Merry Christmas!

What a Merry Christmas it was! 

First we like to start our Christmas Eve with a huge gift opening fest. 

In addition, we were expecting a very magical night with not one but TWO visitors in the wee hours: Santa and the Tooth Fairy!

 It was pretty much a "Frozen" Christmas for these two...

The only thing as exciting is getting new Legos for our Lego Maniac is (insert a Screaming 6 year old voice) "Mom! A New Lego book that we get to KEEP!!!" 

(We have been basically clearing out the local library of every single Lego book they own, but obviously have to eventually return them).

 "Santa came!" and "He brought just what I asked for!" was heard in the VERY early morning moments at Growing Up Cunningham.

Then round two, a whole day enjoying more family on Christmas Day...

The Littles were a bit tuckered out - WHEW! So they curled up in their new cozy blankets. Uncle Troy offered to put on the movie "Frozen." BEST. UNCLE. MOVE. EVER.

Now to show off some of the new things...

No. You are not seeing double...or quadruple. We have a set of twin bitty babies, with twin moms who all REALLY like to dress alike. It is December 27th & I have washed these outfits twice. You do the math.  

The End of Fall

It just wouldn't be Fall, if we didn't do this at least once...

 I'm starting to think that leaf pile is looking a bit crowded...

 ...but clearly no one cares!

Sunny, crisp, dry, Fall days (that Connor thinks are still "shorts weather")...

we will be missing you in a few months.

Oh Jingle...

Today I asked Connor what his favorite part of "getting ready for Christmas" was...visiting Santa? Buying/wrapping gifts? Seeing lights? His answer: "Just Jingle. I can't wait to see what he's doing every day!" NO. KIDDING.

Super Heroes!

Kaia & Ashlyn: Mom! We want to be super heroes! What can we wear?
Me: Ummmm...I'm not really sure. Maybe you can just PRETEND to be wearing costumes?
Ashlyn: No! That won't work.
Kaia: We need capes! Do we have any?
Me: Ummm, not really. Maybe I can add that to your wish list?
Kaia: Okay.
Ashlyn: Come on! Let's go find something to wear.

About 10 minutes later, after leaving them up to their own devices...I present to you "Super Hero Elmo!" and "Super Hero Abby!" Good thing I like to keep gobs of old baby stuff lying around the house. You just never know when you will need a handy bib-as-a-cape costume.

Ashlyn: Mom! Do you hear anyone shouting for help?
Me: Yes! (Then I proceed to spend the rest of the morning "throwing" my voice as if there is a stuffed animal/doll/toy who needs help. In case you don't know, this is the type of amazing mom-tasks required for raising three-year olds. I would highly recommend ventriloquist training.)

Wish List

Fortunately we have been keeping a (mental) wish list for the kids Christmas gifts since...oh I don't know...last January? Basically anytime they ask for anything in the store that I am not buying I say "Okay, I'll add that to your wish list." For the most part this works, except when they ask to SEE the wish list, which of course only exists in my head.

The other day, I decided to really get them to narrow down their ideas for their ACTUAL Christmas wish list...

Me: Girls, what do you want Santa to bring you this year?
Ashlyn (without missing a beat): Well, I want a tall white lifeguard chair for when we play "swimming."
Me: Hum. That one might be tricky. Do you think something like that will fit in Santa's sleigh?
Ashlyn: Yes!!
Me: So, Kaia, what will you ask Santa for?
Kaia: Well, I want a Dollywog.
Me: Ummm, what is a dollywog? A doll?
Kaia: No.
Me: A Dog?
Kaia: No. It is something special that only Santa knows.
Me: Well, Santa can't read minds. You will have to eventually write down exactly what you want in a letter if you really want him to bring it.
Kaia: Santa will know what it is. He's magic!

Looks like Santa has his work cut out for him this year!!! Hopefully Jingle, our Elf, will help us translate and suggest gifts that will ACTUALLY. BE. POSSIBLE. for Santa to bring this year. However, Jingle is mute, so that might be tricky as well. I'm thinking that the girls might end up being REALLY surprised on Christmas morning. We shall see.

Futbol & Football

This fall, Connor wanted to play American football and European futbol, so we obliged. In his second season, he's got the Euro version down. 

American (flag) football was slightly more challenging...

 

It mostly looked like this... a large pile of children:

...or, everybody standing perfectly still while someone holds the ball 

& is not quite sure which way the play is supposed to go.

Of course, the coach always takes the game seriously.

We have had experience with this particular coach before & he's our fav!

 

Cheers to Connor & Coach for another great season!

Pumpkins and Costumes

First we headed to the pumpkin patch on the most beautiful October day...

 

I heart rubber boots and jean shorts. I think it was over 80 degrees! 

 

After our hay ride and family selfie, we got just what we were after! 

 

And we had three very eager pumpkin carvers! 

Actually, make that four.

 

 Even the slime doesn't phase this serious pumpkin digger. Hair back. Ready for business.

Then a preschool party...

And a First Grade Party...

Lastly, the big night...

The first big Halloween conundrum was that Kaia (Ariel) wanted to have red hair (fortunately Sleeping Beauty already has blonde hair). I suggested a wig? Nope. Fake hair extensions? Not going to cut it. Turns out Dad already told her we could DYE HER HAIR RED. Dads. What do they know about hair dye? Seriously. I researched all kinds of really bad life decisions for people with blonde hair and ended up with the conclusion that it wasn't going to happen. Fortunately when GRANDMA suggested we tie many red ribbons in her hair, SHE. LOVED. IT. Of course she did. I mean that is totally different than what I originally suggested. "Grandma saved the day" she sang over and over on Halloween. PHEW!

