enrolled him in Johnston.  I drop him off in the mornings and then he rides to bus to the babysitters...what a big kid!

Braydon and his locker

Braydon in front of his school

First day of school...Braydon was complaining the sun was too bright to take his picture!

Kellan on Braydon's first day of school...he carries the lunch box that came with Braydon's backpack every day!

Braydon is loving his new school.  He gets off the bus every day with the biggest smile on his face.  Kellan gets a little bored without Braydon at home in the mornings though, but he has gotten a little more time with mom the last couple of weeks!