Summer 2015: Remodeling, Swimming, and Gum

The Summer of 2015 will be officially known for three major things: The Big Remodel, Swimming, and Gum. Please let me explain. First, as you may or may not have already heard we are taking on a remodel project at our home. It currently looks like this:

And the living room looks like this:

So, obviously we are doing this:

...in our apartment home for the summer. The kids have adjusted fairly well, because well, they like to swim. Like EVERY. DAY. and on most days, TWICE. Connor calls it our hotel. I would agree that it is sort-of hotel like, except for the lack of room service.

However, there was one week that our framer got hung up on another job and was running a few days late. We hated to see the project just sit at a stand still, so we hired a few extra day laborers. I really hope they were bonded & insured.

Lastly, the Gum. I finally decided that the girls were old enough to try chewing gum, which they have been asking about for some time now. As it turns out chewing gum is an Activity. All. By. Itself. What do I mean by this? Well, sometimes I ask the kids in the morning things like, "What shall we do today?" and they get really excited and scream "Chew gum!" Umm, well yes, I THINK we can fit that into our schedule today. Then Grandma sent the kids $2 in the mail & I took them to the dollar store. They each picked out 1 toy, and 1 of (get ready for it...) THEIR VERY OWN PACK OF GUM. Its like their most prized possession of all time. So, next time you are bored and you just can't think of anything to do, please let me recommend the fun, rather long, but exciting activity of chewing gum. You just might get addicted, like the Cunningham Kids.

Summer Tradition: Camping with Cousins!

 One of our all time favorite summer traditions is to pack up a truck load of children and supplies and head out into the great outdoors. We're ready for an adventure!

 Thanks for "helping" set up the tent kids!

 We had four awesome camp spots together with our cousins. The best part is they backed up to a great trail system, which was perfect for hiking, walking dogs, or temporarily loosing children (fortunately everyone made it back alive - phew!)

 

No camping experience would be complete without a grand marshmallow roast - one of the kids favorite things! (Shocking.) Here is the roast master himself, demonstrating perfect technique for the kids. 

We went on a short (0.2 mile) hike to this beautiful waterfall. 

 

Even the tiniest campers made the trek & then wanted to swim, "Can we PLEEEEAAAASE take off our clothes and swim, Mom?" Umm, no.  "Well can we at least take off our shoes and socks? PLEEEAAASE!!?? We won't get our clothes wet. We promise." Umm, okay. So, that resulted in two wet children/outfits.

 Our adventurous seven year old. Nice balancing act, C!

 Another highlight this year was the bike parade. This was an idea originally hatched back home a few days before the Great Camp-out. Thus, we had time to make signs and decorations & purchase candy to throw out to the camping neighbors. Weirdly, our kids both threw AND caught gobs of candy themselves.

Camping is just SO exciting and fun that it is hard to pose for a normal picture. Obviously.

The Mirror

A few days ago, we experienced an unfortunate event where one of our dear sweet children, who will remain anonymous (Connor), threw the girls' mirror in a fit of rage and shattered it all over our floor. Later, as I was explaining the situation to Grandma:

Me: Connor threw the girls' mirror on the floor & it shattered, so he has to buy them a new one with his own money.
Grandma: What kind of mirror was it? Like a hand mirror?
Ashlyn (who I did not even realize was listening): NO GRANDMA! I use it to look at my FACE.
 

Seven!

 On Connor's actual birthday, we had to surprise him again first thing in the morning...

Of course, he thought about it & found a clever way to "get around" our surprise. 

Typical. Connor. Style. 

Then, the only thing he wanted to do for his birthday, was head to the Lego store to compete in the "super jump" contest (where you jump a super hero figurine with a little finger flicker onto a bulls-eye). There were about 15 kids competing ranging from ages 4 (if you count Ashlyn's attempt, which we will) to about age 14. The 13 & 14 year-olds took this quite seriously, as did our seven year old. In the end with a little skill and a lot of luck, Connor was the grand champion & won himself his own birthday present!! Best. Birthday. Ever.

