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!

B.E.A.V.E.R.S!!

This year the smallest Cunningham Beaver Believers were SOOOO excited to go to the first game of the season! Rain or shine, we love our BEAVS! 

First, a little tailgating...

Some Benny Beaver kids zone sliding...

A ride on their own private people mover...

And of course, some cheering from the stands...

 

How do you get three kids to sit for an entire half of a football game? Bring some good ole fashion candy to pass around. Possibly loved more than Benny Beaver himself. 

Today (nearly a week after the game) Kaia says out of the blue: Well, I think we should go to the Beaver game tomorrow, Mom. (Me: I like the way you're thinking!)

Giggling Girls

 

The Worldest Most Giggly Girls have created this race all by themselves (while I was doing laundry). Then they asked me to video tape them. And all the giggling. I just love it when the kids (or actually anyone at all) laughs so hard that they can't get up. That just happened. As it turns out, scream laughing is my favorite hobby too.

Summertime at Grandma's

We spent some fun weekends at Grandma's this summer, while Daddy remodeled the house. There were all kinds of things going on while we were there! It isn't really summertime without attending a local county fair, so of course we headed over there...The Cunningham's were in full force this year climbing on tractors, visiting the pigs, riding rides, and eating some yummy fair-food.

 Then we made a trip to the beach. You can't really tell, but it was FREEZING there on this particular day. Connor, of course, didn't care about the cold and we had to practically peel him away!

 The girls were a different story. They spent more time making "sand angels" in their "sweatshirts" than swimming in the cold, cold, water. That was way more fun anyway. Especially for the person who got to clean up the car.