A New Year...A New Office!

As you may recall from a few months back...we have been remodeling. 

Just one room actually....MY. NEW. OFFICE!!!

I am so excited to have a space in my house for all of my clutter work stuff. Also, the rest of our house already seems so much cleaner, especially if you close the door to the office. Obviously.

The very first day it was deemed "completed" (to Casey's credit, it has been done for a while, I just have been slow to catch up on the blog) the kids were VERY concerned that it had no decorations in it! They took it upon themselves to decorate for me. Its not quite what I had in mind, but I did love the thoughtfulness.  They were VERY proud of their decorating work & thought it looked totally fab & was "just right for my office" they said. If only. Bless their sweet little hearts.

Happy New Year!

From all of the Cunningham's...

We wish you a very Happy New Year!

To ring in the New Year, I have a few short Interviews to share with you, faithful fans...

Connor's Favorite Things of 2014:
Color: Red
Toy: All my Legos
Best Friends: Jake, Cailey
Hobby: Lego Building
Food: Strawberries
Word: funny
Book I read: All of the "Magic Tree House" books
Favorite Activity of 2014: Going to the Zoo
New Year's Resolution: Do More Art Projects

Kaia's Favorite Things of 2014:
Color: Purple
Toy: little puppy
Best Friends: Mom & Dad
Hobby: Playing with Dolls & stuffed animals
Food: Cereal
Word: (any word she makes up)
Book: Elmo Flies a Kite
Favorite Activity of 2014: Going to Sun River
New Year's Resolution: Eat Healthy Food*

Ashlyn's Favorite Things of 2014:
Color: Pink
Toy: Magic Wand
Best Friends: Emma & Mom
Hobby: Play with stuff that's old and new & Painting
Food: Apples
Word: Hubadink
Book: Charlie Brown Finding Book
Favorite Activity 2014:Trip to the Mountain
New Year's Resolution: To keep my room clean*

*I, for one, really really hope these New Year's Resolutions are achieved in 2015!

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.