Although, I had many GREAT Halloween costume ideas for Casey, he insisted on his own. It was a game day decision. He comes home, heads out to his shop and tells me he is going to wear a bunny suit. I'm picturing something kinda giant-Easter-bunny-ish thinking, "Seriously??!! That is better than MY ideas?" Turns out this amazing Ebola Murse Outfit is also called a "bunny suit" in some circles. Who knew?

Now that we got the pumpkins carved and all the costumes sorted out, we were ready for some serious trick-or-treating!

"

Snip Its

A few snip its of life around here lately:

Kaia: "Mom! You are NEVER going to believe this!"
Me (kinda envisioning the worst): "What is it?!"
Kaia: "Last night I dreamed I had my VERY OWN HORSE!"
Me: "Whoa - that IS unbelievable." (...and also unlikely, my dear)

Last night while the girls were taking a bath & pretending to brush each other's hair:
Kaia: "God is good, God is good, and we thank him for our hair."

And then today as we were trying on Halloween costumes, I tied red ribbons in Kaia's hair to make it look like red hair (without actually dying it):
Kaia: "Ashlyn, how do you like my red hair?"
Ashlyn: "Well, it looks very...HAIRY!"
(Then they both roll around laughing like it is the funniest joke on the planet).

Seriously. These two.  I live with the most hilarious tiny humans.

Connor's Surprise

The other day Connor raced in after school and shut himself in his room for a good 20-30 minutes. Normally I might have been concerned, but the girls & I were outside riding bikes, so I basically figured he was building Legos (what he does EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.)

Then he came outside to announce that his room was "Closed" for the rest of the day. Here's how it went down:

Me: Why is your room "Closed?"
Connor: Well, I made you and Dad a surprise. Its in there & you have to wait until he gets home to see it. 
Me: Cool. 
Connor: I already made a "closed" sign on my door in case you forget. 
Me: Great. I really hope I don't forget.
Connor: Do you want to guess what it is?
Me: Okay, a NEW PAIR OF SHOES!?
Connor: No, Mom. (annoyed)
Me: Ummmm....a new puppy!!??
Connor (laughs): Totally not. 
Me: New Coat?
Connor: NO!! (He's floored because my guesses are SO WILD.)
Me: It is....ahhhh....I know! Its a new ipad?!
Connor: MOM! Do you know that I CAN'T DRIVE?! Its nothing from the store at all. 
Me: Okay. Did you make me some brownies?
Connor: N.O. Mom - I can not use the oven without an adult...don't you already know that?
Me: Okay. I give up. Nothing that requires driving. Nothing that requires baking. Can you give me another hint?
Connor: Think of something that I CAN make. With stuff we already have. 
Me: Is it a Lego surprise?
Connor: How did you guess that so FAST?
Me: I'm just that good.

Responsibility

Lately, we have been teaching a lot of responsibility around here. I mean now that we have a FIRST GRADER, and two other pre-school children it is about time they start learning how to be responsible for their things, for a few chores, etc. I have been using the term "responsible" right and left...ya know...so they remember all of their super demanding responsibilities. For example, I have been overheard saying,

"Girls, you are responsible for putting your own shoes away when we get inside." (super difficult chore)
"Connor, please don't drop your backpack on the sidewalk between the bus and our house. It is your responsibility to get it inside the house." (So challenging. Clearly this responsibility-training program could not have come soon enough.)
"I would like each of you to be responsible for finding your own water bottle." (which are constantly scattered around our immaculately clean house.)
"Each of you is responsible for clearing your own plate after lunch." (approximately 3 steps from the lunch counter to the sink)

You get the picture.

Earlier this week we were outside riding bikes & Kaia stops in the middle of the cul-de-sac, lays her bike there, and decides she is done. Then she starts walking inside.
Me: "Wait Kaia. Your bike is your responsibility. You need to get it into the garage. If you don't someone might steal it, or accidentally run it over with a car."
Kaia: "Mom. Can YOU just be responsible for me and all my stuff today." (then sighs the biggest sigh, as if being "responsible" is just too much for her).
Me (silently to myself): Because that would be different than every single other day of my life for the past 6 years.

Clearly, we are still in the "training" phase here, people.

Back to School

 Connor's favorite part of school is riding the bus. Of course, on the first day he INSISTED on riding it to school. His slightly overprotective mom then INSISTED upon walking to school to meet him off the bus & walk him in to class for the first day. I'm sure he will thank me later.

 Once inside his classroom he made his way right to his desk. However, just like last year, paying attention to the teacher on the first day was not really his talent. Here's how it unfolded:
Mr. Courtney: "Okay, class. Everyone look at the lunch box bin. There is a bright orange backpack in there. If that is yours, unpack your lunch & then hang your backpack up on the hooks." All the kids (except Connor) look & decide it is not theirs. Connor doesn't even look/hear. Mr. Courtney repeats this 3x, but our dear 1st grader pays no attention. Finally, I tap Connor on the shoulder & ask him to take a look at the lunch box bin. Oops! It was HIS bright orange backpack:) But we got it taken care of...eventually.  Connor says his favorite part of 1st grade so far is having TWO recesses and math time.

A week later, the girls were VERY excited for their first day of school EVER.

 They were super busy at school, playing, singing, painting. When the teacher brought out an alphabet board during circle time, Ashlyn spoke right up, "We have the ABCs at our house TOO!!!" Amazing.

Neither of them were ready to leave at the end of the day. 

So, I guess we will call that a first day success!