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jordan.and.co

Wife, Mommy, Photographer...capturing the daily craziness that is our life. NJ>CA>TX
Collabs: jordanandco@yahoo.com

Back from California with full hearts and micro ta

Back from California with full hearts and micro tans. 😉 We got to see our west coast family that we haven’t seen in WAY too long and hug on our Papa who’s still recovering from a surgery. There was laughing and shopping, hand-holding and flower hair-braiding, swimming and ferris-wheel riding, tearful goodbyes and canceled flights… followed by shrieks of pure joy at “one more day together”. What an amazing & necessary trip. ❤️ And now, I guess I need to come to terms with the fact that it’s ACTUALLY October & pack away my “forever summer” vibes…

Pumpkins on porch, beautiful fall night, on our wa

Pumpkins on porch, beautiful fall night, on our way to a TX/OU party…feeling very Octoberish tonight. 🍁 🏈 🍂 🎃

🔍🧩Ok let’s talk Q’s birthday. 🕵🏻‍♀️❓She had been wanting an escape room birthday for two years, so after a C*vid year delay, we decided to do it!! We gave her the option of inviting a few friends, but she requested her extended family instead. (What can I say, we kind of like each other. 😉) She chose a “Western Bank Heist” escape room from the ones that were available so we all dressed up according to that theme.
For her decor/gift wrap I went with a mix of different mystery/treasure hunt/coding themes. We had old fashion keys hanging from the ceiling, a pirate map, some “wanted” posters, a decoder, etc. all on display when she woke up on her birthday. Right away she had to solve a clue using any/everything on the table. It took the girls quite some time to figure out the clue and then, using a decoder & an invisible ink pen, they solved the secret message: “there are donuts in the den”! 🤣 Later that night, my whole family came over in their western wear (ready to rob a bank!) and we surprised everyone with a fun party bus. We all loaded up and went to the escape room. I have to say it was definitely difficult and way more enjoyable with a bunch of adults helping to solve the puzzle. We got about two minutes out from escaping before our time ran out. 😏 Q was a little bummed that we didn’t escape, but once we got back in the bus, we told her we were going out to dinner and then we pulled into Pinstack…the shrieking in that bus was next level, let me tell you! 🤣 We had rented a bowling lane and brought her delicious @goodiescakery cake & some presents along with us. We ate dinner, bowled, opened gifts, and then played some arcade games. She basically had the very best birthday ever…although I’m not sure who had more fun-the adults or the kids! 🤣 It was such a fun party idea! 10/10 recommend!
Leave any questions below. Happy to answer them!

Just a few days ago I was able to say that my baby

Just a few days ago I was able to say that my baby turned 10 “just last month”, but already the time is slipping away…
I have no idea how in the world I have a double-digit child, but here we are.

To my Quinlin Rhys, the one who made me a mama- you are everything and more that daddy & I wished for. You are kind, smart, and just about the hardest working human I’ve ever met. You’ve been a light since the day you were born & you just keep on getting brighter as the years go by. We are so insanely proud of the young woman you are becoming…just remember my girl, no matter how big you get, you’ll always be my little Suzy-Q. ✨

*I will share details on her August “escape room” birthday party tomorrow morning*

Is it inappropriate to just start with back-to-sch

Is it inappropriate to just start with back-to-school & pretend like I haven’t been MIA for several months? 😬
Hi, friends!! I swear I never intended to stay away so long, it just kind of…happened.

Recap? We spent our last summer days (God, I miss them!) soaking up the “carefree togetherness” and then I think it’s pretty accurate to say that back-to-school (and the onslaught of activities and requirements that came with it) hit us like a brick wall. It’s been pretty insane around here, I’m not going to lie. Feels a bit like a whirlwind and honestly, Instagram has just fallen to the wayside. And even though I’m here, right now, posting, I’m not sure I’m actually really “here”, ya know?
I’m 0% prepared for the fact that it is already October. How did that happen?!?! I have no crafts, no fancy Fall recipes, no spooky decor OR costume ideas to share with you. I think that might make me the worst Instagrammer of all times. 🤣🙈 In fact, I have a secret to share- we still don’t have a single pumpkin- at, in, or around our house. I KNOW…the audacity!!

Here’s the thing, I feel like with the kids getting older, yes- certain things have gotten easier, but at the same time, I feel like I am needed more than ever. It’s not to change diapers or wipe a messy mouth as much anymore, but it’s for conversations, and rides to places (I just live in my car now). It’s staying up late studying for big exams, coaching my growing babes through proper texting etiquette, cheering at soccer games, sitting through hours of ballet privates, and answering the hard questions that they are somehow already asking. It’s a lot. But… I’m LOVING this stage of life! I’ve always resisted them growing up, but I have to say, as much as I occasionally miss the baby days, these days, right here…these non-stop, whirlwind, “where have 3 months gone?” days, are so, so incredibly rewarding.