Then Connor invited 5 school friends to join us for a mini-golf party. I wasn't 100% sure that first graders could actually play mini-golf very well, but at least they were excited to be there!

The first-graders took the game quite seriously & actually were very good! Even the 4-year old sisters played well for most of the 18 holes.

 However, after about 14 holes, our two four-year-olds decided they were ready to "take a break" (quit) and it was sort-of a contagious decision. Only Connor & two friends finished the grueling 18 hole round.

 Inside we played some golf games, ate cupcakes, & opened presents. My favorite card of ALL. TIME. was written to Connor, "I am not sure if I will have fun at your party, but I will try to play golf." (Love. The. Honesty. Anna Mae.)

 As is the case every single time I volunteer in Connor's classroom with my two helpers in tow, first-graders love Connor's sisters. Hugs all around.

 Connor posing with his girls:

Seven-year-olds are so fun. We had a blast!

A Day in the Life...

Today, as I am in the other room doing some chores, I hear the girls starting to disagree. Within a few minutes Kaia comes to me crying and telling this amazing story:

Kaia: "I only barely punched Ashlyn really softly, then she punched me back REALLY. HARD!"
#timeoutsallaround
#suchsweetlittleangels

Then later I lost to Connor in a long jump competition. Honest to God I was trying my very hardest. Either one of us is a natural long jumper, or the other one of us really is not. The jury is still out. It was slightly different than your traditional track and field set up. Basically we were standing on a park bench, then just launching out as far as possible into a sand pit, and marking our foot prints with a stick. Super official. Connor & I were tied. So, he tried again & upped me by about 2 inches. I tried twice more to get to his stick and missed by approximately 1 cm:
Connor (with the world's largest grin): "Oops, didn't quite make it Mom!"
#gettingschooledbya7yearold
#gladitmadesomeonesday

Last Day of Preschool

These two are off to their last day of preschool this year!*

 On their last day, their school hosts a carnival to celebrate and say good bye. 

Complete with a fishing pond...

 Obstacle course...

 

Crafts:

 

And the obligatory "Shark Scene"!

 They loved their teachers SO MUCH this year. Ashlyn was so inspired that she wants to be a teacher when she grows up & read JUST LIKE THEY DO! (Actually technically she said she wants to be a "Mama-doctor-teacher", which is the obvious career choice & one that I completely endorse as a pretty fab career.)

 Here are some of their favorites from the school year:
Ashlyn's Favorites:
Subject/activity: Games and puzzles!
Friends: Kate, Reese, Callan, Brennan, Brooke,
Snack: z-bars & applesauce
Memory: Mother's Day Tea
Future Career: Mama-doctor-teacher

Kaia's Favorites:
Subject/activity: Play Doh!
Friends: Kate, Gigi, Grace
Snack: z-bars & bunny crackers
Memory: When I picked out a pumpkin.
Future Career: Teacher & mother

(*Note how much they love these dresses. They wear them for every special occasion, and most Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. They have been quickly hand washed for such an affair, because it is IMPORTANT TO WEAR YOUR FAVORITE DRESS AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE.)

Last Day of First Grade

Here's our cheerful first grader heading off to the last day of school! 

Connor's good friend and partner in crime Anna Mae. These two. They like to read books over each others shoulder on the bus. Connor is really going to miss those bus rides over the summer!

I told Connor at the end of the day that he was now a SECOND GRADER! His reply: "No not really. I'm just a summer-grader right now." (then laughed at his own joke). That first...er...second grade humor. Hilarious.

Now what you have all been waiting for...the END-OF-THE-YEAR-SURVEY:

Connor's Favorites:
Subject: Writing
Friends: Jake, Arielle, Connor M., Cailey, & Anna Mae
PE Activity: Free Choice (He likes to choose scooter boards)
Music Activity: singing!
Art Project: Bunny Art
Snack: Graham Crackers
Cold Lunch: PB & J 
Hot Lunch: Pancakes
Book: Magic Tree House (all of them)
Joke: "We're going to sit on cows." (when discussing what we would do without the Universe)
Memory: Always sitting with Anna Mae on the bus