Grandpa's Talent

I have recently noticed a new talent of Grandpa Frank's: rocking children to sleep. Basically he makes a lap, he rocks, then he leads by example & the children do as he does. This is not the first time we have come home from a night out to this situation. I also recall a few other similar incidents like this one, for example:

Same Grandpa. Same talent. Same chair. 

Is Grandpa the baby whisperer, or is this just the world's most soothing chair?

Conversations and Whatnot

Today at Preschool drop off:

Ashlyn: Mom, can you sing all the Frozen song words for us while we are gone at school?
Me: Yep, I think I can handle that job.
Kaia: Make sure you sing all the Elsa parts for me!
Me: Got it.
Ashlyn: And all the Anna parts for me! Oh, and make sure you sing in your pretty singing boice. Not that really loud one.
Me: I will sing in my most beautiful singing voice. All the parts, while you are gone. LIKE. ITS. MY. JOB.
Ashlyn: Okay, fanks Mom. Now we can go to school, Kaia.

So, now I know. They don't like my all-in-all-emotions-laid-on-the-table-singing-boice (that I mostly do for their benefit).

And a little story about Connor. This week it was apparently Connor's turn to pick out a book from home to read in front of his class. I knew nothing of this assignment, except what Connor reported. No note, no directions. Just Connor saying, "Oh, Mom. I need to pick out a book to read for tomorrow. To my whole class. What should I pick?" {Connor's reading teacher likes to give the responsibility solely to the first graders to remember tasks such as this. She does not want overly involved parents taking responsibility for tasks their children can manage on their own. This, I learned on about month 2 of the school year, and boy has she whipped me right into shape! And Connor too.} We looked through the books together, while I asked 1001 questions:
Me: How long should it be? Connor: I don't know.
Me:Well, how long will you read? Connor:Maybe for like 10 minutes.
Me: (really?!) Okay, lets keep looking. A chapter book? Connor: NO. Something that I can read all the way to the end in 10 minutes.
Me: Hum...okay. What did the other kids read? Connor:Well, one girl read a book about Father's Day.
Me: Okay, that narrows it down. (not at all). How about the other kids? Connor: I can't remember.

So, we finally settled on a cute little book, with funny sound effects, and a nice story called "Froggy gets a Doggy." Connor practiced reading it once, and kinda chuckled to himself at the funny parts. I thought his class would love it!

Soooooo, he comes home and I ask about his reading. Apparently the class laughed so hard that the teacher got mad and everyone "got in trouble."
Me: Seriously?
Connor: Well, that part where froggy has to go get the pooper scooper (he laughs again so hard he can barely talk)...was...so...funny!!!!!
Me: So, did you finish reading it?
Connor: Yea, but I was laughing so hard, no one could hear me.

So, if you like first grade humor, apparently it was a hit! I'm sure his no-nonsense teacher was thrilled. At least I know she won't blame it on me, since it is Connor's responsibility and all.

Annual Cunningham Kids Birthday!

There was much ado about this year's joint birthday party theme. By ado, I basically mean disagreement. However, after much compromising, we decided on an ICE party theme, which is a combination of "Frozen" (the movie) and Arctic Ice Chima Lego. 

Obviously. What else would it be, really? 

 

Fortunately, we had a beautiful sunny day, for our ICE party, which totally goes with the theme. That way we could all hit the "Frozen" Pinata...

 ...and collect all the goodies inside!

 We ordered an ICE cream cake. Clearly, the obvious choice here, people. As it turns out Dairy Queen doesn't offer  "Arctic Ice Chima Lego" decor on their cakes, so we had to get a little creative. As Ashlyn told everyone, "Its really a FROZEN cake, but we just let Connor put his Legos on it." (Yikes! Don't let Connor hear you say that!!)

 The Cunningham's & their guests took turns blowing out candles, then enjoyed some of that deliciousness.

The kids were spoiled with loads of gifts, Grandma Betty won the "Lego estimation" challenge, and all the kids left with a cup full of pinata candy, because we are very careful about sugar consumption. Parents, YOU ARE WELCOME for that. 

Now we officially have two FOUR year olds, and an *almost* SEVEN year old.

Cheers!

Mother's Tea

A few weekends ago, I was the luckiest mom...

I got to go to preschool Mother's Tea with these two little lovelies. They were SO excited to take me, give me a homemade present, and sing some songs that they had been practicing!

 

Please take notice of Ashlyn's sweater. She buttoned it herself. Obviously. I asked if she wanted me to help her fix it, but she INSISTED that she LOVED it like this. She can BUTTON ALL BY HERSELF. Oh, right. Of course. Next, please take note of these very clever tea pots...

What Mother's Tea would be complete without a selfie with Mom??!!

Turns out we might need to invest in a selfie stick.

Our Annual Tradition

This fun event is turning into an annual tradition. We love the tulip farm!

This year, I asked each child to pose by their favorite colored flower.

Thank you Connor for this super sneaky pose in the RED flowers. We can barely see you.

Ashlyn just had to copy her big brother for her "favorite color pose." Sneaking and hiding is not yet her best talent.

Now, for EVERYONE's favorite part - THE. MUD. I mean it just isn't fun if you don't GO FOR IT.

Now, my blogosphere friends, you will not believe this....

but the shoes still fit two tiny humans inside:)

Blast from the Past Part 1: Spring Break

Since we were in San Diego a few weeks before Spring break, we mostly spent our Spring break hanging around town. Probably the highlight of the week, was our day with Cousin Sophia! 

First stop in the early morn was our local donut shop, because I am super careful about nutrition.

 Then we had a VERY competitive LEGO building contest in swimsuits...

I mean WHY WOULDN'T WE???!!!

Among many other fun activities, we did this. I'm not sure what you would call it...Spiderman training? Extreme Obstacle Course? Avoid the Lazer beam? Robbers in training? Your call.

Blast from the Past Part 2: Easter!

This year for Easter, we were pretty much up to our usual shenanigans....

 Then the night before, we headed to Grandma's. Here the girls are "practice egg hunting" ahead of time. They want to be ready. Prepared. Well trained. We take this event very seriously, obviously.

 While we were in town, we celebrated Madisyn's birthday, bowling!

 Now, ready for the big event.

 And, it wouldn't really be a weekend. at. Grandma's. if everyone didn't sit on her lap...

...at the same time. Right?

 Now for the serious egg hunting!

Man, those are some full baskets of loot!!!