Anyways, I’m here, I think. Not sure in what capacity… But I’m here. I may not be the one to follow for all the festive, crafty things right now (maybe I’ll get there?) but I’m here, checking 3 month-old DMs and sharing snippets of our crazy life and so dang excited to chat with you all again…I missed you! ❤️

Well, my girls are officially back in school & you

Well, my girls are officially back in school & you know what I always say: “Any excuse to create a themed book nook…” 😉

To celebrate BACK TO SCHOOL a few friends & I are sharing our book nooks AND giving away $400 shop credit to your favorite small shops!
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It’s easy to enter-
Head to my stories, follow the loop,
then come back here and comment your favorite kids’ book. Winner will be announced Friday 8/13.🍎 📚 ✏️

Summer, you are my forever favorite. ☀️🌊🍉

I know most of you are still mid-summer, but my girls go back to school in two short weeks, so I’m going to take some time-off from this space to be fully present & enjoy our last few weeks together. I have some collaborations in early August I’ll be back to take care of, but other than that… I’ll be soaking in my sun screen’d, chlorine-drenched babes & relishing the last few days of no alarm clocks, homework or lunch packing. Enjoy your days, friends. I plan on doing the same. 💛

Brothers….amiright?

Happy weekend, friends. 🤍

I’ll tell you one thing about coming home from t

I’ll tell you one thing about coming home from two lazy weeks at the beach to a schedule making, uniform buying, back-to-school countdown…it stinks. That is all. #takemeback

3am wake up, 11 hour drive, one potty/food stop, h

3am wake up, 11 hour drive, one potty/food stop, home by 2pm. Grocery shopped, c*vid tested for dance intensives, had workers come out to fix our broken AC, got BunBun back, started unpacking, Chinese take-out, baths/showers…and now crashing in bed with season 3 of Virgin River. Exhausted, but missing our cousin crew already. We made the best memories together…🤍

Last day blues…💙 Such mixed feelings about he

Last day blues…💙
Such mixed feelings about heading home tomorrow. We’ll miss this little slice of heaven & our lazy summer days together so much, but home always sounds pretty good to me, too.

Went into Seaside last night for Duckies, some “

Went into Seaside last night for Duckies, some “food truck dinner” & ice cream. Felt like a night at the carnival! Love Seaside for it’s exciting atmosphere, fair food, (and to-go Frosè) but as we got back in the car— sticky, sweating & slightly stressed from the crowds & lines with 5 children, we were happy to come home to quiet little Alys. 🤣

So many of you have DM’ed saying you go to 30A every year. I’m wondering…which awesome town is your favorite and WHY?

Y’all always ask me the difference in all the towns along 30A and I’m definitely not the expert, so let’s compile a little list below!!

They remind me of a mini Barbershop Quartet…minu

They remind me of a mini Barbershop Quartet…minus one duo (and a sense of pitch! 🤭) 🤣 💈 🎶

A little less “Toes on the nose”, a little mor

A little less “Toes on the nose”, a little more “Snacks on the backs”, brah. 🤙🏼 🏄‍♂️

I think what I’ll miss most about summer, and ev

I think what I’ll miss most about summer, and even about this trip ending (because we head straight back into the dance/activity zone) Is the lazy mornings. Everyone rolls out of bed whenever they want. There’s no rush in drinking your coffee, nowhere we need to be… until we feel like being there. And the only thing close to the dreaded “packing of lunches” is throwing some random snacks & beverages into a cooler. Max lost his beach shoes, so he basically walks around barefoot all day and the girls have taken to wearing their wet braids to bed so they can have crimpy hair in the mornings. Only thing I insist on is teeth brushing these days. It’s pretty magical. 🤣

Surfing, beaching, swimming, biking, movie watchin

Surfing, beaching, swimming, biking, movie watching, ice cream eating, repeat…Summer, please don’t end! 💗

These little beach bums clean up nicely, don’t y

These little beach bums clean up nicely, don’t you think?! Love these five babes of ours & their relationship so dang much. Nothing like cousins that feel like siblings. Laughing, sharing, and cuddling…and also fighting and teasing and teaching each other “naughty” things (ahem , Max) & everything in between! 😉🤍

Pool Day!!! Am I doing this right @positivelypear

Pool Day!!!
Am I doing this right @positivelypearson 😜?! Loving our new underwater dome camera toy! Just need a few lessons in underwater editing…that’s a whole new beast!! 😳 Anyone have any good tips they want to share with the group? 👀👂🏻

Growing up in NJ, my dad used to pack our cooler f

Growing up in NJ, my dad used to pack our cooler for the beach every weekend. He’d stock it with waters, old-school glass bottle Snapples for my mom, peaches, plums, tiny little cheese and saltine cracker “sandwiches” (held together with rubber bands 🤣), and a bag of twizzlers, always.

So when we’re at the beach (any beach!) you’ll always find a bag of twizzlers in our cooler. It’s how we bring him with us.

Always.

#hipoppop🌈

Q: (whispering in Max’s ear) Max, ask mom if we

Q: (whispering in Max’s ear) Max, ask mom if we can get a baby kitten when we get home.

Max: No! I want a dog!

Ardyn: I wish we could get a baby elephant…but I bet mom would say their poop is too big. Maybe a baby deer or sea turtle instead?! #alwaysnextlevel

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